Bosch Heated Jacket

[woodstockva]

Hey everybody

I have been wearing this Bosch heated jacket for the last couple weeks & have been very pleasantly surprised. Like everywhere else in the US right now, it is extremely cold here (19 degree high yesterday w/winds) & it has been keeping me very warm.

They have 3 heat settings (red = high, green = medium, blue = low) & will heat up extremely fast....like in a matter of seconds. The adapter that power the jacket, also has a USB port to re-charge your phone & it can do both at the same time. The battery adapter/USB charger also has a metal belt clip, so you can use it year-round to charge your phones/tablets & not waste your money on one of those USB Lithium Cell "Powerpacks" at walmart.

I got a large size (I am 6'2" & 175lbs), and it fits me fine. If you are borderline with sizing, I would absolutely order the next size up from what you normally do.

Overall, I like it. It looks like a motorcycle jacket (styling) & does not have a rough inside that will cause your sleeves you bunch up on your arms. The interior is very smooth & with the battery pocket in the front, you cannot feel it poking you while you ride down the rode.

Plus sides:

- Comfortable
- Looks good
- Affordable (under $200 with jacket, charger, 12v battery, and adapter)
- Heat comes on EXTREMELY fast
- Lots of pockets
- Doesnt bunch up your sleeves
- Battery placement (front inside pocket OR optional placement on your belt)
- Internal routing of USB wire for phone charging

Down sides :

- Hand wash/Drip dry only! Not machine washable or dry-able.
- No Hood.
- No option for a cigarette outlet adapter.

If you are in the market for a heated jacket....take a look at the Bosch!

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[Kracin]

good review, those look nice, but the pocket warmers are a must!

i do appreciate it though that you do seem to do your homework before reviewing tools. so you know whats up.

can you believe that the next two videos i clicked on were people reviewing the milwaukee heated jacket in realtree.... never once in either video did they ever turn on the main heat zone.. only the hands, and both of them throughout the video show the light only being lit on the hands while out in the cold, and talk about how nice it is to have a heated jacket on when its sooooooo cold...

proof that anybody can make a video rofl. but also makes us grateful you are actually a good reviewer.


which of the heated jackets do you find the most comfortable or best overall? fit,warmth,ease of use,pocket capacity,versatility,waterproof.... of all the brands?

 

[neophyte]

In my experience, it's usually the guys in the dirty flannel who are more likely to successfully complete the jobs they're hired to do.

 

[mrvm]

Great review on the Bosch heated jacket. Got one a few months ago when Amazon had a promo 25/100. The only small critique is the zipper placement on the Bosch jacket while an issue with probably all the heated jackets is parasitic battery drainage while battery is connected and unused.

 

[woodstockva]

good review, those look nice, but the pocket warmers are a must!

i do appreciate it though that you do seem to do your homework before reviewing tools. so you know whats up.

can you believe that the next two videos i clicked on were people reviewing the milwaukee heated jacket in realtree.... never once in either video did they ever turn on the main heat zone.. only the hands, and both of them throughout the video show the light only being lit on the hands while out in the cold, and talk about how nice it is to have a heated jacket on when its sooooooo cold...

proof that anybody can make a video rofl. but also makes us grateful you are actually a good reviewer.


which of the heated jackets do you find the most comfortable or best overall? fit,warmth,ease of use,pocket capacity,versatility,waterproof.... of all the brands?

Thanks!

I have pocket warmers in the Milwaukee heated jacket....they are nice, but most of the time I carry candy around with me & if I turn them on, they melt all my chocolate! haha

I have only used the Milwaukee heated hoodie, Milwaukee heated jacket, Milwaukee 3-in-1 camo jacket & this Bosch jacket. I have no experience with how the DeWalt, Makita, Ryobi, Ridgid, or Craftsman units feel or work.

The Milwaukee jackets fit looser than the Bosch (same sizing). The battery placement on the Bosch is absolutely better. You cannot feel it at all when driving.

