For folks who live in a northern climate, the hardest part of any winter workday is that gut-check moment when you turn off your truck's heater and trudge out into the cold. No matter how many layers you're wearing, you still wish you could bring some of that heat along. Now - thanks to Milwaukee's Cordless Heated Jacket - you can.
Battery-Powered Warmth
Sold as part of the company's 12-volt lithium-ion power-tool line, the jacket has heating elements sewn into its chest and back. They're powered by a battery that sits in a pocket at the jacket's waist. At first I worried that this sizeable lump would be annoying, but it rode comfortably above my toolbelt and remained well clear of my suspender harness. After a while I forgot it was there.
A push button sewn into the jacket's lapel switches the heat on and off and selects the temperature - high, medium, or low.
The jacket kit includes one battery and a 30-minute charger. I found that a fully charged battery provided heat for five hours and 50 minutes at the low setting, and two hours and 10 minutes at the high setting. To stay warm for an entire day, you'd need to bring along spare batteries.
Features. The jacket has a tough wind- and moisture-resistant polyester shell, comfortable fleece lining at the collar and cuffs, and four zippered pockets, including a cellphone-sized compartment at the chest. It comes in two colors - red and camouflage - and is not machine-washable; it has to be hand-washed and line-dried. Because of the integral heating elements, Milwaukee warns against wearing it when the polyester lining is wet.
Performance
I wore the jacket in a variety of conditions. The heating elements weren't quite powerful or extensive enough to render me impervious to subzero temperatures, but I felt warmer than I would have in my other jackets. In serious cold, I got the best results when I layered a couple of shirts underneath it and wore a big sweatshirt on top. The cuffs were a little loose and exposed my wrists to the cold, and the spring locks on the bottom hem cinch cord refused to stay locked.
And then there's the price. The $185 kit is significantly more expensive than a Carhartt. But if you've already bought into the M12 system (and have plenty of extra batteries) you can buy the jacket alone for $125 - which just might make sense if it makes your winters a little bit less bitter.
Andy Beasley is a veteran woodworker in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Jacket Specs
Sizes: Medium through 2XL Weight: Large is 2.6 pounds with battery Kit (2331) includes: jacket, one 12-volt lithium-ion battery, 30-minute charger
Warranty: One year for jacket; two years for battery
Price: $185 for kit, $125 for jacket alone (2330)
Milwaukee
800/729-3878
milwaukeetool.com
