DeWalt Tobacco Soft Shell Heated Work Jacket Kit

A work jacket that actually warms you up

A heated jacket shouldn’t feel like a gadget. After several weeks on winter jobsites and early‑morning commutes, the DeWalt heated jacket mostly got that balance right: it wears like a soft‑shell, adds real heat fast, and doesn’t turn you into a walking battery pack—most of the time.

Heat performance and coverage

The jacket uses five heating zones—both chest panels, both sleeves, and an upper/mid‑back pad. This layout matters more than spec sheets suggest. On cold starts, the pre‑heat bumps all zones quickly, then settles into the selected setting (high, medium, low). I felt heat within 15–30 seconds and useful warmth at about the 60–90 second mark.

• High: best for idling on a windy slab or riding an open‑cab machine. It’s noticeably toasty, especially across the chest and back.
• Medium: my all‑day default when temps were in the 20s–30s F with moderate wind. It takes the bite off without feeling swampy during light activity.
• Low: good for shoulder seasons, driving, or layering under a shell.

The sleeve elements are a standout. Warm forearms keep hands and fingers functional longer, even before you reach for heated gloves. If you run hot, you’ll appreciate the quick LED controller—it’s easy to tap down a notch with gloves on.

Battery and runtime

The kit includes a 20V MAX 2.0Ah battery, charger, and the adapter with a USB port. With that pack:

• High: roughly 2–3 hours
• Medium: roughly 4–6 hours
• Low: roughly 7–9 hours

Your results will vary with wind, activity, and how often you use pre‑heat. On a sub‑freezing day with steady wind, I burned through the small pack in about 2.5 hours on high. I’d plan on carrying a spare pack if you’re outside all day, or step down to medium once pre‑heat has done its job. If you already run DeWalt 20V tools, larger packs add hours but also bulk; I found 2.0–3.0Ah to be the comfort sweet spot.

The adapter’s USB port is genuinely handy; topping off a phone during breaks is painless and didn’t crater runtime in my testing. The extension lead lets you route the adapter to either a front or back pocket. Up front, it’s easier to reach; in back, it’s less noticeable when bending and lifting.

Comfort, fit, and usability

As a soft‑shell, the jacket feels familiar and not overly crinkly. The fleece lining adds warmth without snagging mid‑layers, and the smooth sleeve lining makes it easy to put on over a hoodie. The low funnel neck and chin guard are well judged—high enough to block wind without digging in.

Adjustable cuffs and a waist drawcord help seal drafts. Sizing runs true for a regular fit over a base layer and light mid‑layer. If you plan to wear it over a thick sweatshirt or insulated bibs, consider sizing up. The weight is comparable to a typical work soft‑shell; the battery adds a small lump but doesn’t throw off your balance. With a 2.0Ah pack in the back pocket, I barely noticed it unless I was twisting under a dash or crawling; the front-pocket placement is better for seated work but can bump a tool belt.

The pocket setup is sensible: two zippered hand pockets, an internal accessory pocket, and a dedicated battery pocket. Zips are glove‑friendly, and the internal wind guard behind the front zipper blocks drafts well.

Weather resistance and layering

The outer shell is wind‑ and water‑resistant. In gusty, dry cold, it does its best work—cutting wind while the heating zones keep your core and forearms warm. In light, short rain, water beaded and rolled off. In steady rain or wet snow, you’ll want a waterproof shell over it. The jacket layers cleanly under a hard shell, and the heating zones still come through; I often wore it under a lightweight rain jacket to create a toasty microclimate.

Jobsite practicality

A heated jacket only earns space on the hook if it reduces bulk and fiddling. This one does:

• The LED controller is intuitive and visible without being garish.
• Pre‑heat gets you from cab to work without a shiver.
• The smooth sleeve lining is an underrated win when you’re in and out of the jacket multiple times a day.
• The battery’s USB port means one fewer thing to remember to charge in your truck.

Two tips from daily use:
- Start on high for 3–5 minutes, then drop to medium—better comfort and battery life.
- Route the adapter to the back pocket if you’re wearing a tool belt; it avoids the “front lump” that can clash with pouches.

Durability and build quality

Materials and stitching held up to a few weeks of scaffold snags and truck seat friction with only minor scuffing. The shell fends off abrasion about as well as a mid‑weight work soft‑shell.

The zipper is where I hit a snag, literally. On one sample, the main zip began to misalign at the bottom after several weeks. It never fully failed, but it required extra care to seat and start cleanly. On a second sample, the zipper ran true. That kind of variability says less about design and more about quality control. It’s not a dealbreaker for me, but it’s the component I’d most like to see upgraded—larger, more robust teeth and a beefier slider would match the jacket’s otherwise work‑ready feel.

Warranty and support experience

The jacket carries a one‑year limited warranty. My support experience wasn’t as straightforward as with DeWalt power tools: apparel service is handled through the brand’s clothing partner rather than the core tool network. I eventually got help, but the process took longer than I’d like for a daily‑use work layer. If you rely on a quick swap for critical gear, factor that in. Register the jacket, keep your proof of purchase, and contact support early if a zipper or controller starts acting up.

Care and safety

Follow the care tag closely: remove the battery and adapter, close zippers, and wash gently. I air‑dried mine; heat cycles are unkind to soft‑shells and adhesives. As with any heated garment, don’t stack it with other active‑heat wear on the same zones, and avoid sitting directly on hard edges with the battery in a back pocket. If you wear a safety harness, test the battery placement to ensure clean tether paths.

Who it’s for

• Tradespeople and DIYers already in the DeWalt 20V ecosystem who want heat without extra chargers.
• Anyone working in cold wind where active warmth beats thicker insulation.
• Commuters who want a single jacket that can both heat and charge a phone.

Who might want to look elsewhere:
- If your work destroys zippers, a heavy‑duty mechanical zip or a jacket with a service‑friendly closure might be a better bet.
- If you need all‑day high heat without swapping packs, plan on carrying a spare or consider a different power strategy.

The bottom line

The DeWalt heated jacket nails the fundamentals: fast, even heat across the chest, sleeves, and back; a shell that blocks wind; and an interface that’s easy to live with. The USB‑equipped adapter and sensible pocketing make it more than a one‑trick pony. Battery life on a 2.0Ah pack is respectable, and if you already own DeWalt batteries, there’s real value in not adding another charging ecosystem.

My cautions are specific but important: the main zipper needs more consistency, and the warranty channel for apparel isn’t as frictionless as DeWalt’s tool service. If your jacket is going to see daily jobsite abuse, inspect the zipper early and often, and don’t be shy about a warranty claim within the first year.

Recommendation: I recommend this jacket for users who want reliable, quick heat in a wind‑resistant soft‑shell and who are comfortable carrying a spare 20V battery. It’s an especially smart pick if you already run DeWalt 20V tools. If you prioritize bombproof zippers and white‑glove service over everything else, you may want to try it on, check the closure carefully, and keep alternatives in mind. For most cold‑weather work and commuting, though, it’s a warm, practical upgrade that earns its place in the truck.