The Bosch jacket looks like a motorcycle jacket in my opinion....especially with the reflective accents. I hope they include a hood & cigarette outlet cord (or option) with the next model of these.

In my experience, it's usually the guys in the dirty flannel who are more likely to successfully complete the jobs they're hired to do.

I am not arguing that point at all! But....if you show up to give estimates & look like you fell off the back of a truck, or you are nicely dressed & present yourself well...you will give a more professional appearance. When you get the job, then wear the flannel.

Great review on the Bosch heated jacket. Got one a few months ago when Amazon had a promo 25/100. The only small critique is the zipper placement on the Bosch jacket while an issue with probably all the heated jackets is parasitic battery drainage while battery is connected and unused.

Thanks! It took me a couple days to get used to that zipper also....pretty frustrating at first. I didnt think about the parasitic draw, but it makes sense....thanks for pointing that out!

 

[whitedogone]

No hood....bahhhhh

 

[kctyphoon]

i have the dewalt heated hoodie.. i got it for christmas, and i honestly i love the thing.. i would buy it even if it wasnt heated.. IMO the fit is much better over the milwaukee hoodie, and seems more comfortable. the Milwaukee seemed very snug for its size (i wear XL). the dewalt on the other hand fits me just like my carhartt insulated hoodie (model j149) which is probably the most popular hoodie around.. to be completely honest, and i dont know if this is true with other heated gear, i dont "feel" the heat from the hoodie when im wearing layers, but im sure its helping to keep the cold out. been working nights this entire week in almost 10 degree weather and wore it every time. with my heavyweight thermals, long sleeve timberland waffle shirt, and dewalt hoodie, i was completely comfortable in 10 degrees without even wearing my carhartt jacket or bibs.. (carhartt hat and face cover was needed)

i like that the fit is loose, because i still need to layer up in case i run out of battery power, or need to throw my jacket or bibs (or both) on. it might be wamer with a tigher fit, but mobility and comfort are much higher up on my agenda for work. i havent washed it yet, and the lettering across the front is my only concern for long term use, but like i said, id buy this again even without the heat. i really like the color (dark grey), fit, and feel of this hoodie.. ive worn it with just a t shirt, and you can definately feel the heat on high even with the loose fit..

i didnt know at first, but the first setting when you turn it on is a rapid heat setting (flashing red) and the solid red, white, blue are the regular heat settings. if left on rapid heat, i believe it will switch to med after a few minutes.. only downside of the dewalt, is the power source is stupidly large - about twice the size it should be.. the m12 or m18 power source's are much smaller and can be used with the dewalts if you have their batteries instead of dewalts (and vice-versa)

great review on the bosch - definately looks like a more upscale (manager/foreman) type of a jacket, and belive the bosch is also the warmest between the 3 brands i mentioned. i wonder how good the craftsman one is..

 

[Ign]

Too bad the Bosch won't run on Milwaukee batteries, I'd consider it then.

I'm almost thinking of a DeWalt for the hood.

 

[Ign]

i didnt know at first, but the first setting when you turn it on is a rapid heat setting (flashing red) and the solid red, white, blue are the regular heat settings. if left on rapid heat, i believe it will switch to med after a few minutes.. only downside of the dewalt, is the power source is stupidly large - about twice the size it should be.. the m12 or m18 power source's are much smaller and can be used with the dewalts if you have their batteries instead of dewalts (and vice-versa)

great review on the bosch - definately looks like a more upscale (manager/foreman) type of a jacket, and belive the bosch is also the warmest between the 3 brands i mentioned. i wonder how good the craftsman one is..

Nothing new there, they apparently took Milwaukee's hand-me-downs. V1.0 of the Milwaukee jackets did that, it was no bueno. Just more logic circuitry to fail; it has to know you're turning it on from having been off, then it has to flash until it reaches a certain point, then it has to auto-kick down to medium. This failed on my wife's jacket but Milwaukee warranty was effortless and fast.

V2.0 Milwaukee eliminated this. Bravo. On is on, high is high, medium is medium, etc simple.

