Best Heated Jackets of 2026, Tested

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Winter jackets provide plenty of insulation, but sometimes, you need something more—like a heated jacket. That’s even more true when you’re outdoors for an extended period or in extreme cold. Heated socks and gloves have their place for your extremities, but to help your body maintain its temperature, it’s all in the core. And that’s where heated jackets and vests concentrate their heat.

Some are sold with batteries, others without, so make sure you supplement accordingly. Consider picking up a compatible backup battery or power bank, so you’re not left out in the cold. We’ll walk you through the main uses and considerations to help you find the best heated jackets for your lifestyle and needs.

Specs

• Volts: 12V
• Power Source: Rechargeable batteries
• Water-Resistance: None

The hoodie just got a whole lot hotter. Carbon-fiber heating panels are in the chest and back of this washer-and-dryer safe hoodie. Two layers—a cotton-poly exterior blend and a waffle-weave thermal interior—add to the warmth, while the hood and pockets offer warmth for the head, neck, and hands. A zip-front readily allows for ventilation and ease of wear, and without much bulk, the hoodie is ready to wear under another hunting jacket or coat in more extreme weather. It heats to three temperatures (and lasts 6 hours on the lower setting on one battery charge, fewer hours on higher temps) and has a built-in pocket for the battery.

Bonus for Milwaukee tool users: The Milwaukee heated jackets use the same M12 rechargeable lithium-ion batteries as their tools. If you’re in that camp and don’t need the battery and charger, you can also buy just the heated jacket. Otherwise, snag a couple extra M12 battery packs.

Specs

• Volts: 20V
• Power Source: Rechargeable battery
• Water-Resistance: Some

This DeWalt heated jacket is ideal for the job site. A heavy-duty duck fabric exterior and fleece lining make it wind-resistant, water-resistant, and warm. Five heating panels (right and left chest, each arm, and mid-back) keep you warm no matter the conditions. A ribbed collar and cuffs add an extra barrier against the elements. Gusseted underarms allow for unrestricted movement.

This jacket lets you hook up a USB charger to the battery, and has enough pockets for your essential needs, as well as an extra battery or two—and takes the same 12v and 20v lithium-ion batteries as DeWalt tools.

Specs

• Volts: 7.2V
• Power Source: Rechargeable battery
• Water-Resistance: Yes (DWR)

Three heat zones (two on the chest, one on the back, all carbon-fiber) can stay warm for up to 10 hours in this Ororo heated jacket, and are machine-washable for more than 50 cycles. This best women’s heated jacket is water resistant and insulated with Thermolite, and is designed with ribbed cuffs and a thigh-length body. Up-top upgrades like a fleece-lined collar and detachable faux-fur hood keep the heat inside and keep you comfortable in winter weather.

Specs

• Volts: 12V
• Power Source: Rechargeable battery
• Water-Resistance: Yes (DWR)

This Milwaukee heated jacket for men wears well for outdoor work and looks good enough to wear when you’re out at a more formal event. The quilting and fabric colors up the style side of things, while heating areas (including in the shoulders!) keep this coat as functional. It heats up quickly and runs at three power levels off of Milwaukee M12 lithium-ion batteries. It’s also lightweight (and tailored) enough to wear nicely under other coats, making it a versatile heated jacket option.

Specs

• Volts: 7.4V
• Power Source: Rechargeable battery
• Water-Resistance: Yes

The heating layout varies here from many others, with the front panels being at the abdomen rather than the chest. There’s still a mid-back panel to handle your torso’s upper half, while the lower front panels allow the carbon-fiber heating elements to warm hands in the front pockets—and are balanced out up top with heating in the collar, too. A detachable down-filled hood (that tightens separately from the collar), cuffs with thumb holes to stay in place, and 750-fill power down (one of the highest on the general market) round out the reasons we call it the best heated down jacket.

What to Look for When Choosing a Heated Jacket

Use

If you’re hunting or ice fishing, you’ll need a jacket that doesn’t restrict your movement or weigh you down, and will keep you warm without overheating you when you get really active—from turning an ice auger to dragging out a deer. A light heated jacket also means you can layer rain gear over it, so you’ll stay both dry and warm. These jackets are also among the best hiking jackets because they do not restrict your movement and tend to be lightweight.

If you’ll be on a construction site, part of a road crew, or doing any type of outdoor work in cold weather, you need a heated jacket that can stand up to abuse. You don’t have time to think about protecting the jacket from damage because you have a job to do. Make sure the heated work jacket you get is designed to ward off sharp objects and resist abrasion. While many heated jackets have some water resistance, they may also need to be paired with a rain jacket if you are outdoors for long periods.

Heated motorcycle jackets need to do everything a regular heated jacket does, but at higher speeds and in bracing winds, and without much fumbling around with controls. And the most essential difference? They should be set up to plug into your motorcycle battery, so there’s a) no limit on heat hours and b) no batteries to mess with.

Material and Insulation

With down jackets, you’re looking for a high down fill power (the rating number that frequents the 550-750 range) as your quality metric. Down jackets are often one of the best winter jackets for insulation purposes, so adding a heat element only helps you stay warmer longer.

Budget

Most heated jackets hover around the same price range, and, in general, there’s much less variability than in other categories of cold-weather gear. To truly reduce price, you’re going to be reducing elements. One handy option is reducing the need for battery packs (but you may lose duration or intensity of warmth). Other options include solo heating elements you can wear, but they’re not integrated into insulating fibers, making them much less efficient. You can opt for a heated vest instead, which—worn as a layering piece—will still keep your body’s core warm. If you’re hunting or riding a motorcycle, however, you may want to think twice before ditching arm heating panels.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

When looking for a heated jacket, or any heated clothing, remember that the battery is half of what you’re buying, particularly in terms of power and longevity (while you’re wearing it and in the long run). You want quality materials, a good fit, well-placed heating elements, and a good battery. (Or two or three batteries: We highly encourage back-ups if you will be wearing the item for more than a few hours and won’t be in a place where you can step out of the cold to charge back up.)

Why Trust Us

For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.

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