Craftsman heated jacket

[Ign]

Haven't seen any discussion of the new Craftsman heated jacket, and found nothing in search.
https://m.sears.com/craftsman-heated-jacket-x-large/p-009VA84502512P

This year's jacket is all new for Craftsman. Last year's was Milwaukee's previous (at the time) generation w Craftsman badging.

The new Craftsman is undoubtedly not Milwaukee. What interested me most was the integrated (removeable) hood, something Milwaukee refuses to offer.

I ordered a Small as most of this gear is built for obese Americans. I wear a Small in Milwaukee hoodies, and my sizing experience w Milwaukee jackets is now mostly obsolete as I have the 2nd gen in a Large, which is too big but good for fitting over my hoodie.

First, the Craftsman DOES power up w a Milwaukee holster! This was my first requirement. Unfortunately the Small is too small. It's restrictive in the shoulders and the arms are a bit short. I'm 5'10"/150

The Craftsman battery mounts front left kidney, ala Bosch? I think? Surprisingly the jacket seems to make little or no accommodation for beer guts, so with a snug fit the battery was definitely noticeable. If driving make sure it's not under the seat belt in case of accident.

On high the jacket did not seem to get as warm as my Milwaukee products. It has 4 heat settings but I hardly see the point. It has pocket warmers but they seem to more warm your kidneys/waist than the pockets themselves.

Otherwise I like the feel and construction a lot. If I can exchange for a Medium I'm sold. Unfortunately I anticipate a fight as I bought it on sale and Sears, IME, does not understand how to exchange something and still give you the original purchase price plus points.

I paid about $134 after an initial sale price of $160 less $25 in surprise points and free shipping.

edit: upon reflection my use of kidney may be incorrect; I just mean front side waist. Clearly anatomy is not my forte

 

[Boudin]

Thanks for the review. Was going to get one on the black Friday sale.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

 

[Ign]

Well, kudos to Sears. I exchanged my jacket today in-store for a Medium. I expected a fight, but just explained the item may ring up differently now but I want to do an EVEN EXCHANGE. The cashier was able to do it w manager approval. The Medium fits me much better in the shoulders and arms.

 

[Ign]

Ok I wore the jacket to dinner tonight and then we walked around downtown on a surprisingly cold, brisk night. I think I'll revise what I said about temperature; on high this one is very warm, easily as warm as any of my Milwaukee products. This is also the snuggest of any of my heated gear, so it really hugs my back nicely and that is KEY with any of this. Thus I don't know if the jacket actually puts out more heat than Milwaukee or just feels that way due to fit.

Either way this is definitely my favorite right now -- not because it's new but because it looks good, fits well, has a hood and cranks the heat. I'd recommend it.

 

[aspireguy95]

I noticed today while at Sears they also have heated hoodies now to

 

[Ign]

I noticed today while at Sears they also have heated hoodies now to

Yep, I don't know anything about the hoodies. I'm happy w my black Milwaukee hoodie ATM.

The great thing here is that Milwaukee will power the Craftsman stuff, so DeWalt should too. The battery pocket is kind of tight, I don't know if a sled-style battery and adapter would make it. IIRC Bosch will also power competitors, but competitors won't power Bosch, something in the start-up circuitry of the Bosch jackets themselves.

Since I'm swimming in M12 batteries and holsters it's unlikely I'll ever use the Nextec battery in the jacket. Plus TTBOMK the standard Nextec batts are still 1.3ah, but of course you can get 2.0 in Milwaukee

 

[PoorOwner]

Are you saying the Milwaukee m12 batteries will work with the jacket?

The craftsman battery system is not useful to me as I don't have their tools

 

[Bighead38]

Pics?

 

[MagnumForce]

Haven't seen any discussion of the new Craftsman heated jacket, and found nothing in search.
https://m.sears.com/craftsman-heated-jacket-x-large/p-009VA84502512P

This year's jacket is all new for Craftsman. Last year's was Milwaukee's previous (at the time) generation w Craftsman badging.