 

[Joe B.]

The time I need something like this the most is when I'm out moving the snow around or playing with the kids in the snow. Would any of these fit well under a traditional jacket as an added layer? I don't get cold playing with the kids that much because we are moving around. I do get cold when I'm walking slowly behind the snow thrower.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

In my experience, it's usually the guys in the dirty flannel who are more likely to successfully complete the jobs they're hired to do.

Average temp at work is about 55*, single digits outside. Earlier this week, shop temp was in the 40s, but it was in the 20s outside! **** me.




I think the concept of that jacket is super cool, but seems way too nice to destroy in the shop. Plus I can't work in long sleeves, only rolled; makes me feel claustrophobic. My flannels last a year or so..... Burned a hole in one today welding! RIP Flannel.

 

[Ign]

The time I need something like this the most is when I'm out moving the snow around or playing with the kids in the snow. Would any of these fit well under a traditional jacket as an added layer? I don't get cold playing with the kids that much because we are moving around. I do get cold when I'm walking slowly behind the snow thrower.

The hoodies fit under jackets well, yes.

 

[woodstockva]

No hood....bahhhhh

Yeah, hopefully this is an upgrade in the future!

i have the dewalt heated hoodie.. i got it for christmas, and i honestly i love the thing.. i would buy it even if it wasnt heated.. IMO the fit is much better over the milwaukee hoodie, and seems more comfortable. the Milwaukee seemed very snug for its size (i wear XL). the dewalt on the other hand fits me just like my carhartt insulated hoodie (model j149) which is probably the most popular hoodie around.. to be completely honest, and i dont know if this is true with other heated gear, i dont "feel" the heat from the hoodie when im wearing layers, but im sure its helping to keep the cold out. been working nights this entire week in almost 10 degree weather and wore it every time. with my heavyweight thermals, long sleeve timberland waffle shirt, and dewalt hoodie, i was completely comfortable in 10 degrees without even wearing my carhartt jacket or bibs.. (carhartt hat and face cover was needed)

i like that the fit is loose, because i still need to layer up in case i run out of battery power, or need to throw my jacket or bibs (or both) on. it might be wamer with a tigher fit, but mobility and comfort are much higher up on my agenda for work. i havent washed it yet, and the lettering across the front is my only concern for long term use, but like i said, id buy this again even without the heat. i really like the color (dark grey), fit, and feel of this hoodie.. ive worn it with just a t shirt, and you can definately feel the heat on high even with the loose fit..

i didnt know at first, but the first setting when you turn it on is a rapid heat setting (flashing red) and the solid red, white, blue are the regular heat settings. if left on rapid heat, i believe it will switch to med after a few minutes.. only downside of the dewalt, is the power source is stupidly large - about twice the size it should be.. the m12 or m18 power source's are much smaller and can be used with the dewalts if you have their batteries instead of dewalts (and vice-versa)

great review on the bosch - definately looks like a more upscale (manager/foreman) type of a jacket, and belive the bosch is also the warmest between the 3 brands i mentioned. i wonder how good the craftsman one is..

Nice....I will have to check out the Dewalt jackets No experience with the Craftsman versions...so I couldnt say either way (I have not even seen them in person). As far as this one (Bosch) goes, you are correct -- I definitely think it has the "foreman/manager" look to it.

Too bad the Bosch won't run on Milwaukee batteries, I'd consider it then.

I'm almost thinking of a DeWalt for the hood.

Yeah it is odd that it wont work with the Milwaukee batteries, since they use the exact same plug.....even the car adapter wont work with it. I assume that they have some kind of safety feature built in to prevent use with non-Bosch batteries.

The Milwaukee jackets/hoodies WILL work with the Bosch batteries/adapters & have no issues.

Nothing new there, they apparently took Milwaukee's hand-me-downs. V1.0 of the Milwaukee jackets did that, it was no bueno. Just more logic circuitry to fail; it has to know you're turning it on from having been off, then it has to flash until it reaches a certain point, then it has to auto-kick down to medium. This failed on my wife's jacket but Milwaukee warranty was effortless and fast.

