Makita has come out with a new 18V heated blanket, model DCB200A. You heard that right – it’s a heated blanket.
It features 3 heat settings, up to 35 hrs of runtime (on the low setting with a 6.0Ah battery), and the included power port can also charge your USB-compatible portable electronic devices.
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There are snap buttons and a strap, allowing you to securely wear it over your shoulders.
Or, wrap it around your waist to keep your upper legs warm and toasty.
From the product photos, the inner lining looks to be a warm and fuzzy blue fleece-like material. The outer layer is made from polyester for wind and water resistance.
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The battery and power adapter are stowed away in a zippered compartment. The blanket has on/off controls with an LED indicator light.
It can be washed in a household washer and dryer.
Makita bundles their 18V heated blanket with a storage bag for convenient carrying and storage.
Dimensions: 27-1/2″ x 55″
Price: $100 for the bare tool
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Discussion
In writing this post, I accidentally substituted “heated jacket” for “heated blanket” in almost every instance of the word. A heated blanket? Surely that’s an odd idea, right? In the product photos, the expression on the model’s face says it all.
Wrapped around shoulders? Fashioned into a skirt-like waist and leg wrap?
But boy the new Makita heated blanket sure does look comfortable.
You could wrap a cold body part with a heated jacket, but unless you’re wearing it as a jacket, it’s going to be awkward and inefficient.
Will something like this get used on the jobsite? I think it might definitely be used in recreational settings, at the least.
The concept seems a little strange at first, but it makes sense, and more heated gear options are good.
Will you be buying a warm and fuzzy Makita heated blanket? If you bought into a different brand’s cordless power tool system, would you want that brand to come out with something similar?
Jared
I think it’s pretty interesting. A little pricey – but I feel the same about the heated jackets (and still bought one).
I wouldn’t use this while working, but I could see the utility while camping, on car trips (where my wife always wants the heat way higher than I do) or sporting events etc.
Looks like a regular barrel plug in the middle of the cord – could this potentially be used with another brand of battery? Maybe there are safety concerns with endorsing that option – but I have a Bosch heated jacket and sometimes use my Dewalt battery packs with it (using a Dewalt power source adapter).
PAntonvich
I do the same with my M12 jacket – bought a 12 volt battery and charger that’s way more compact then the M12 batteries and charger – it’s a lot easier to travel with as well. The M12 batteries are just uncomfortable in the back pocket.
Adam
Get a power supply with 12v out. They usually have a much more comfortable shape to them. That 12v out port is universal.
One can use a Milwaukee power units on Dewalt, Makita, or Bosch jacket’s (Bosch requires plugging it in 3 times to activate).
I’ve been trying to find a power bank that can be charged by USB-C (and micro would be a bonus), that has USB-C out, standard USB, and 12v. Would love anyone’s opinion on one they reccomend.
Will
Yeah I use milwaukee batteries with my Dewalt jacket mainly because the 12v battery and adapter are much smaller. The idea is good but that fleece would get nasty quick on a job site,but if your sitting outside on a cool night it would be great. Maybe even around the house on a -30f day.
Farid
My 2 cents. Pros have private lives as well and I can see this being used at a tailgate party, or while watching the kids play football, or the other game of football [the one with oblong ball (;D ], etc. How about keeping your players warm? It can be used as an emergency blanket to be kept in the car in winter time. I keep an impact and light in the car for easy flat repair. so I already have a battery on hand. Unfortunately, in my case, it’s the wrong brand.
I don’t know if these get as warm as a heating pad, but sometimes an AC cord gets in the way. I could have used a cordless heating pad a couple of times while at work to help with some injured muscles.
Matthew Caudery
Be awesome in the swag for my wife on extra cold nights.
Matt Hall
Was thinking the same thing but then realised it looks like it’s only a third of a blanket. Needs to be at least double the size then I’d definitely grab one for camping. Already take a few tools and lights so the batteries are already there.