The new Craftsman is undoubtedly not Milwaukee. What interested me most was the integrated (removeable) hood, something Milwaukee refuses to offer.

I ordered a Small as most of this gear is built for obese Americans. I wear a Small in Milwaukee hoodies, and my sizing experience w Milwaukee jackets is now mostly obsolete as I have the 2nd gen in a Large, which is too big but good for fitting over my hoodie.

First, the Craftsman DOES power up w a Milwaukee holster! This was my first requirement. Unfortunately the Small is too small. It's restrictive in the shoulders and the arms are a bit short. I'm 5'10"/150

The Craftsman battery mounts front left kidney, ala Bosch? I think? Surprisingly the jacket seems to make little or no accommodation for beer guts, so with a snug fit the battery was definitely noticeable. If driving make sure it's not under the seat belt in case of accident.

On high the jacket did not seem to get as warm as my Milwaukee products. It has 4 heat settings but I hardly see the point. It has pocket warmers but they seem to more warm your kidneys/waist than the pockets themselves.

Otherwise I like the feel and construction a lot. If I can exchange for a Medium I'm sold. Unfortunately I anticipate a fight as I bought it on sale and Sears, IME, does not understand how to exchange something and still give you the original purchase price plus points.

I paid about $134 after an initial sale price of $160 less $25 in surprise points and free shipping.

edit: upon reflection my use of kidney may be incorrect; I just mean front side waist. Clearly anatomy is not my forte

Small? What are you, an elf?

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

 

[bushmechanic]

A good portion of such garments are cut for broad shoulders and freedom of movement. If you find them too large, drop the wisecracks and hit the gym.

I'm sick and tired of this stupid Internet anti-American fetish.

 

[mrvm]

Thanks for the review IGN

My medium Milwaukee hoodie fits well except I lack the beer belly gut that seems to be designed into the product. As you know heated hoodies in general are not as warm in cold temps as a heated jacket. Size small seems to be appropriate for your body size description to maximize heat from the CM jacket. My medium Bosch jacket is cut tighter and has good heat retention primarily because the outer material blocks the wind and helps retain body+electric heat. I like the new 3N1 Milwaukee jacket but would like to try on a small or medium which always seem to be out of stock at the local HD.

 

[Ign]

Are you saying the Milwaukee m12 batteries will work with the jacket?

The craftsman battery system is not useful to me as I don't have their tools

You've gotta have the Milwaukee M12 holster from one of their heated products too. Or last I knew they are available separately. I'm pretty sure the M18 adapter wouldn't make it in the pocket.

Pics?

Not much point when it's on Sears' website. Linked in post #1. If the mobile link doesn't work for you, I bet you can figure it out.

 

[Bighead38]

You've gotta have the Milwaukee M12 holster from one of their heated products too. Or last I knew they are available separately. I'm pretty sure the M18 adapter wouldn't make it in the pocket.



Not much point when it's on Sears' website. Linked in post #1. If the mobile link doesn't work for you, I bet you can figure it out.

I guess no one should ever post a pic of tools since there is a picture on the manufacturer website. /sarcasm

I asked because I wanted to see pictures of the jacket in the wild. Not some picture that a crew produced on a set using models.

 

[Ign]

Nope, no pics. But GJ never disappoints!

 

[PoorOwner]

officially BF on sale now $159 for different sizes, at the time the medium was over $159 for some reason. It looks like a good jacket and nice looking..

How hot is the jacket without the heat? when you get indoors do you have to take it off?

 

[Ign]

^^^the $159 price isn't terribly special as that's what I paid (less discounts) well before BF. You can bet once the holidays fade so will Craftsman's enthusiasm on these jackets though, and I doubt they'll go much lower than $159 unless they attempt to clear them out.

As for the warmth, there's just so many variables. I think it's quite warm without the heat. I have been wearing the jacket a fair bit and really enjoying it.

