Milwaukee M12 Heated Gear Preview
August 20, 2014
By Jeff Williams on Cordless Tools, Jackets, News, Safety & Work Wear, Workwear
Milwaukee M12 Heated Gear Preview
Rob in the mannequin militia
As far as tool manufacturers go, Milwaukee is the oldest name in heated gear. They’ve been in it the longest and it really shows in some of their newest products. We had a sneak peek last week at the New Product Symposium and they proved once again that they’re always thinking about ways to improve their products.
Some incremental changes
Last year the M12 Heated Gear line saw the introduction of the hoodies and they have been a huge hit. I can speak from personal experience that for about 8 months out of the year it is my most used tool. It’s the first one I turn on in the morning and the last one I put away in the evening. The hoodies had a broader appeal than the jackets because they could be worn in more climates. This year the hoodies remain mostly unchanged except for the introduction of a few new color choices. The much requested black is now in the mix along with 2 Real Tree camo patterns.
Some bigger changes
The jackets have been out for 4 seasons with some small changes and a couple new introductions. For this upcoming season Milwaukee chose to improve the garment portion of the jacket. They have the electrics and heating elements pretty much figured out but had been lagging behind the other manufacturers in the style department. This year they stepped it up a bit. They added velcro cuffs, elastic drawstring waist, more stylish zippers, and accent colors. In addition they have slimmed the fit a little. They still claim it’s a working coat but realize that keeping the garment close to the body helps it perform better. The final improvement is that all their heated gear including the jacket (finally!) are machine washable.
The biggest change
The best introduction in the M12 Heated Gear line this year is the introduction of a 3 in 1 system in the camo jacket. The system has an inner heated vest and an outer jacket shell with a hood. The jacket can be worn vest only, shell only, or vest and shell together. This is a great introduction. It allows a person to wear the vest under any jacket of choice. You can wear it under blaze orange or under your motorcycle or snowmobile jacket.
Available soon
Look for these new products to hit the shelves and online retailers in the next few weeks. We don’t have price information yet but imagine they will be very similar to last years. The 3 in 1 will be more considering there are more parts to it but the other releases should be comparable to years past. Almost all of us here at Tool Box Buzz hail from far northern states so we’ll be using ours in probably a month or two. Stay tuned for a thorough review of a number of the new products in the M12 Heated Gear line later in the season.
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- Jacket starting to heat up. Will reach 25 degree F temperature differential.
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- Rob in the mannequin militia
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- Trying on a new slimmer fit
Press Release
7/01/14
MILWAUKEE, WI –Milwaukee Tool will continue to expand their line of M12™ Heated Gear as they begin their 5th Season this fall. The 2014 line includes a ground-up redesign of M12™Heated Jackets, the introduction of the M12™ Realtree Xtra® Camo 3-in-1 Heated Jacket, and new M12™ Heated Hoodie color options for on and off the jobsite. Powered by M12™ REDLITHIUM™ Battery Technology, Milwaukee® Heated Gear distributes heat across the chest and back to actively warm core body areas. Durable carbon fiber heating elements woven in between rugged exterior materials and thermal insulating liners generate and maintain heat to reduce the need for bulky layers. Three heat settings (High,Medium, Low) allow the user to select the right amount of warmth for all weather conditions. All M12™ Heated Jackets, Hoodies and Hand Warmers are now fully machine washable and dryable for extended use.  Redesigned for optimal fit, better heat retention and improved versatility, the new Milwaukee M12™ Heated Jackets feature an improved cut that provides an enhanced range of motion and keeps heat closer to the body. Now with a new two-tone color design, the rugged wind and water resistant shell keeps weather out, while improved insulation and a thermal fleece lining hold heat in to reduce the number of layers needed. For added versatility, two distinct heat zones (back and chest, lower pockets) can be adjusted independently to provide the right amount of heat for any situation, and an oversized cargo pouch and utility pocket have been added for storage. A USB charging power port conveniently charges all portable electronic devices, while displaying remaining run time for the battery. The new jackets will be available in Black, Red and