Klein Tools has launched their first heated workwear product, a heated vest designed to be worn as a base layer under a jacket or other outerwear.
The new Klein heated vest features a weather-resistant softshell design and features 4 pockets and an adjustable waist cinch.
The vest has 3 heat settings that can be changed via a control button.
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It’s powered by a battery bank, which Klein describes as compact with large capacity.
According to this product image, the included power source has a 7000 mAh rechargeable battery.
Max Runtime Specs
- High heat: 4 hours
- Medium heat: 6 hours
- Low heat: 12 hours
Here’s a closer look at the battery bank, courtesy of the downloadable instructions.
We can see that there’s a barrel jack for DC out, a USB-A output – allowing the battery pack to double as a charger for electronic devices – and USB-C for charging it.
Here are some more specs from the instructions:
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- 51.1 Wh, 7000 mAh
- Output: 7.3V DC (barrel jack to heated vest), 2.2A
- USB-C Input: 5V, 2A
- USB-A output: 5V, 2A
- Total Output: 15W maximum
- Charging time: ~8 hours
- 4 ft drop protection
- LED charge status indicator
Basically, the included battery pack is rated at 7.3V and 7Ah.
What’s curious is that the USB-C port is only listed as an input, and so it seems only the built-in USB-A port can be used to charge electronic devices.
The vest ships with the battery pack and a USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
Price: $150
Discussion
Klein Tools’ Ergodyne brand launched heated vests last year (available at Amazon), and has other workwear products. I’m guessing that Klein contracted with the same design or manufacturing partners to bring out their own heated vest.
The question is whether this is the start of a new line of heated workwear – jackets, gloves, etc – or if it’s just one product to test the market with.
Milwaukee Tool seems to be the leader in the heated workwear category, with heated vests, jackets, and accessories, and they tend to launch new updated and innovations ever year.
It’s unlikely for Klein to make a dent in Milwaukee’s market share, or match their pace of innovation, but it’s always good to have more options.
At this time, it doesn’t look like you can get the heated vest or battery pack separately. I wonder… Klein doesn’t specify the barrel jack connection standard, but what other battery packs might the Klein heated vest be compatible with?
Jared
“what other battery packs might the Klein heated vest be compatible with?” was my question too!
Being a 7.3v pack, it’s not going to work with the “12v” (10.8v nominal) power sources from the major cordless brands. That seems annoying.
I’ve never mixed and matched my heated clothing and power sources from other brands… but I assume that works? E.g. I have an Bosch 12v softshell jacket, an M12 hoodie and I have the Dewalt power adapter – would those all work with one another?
Another bob
I can only say the Milwaukee and DeWalt are the same 12v barrel plug. It’s been a few years but It worked on multiple different types of heated clothing from those brands. I would assume this is still correct today.
I have heard Makita is the same as well, but I have not tested it myself.
Definitely makes it convenient. You can choose the clothing and batteries independently.
Blocky
I run the Milwaukee vest with the Bosch adapter, no modifications.
JC
Unless they have changed it, the Bosch jacket needs a trigger. Or you can fool the jacket by plugging/unplugging/plugging, etc.
I went down a rabbit hole with looking for a longer lasting slim battery pack for my Milwaukee and Bosch heated gear years ago. Finally found a lithium polymer pack for the Milwaukee. Nothing for the Bosch.
Robert
Stuart, where you say:
“ What’s curious is that the USB-C port is only listed as an output”
Did you mean to say “input”?
Stuart
Sorry, yes; the USB-C port is only labeled and described as an input.
Alexk
I like the look and especially the flat battery bank. My only complaint with my 1st and 2nd gen Milwaukee vest is the uncomfortable battery and placement. Anyone use a flat battery for their Milwaukee heated gear?
For $150, it would make a nice gift, but it seems fit is only for men.
Kris P
I know a couple electricians that have the flat Milwaukee pack and they said it is way more comfortable to wear all day long. I have used the M18 adapter with a 1.5 that’s a little better than the M12s.
will
Go with dewalts flat 12 volt batteries with milwaukee. The m28 are great but bulky though since I’ve used mine they’ve gotten smaller especially with the new pouch cells.
Jonathan OAF
Over a tee shirt I use a (sized down from XL to L) M12 Hoodie with an additional hoodie then jacket over it to keep it pressed to the tee shirt and feel the warmth for below 0° f days. The battery connection pouch allows for shoving that battery towards the back of the hoodie so I can wear tool bags without issue. Maybe can try that on vest.
Jason M
Ive used a flat battery from Talentcell that was $23 for my Milwaukee jackets the past several seasons and have turned a bunch of other people on to them as well. Nothing fancy just a battery light and usb port but does the job well
Doresoom
If I were to buy more heated gear, it would definitely be a vest. Heavier heated jackets don’t make much sense, since you’ve got all your other layers in between you and the heat source. With a vest you can wear it under your heavier coat and the heat it generates gets trapped inside your layers better.
Another Bob
I also find it’s odd they chose 7.3v heated gear. Most of the other major brands are 12v.
