M12 Heated Jacket Questions

[freudianfloyd]

I have been contemplating on buying one of these jackets, and was curious if those of you that have them would be able to answer a couple questions.

First off, would you recommend them?

Secondly, do these keep you warm enough that you can wear one in place of a heavy winter coat let's say on a below zero day, or are they more for wearing under a jacket, and just help make it bearable?

Thanks for the replies

 

[Fixed]

I got my mom the hoodie, she wears it under another jacket, she says it's awesome, uses them while walking her dog up here in Canada.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

[Addrock]

I have; vest, hoodie and jacket (with hand warmer). I would answer no, good to 30. Exceptional under a great jacket.

 

[kctyphoon]

I have 3 of the jackets from the last 3 year, bought the new model this year and returned them. The older soft shell is a much warmer jacket without the heat, and the insulation in the arms (the non heated area) is alot better.. the sizes of the new models are way off from the old (jackets). I bought 2, both in the large and XL sizes, neither fit me well.. wore the large to work one day in 50 degree weather with a tank top a d long sleeve shirt, and without the heat even, my arms were cold. Cold enough to take it off in favor of my old Carhartt hoodie. Wore the old model next day, same shirts and colder temps outside and was fine without the heat even.

I spent the last couple years working outside everyday in a tank top, long sleeve shirt and heated jacket with a Carhartt hat in the NJ winters. There might have been 2 days in the year I had to put another jacket on, but for the most part I was fine with minimal clothing as long as I had extra batteries with me.

I wouldnt recommend the new model, I really like the old ones. If u can find last year's black and grey softshell, I'd get that instead.. they work very well at keeping the heat in, and I use all 5 zones on high in the winter.

 

[freudianfloyd]

Thanks for the replies guys. I appreciate it.

 

[rlitman]

I have the black and grey 5 zone jacket (I believe the 2nd generation jacket), and I'm happy with it, I suppose. For me, the best thing about it is that the jacket itself is not all that warm, so if I turn off the heat when I feel that I am overheating, I can cool down to a comfortable level. If it were a really warm jacket, it would greatly limit the times I could wear it.

As for layering, you can layer OVER the heated jackets, but if you layer under them, you won't feel the heat.

 

[eddiemeddiem]

I have a hoodie that I wear under my hunting jacket when it's cold out. It's nice because I can turn it on when I'm sitting still and it certainly takes the chill off. It wouldn't replace a heavy coat, but I'm happy with it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ign]

I wear everyday M12 hoodie w the M12 vest over it. The vest heat is redundant and useless over the hoodie, but it does an EXCELLENT job of pushing the hoodie elements against my body. This is the warmest setup BY FAR. A heated jacket alone will not do NEARLY what you think it will.

The vest, while not needing to be heated, is excellent for what it's intended: rip stop. I was just doing a job in the field storming through oak brush (our oak brush is serious) and there's no way a branch will damage the vest. In fact, if anything penetrates the vest you probably just got mugged in a NYC dark alley.

The vest on its own is also dumb: fits like a burlap sack and has massive duck-**** unless you have a huge gut. But it fits well with a hoodie taking up the space underneath.

 

[kctyphoon]

I have the black and grey 5 zone jacket (I believe the 2nd generation jacket), and I'm happy with it, I suppose. For me, the best thing about it is that the jacket itself is not all that warm, so if I turn off the heat when I feel that I am overheating, I can cool down to a comfortable level. If it were a really warm jacket, it would greatly limit the times I could wear it.

As for layering, you can layer OVER the heated jackets, but if you layer under them, you won't feel the heat.

This exactly..
Whaen your hear people complain about the jackets not putting out enough heat, 9 out of 10 times they are still layering as if they were wearing a normal coat.. they don't understand that the idea is to be wearing LESS clothes.. tank top, long sleeve shirt, hat - done.. zip up the collar all the way, tighen the bottom draw strings, tighen up the wrist bands.. All the heat will stay in.. use the pocket warmers too. They keep you warmer and produce more internal heat.. invest in extra batteries.. you can get 2 more 2.0 batteries for less then the cost of a new compact 3.0.. dont bother with trying m18 batteries and using the m18 power source unless you buy the extension cord and have a place to keep the battery next to. If you're operating machines all day (front end loader) and you'll be in the cab all day - the m18 stuff is worth getting.. otherwise it's too heavy. Stick with the m12 batteries.

 

[dsgreen3]

This exactly..
Whaen your hear people complain about the jackets not putting out enough heat, 9 out of 10 times they are still layering as if they were wearing a normal coat.. they don't understand that the idea is to be wearing LESS clothes.. tank top, long sleeve shirt, hat - done.. zip up the collar all the way, tighen the bottom draw strings, tighen up the wrist bands.. All the heat will stay in.. use the pocket warmers too. They keep you warmer and produce more internal heat.. invest in extra batteries.. you can get 2 more 2.0 batteries for less then the cost of a new compact 3.0.. dont bother with trying m18 batteries and using the m18 power source unless you buy the extension cord and have a place to keep the battery next to. If you're operating machines all day (front end loader) and you'll be in the cab all day - the m18 stuff is worth getting.. otherwise it's too heavy. Stick with the m12 batteries.

