The Best Heated Jackets
Verified by
Ryan V. Editor-in-Chief
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Five of the eight publications we reviewed recommend Milwaukee's M12 heated jacket, more than any other model. Field & Stream named the M12 Heated ToughShell its Best Overall in September 2026, and Bob Vila's buying guide did the same. Kenny Koehler made it the top pick in Pro Tool Reviews' guide for trade pros. Forbes Vetted chose it for work. Travel + Leisure's testers wore an earlier M12 jacket camping and on cold nights at the telescope, then named it Best Windproof for its 'impressive heat retention'.
The battery settles it. On the 3.0Ah pack that ships in the M100B-21 kit, Milwaukee rates 12 hours on low, 6 on medium and 3 on high. Forbes and Pro Tool Reviews both called out that 12-hour figure, and no other pick in our research is rated longer on low. Milwaukee's Hexon carbon-fiber elements warm the chest, the back and both hand pockets. The jacket takes any M12 pack, so if you already own Milwaukee drills or drivers, your spare battery is sitting in the garage.
Field & Stream points out that it goes in the washer and the dryer, which matters for a coat that will see sawdust, grease and road salt. The stretch polyester shell has a DWR finish against wind and light snow. Home Depot sold the kit, battery and charger included, for $199.97 when we checked in October 2026. Every Fieldsheer, Gobi Heat and Venture Heat jacket in our research costs more.
What It Won't Do
It's a work jacket first. There's no hood, and Pro Tool Reviews notes there is no women's-specific fit. Milwaukee lists the size large kit at 4.03 pounds, and high heat drains the battery in about 3 hours, the drop Forbes Vetted flagged. Field & Stream doesn't rate the shell as water-resistant, and Milwaukee only claims a DWR finish, so steady rain calls for a shell on top. Bob Vila's guide also cites owners who say it never gets hot enough, even on high.
ORORO's Men's Classic Heated Jacket is the one general-interest reviewers keep picking. Forbes Vetted named it the best heated jacket overall in October 2026, Popular Mechanics gave it Best Overall in its 2024 guide, and Bob Vila's buying guide chose it as the best heated jacket for work. Its Amazon listing has more than 5,000 ratings.
The current version heats four zones: the collar, the mid-back and both hand pockets. The older model Popular Mechanics reviewed had three, and 'only three heating zones' was the downside it listed, so the new collar panel answers it. ORORO rates the included 7.4V 4800mAh battery at 10 hours on low and 3 on high, the same high-heat rating as the Milwaukee. Popular Mechanics reports it 'heats up in under a minute', and the battery has a USB port to top up your phone.
The hood and the price seal it. The adjustable hood zips off, which Bob Vila's guide says 'offers flexibility in terms of style and protection level'. ORORO lists the jacket at $199.99, but its own store and Amazon both had it at $139.99 in October 2026. That is about $60 less than the Milwaukee kit, and ORORO covers the heating elements for three years.
What It Won't Do
Fit is the main complaint. Forbes Vetted's Steven John found it bulky, suggests sizing down and wished the lining were softer. The softshell resists wind and light rain, but Bob Vila's guide is clear that it is not waterproof. Care takes more effort than with the Milwaukee: ORORO says to wash it cold and hang it to dry. A spare battery also means buying ORORO's own 7.4V pack, since it can't borrow a tool battery.
Who Should Buy Which
Milwaukee M12 Heated ToughShell Jacket
The heated jacket five of our eight sources recommend, with 12 hours of heat on low from the M12 battery in the kit
- You already own Milwaukee M12 tools and batteries
- You work outside in the cold, on a jobsite, in a shop or around the yard
- You want the longest rated runtime on low, up to 12 hours
- You want a jacket that can go in the washer and the dryer
- You don't need a hood, or you wear a hat or hard hat anyway
ORORO Men's Classic Heated Jacket
Forbes Vetted's and Popular Mechanics' Best Overall, now with a heated collar to go with its detachable hood
- You want a heated jacket for commuting, dog walks and errands
- You want a detachable hood and a heated collar
- You'd rather spend about $140 than $200
- You like the idea of charging your phone from the jacket battery
- You're fine sizing down and hanging the jacket to dry