Makita DCJ205Z Heated Jacket Review

Makita DCJ205Z Heated Jacket Blends Style and Comfort for Cooler Days

It’s a little late in the season, but considering some of you are still seeing cool temps and even a little Second Winter snow, check out the Makita DCJ205Z, one of the newest heated jackets from our friends in Teal!

Pros

• Quicker heating than previous Makita heated jackets
• Trim, athletic styling
• Crazy-long runtime from its 18V power source
• Comfortable design even without heat
• Wide range of motion
• Sleeve pocket
• USB power on the battery adapter
• Washer and dryer safe

Cons

• Doesn’t get as hot as other brands
• More expensive than competitors and has no kit option

Power

Makita sticks with their 18V LXT battery for the power source—something that is both a blessing and a curse. They intentionally trade-off a bulkier power source for more runtime, though the 2.0 Ah compact battery isn’t too bad.

I don’t really have a problem with this decision on a couple of levels. First, you have to consider what it means to have a relevant amount of runtime. Are you near a charger to cycle batteries every few hours or do you need one pack to last all day?

With a 6.0 Ah battery, the Makita DCJ205Z runs up to 35 hours on low. That’s a ton of runtime!

The other side is that Makita doesn’t leave you with a bulky battery throwing off the jacket’s comfort by sitting in a back pocket. The adapter includes a metal clip to remove the weight from the jacket completely. If I’m up and on my feet, I like clipping it to the back center of my belt. If I’m up and down a lot, I’ll clip it on the side.

The battery adapter also has a USB port, letting you tap into the battery’s power to charge your phone or other devices.

Comfort

While some of you are pushing through Second Winter, I ain’t gonna lie. We were already in the high 80s and low 90s by the time we tested this Makita heated jacket. So I wasn’t exactly “comfortable” throughout the process.

Setting that disclaimer aside, the jacket has a comfortable fit and feel on its own. The interior is soft fleece with a thin sleeve liner than passes easily over long sleeves. The exterior is a water-resistant polyester.

Hook and loop straps on both sleeves close around my wrist to keep the sleeves in place easily and I have a wide range of movement for my arms.

Heating Performance

The heating elements react quickly when you turn the heat on, reaching 100º F in about 30 seconds. A quick check with our FLIR One Pro LT shows that it gets up to a maximum of 114º on high. That’s on the lower side compared to some of the other models out there. Just keep in mind that it’s still a significant amount of heat to keep you warm and it’s going to last longer than jackets that produce more heat.

When it comes to insulation, Makita allows just 75% of its heat to escape through the back. To put that in perspective, Makita’s Hi-Viz Heated Jacket has the best insulation properties at 72% and their original Camo model from a few years back topped out at 79%.

There are 5 heat zones on this model: back, left/right chest, and left/right front pockets. That’s pretty much the standard configuration, though we have seen some that put heating elements in the sleeves.

Controls are easy to see and reach on the right front chest. Just push the button to turn the heat on and cycle through the 3 power levels.

Washing your jacket when it gets dirty is as simple as throwing it in the washer and dryer.

Fit and Style

Sizing charts and I don’t get along when it comes to heated gear. As a cyclist and runner, I’m not exactly going to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated as the World’s Strongest Man. According to the sizing chart, I should wear a medium jacket based on my chest size. However, large is a much better fit.

The other guys in the office are pretty much in the same boat—one size up is a better fit. This isn’t an issue with Makita, it’s how all of the heated jackets we’ve reviewed are. Our recommendation is to order the size you normally do for a shirt or jacket.

As far as sizes go, Makita has a little larger range than most with sizes running from small to 3XL.

The Makita DCJ205Z is my favorite style of the entire line so far. It’s black with teal traces and goes the hoodless route. It has a more trim, athletic look to it that I really like.

Aside from the battery pocket behind your left hip, there are two front pockets and a sleeve pocket. While there’s definitely some debate on our team, I prefer having a sleeve pocket when there’s no check pocket to put my pen in. Inevitably, I click that stupid thing on my jeans pocket and add to the increasingly large ink stain on the side of my jeans. It’s also a good place to put your knife once you get used to it.

Price

Expect the Makita DCJ205Z  to run $199.99 as a bare jacket—right in the middle of their lineup in terms of price. The only price difference between sizes is that the 3XL is $20 more.

The Bottom Line

The DCJ205Z is my favorite Makita heated jacket so far. I like the look, design, and comfort features around it along with the killer runtime you get from an 18V power source. Because of its style, this model can crossover into just about any environment easily—sporting events, outdoor adventures, and, of course,  jobsites.

Makita DCJ205Z Heated Jacket Specifications

• Model: Makita DCJ205Z
• Voltage: 18V
• Battery: 18V LXT
• Heat settings: High-Medium-Low
• Size: Large
• Number of Pockets: 5 (including battery pocket)
• Weight (with battery): 3.8 lbs
• Warranty: 3 years
• Price: $203.48