DeWalt Charcoal Heated Barn Coat Kit

Why I reached for a heated barn coat

Cold, damp mornings on the jobsite are where good intentions go to die. I can stack flannels and hoodies all I want, but as soon as the wind picks up or the drizzle starts, I’m either freezing or wrestling a bulky shell that fights every reach and lift. That’s why I started wearing the DeWalt heated barn coat. It’s a classic duck-coat silhouette with a smart heating system inside—simple, rugged, and surprisingly refined in the right places.

Build and materials

The outer shell is a durable duck fabric in a subdued charcoal color. It shrugs off wind and light precipitation better than most standard barn coats I own. It’s not a rain jacket, but it buys you time in a misty morning or brief shower, and the wind resistance is immediately noticeable on open slabs and scaffold.

Inside, the body is lined with flannel for warmth and a bit of that old-school barn-coat comfort. The sleeves are polyester-lined, which sounds like a minor detail until you try to slide them over a sweatshirt or a base layer with cuffs; they don’t bind, even when your layers are chunky. The snap front closure is glove-friendly and consistent with the barn-coat style. If you live and die by zippers, you’ll miss the one-and-done zip, but in cold conditions I appreciated not fumbling with metal teeth while wearing gloves.

Fit is work-ready: room for a midlayer without feeling boxy, and the stretch through the articulated shoulders plus gusseted underarms makes a real difference when reaching overhead or forward. The extended rear shirt-tail is subtle but useful—it keeps your lower back covered when you’re bending, climbing, or sitting on cold steel.

Pocketing is generous and well thought out. There are the expected hand and chest pockets plus a couple of internal options (including one with a zipper) and a pencil slot. I kept the LED controller and power module tidy inside without feeling cluttered, and there’s still plenty of room for a notebook or a small square.

The heating system

This coat runs three heat zones—left chest, right chest, and mid-back—with a simple LED controller offering high, medium, and low, plus a preheat mode. The preheat is the unsung hero: hit it when you step outside, and by the time you’ve walked from the truck to the work area, the core warmth is already there. After that, I lived on medium most days, bumping to high when the wind kicked up.

The controller is tucked inside, which I prefer. There’s no glowing billboard on your chest, and the button is easy to find by feel. I never had accidental changes bumping into materials or straps.

Heat coverage is balanced. The back panel takes the edge off cold scaffolding or truck seats, and the chest zones keep your core warm without creating hot spots. If you’re expecting oven-level heat through the arms or across the entire body, that’s not what this is. It’s targeted core warmth—exactly what keeps you productive without overheating.

Power, battery placement, and runtime

The coat is powered by DeWalt’s 20V MAX battery platform, which is a huge win if you’re already on the yellow team. Note that the battery itself is not included. The included power module has a USB port, so you can top off a phone in a pinch without adding another brick to your pockets.

Battery placement matters. The default pocket is fine for most, but if you wear a tool belt or work harness, a battery at your hip can be in the way. The internal harness and adapter extension let you relocate the power module to a front pocket, which I found more accessible and less likely to interfere with a belt. On days with heavy rigging or a fully loaded belt, I sometimes dropped the battery in an open pouch and ran the cable cleanly—clunky on paper, but practical on site.

Runtime will vary with battery size and setting, but here’s how it shook out for me:
- With a 2.0Ah pack: around 2–3 hours on medium, more if I toggled heat strategically.
- With a 5.0Ah pack: a typical 5–7 hour day using a mix of medium and low, preheat at the start and after lunch.
- On high, expect a noticeable hit; it’s best as a warm-up rather than a set-it-and-forget-it mode.

Yes, the 20V packs add some bulk compared to compact 12V systems. The tradeoff is simple: longer runtime and one fewer charger to manage.

Weather performance and comfort

Wind is where this coat earns its keep. The shell and lining combination blocks gusts far better than a plain hoodie, and the heat zones fill in the gaps when the temperature drops. In light rain or snow, the water resistance holds up; in steady rain, plan to layer a shell over it or accept that you’re going to get damp.

Breathability is decent for a heated garment. On strenuous tasks—demo, barrow runs, attic work—I dropped to low or switched off entirely and still felt comfortable. When you stand still again, a quick hit of preheat brings the warmth back without needing to add or remove layers.

Day-to-day usability

A few quality-of-life notes from steady use:
- The snaps are sturdy and align well. I’d still love a two-way zipper plus snaps for maximum versatility, but the snaps kept cold air at bay when the coat was properly fitted.
- The internal cable routing is tidy. I never snagged a cable, and the power module didn’t create awkward bulges.
- The charcoal color hides job grime better than lighter shades, and the duck fabric scuffs gracefully rather than tearing.
- The coat is easy to move in. Climbing ladders, reaching across saw tables, hoisting sheet goods—the articulated shoulders and underarm gussets aren’t marketing fluff.

Durability and care

After weeks of wear, the shell shows typical scuffing but no fraying at high-wear points. Stitching around pockets and the hem is clean and has held up. The snaps haven’t loosened, and the internal wiring still sits flat. As with any heated garment, follow the care tag exactly—remove the battery and power module before washing and avoid heat in the dryer. Treat it like a tool, not a novelty, and it should last a season or more of hard use.

DeWalt backs it with a 1-year limited warranty. It’s not a lifetime garment warranty by any stretch, but it’s in line with other heated workwear.

Where it shines—and where it doesn’t

What I like:
- Practical, targeted heat with a fast preheat that actually changes your morning.
- Comfortable lining and smooth sleeves that don’t bind over layers.
- Thoughtful movement features and an extended tail that keeps you covered.
- Multiple pocketing options and clean internal cable routing.
- USB charging on the power module for phone top-ups.
- Works with 20V MAX batteries many of us already own.

Tradeoffs to consider:
- Battery not included; budget accordingly if you’re not already on 20V MAX.
- 20V packs are bulky. Placement is fine for most tasks but can tangle with a tool belt unless you relocate it.
- Snap-only front closure may not be everyone’s preference.
- Water resistant, not waterproof—bring a shell for sustained rain.

The bottom line

The DeWalt heated barn coat gets the fundamentals right: durable shell, comfortable lining, real range of motion, and a heating system that’s simple, fast, and effective. It feels like a work coat first and a heated garment second—which is exactly how it should be. I kept wearing it because it saved me time and fuss on cold mornings and let me stay in the same outer layer from first coffee through cleanup without playing the add/remove-layers game.

Recommendation: I recommend this coat, especially if you’re already invested in DeWalt’s 20V MAX batteries. It’s a dependable, jobsite-ready layer that adds quiet, controllable warmth without turning you into a walking gadget. If you need absolute waterproofing or you rely on a heavily loaded tool belt all day, weigh the battery placement carefully or plan a workaround. For everyone else—trades, facilities crews, ranch work, and chilly commutes—it’s a practical upgrade that makes cold weather feel manageable.