I have tested Milwaukee’s 2nd-gen heated jacket and am in the process of testing Bosch’s heated jacket and Dewalt’s soft shell heated jacket.
So who makes the BEST heated jacket? Well, that’s going to take some time to determine. But in the meantime, since now is prime jacket-buying season, here are my thoughts thus far.
Advertisement
Milwaukee Summary: Overall, the fit is cozy and casual, and I like how the outer sleeve is receded back a little to provide extra wrist movement. I suppose this also allows for bulkier work gloves to be worn. The side pockets are fleece-lined and comfortable even when active heating is turned off.
Bosch Summary: The fit here is also cozy and casual, and I feel like the jacket provides a little extra insulation than the Milwaukee. The zippered pockets are protected behind weather-shielding flaps. One niggle is that the zipper slider is on the opposite side than I’m used to. The battery power adapter can be placed in a side rear pocket or clipped to my belt.
Dewalt Summary: I feel that the Dewalt is a little baggier in the upper arms and throughout the torso. It’s not noticeably loose-looking, and the material doesn’t seem to bunch up noticeably. I like that there’s no visible branding on the front and only slight branding on the back, but don’t like the placement of the slightly larger heating battery power adapter. I wish that the heating control was on the outside of the jacket.
Lining: The Milwaukee has the softest-feeling lining, and the Dewalt follows. The Bosch jacket has a soft and smooth lining that might help it slip on easier when wearing certain sweatshirts or layers underneath.
Styles: Right now, Bosch only offers one jacket style, while Milwaukee and Dewalt both have several designs out. Milwaukee also recently came out with heated zippered hoodies.
Looks: I don’t like the look of the Dewalt jacket in pictures, but in person it looks decent. It’s still a little utilitarian, but not offensively so. I still don’t like the flaps covering the breast pockets. Between the Milwaukee and Bosch, they are both subtle and discrete-looking, and I can’t really decide which looks better.
Advertisement
Pockets: Again, I’m torn between Milwaukee and Bosch, but in theory I like how the Dewalt jacket has two breast pockets. I like how the Bosch pockets are protected with fabric flaps, but I might need to beef up the zipper pulls for easier feeling-for when wearing gloves.
Heating Ability: I’m still working on this part, but thus far I think Milwaukee has the edge. Bosch is close behind, and Dewalt is not far behind either. It’s close, but unfortunately the heating aspect is hard to test objectively and with constant environmental conditions.
Recommendation: Honestly, all three jackets gave me a great first impression. If you already bought into Bosch’s 12V, Milwaukee’s M12, or Dewalt’s 20V Max Li-ion cordless power tool lineups, that should be the strongest factor in your purchasing decision.
But if you’re brand-agnostic, I feel that the Bosch and Milwaukee jackets will be more comfortable to wear. The Dewalt’s larger and more noticeable battery power pack has a greater chance of affecting all-day comfort. This should only be an issue if you sit down and ride around a lot.
Between the Milwaukee and the Bosch, I think that the Bosch provides a little more warmth than the Milwaukee due to its heavier-feeling insulation. But on the other hand, the Milwaukee seems to have an edge when an additional layer is thrown on underneath.
Buy Now:
Bosch Heated Jacket (via Amzn)
Milwaukee Heated Jacket (via HD)
Dewalt Heated Jacket (via Amzn)
Javier
I have the first gen red Milwaukee jacket and it’s nice. I also really like the Bosch.
I wonder if the newer Milwaukee jacket or any of the other brands have cable routing to run headphones and usb cable through the jacket.
Tim
2nd gen Milwaukee does.
Javier
Nice. I noticed mine has a headphones logo in the battery compartment where the jacket power cord that plugs into the battery pack comes out of but have yet to find another opening in any of the pockets.
Chris
Looks like to me, dewalt is probably the only company that built the jacket for someone who wants to “work”, it’s basically a heated Carhartt..The Bosch looks like something I wear to the store or driving around in my truck all day… The Milwaukee is better then the bosch work wise but the Dewalt looks to be king
matt
the Milwaukee hoodie is made for people that “work”. Its just like a carhart or dickies hoodie.
I am pretty happy with the hoodie myself. TIA pointed out that the dewalt and Milwaukee use the same plug on the power source so your not really limited to on battery platform on those jackets..
Michael Quinlan
I can’t believe your timing. I just got my Milwaukee jacket and hoodie yesterday. The hoodie seems good so far, but I’m not yet convinced that the heating is worthwhile, and the “Waffle-weave thermal liner” is only in the torso of the jacket – the sleeves and hood are on the thin side, and unlike the jacket, the pockets aren’t heated. The jacket is still in the box, but I’ll be giving a workout tomorrow and Friday I’ve got a high school football game to go to Friday night, and most likely two playoff games and a championship game in the coming weeks. It gets pretty cold in those metal bleachers!
