DeWalt Lithium ion soft shell heated jacket

A heated jacket that plays best with the 20V batteries you already own

Cold mornings on site and late-night errands have made me a believer in heated outerwear, and DeWalt’s heated soft-shell has been in my winter rotation for a full season. It’s designed around the brand’s 20V MAX batteries, which is great if you’re already swimming in yellow packs. After months of use in wind, light rain, and a few freezing jobsite starts, here’s how it’s held up and where it stands out—and stumbles.

Setup, power, and battery choices

The jacket uses a compact power adapter that slides onto any DeWalt 20V MAX battery and tucks into the battery pocket. The adapter provides two USB ports and a battery fuel gauge, so you can top off a phone or headlamp without digging out a separate power bank. It’s a nice touch, but keep in mind that charging devices inevitably eats into heat runtime.

Battery choice defines the experience:

• Compact 20V packs keep weight down and are the most comfortable for driving or bending at the waist. With a compact pack, I could wear the jacket all day with minimal awareness of the battery.
• Larger XR 4.0Ah packs fit thanks to the expandable pocket, and they meaningfully extend runtime. The trade-off is bulk; you’ll notice the battery when you sit, wear a harness, or twist under a cabinet.

Runtime depends on temperature, wind, and how often you bump it to high. In my use, a compact pack delivered several hours on low, enough to get through a chilly morning. A 4.0Ah pack carried me through an entire workday on low-to-medium with breaks. If you plan to live on high, bring a spare battery.

Heating performance and coverage

Heat is focused on the left and right chest, mid-back, and collar. Those zones make practical sense: warming the core keeps your whole body feeling better, and the heated collar is more useful than I expected. It takes the sting out of cold wind on your neck, especially when you’re not wearing a scarf.

The LED controller gives you three levels—high, medium, and low—and a pre-heat function that kicks the elements up quickly before settling into your selected setting. From cold, I typically felt warmth in under a minute and comfortable heat within a few. On a 40°F day with light wind, medium was plenty on its own. In the upper 20s with a steady breeze, I ran pre-heat to start, then toggled between high when standing around and medium when moving.

One thing you won’t get is heat in the hand pockets. If you’re accustomed to heated parkas that warm the pockets, you’ll miss it here. I solved that with thin liner gloves or disposable hand warmers when standing idle.

Fit, comfort, and layering

The shell is a durable, wind- and water-resistant soft-shell with a fleece-like lining. It blocks wind effectively and sheds light precipitation, but in a sustained rain you’ll still want a shell over the top. The overall feel is flexible and quiet—not crinkly—so it doesn’t advertise itself when you move.

Fit is true-to-size with room for a base layer and a light mid-layer. I appreciate the adjustable cuffs and hem; cinching the waist helps trap heat and keeps drafts out when you’re up on a ladder. The sleeve length is generous enough to keep wrists covered when reaching overhead. There’s enough mobility in the shoulders for overhead work without tugging the hem up.

Battery placement matters more than with compact 12V heated gear. The pocket sits at the rear side, and with a larger XR pack you will notice the weight when you sit or lean against a bench. On a long drive, I preferred a compact pack. On site, wearing a tool belt pushed the battery into me a bit; again, compact packs were more comfortable in that scenario.

Controls and day-to-day usability

The controller lives on the chest where it’s easy to access with gloves. The button has a positive click, and the indicator is bright enough to see outdoors without being flashy. Cycling through modes is straightforward, and the controller never misfired on me when shouldering a bag or running a saw.

The included power adapter’s fuel gauge is genuinely useful. Before walking out the door, I can check the pack without removing it from the pocket. The two USB ports are convenient in the field—charging a phone on low heat didn’t crush runtime, but charging while running high heat drains faster than you expect. If you rely on the jacket for warmth, consider charging devices sparingly or carrying a separate power bank.

Durability and serviceability

The outer fabric has held up well to abrasion against truck beds, concrete, and the occasional brush with a rough edge. Seams and stitching are tidy, and the lining hasn’t pilled.

The main zipper is the weak point. After a few months, I had a couple of instances where the zipper separated from the bottom stop when I was in a hurry and tugged at an angle. Proper alignment and a deliberate pull eliminated most issues, and a bit of zipper lube helped. Still, a beefier zipper would inspire more confidence on a jacket built for jobsite use.

A note on warranty and service: the jacket carries a 1-year limited warranty. It’s apparel, not a drill, and the service path reflects that. It’s worth registering your purchase, keeping your receipt, and buying from a retailer with an easy exchange policy. If the zipper is going to misbehave, it tends to show up early.

What I’d change

• A heavier-duty main zipper and zipper garage would address the most common annoyance I ran into.
• Heated hand pockets would broaden the jacket’s appeal for anyone who stands still between tasks.
• Battery pocket placement could be refined. A more central or slightly higher location would be less noticeable with larger packs and more comfortable when seated.
• A small cable pass-through from the battery pocket to an interior chest pocket would tidy device charging.

None of these are deal-breakers, but they would round out an otherwise well-thought-out package.

Who it’s for—and who should look elsewhere

If you already own DeWalt 20V MAX batteries and want on-demand warmth without adding yet another charger to your life, this jacket makes sense. It’s most effective as a mid-layer or standalone in cold, dry conditions. Tradespeople who start their day in freezing garages, service techs bouncing between calls, or anyone who commutes in an unheated cab will get real value from the heating zones and the quick pre-heat.

If you prioritize the lightest setup, a 12V heated jacket system with smaller batteries may feel less bulky. If you frequently work in steady rain, a true waterproof outer shell over an insulating layer will outperform any heated soft-shell. And if you’re hard on zippers or depend on flawless apparel hardware, you might want to handle one in person before buying or plan to baby the zipper.

The bottom line

As a daily tool for keeping my core warm while I work, the DeWalt heated jacket has done its job. The heating elements cover the right areas, the controller is intuitive, and the built-in USB power source is genuinely useful. The flexibility to run compact or larger XR batteries is a smart design choice, even if bigger packs add bulk. Fit and finish are solid overall, with the caveat that the main zipper could be sturdier.

Recommendation: I recommend this jacket for users already invested in DeWalt’s 20V ecosystem who want reliable, adjustable heat in a wind- and water-resistant package. Go with compact batteries for comfort, keep a larger pack on hand for longer stints, and treat the zipper with care. If you don’t own DeWalt batteries or you demand bombproof zippers, there are alternatives that may suit you better, but for most 20V users this is a practical, effective way to stay warm on the job.