Milwaukee Makes Major Improvements to Its Heat Delivery System for Winter 2024/2025
Milwaukee led the industry when it entered the heated jacket race in 2010. Nearly 15 years later, the culmination of what the design teams have learned along the way is resulting in some of the biggest leaps in heated gear technology we’ve seen.
HEXON Heating Element Design
Heated gear uses thin heater elements to convert battery power into heat and keep you warm. Traditionally, a single element is set in a back-and-forth pattern over the coverage area, similar to an efficient mowing pattern on your lawn.
While it’s effective, the gaps in that pattern don’t heat evenly. You have these kinds of heat peaks and valleys gently rolling through.
Milwaukee’s HEXON design creates a tubular honeycomb pattern across the coverage area, filling those gaps and creating a much more even and effective heat pattern. It’s genuinely game-changing, with as much as 40 times more heat coverage in the same area then previous designs.
Better still, this generation of Milwaukee heated jackets warms up faster, reaching its peak temperature in less than two minutes.
New Power Sources
While the HEXON design is the biggest highlight of this season’s heated jacket lineup from Milwaukee, don’t miss the changes on the power source side of the design.
You may have seen the announcement about the new M12 TOP-OFF Power Supply (48-59-1211), and it’s the new standard that comes with Milwaukee Heated Jackets. It sports a single USB-C port that now provides up to 50% faster charging with its 15W output. It’s also an output and input, so it acts as both the power supply and the battery charger for your jacket. Plus, you can use it to power any of your USB rechargable devices or gear.
But wait, there’s more…
There’s a sweet power source upgrade as well. The Heated Gear Power Source with App Control (48-11-2330) is a slimmer, more form-fitting battery that can provide heat for up to 12 hours on low or up to 3 hours on high.
If you’re getting one of the new HEXON heated jackets, it’s an even better upgrade. Paired with Milwaukee’s Heated Gear App, you can use your phone’s Bluetooth connection to control ten heat levels and independently activate whichever zones you need. You can even save your favorite settings for quick access later.
Improved Material Choices
Along with those announcements, the design teams are continuing to improve on the materials and construction of Milwaukee’s heated jackets.
For the TOUGHSHELL line, you’re looking at three times more insulation with adjustable cuffs and waist to offer better heat retention. Combined with its bonded fabric, triple-stitched seams, and wind/water-resistant shell, it’s your go-to for environments that require the most durable outerwear.
The latest AXIS heated jackets are getting twice the insulation as their big upgrade. Another durable choice that’s a little lighter than TOUGHSHELL models, these jackets have a ripstop shell to go along with triple stitching on the seams and wind/water resistance. There are both men’s and women’s styles to choose from in the AXIS lineup.
Final Thoughts
We anticipate Milwaukee’s heated gear announcement every year, but we’ve never seen this big of a leap in heating technology from one generation to the next. HEXON technology and new app-based controls make this generation of Milwaukee heated gear the most effective and most convenient ever. With winter upon us, there’s never been a better time to actively fight the cold in a Milwaukee heated jacket!