Phil
I eagerly bought one of the first available Milwaukee heated jackets when they became available. Timing was good too, since I had undergone some major back surgery and my normal tolerance for cold to severe cold went out the window for a couple years. The Milwaukee jacket was comfortable, surprisingly well made, and while there were times I wished for a higher-than-high temp setting, the heat was much appreciated. Yes, the run time was a bit disappointing for long late season football games or camping, but packing a few extra batteries helped there. I liked the color for the most part, the blaze red was sharp and the logos mostly inconspicuous (I sometimes got mistaken for a rep while in a few hardware stores) and those in-the-know asked me how I liked it, and I managed to “sell” a few as well. There were times the bright color was a little bit out of place, and I was disappointed when Milwaukee introduced a black version soon after in the Canadian-only market. With the V.2 jackets they addressed my concerns and desires, the ability to use the 18V packs for much longer run times, and the nice black color, plus the added hand warmers were something I had wished for. A black one is in the cards, and I was ready to pull the trigger until the hoodies came out. Damn, Milwaukee, take all my damn money already. I were hoodies a lot, and to be able to have a fully washable heated one is fantastic. So, I might just have to splurge and get both. This is especially urgent seeing that I have yet more serious back surgery to be done in a month.
I like the style of the Bosch jacket, and I am well invested in that platform already. I have only minimal investment in the Dewalt 12V line, and I do kinda like the rough-and-tumble look of their jackets. While these new choices have some temptation, I am more than likely going to stick with the Milkies. I don’t think anyone could go wrong with any of these brand offerings, just pick which one you already have as a platform and buy the jacket by itself to save money over buying the charger and batteries or getting into a brand/platform you don’t have already and contribute to battery and charger proliferation.
Michael Quinlan
After a night out at last night’s high school football game, I can say I’m a little disappointed with both the hoodie and jacket, but I’ll be the first to admit that maybe my expectations were too high- after all, how much heat can you generate, and for how long, given a 2.0Ah 10.8V or a 3.0Ah 18V battery?
The hoodie: like I said above, the sleeves and hood are not lined with the “waffle-weave thermal liner” – an unfortunate choice, given that these areas are unheated. The pockets are also unheated and unlined (why didn’t they learn from the evolution of the jackets?). That said, alternating between medium and high on the heat settings, the hoodie (over a short sleeve shirt) kept me comfortable in mid-40-degree temps while loading and unloading a truck full of band instruments. The M12 2.0Ah battery I was using had about 25% charge left after 90-120 minutes of use (according to the M12 power source included with the jacket. I’m disappointed that the power source included with the hoodie is not the standard M12 power source – it lacks a USB port, and more importantly, a battery charge meter – both of which are part of the standard M12 power source. Additionally, the battery pouch on the hoodie does not expand to accommodate an M18 battery with power source. Additionally, the Milwaukee web site claims “3 Heat settings: Adjustable by zone to provide the right amount of heat for any weather”. This is incorrect; a single heat setting applies to all heat zones (I confirmed this with Milwaukee support).
As I headed to the stands for a more sedentary test in the 41-42 degree range, I took off the hoodie and put on the jacket (again, over a short sleeve shirt). The heated pockets, while not “toasty”, left me not wanting for the “hot hands” I usually carry for the games. With the heated chest and back, my torso was comfortable, but my arms ended up on the chilly side. Sure, heating the arms would cost in terms of battery life, but I would like to have that choice, or at least better insulation in the unheated arms. Heat settings on the jacket ARE adjustable by zone (torso and pockets are adjusted separately). My overall impression of the jacket is that it’s a medium-weight jacket providing heavier-weight warmth through heat, not a cold-weather jacket made even warmer through heat. After 2+ hours on high heat in both the torso and pockets, I had about 25% charge left on the M18 3.0Ah battery I was using (with a not-included M18 power source). The expandable battery pouch, meant to accommodate the M18 + power source, is a tight fit – I couldn’t get the zipper closed all the way. Maybe there’s an optimum way to put the batter in the pouch, but I’ll figure that out over the weekend in the warmth of my house, not out in the cold with the jacket in my hands. Unlike the hoodie, the M12 power source included with the jacket is standard M12 power source. A hood on the jacket would have been appreciated too.
For both the hoodie and jacket, battery placement (left side, toward the rear) is comfortable and unobtrusive – I really didn’t even notice it – but this means taking off the hoodie/jacket to change the battery, since it’s not reachable (by me) with both hands). Each battery I used started fully charged.
Michael Quinlan
One correction on my previous post: the hood of the hoodie IS lined with the “waffle-weave thermal liner”.
Matthew
Milwaukee 2nd gen.
Classy, pocket warmers, extra capacity batteries.
Love it! Haha
Bill Strobel
Based on all the reviews I ordered and am now using a Milwaukee heated hoodie.
Tim
Does anyone else have the shocking issue? I have a Milwaukee and I get the piss shocked out of me when I take off the jacket. Can someone help me?