V2.0 Milwaukee eliminated this. Bravo. On is on, high is high, medium is medium, etc simple.

I hadnt heard of the this feature....sounds like they made a smart move getting rid of it.

The time I need something like this the most is when I'm out moving the snow around or playing with the kids in the snow. Would any of these fit well under a traditional jacket as an added layer? I don't get cold playing with the kids that much because we are moving around. I do get cold when I'm walking slowly behind the snow thrower.

The Bosch would fit.....but if you are looking for something heated under a jacket, I would go with the Milwaukee M12 Heated Hoodie....they cost $150 w/battery & charger, and are MUCH more lightweight & fit under jackets great.

Average temp at work is about 55*, single digits outside. Earlier this week, shop temp was in the 40s, but it was in the 20s outside! **** me.

I think the concept of that jacket is super cool, but seems way too nice to destroy in the shop. Plus I can't work in long sleeves, only rolled; makes me feel claustrophobic. My flannels last a year or so..... Burned a hole in one today welding! RIP Flannel.

I hate cold weather....HATE. I feel bad for you! haha

One thing you might look into is the Milwaukee 3-in-1 (camo) heated jacket. The part of it that is actually heated is a removable vest (no sleeves) & you could easily wear just that under a short sleeved shirt if you wanted.

The hoodies fit under jackets well, yes.

 

[Ign]

The Craftsman jackets are just V2.0 Milwaukees. Although I don't think they kept the pocket warmers....? I could look at Sears site if I really cared (I don't). The Craftsmans are a bit more affordable, and would be interesting to know if they run on Milwaukee holsters.

 

[Greatbear]

Who knew Seth Macfarlane was so good at tool reviews? Some of the best I've seen over the years.

I picked up the original Milwaukee heated jacket when it was first released, it was also at a time after I had some involved surgeries that took away my tolerance for extreme cold, so winters were more comfortable. When Milwaukee announced the next generation which was also available in black in the U.S., I picked one of those as well, the black color being more appropriate in many cases, not showing dirt so easily and not standing out like a Ferrari in a fleet of limousines. About that time Bosch came out with their version of a heated jacket, and I like the sportier style. The Milwaukee jackets have a definite work jacket aesthetic, the DeWalts have an even deeper-in-the-trench Carhartt look (a friend has one and loves it). I got a grey Milwaukee heated hoodie in the fall for those days I don't want a heavy jacket, I'm pretty impressed how well those work. Since I am already heavily invested in Bosch 12 and 18V tools, the Bosch heated jacket might be in the future for me as well, it appears to be a jacket that would work just as good for a casual night on the town as it would working outside on cars in the winter.

Thanks for the review!

 

[2StepsAhead]

The Craftsman jackets are just V2.0 Milwaukees. Although I don't think they kept the pocket warmers....? I could look at Sears site if I really cared (I don't). The Craftsmans are a bit more affordable, and would be interesting to know if they run on Milwaukee holsters.

They have the hand warmers, I got mine when they dropped to $100...figured I would give it a try since it was the cheapest jacket at the time. Its actually a really nice piece, just not too fond of the big red craftsman logo lol. They have the camo ones down to lke $50 or $60 right now.

 

[Ign]

Who knew Seth Macfarlane was so good at tool reviews? Some of the best I've seen over the years.

I picked up the original Milwaukee heated jacket when it was first released, it was also at a time after I had some involved surgeries that took away my tolerance for extreme cold, so winters were more comfortable. When Milwaukee announced the next generation which was also available in black in the U.S., I picked one of those as well, the black color being more appropriate in many cases, not showing dirt so easily and not standing out like a Ferrari in a fleet of limousines. About that time Bosch came out with their version of a heated jacket, and I like the sportier style. The Milwaukee jackets have a definite work jacket aesthetic, the DeWalts have an even deeper-in-the-trench Carhartt look (a friend has one and loves it). I got a grey Milwaukee heated hoodie in the fall for those days I don't want a heavy jacket, I'm pretty impressed how well those work. Since I am already heavily invested in Bosch 12 and 18V tools, the Bosch heated jacket might be in the future for me as well, it appears to be a jacket that would work just as good for a casual night on the town as it would working outside on cars in the winter.

