I’m not sure how this came up, but I was out on a hike with my wife for my 30th birthday, and we started talking about the new heated jackets that will soon be hitting the market. Seriously.
We talked about Milwaukee’s women’s jacket in the past, and more recently my wife shared her feelings about Dewalt’s heated jacket. After she called it a butt ugly design, we debated about whether Dewalt simply added heating elements to a plain off-the-shelf work jacket, or if they designed it from the ground up. The debate continues, but we decided it might be fun to share her thoughts about all the new designs in a post.
Unrelated, my wife’s favorite power tool color is Makita Teal.
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Milwaukee’s Women’s Heated Jacket & Hoodie
As discussed in our Milwaukee 2013 new product post, Milwaukee is coming out with a few new heated outerwear products this year, including a women’s jacket and hoodies sweatshirts.
All in all, looks good, but the pink breast cancer ribbon is a little patronizing. The men’s jackets don’t have blue ribbons for prostrate cancer awareness. It’s a great cause that has unfortunately been twisted into an overdone commercial marketing ploy.
Nice! I like the classic styling and that it has a drawstring hood, especially since most of the heated jackets don’t have one. I’d wear this in a women’s size, BUT NOT IN PINK!
Bosch Heated Jacket
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Bosch’s heated jacket will be available this Fall.
The best looking of the bunch, but not to say it looks feminine. It has modernized sports styling, but is not over the top. Love the attention to detail! Wish this was made in women’s sizing.
Dewalt Heated Jacket
Dewalt’s heated jackets will be available this Fall as well. There will be a whole line of products, but we’ve only see this one style thus far.
Snore. Looks butt-ugly. It looks like this was rushed into production, with a lot of thought given to function and nothing to form.
[Ed. Note: a lot of tradesmen might see this as a plus.]
jeff_williams
My wife and I are totally with Mrs ToolGuyd on the pink ribbon stuff. We always laugh when it shows up on weird stuff and think it dilutes the message.
Scott Edwards
I was watching some of the videos from the new products showcase event that Milwaukee had, and it looks like they’re doing a little more than just plastering a pink ribbon on the side. I think they’re doing something with the breast cancer foundation that pays for mammograms for women in the US. If so, that’s a great cause and I think Milwaukee deserves some props for the work they’ve put in
Eric
The Dewalt looks identical to my Carhartt soft shell. Different branding. If so it is a pretty nice coat. Warm, good water resistence, durable zippers and extra long sleeves.
Jon
Second that the Dewalt looks like Carhartt soft shell and its a great jacket for work and motorcycle riding. Actually get complements on it all the time on its looks. Makes me a little self conscious to wear it sometimes. So might look better on you than in an internet picture. If that matters.
Jason
I heard that if you don’t have good body contact with the heating elements in the jacket you don’t get much benefit from even having a heated coat. I don’t know if its how they displayed that Dewalt jacket or what it looks bulky as hell and the point of the heated jacket is less bulk so you have better mobility while working in colder weather. If I wanted to wear a big North Face parka while working I would actually probably not I could never pay that much for just a brand name like North Face.
joe
Dewalt jackets are for men Milwaukee and Bosch are for sissy’s they are for work not prancing around a night club
John S
haha sure… but the dewalt still looks like a straight-jacket 🙂
Allen
I know nothing about this type of jacket, but do they have some sort of thermostat system ?
Javier
3 temp settings low med high
Stuart
As Javier mentioned, each heated jacket (or sweatshirt) has low, med, high settings. The output temperatures are not defined or specified in any other way, so finding the most comfortable setting is more of a trial-and-error endeavor.
Theoretically it is possibly to allow for any number of heat/power settings, but that would increase the complexity of the product and require a safe location to place a control dial or knob of some kind.
Javier
Stuart, I have a question. I’m thinking of buying a milwaukee jacket or hoodie this year, are there any physical stores I can walk into to try on a jacket?