Yep Ihave the same jacket and the more clothes you wear under it the less you feel the heat. I love the heated pockets.

 

[audioworks04]

I do not have the Milwaukee, but I do have the Dewalt version. As other have said it is awesome above 30, but need another layer below that to help hold in the heat. In my opinion well worth the $100-150 you can find them for on Amazon.

 

[FMC1959]

I have a hoodie and find the quality top notch. Not counting the heating factor I find the price is about worth it just because the hoodie is well made and warm. That it heats up also, makes it a great value in my books.

 

[Ign]

If you're in a cab all day plug in w the cigarette lighter adapter, Milwaukee sells 'em

 

[rlitman]

... dont bother with trying m18 batteries and using the m18 power source unless you buy the extension cord and have a place to keep the battery next to. If you're operating machines all day (front end loader) and you'll be in the cab all day - the m18 stuff is worth getting.. otherwise it's too heavy. Stick with the m12 batteries.

Funny thing about that, I don't actually own the M12 power source. I only use mine with M18 (though the few other people I know who have this jacket use only the M12). The down side to the M18 power source is you have to switch it off, or else it will drain your battery down even without using it within a couple of days (the M12 has no switch). With an XC battery pack, it's obnoxiously large (that's why the pocket opens up extra wide), but I can still fit in the driver's seat with it (the position would probably interfere with the seat belt in the passenger's seat), and an XC battery gives me over 6 hours of heat on high. It was nice to have instead of a thick blanket the last time I had the flu.

If you're in a cab all day plug in w the cigarette lighter adapter, Milwaukee sells 'em

Yep. BTW, the connector is a standard barrel connector, used for all sorts of 12V things. Security cameras, LED lighting, all sorts of stuff.

With some wire, you could use a pair of these:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G6EAOZ4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
to make an extension cord, or just the female end and a cigarette lighter adapter to make your own cab cord on the cheap.

I often use my M18 power source to run 12V stuff that uses that adapter cordlessly. I used to use a 12V plug in power supply on my telescope (rather than killing a pile of AA's), but now just use my M18 batteries this way.

 

[Ign]

I've also noticed the M18 source drains the battery if left on

 

[jimreed2160]

Sorry that I have nothing to contribute on this subject. I live in Florida and wear tee shirts year round.

 

[heytrid]

I have the snap on version.

I would recommend it however not as a work jacket, honestly working outdoors proper layers (maybe the hoodie or vest) under a carhartt and you will be WAY better off.

Lately it has been -25C (-35C windchill) and it has kept me warm for the amount of time I have been outside, at that temp with it on high I could not feel the "heat" so to speak but I was warm, Hard to explain but I guess it seemed to maintain warmth.

I bought it as a casual jacket for winter, cleaning the truck off, running to the store, hockey games and the like and I am completely happy with the performance. If I bought it for a work jacket and to warm me up working outside all day I would be VERY disaspointed.

 

[Poolfixer201]

Hello world I have a m12 vest less then a year almost to the day I received it as a gift ya it's great got extra batteries keeps me warm but I was afraid to wash it .but I finally had to did just as tag says .yep it won't work now figures so now what .any one else have this problem

 

[Poolfixer201]

And by the way this vest is impossible to ware if you have yellow labs dog hair magnet

 

[mrvm]

First off, would you recommend them?

Definitely recommended especially if you got cordless power tools that use the same batteries. Running the M12 hoodie and M12 jacket. Hoodie is decent as long as its not windy and much better under a heavier wind blocking outer jacket. For extended periods outside be sure to bring an extra battery. Retaining heat and blocking the heat-sucking wind makes the M12 jacket much better than the hoodie.

 

[Crazyjake8493]

My buddy has the hoodie and loves it. He wears it down to about 20 degrees and then has to put a jacket over it. Fantastic under a jacket, though. Holds in the heat really well.

 

[Fredartic]

I have the red hoodie and I love it so much; it helps with my muscles and back pain. I used it alone during fall and put it under a jacket during winter while snowplowing with my ATV.

I recommand it. I'm wondering how can I live without it so long...

 

[purpurite]

Just came in from shoveling outside while wearing the M12 hoodie underneath my Patagonia Nano Puff jacket. FWIW, it's currently 1° outside, and it did a great job of keeping my core temps where they should be. The adjustable heat setting is nice, too, as I would up feeling too warm under the coat.

I would say the hoodie on it's own is a great quality sweatshirt, but the heating elements put it way over the top. I love mine, but I wish it was a slimmer fit, as I feel like I only can really feel direct heating when I press it directly up against my body.