DeWalt Soft Shell Heated Work Jacket (Jacket Only)

I’ve been wearing the DeWalt heated jacket through a string of frosty mornings, sleet, and wind on open jobsites. It’s the first layer I grab when I need dependable warmth that can keep up with stop-and-go work. After several weeks, here’s where it shines and where it still needs polish.

Fit and comfort

The jacket runs true to size, with enough room to layer a midweight hoodie or flannel underneath without feeling boxy. The insulated woven shell has a soft hand for a work coat, and the fleece lining adds noticeable comfort without turning it into a sweatbox once you start moving. I appreciate the smooth sleeve lining—it makes sliding over bulky cuffs and gloves surprisingly snag-free.

Adjustable hook-and-loop cuffs and a hem drawcord help seal out drafts. The low funnel neck hits a nice middle ground: it’s tall enough to block wind without jabbing your jaw when you look down. There’s no hood, so you’ll still want a beanie or shell in driving rain.

Weight-wise, it feels substantial in the hands. On the body, it balances well and doesn’t restrict movement. Add a 20V battery to the internal pocket and you do notice the extra heft, but it’s not a dealbreaker for full-day wear.

Heating performance

DeWalt puts five heat zones in this jacket—left chest, right chest, upper arms, and upper back. The coverage is well-considered. The upper-back panel keeps your core warm when you’re leaning into a task or sitting in a truck, while the arm zones take the edge off cold air rushing up your sleeves when you’re carrying material. The chest zones provide the quick “ahh, that’s better” hit when you first turn it on.

Warm-up is fast. The pre-heat function spools things up within a couple of minutes, and I found I could step down to medium or low once my core came up to temperature. On the coldest mornings, high heat feels great, but medium is the practical sweet spot for active work—enough warmth without overwhelming you when you start climbing ladders or hauling tools.

Heat is even and consistent; I didn’t notice hotspots or cold patches. And the jacket insulates well even with the heat off, so you’re not freezing the moment the battery depletes.

Power and runtime

This bare version includes DeWalt’s DCB092 USB power source, which plugs into any 20V MAX battery you already own. It’s a smart play if you’re invested in the platform. If you’re not, remember you’ll need to add a battery and charger to your budget—and to your loadout.

Runtime depends heavily on the heat setting and battery capacity. With a fresh 2.0 Ah battery, I averaged around two hours on high before the jacket stepped down. On low, I could stretch close to a full workday if I wasn’t cycling it on and off constantly. Medium lands in the middle, typically enough for a long morning and part of an afternoon.

A few notes from living with it:
- Heat is the priority. If you plug a phone into the adapter’s USB port, expect your battery to drain faster. It’s a convenient capability in a pinch, not something I rely on all day.
- Carrying a spare battery is wise if you expect extended time on high. Stepping down to medium or using pre-heat strategically pays big dividends.
- The jacket’s heating elements are efficient, but a 20V pack isn’t light. If you prefer less weight, pair it with a compact battery.

Controls and usability

Controls are straightforward: a single LED button cycles through pre-heat, high, medium, and low. Brightness is sufficient to confirm your setting at a glance. The control location inside the left chest, however, is a weak point. It’s easy to bump when you cross your arms, shoulder a bag, or lean against a surface. I’ve accidentally turned the jacket off more than once and had to unzip to restart it—gloves off, zipper down, press, zip up. It’s a small thing that becomes a repeated annoyance in field use. A slightly recessed or relocated button would go a long way.

Cable routing inside the jacket is tidy; you don’t feel wires or bulk when you move or reach overhead.

Weather protection

The shell is wind-resistant and shrugs off light rain and wet snow. It beads water nicely in passing showers and keeps wind from cutting through. In sustained rain you’ll eventually want a dedicated waterproof shell on top, but for most cold, mixed conditions, the jacket holds its own.

The internal wind guard behind the front zipper does what it’s supposed to do—no noticeable cold line down the center. With the cuffs snugged and hem cinched, the jacket traps heat well without feeling swaddled.

Pockets and carry

Pocket layout is practical:
- Two zippered hand-warmer pockets
- An external zippered accessory pocket
- An internal zippered pocket
- An internal pocket with hook-and-loop closure (also serves as the battery pocket)

The hand pockets are generous enough for gloves, and the internal zippered pocket holds a phone or notebook securely. The battery pocket keeps the pack stable with minimal bounce, and the cable doesn’t tangle.

One caveat: if you frequently need to access the battery or the controller, be prepared to open the jacket. It’s better for keeping the elements out, but less convenient when you need quick adjustments.

Build quality

Stitching is tidy, zippers are robust, and the fabric has held up to abrasive surfaces and the occasional fastener snag without fraying. After repeated cycles of heat on/off and lots of bending and lifting, the elements show no sign of shifting or creating pressure points. The jacket feels like a tool—made to be used, not babied.

I appreciate small touches like the chin guard at the top of the zipper and the smooth sleeve lining. They don’t sell the jacket, but they improve the daily experience.

What I’d change

• Button placement: It’s too easy to bump the control and power down. A recessed or side-mounted button would prevent accidental presses and reduce the unzip-rezip routine.
• High-heat endurance: Two hours on high with a 2.0 Ah pack is workable for bursts but not for a full day in sub-freezing temps. That’s par for heated gear, but it’s still a limitation you have to plan around. If you expect to run hot all day, a higher-capacity battery or a spare on hand is essential.
• Optional hood: A detachable hood would round out the jacket for wet, windy sites without requiring an extra shell.

Who it’s for

• Tradespeople and techs already on DeWalt 20V MAX batteries who want reliable, on-demand warmth without changing platforms.
• Outdoor workers moving between tasks where you can leverage pre-heat and medium settings for efficient runtime.
• Anyone who wants a durable, wind- and water-resistant layer that insulates well even with the heat off.

If you’re starting from scratch with no compatible batteries, factor in the cost and weight of joining the 20V ecosystem. If you need all-day high heat without swapping batteries, you may want to consider your power strategy or how you cycle heat through the day.

The bottom line

The DeWalt heated jacket nails the fundamentals: solid build, thoughtful heat zone coverage, quick warm-up, and practical weather resistance. It wears like a proper work jacket first, with heating that meaningfully extends comfort in cold conditions. The control button location is a real gripe, and high-heat runtime on compact packs won’t cover a full day without a spare. Still, those are manageable trade-offs in exchange for dependable warmth and compatibility with a common battery platform.

Recommendation: I recommend the DeWalt heated jacket, especially if you already own 20V MAX batteries. It’s a durable, comfortable layer that warms quickly and holds up on site. Plan your battery strategy and be aware of the control placement, and you’ll get a lot of value—and warmth—out of it.