Stuart
It’s unclear as to whether any local stores or distributors will carry any of the jackets. To date I have yet to see Milwaukee’s jackets stocked locally, but maybe that will change this Fall since everyone is coming out with heated jackets.
I did see a Kobalt heated jacket at Lowes in the past, but it was boxed up. Even if stores carry heated jackets, they’ll likely be in boxes and not hangers. Your best bet might be to order from a retailer with a good returns policy.
Javier
Yeah thats probably what Im going to do. I found a big online retailer that has a first gen red jacket kit in my size for $99. But I gotta read the fine print in their returns policy before I order. I’ll just craigslist the battery and charger to recoup some of the cost. I have enough batteries and chargers. Thanks for the info Stuart.
David
Any notes on fit? I was going to get one of these for my wife but was afraid the cut wouldn’t be right.
Steve R.
Stuart–In reply to Javier’s question about brick and mortar stores for trying one on, Sears is big on workwear; you could also try Gempler’s, Cabela’s and other outdoor/sporting goods sellers. Also try local stores that deal in work boots; they usually carry a good variety of workwear as well.
I like the DeWalt’s appearance; it may well be a Carhartt re-branded coat. My issue with Carhartt is the standard stiff canvas; it’s difficult to move in or be comfortable wearing it. I really like their sand-washed clothing, though, and buy those items when I need something.
Milwaukee has a good-looking hoodie, but I have a problem with red clothing; it bleeds in the wash. It’s a good safety color, however, and you can’t be too safe on a jobsite. Bright lime green (used on many safety vests and light jackets) is even better, but that burns a hole in your retina after awhile.
Javier
Ive never seen milwaukee products in a sears so I looked online and only can find the heated jackets under a marketplace seller. Never heard of gemplars so I looked at the cabelas website and they don’t offer any Milwaukee jackets. After trying your suggestions I think you understood my question. Im not looking for workwear in general, I’m just looking for two particular items, a milwaukee heated jacket and hoodie. Also part of the question is that I’m looking for a physical store. A store I can walk into and try these on and see how they fit me. If it were a tool purchase then it wouldn’t matter as much since tools are typically one size fits all but as for clothing that’s a different matter. I have a hard time as it is finding clothes that fit me correctly so I would prefer to try on before I buy. I know a bunch of online retailers that sell these but don’t want to go through the hassle of returns if it doesn’t fit me correctly.
Ron
Try Home Depot nearest you for the Milwaukee . The one I work at In Ontario has them as a stock item. If the one nearest you doesn’t you can order it online and have it either shipped to your home or your nearest Home Depot store. Returns are no issue just return to the store if need be.
Stuart
I would be a little surprised if Carhartt was Dewalt’s OEM – surprised, but happy.
I don’t quite like the look of Carhartt’s coats, but their jackets are better looking.
What I want to see is a Carhartt heated jacket that can be powered by Bosch, Dewalt, or Milwaukee power ports. It is unclear whether USB could provide enough power, so maybe it could be powered via a barrel plug adapter.
John
On the Milwaukee website, you can click on “Find Retailer” below each item and search by zip code to find local stores that carry the line.
http://www.milwaukeetool.com/power-tools/cordless?product+systems=m12&product+types=heated+gear
that plumber guy
I don’t know about the states, but home depot Canada has the Milwaukee m12 Jackets in stock(actually amount of sizes varies by store). Might be worth a shot Javier. They even had dedicated displays set up in the winter.
Javier
In response to John and that plumber guy, I will try both of your suggestions. I tried yesterday that find local retailers search engine on the Milwaukee site and a bunch of weird businesses showed up like warehouse and distributors. I tried calling one but the phone must’ve rang for like 3 minutes and nobody answered. I’ll keep trying other businesses. Also my local HD doesn’t stock any but I’ll ask if they will soon or in the fall. It doesn’t seem like any one has any in stock so I might just have to go the online route. Thanks guys I really appreciate the suggestions. Also want to thank Steve R. for his suggestions too.
matt
I like the hoodie looks like any other hoodie. I would much prefer it without the giant freaking Milwaukee across the front. a small insignia fine but at damn near $200 they are not getting me to do free advertising..