Thanks for the review!

Source a Bosch holster and use your 12V Bosch batteries in your Milwaukee heated gear. I followed almost the exact same path as you, then got the black hoodie after the gray. I wear the black everywhere, really like it and doesn't show dirt like the light gray.

 

[FigureItOut]

Thread from last year but with winter here I'd thought I'd bring it back in case anyone's interested. I got my Bosch jacket this morning and have a few thoughts. It was $155 on Amazon after a $25 Bosch holiday special and came with one 2AH battery and charger.
An option to skip the charger would have been nice, with a reduction in cost or extra battery. I guess I have a spare now. The jacket itself is quite a bit nicer than I thought. It's almost tasteful enough for a night out, but it is a work jacket. It's thicker and more insulated than my jacket that I wear most often. It's not loud but I could do without the red cuffs and reflective accents.

The shell is nice and pliable, but still seems plenty water resistant, and the liner is soft and comfy. The bungees around the waistline are a nice touch but not especially effective at tightening the bottom a lot. The collar goes up enough to cover my neck well but not so much it rubs my chin. The zipper seems a bit flimsy, and didn't work real smooth right out of the box, I think they could have used a much bigger one, and it being on the opposite side of a normal men's jacket is annoying. I hated the illuminated switch on the left breast at first, but I don't think it's really noticeable. I don't mind the little logo, but I don't want to be walking around with lights on my clothing.

I love the pockets, they're well thought out and easy to access, and the USB cable access holes and zipper stops are impressive. I'd bet somebody wore and used early versions making changes before they put it into production.

The fit like others have said is smaller than you'd usually wear, but that's really best for a heated jacket, or any jacket really. I like the fit overall, but it's oddly short. I have a shorter torso as compared to my arm length and waist size, and it's a touch shorter than I would like, so I could see it being a problem for some.

It does heat up fast, and very warm. I would not want to wear it on high with a thin t-shirt. Only comparing it to an unknown brand I had as a kid, the actual surface area with heating elements is stingy. I could do with the medium setting being the hottest, with heating elements over more of the interior surface. I also laid the jacket down on a table and really felt around checking out the wires and such, and everything seems well secured. I had wondered about things working themselves out of place and I don't think that will happen.

All in all I really like it, but I'm in the Bosch system already. If I'm not mistaken, the other heated jackets come with battery and charger also. If I had it to do over again, I'd look more closely at the others. The Milwaukee for one I know I could have at least tried on at Home Depot, but I was set on the Bosch.



Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337Z using Tapatalk

 

[Ign]

You can buy all the Milwaukee heated products a-la-carte save for maybe the women's 2399 (great design for a women's cut BTW).

At present my Craftsman continues to be my favorite on cold days by a big margin. Best fit for me, warm, love the hood. Being powered off Milwaukee. If Bosch wasn't so "smart" as to know its not using a Bosch battery, I'd love to try their jacket. Otherwise I have zero Bosch.

 

[rice rocket]

Anyone compile a list of jackets and their heat zones?

Bosch has the upper chest and upper back. Milwaukee and Craftsman added the pocket warmers. DeWalt is upper chest and lower back. Not sure what Makita's is like.

 

[Ign]

It gets even more confusing if you wanna talk hoodies. The Cman hoodie and I think DeWalt have collar heat, or maybe it's the DeWalt jacket that has collar heat.

Also controls add another dimension, eg Milwaukee gives you separate control of pocket heaters but Craftsman just turns on everything w a single button. Also the Craftsman jacket has 4 alleged heat settings while most have three.

I know nothing about the Makita or Ridgid heated gear.