RealtreeXtra® Camo,  joining the Women’s and High Visibility Heated Jackets to round out the M12™ Heated Jacket lineup. Brand new this fall, Milwaukee® will also introduce the M12™ 3-in-1 Camo HeatedJacket. The most advanced heated jacket system designed for the outdoorsman, the customizable 3-in-1 Heated Jacket sets a new standard in cold-weather performance and versatility. Worn separately as a base layer or attached to the outer shell, the heated vest integrates five carbon fiber heating elements and advanced fabric-layering technology to distribute and maintain heat across core body areas. The rugged wind and water resistant shell features special noise-reducing fabric with the Realtree Xtra® Camo pattern to withstand the harshest outdoor conditions while blending in with the natural colors of the fall, winter and early spring. Made out of the same weather-resistant material, a removable hood helps keep heat in and provides additional protection against the elements when added to the shell.With the versatility to provide warmth during fall, winter and spring months, the newM12™ Heated Hoodies will include the addition of black as a color option, as well as two Realtree® camouflage patterns. Featuring noise-reducing fabric, Realtree Xtra® Camo works best in wooded terrain throughout all regions, and Realtree Max-1® Camo mimics the neutral earth tones found in the southwest, west and plains regions. The Red, Black and Gray M12™
Heated Hoodies are made from a thick cotton blend that is built to withstand wear and tear on the jobsite. The High Visibility and new Camouflage hoodies feature a water-repellant polyester shell for protection from the elements. All feature a waffle-weave polyester thermal liner and rib-knit cuffs to provide superior heat retention in the coldest months.On or off the jobsite, Milwaukee M12™ Heated Gear provides up to 6 hours of
continuous heat per battery charge for use in all seasons and outdoor environments.  M12™REDLITHIUM™ Batteries are compatible with over 60 power tool solutions from Milwaukee. Â
Milwaukee Heated Gear Season 5 Models
M12™ Heated Jackets
- M12™ Realtree Xtra® Camo 3 in 1 Heated Jacket (2386 Bare & 2387 Kit): Sizes S-3X New
- M12™ Realtree Xtra® Camo Heated Jacket (2392 Bare & 2393 Kit): Sizes S-3X Updated Design
- M12™ Red Heated Jacket (2390 Bare & 2391 Kit): Sizes S-3X Updated DesignÂ
- M12™ Black Heated Jacket (2394 Bare & 2395 Kit): Sizes S-3X Updated Design
- M12™ Women’s Heated Jacket (2339 Kit): Sizes S-3X No Change
- M12™ High Visibility Heated Jacket (2346 Bare & 2347 Kit): Sizes M-4X No Change
M12™ Heated Hoodies
- M12™ Black Heated Hoodie (2380 Bare & 2381 Kit): Sizes S-3X New
- M12™ Realtree Xtra® Camo Heated Hoodie (2382 Bare & 2383 Kit): Sizes S-3X New
- M12™ Realtree Max-1® Camo Heated Hoodie (2384 Bare & 2385 Kit): Sizes S-3X New
- M12™ Red Heated Hoodie (2370 Bare & 2371 Kit): Sizes S-3X No Change
- M12™ Gray Heated Hoodie (2372 Bare & 2373 Kit): Sizes S-3X No Change
- M12™ High Visibility Heated Hoodie (2376 Bare  & 2377 Kit): Sizes S-3X No Change
M12™ Heated Hand Warmers
- M12™ Realtree Xtra® Camo Heated Hand Warmer (2321-20 Bare & 2321-21 Kit) No Change
- M12™ Black Heated Hand Warmer (2322-20 Bare & 2322-21 Kit) No Change
About Milwaukee Tool
Since the company began in 1924, Milwaukee Tool has led the industry in both durability and performance by providing the best in professional, heavy-duty tools and accessories. With an unwavering commitment to the trades, Milwaukee continues tolead with a focus on providing innovative, trade-specific solutions.  Whether it is through their leadership in LITHIUM-ION technology, as seen in the M12™, M18™ & M28™
Systems, time-saving accessories or innovative hand tool products,  Milwaukee is dedicated to delivering a steady stream of advanced solutions for the trades that offer increased productivity and unmatched durability. Milwaukee Tool is a Brookfield, Wisconsin-based subsidiary of Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) (HKEx stock code:669, ADR symbol: TTNDY). For more information on the full line of Milwaukee®products, please call 1-800-SAWDUST or visit www.milwaukeetool.com.
About the author
Jeff Williams
Contributing Editor Jeff Williams is a carpenter for a commercial General Contractor specializing in concrete, steel, and wood buildings. Jeff comes from a long line of contractors. His parents started a commercial General Contracting firm many years ago and it has afforded him life-long, hands-on learning opportunities from rough and fine carpentry all the way to structural steel and concrete. Jeff has a Construction Management degree and loves the thrill of coordinating and successfully managing large jobs from start to finish. Inspired by the difficulties sometimes encountered to complete punch lists his motto is, "Work hard until the job is done."
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