The dewalt looks like pretty much any work jacket. Carhart, dickies, red cap all have something of that design rugged long lasting work jacket not really about looks its about a jacket that will survive. The dewalt does look it will make it a couple winters on a construction sight..
Mac
I have heated motorcycling gear (gloves and jacket)… assuming this is pretty much the same (though my gear hooks up to my bike).
I WISH I could have had it years ago! Specifically the one winter (in the mid atlantic north east) I rode year-round, not by choice but because I couldn’t afford a car.
The gear is not as effective if it fits loose. This is just physics – solids are far better thermalconductors than gases (read: air).
My gear has a fully variable resistor, but H-M-L should be fine. When I first got the gloves (xmas gift), I was like a kid and ran out to try it out. Just standing in the garage I couldn’t keep the gloves on they got so hot, set only around 3 out of 10.
I would think making gear for women would be wise (profitable).
KL
It is true if the jacket doesn’t touch your body well you get little benefit from the heating elements; think heating pad at home.
As for hooking up to an MC, Milwaukee makes a 12V adapter that’ll plug into any “cigarette lighter.” It has a break-away in case you forget. Last I knew it was around $30.
The Milwaukee jacket is not for night clubs, at least in the men’s version. It’s got a thick outer shell which is tough and cut-resistant IMO. I finally got one when they came out with the black (which hit Canada at least a year before the states) as I just couldnt’ bring myself to do the red jackets.
As for retailers, think outside the box (pun?) and look to the trades. Some wholesale plumbing or electrical supply places will stock these. Who cares if it’s wholesale? They’ve probably got some open to try on ’cause tradesman want to try things on before dropping their hard-earned cash, same as the rest of us. NOW if a plumbing wholesale would stock WOMEN’s jackets………that’s a whole ‘nother matter. But may help the guys.
The Milwaukee jackets are cool (er warm) and Milwaukee is great about warranty within the one year warranty period. Stu, does Brookstone still offer one??
Joe
I love the carhartt design of the dewalt. I own one and sometimes can’t wait for winter because they have great pockets for storing stuff, it’s like having a pocket book without looking like girl. I f you want to get one for your wife or girlfriend the Bosch or Milwaukee would be the better choice though,but be forwarned your gonna need to get them their own batteries then that becomes an expensive jacket and they might steal your batteries.You get to the jobsight and all your batteries are gone or not charged.
Steve H
I work at a Canadian owned tool store in the Vancouver BC area.
We stocked the Milwaukee heated jackets last year, but for
whatever reason they didn’t sell as well as expected.
We are only special ordering the heated hoodies this year.
I own 2 of the jackets (black and camo) and just recieved my
(khaki) hoodie. The jackets work awesome, as I mainly use mine
for winter quad trips, winter camping ect. I will be testing out my
hoodie this afternoon at a buddies picnic table (having beers).LOL
The red hoodie is the only hoodie that has the full Milwaukee emblem
across the chest, the grey, khaki, and fluorescent hoodies all come with
the smaller Milwaukee emblem on the left side chest.
We have yet to see either the Dewalt or the Bosch heated jackets,
but they look to be more of a winter style jacket rather than the
soft shell Milwaukee style. I’m not a real fan of ANY yellow tools
(so Dewalt is out) and the Bosch is yet to be available to us, so I haven’t
yet had a chance to check out the quality. Although Bosch Tools always
seem to take their time making sure that what they are launching (tool wise)
is going to be of the best quality, with minimal warranty retuns.
As far as I know, none of these jackets or hoodies can or should
be machine washed. They are wired with heating elements that
should NOT go through the wash or the dryer.
They can however be handwashed and hung to dry.
Gemy
maybe you can try STAY WARM Heated Jacket or DURAN Heated Jacket.
I bought it last year and quality is better than others also the price is not expensive.
now they have online store, link: http://www.aliexpress.com/store/1083255
Hope it can help you!