FWIW I tried on a M hoodie in a Sears store the other day. I was kinda interested in the heated collar -- and, honestly, just looking for an excuse to buy something-- and maybe a better fit than my Milwaukee S hoodie. Honestly, the Craftsman M seemed to fit almost identical to my Milwaukee S. Specifically I was looking for less of a beer gut provision, but no go. Arm length was near perfect though. From what I've seen the Cman hoodie is not avail in S, although if it were I think the arms would be too short.

 

[PoorOwner]

is this machine washable?
I'll be getting a medium as well your post is helpful.

 

[Ign]

IIRC Craftsman claims they're all machine washable. Verify on their site tho - I don't have time to check right now.

 

[PoorOwner]

I just got mine, they shipped me a display model with secuirty tag on it :/

the cut is straight and form fitting. Looks good.

I was playing with the max setting a little bit and the next day I turned on high and it only lasted like 40 more minutes. I hope the battery life is better if I use the 2 low settings.
The battery is about 1.3ah so it is weak.. I think the milwaukee power station have the same plug and also milwaukee makes a cigarette adapter

 

[kctyphoon]

I dont remeber the sears jackets being.anything like the milwaukee ones. I have Milwaukee's jacket from last year, and the year before.. I find that hard to belive since i remember seeing the craftsman models on clearance for like $40 or so cause.they didnt sell.. Im also getting the new black 3 in 1 with the ripstop nylon.. Where did u find any info calling.the craftsman rebranded milwaukee's?

Anyway there's a few different brands that will work with other companys batteries. As long as they use the same size plug and same.polarity its proabale they will work with each other.. Milwaukee and.dewalts you can.interchange batteries and power sources..

 

[mrvm]

Checked out the black CM heated jacket. The medium CM heated jacket with removeable hood looked nice, felt well made, CM emblem was not gaudy and the fit was good for me. Once I round up enough sywr points/codes I will pick it up but even at $159 it is relatively less expensive compared to the more expensive Milwaukee/Dewalt heated jackets kits with battery/charger.



Much much better than this awful camo CM clearanced at $25 last year. I've seen much nicer camo styles but this one was tough to accept even if they gave it to me. Had lots of static cling and shock whenever the jacket was removed.

 

[Ign]

We got our first real snow storm today and it made the roads slick.

This jacket is definitely my favorite now. The hood is awesome. On high the jacket is the warmest of my heated gear, despite my initial observations in post #1.

Today I had to help my local non-profit chain up their truck as dark was setting in. It was cold and I was crawling around on the snow but stayed plenty warm. The hood is awesome for sliding under the truck and keeping your head dry and snow out of your collar. Then I came home and plowed our road on our open tractor after dark. Love the hood again, love the heat while just sitting there.

I now wonder if there is something to the 4th heat setting as high seems really warm compared to my Milwaukee products. Plus the jacket does eat batteries pretty quickly on high. I can't imagine any useful runtime w the Nextec batteries - I'm glad I'm running M12 2.0's.

edit: I should say that in its defense the jacket powers up the pocket warmers with everything else, while on Milwaukee you have to select these separately if you want them on. So at all times the jacket is running two extra heating elements. I have no idea how big these elements are, how much additional current they draw or their overall effect on battery life - merely an observation.

TL;DR: recommend, but battery life is short on highest setting.

 

[lafester]

Kicking myself for not grabbing one last winter when they had stacks of them.
If anybody has one they don't want (2xl maybe 1xl) please PM.

 

[lafester]

Finally found one on ebay that wasn't insanely priced.
$170 shipped I suppose was about the normal selling price with tax before they cleared them out. Also have only seen one other xxl for sale and it was $230.

I have a pile of nextec batteries so I will be using them at least for awhile. This will mostly be a garage and camping jacket anyway so power will be available. I guess a 12v car adapter would be a nice addition.

 

[lafester]

Jacket came today and it's perfect condition wise. Everything fully sealed in box which is nice to see. Good fit, pretty warm even without heat. Full blast really gets toasty fast.

Not sure about the glowing C and the holster placement but otherwise it's great.

I know milwaukee makes some good jackets now but this fits in nicely with all my other nextec stuff.