Klein has in the past used DeWalt for batteries to power their tools. Maybe Dewalt didn’t want to dilute market share? Kind of weird because these heated jackets are all definitely made by a third-party so Dewalt may as well sell more batteries?
Flat battery is pretty nice for form factor. My DeWalt pack can bump into things sometimes. But the compromise is I can swap instantly with any of my 12/20v batteries I already own.
Im guessing the button on the right side is illuminated when on? Or is it just for the Klein fan boys? Haha In all seriousness, it was pretty good marketing on Milwaukee’s part to do that. As far as I know, I think they were the first to do that.
Another Bob
Forgot to mention, why would they release this now? Winter is almost over. They should be doing this in October. Heck by Christmas, most of the heated gear is already sold out in most of the popular sizes.
Jason M
Assuming this is an announcement for this coming fall? Weird timing for sure
Stuart
Ordering went live this month. Amazon seems to have them in stock with an ETA of early next week. Acme has an ETA of 2 weeks from now.
Yadda
I agree more market options is always better. In this case, I don’t see much in the way of innovation so the market will tell determine if it is a viable product.
S
I have a lot of trouble with Klein trying to break into the battery option market. Specifically, being Yet Another Standard to deal with in an already overly-expansive market of standards.
On one hand, I have both Milwaukee’s heated jacket and hoodie, specifically for outdoor work, but also specifically Milwaukee because I’m already invested into the battery platform. After enough years with any platform, batteries tend to lose enough capacity to not deal well with high demand uses. But they still work great for low-and-long demand uses like the jackets. So I’ve got batteries upon batteries stacked everywhere that aren’t good enough, but aren’t yet bad either. For a full day outside, it’s not abnormal for me to cycle through 2-3 batteries.
This is another case, where I’m asking “why?” Especially with the 7.4v pack, it really works against what I understand to be their core market. DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Bosch all use regulated 12v. And some of the Amazon brands use 5v USB power packs for heating power.
At 7.4v, it’s too little to use with any other USB power pack, and 12v options from most major power tool brands are far to powerful. Which is a real shame, as their core market, contractors, are guaranteed to have extra batteries of their preference of brand/platform.
Because of all that, and the fact that extra batteries aren’t available either, I absolutely wouldn’t use a product like this anywhere beyond around the house-close by, so if/when the battery dies, I can change my layering scheme. And that makes the overall higher price point and limited potential usage time(Milwaukee’s hoodie, with sleeves, can be had for $160 with battery/charger. Or $60-100 without battery) a much harder sell for me
Wayne R.
Back in the day, we had a lot of overnight outdoor cable projects in Minnesota & Wisconsin winters. We suffered badly until we equipped everyone with Herod’s hoods and Refrigiwear suits.
Herod’s is gone now, but those were great hoods for cold temps, and even had specific slits so the hardhats could be outside but their suspension inside. And the hood tail was long to get well into/under jackets, with a great wrap-around for faces.
Refrigiwear is made for people who work in zero-degree cold storage warehouses, and were pretty tough. They’ve got a lot more options now…
Fingers & toes still got stiff, but 99% of our cold problems were fixed. And nothing needed to be kept charged, so these were kept in duffels in the trucks, always ready.
Charlie
ORORO makes a similar appearing vest that uses a similar button similarly located on the front left to control the setting and also uses a 7.4 v battery with a barrel connector and stores the battery in a pocket in the same location. I think that the Kline may be made by Ororo.
Doresoom
GearWrench has a heated jacket that’s made by ORORO. It’s a direct copy of their “Classic Heated Jacket” with the only changes being a GearWrench logo and an orange zipper. The battery is still branded ORORO.
I don’t see an exact match of the Klein vest on ORORO’s website, but I suppose they could have made a few more style changes and made a similar agreement as GearWrench did.
MB
You can buy a virtually identical USB pack powered heated vest or jacket from Amazon for about $50-75. I picked one up a while back and it works just fine. I’ve got a ton of USB battery packs so it’s more convenient than power tool pack ones. Plus in a pinch I have power tool to USB plug step down converters I made.
Jon
I get it—this heated gear looks cool, and for some people, it has its purpose. I did some research when Milwaukee had a sale on theirs, but after checking out a few posts and a YouTube review, I decided to go with Carhartt winter gear instead. Honestly, it’s been great! No bulky battery pack on my back or anywhere around my torso—just solid warmth without the extra hassle.
will
The best part is that the DC barrel connector means ypu can use mikwaukee and dewalt etc brands in a pinch. I prefer the flat design of Kleins battery though and wish the other brands would’ve created similar power banks for there heated products. Instead you either end up using a round m12 or flat bulky batteries that are heavy and uncomfortable.
Jared
Can you though?
It comes with a 7.4v battery pack. Is that going to play well with 10.8v power from Dewalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, etc? Seems like they’re all running packs with an extra cell.
Walt Bordett
The YouTuber Watch Wes Work, says ” The good thing about standards is that there are so many to choose from.”