Stuart
Have you contacted Milwaukee’s customer service? If it’s a known or common issue, they should be able to help you.
Klipsan
Wow! First time I’ve heard of a “Heated Jacket” was today. I appreciate your reviews. As my company uses Milwaukee tools, I will buy the Milwaukee Jacket.
Thank You!
Mike
Looking for a heated vest or jacket that is suitable for golf.
Patti
Ansai has golf apparel. http://www.mobilewarminggear.com/ I have a ladies vest that I love. The battery is much lighter weight that the Milwaukee.
RICH G...CALGARY
I BOUGHT A DEWALT 20V HEATED JACKETS FOR MY WIFE AND I BECAUSE SHE IS SO SMALL AND THIN… THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE HER SOMETHING WARM TO WEAR IN THE WINTER. I THINK THESE ARE A JOKE THEY SHOULD BE ADVERTISING THEM AS CAR COATS YOU REALLY ONLY FEEL THE HEAT IN A WARMER ENVIRONMENT…THE BATTERY ONLY LASTS FOR ABOUT 3HRS ON HIGH… WOULDN’T ADVISE THIS IN CANADA UNLESS YOU HAVE FRIENDS COMING FROM FLORIDA TO VISIT IN SUMMER.
Peter
That’s so true I agree with you 100% the jacket is not warm I had to return 2 Milwaukee Jackie Because I didn’t feel the heat it was just Slightly warm shame on all the guys on YouTube whonsay the Jackets keep u warm
Mark
Rich G, no need to shout… : /
Kerrie
I just bought an AEG heated jacket.
I’m wondering if the jacket will be ok to use in the snow, either skiing or snow shoeing. What happens if they get damp and the power is on?
Chris
You just get damp along with it. That’s all.
Michael
Just picked up the 2nd Gen Milwaukee m12 heated jacket, can’t say enough good things about it. I live in upstate NY and it gets pretty cold here. Comfortable fit, not stiff at all, and you barely notice the battery pack on your hip. 10/10 for sure, great quality coat.
Mary
Just received my woman’s jacket – I usually wear a Medium but asked for a Large to allow for winter clothing bulk underneath, but the Large is actually quite tight with just a thin t-shirt on. Perhaps the women’s jackets run a size smaller than noted? Would be interesting so hear if men’s jackets also have the same problem. Looking forward to trying the jacket out when the next cold front swings through next week!
Don Sr.
I wear 2xl tall, But a Milwaukee m 12 hoodie I had to get 3 xl ..? So u maybe right, Mary they run small ?
Anthony
The problem is that companies like Milwaukee and Bosch are not coat manufacturers. They can try as hard as they want, but they are light years behind the best coat manufacturers like North Face, but to our dismay these companies are not offering heated coats. My solution to this is to make a coat heater that is designed to fit in any of the best coats made by actual coat manufacturers.
So I developed a product called Torch, its launching through a crowdfunding platform called Indiegogo in January. You can get more info here:
Larry Padgett
What is the torch and what will it cost
Anthony
Torch is a heater that is designed to fit in your coat. Basically we took all the same technologies these coats use, the batteries and heating element, and customized them to be able to attach to the inside of a coat. They start at $60. Its an economical way to use the technologies mentioned in this article. If you’d like more information or discounts you can sign up here: http://signup.torchcoatheater.com/
Anthony
We have actually launched and if you are interested in Pre-Ordering a Torch coat heater you can check us out here:
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/torch-the-world-s-first-universal-coat-heater–4/x/13115833#/
Fred
I need a heated jacket for off roading. Does any know if any of these can be charged with a cigarette lighter charger or plug into a 12 volt power source in a vehicle? Also is the boss the only heated coat in which the battery is in the front so I can wear it while I’m seated in an off-road seat?
Melody
Yes there is a cigarette adapter on eBay or an adapter to hook up from the battery. I ride a motorcycle and have mine plugged to the battery.
Russell Beres
Any thoughts on the Craftsman?
Stuart
I haven’t tried it yet.
Craftsman and Kobalt have come out with heated jackets as seemingly “me too” products.
Craftsman’s cordless platform would keep me from trying their jackets. Their 12V Nextec lineup has been stagnant, and I wouldn’t want a large C3 battery pack in a pocket – even if it were possible.
You get up to 5 hours of heat, presumably on the lowest setting. There’s no upgrade option, since Craftsman doesn’t have higher capacity 12V Max battery sizes.
Jorge Silva
How come this guy hasn’t done a review of Venture Heat’s Heated Jackets? They are made of the lightest material so it is as comfortable as regular jackets and heat up the fastest. I purchased an Outdoor Winter heated hoodie and I don’t have to wear 5 layers of clothing just to stay warm outside during the winter season.
Stuart
Because gear for outdoors enthusiasts isn’t always well suited for construction and similar jobsite environments, or such users’ needs.
Jorge Silva
Point well made. Thanks again for your reviews.