Grant
I have one of these Milwaukee heated blankets. It does the job. On the low setting single 18 volt battery lasts most of the day. The issue is the heating element is only about 1/4 of the size of the blanket, maybe 20″ by 20 “. For lack of anything better, I use it for heating my dogs kennel in the back of pickup truck when we go hunting. the pickup has a shell but he gets cold in there. The dog gives it two paws up. Me I give it one.
Farid
I wonder if it can be used a dew heater for a telescope?
Stuart
Hmm…
Maybe in a pinch?
If enough readers are genuinely interested, maybe ToolGuyd will buy me a compound telescope for such testing. (I wish!) I have a refractor, but I aclimate it before winter use and haven’t needed a dew heater yet. But compound scopes have notoriously bad thermals and would definitely be interesting to test this out with.
I think it’ll work better than not having a dew heater, but not as well as a dedicated device.
Farid
Yes, I agree: a dedicated heater would be do a better job. A 12V source is readily available for guidance system, so power is not a problem for a dedicated heater. I don’t do enough of one thing to justify a unitasker. Multitasking tools not used often is always nice.
A nice refactor is on my wish list.
Bob
I like the idea. Agree its more likley to be used recreationally than on a job site. Laughed a little thinking of a big and burley framing contractor wearing a shawl… er I mean blanket over himself. Then again I have seen guys wear trash bags or Tyvek as impromptu rain gear. Whatever it takes to get the job done I guess.
On closer inspection it looks a little small. Like the size of a kids blanket?
I still think they’ll sell some to tailgaters and sports spectators etc.
Mac
I do volunteer trail maintenance. I use a Makita 4″ chainsaw. Depending on weight this might just be awesome for fall and winter overnight trips. I’m already carrying the batteries…
Philip Proctor
I’d buy a DeWalt version to use with my existing batteries. It seems great for cold sporting events and camping.
Charles Stopczynski
I’d have given more than $100 for one of these deer hunting many times.
I’m on the Makita 18 volt platform and have been for years. Purchased dozens of these tools for industrial use and never regretted any purchase.
I’m visiting the Buford, GA (suburban NE Atlanta) plant this Saturday with my woodworkers group. Hope to hear more about it then.
PETE
Looks pretty cool- i’d buy one if it was m12. My wife & kids would love it. Now that I think about it…. might have to order a heated blanket anyways.
Rory
Considering most heated tools are 12v making an adapter so it will run off the m12 power port wouldn’t be hard.
Gordon
$100 is a little pricey for the size. I’d prefer a larger blanket even if the heated part was just a small part of it.
MichaelHammer
That’s just a weird size. Makes more sense to lay on top of it for a sore back. Bizarre. I love the concept, but my beach towel is bigger.
ktash
Yes, they need to make it bigger. And lose the fuzzy side, that long fuzzy nap stuff always seems kind of yucky, like hard to clean, and do you want to be washing this item all the time if you are using it camping, for instance.
ktash
I might buy one if one of my main battery platforms made one. Yes, sporting events, injured muscles, hunting etc all make sense. Another use would be in winter. Traveling in the winter when there is ice, snow, extreme cold, this would be great as an emergency item in those situations. Wouldn’t have to keep it in the car all the time, just when the weather is bad. Also, when it’s extremely cold outside, I get cold even with the heat turned up. This would be good for that, too.
ktash
Oops, Makita is one of my main platforms. Make it somewhat bigger and I’d buy it. I may buy one anyway, since in the winter I crave warmth. When I weighed 15 pounds more, I stayed warmer in winter 🙂 but was less healthy.
Jim Holmes
I would definitely buy a DeWalt version. Keeping the wife warm is always a challenge. Emergency blanket possibilities. Even just to curl up in the hammock.
Jo B
Once again, Makita is proving more innovation than the DeWalt brand. It’s sad that DeWalt has fallen as much as it has. I do really like the FlexVolt batteries though.
Larry
I’m thinking of buying one for the car along with the Makita car battery charger. This would be a great cold weather addition to a car emergency kit. But as been said before, rather pricey.
Perry
Between the coffee maker, radio, and this blanket (tucked into my sleeping bag), I’m about to be ready for winter camping
Jeremy Giesbrecht
What about keeping your tools warm in the car in the winter months?