I wanted less bulk and more warmth for cold marsh sits. Milwaukee’s M12 Axis heated vest delivered instant core heat, real wind and water resistance, and all-day comfort without choking my gun mount.
Instant Heat, Less Bulk, More Hunt Time
I started the season wanting to eliminate cold-weather bulk and streamline my clothing. Over the years, I have learned from experience that cold is not my favorite condition. Particularly, time in the winter marsh, sitting on a marsh chair or in my layout boat, can be very cold. This year, though, we have had a warm winter. My layering has remained limited to a wicking undershirt, the Milwaukee heated vest, and an outer waterproof jacket.
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Milwaukee M12 Heated Gear Overview
Milwaukee has a large lineup of heated jackets and vests in their M12 heated gear. Now, I would guess many of you have previously tried heated products. Of course, I have too, but I assure you this is much different. The M12 lineup uses a 12V Lithium Ion battery that slips into a zippered pocket and provides hours of use in tough conditions.
The products I have seen and used have far less voltage available, which is why this vest is so effective. Where these M12 products differ is that when you turn them on, they almost instantly provide heat to your core across your chest and back. You feel it, and it is hot due to the carbon fiber heating elements. All I have ever tried, you could not even tell they were on. This heating element is advertised to heat three times faster than competitors.
Vest Details Straight From The Source
Field Method: Layer Light And Let The M12 Work
My layering system started with a thin wicking undershirt. That is critical to this heated system because you cannot wear the vest over too many layers or you negate some of the immediate warmth you want to feel next to your skin. The purpose of this vest was to avoid bulky clothes that would impede my shooting and still let me be active without overheating. A welcome surprise was how fast I could warm up if moisture cooled my skin.
Warm Even Off: Features That Matter In The Marsh
Other elements are also important. First, the vest is warm in itself. Milwaukee designed it with a tough outer rip-stop wind and water-resistant stretch shell and lofted insulation. Many days, I never even needed to turn it on. I continued all season with a simple undergarment, then the vest, and lastly my topcoat. Like many of us, the weather for hunting was unseasonably warm, but mornings were still cold. The vest has three levels of heat with an 8 hour run time on a 2.0 M12 battery on low, four hours on medium, and two hours on high. I will add from experience that most days I only turned it on for short periods as the warming is sustained beyond the power. Other features include:
- Washer and dryer safe
- Compressible design for easy layering
- One touch controller
- Reinforced wear zones
- Adjustable waist with drop tail extended back
Keep in mind, I used this for waterfowl hunting. I assure all you deer hunters, ice fishermen, sports fans, hikers, and more, this is a useful addition to your wardrobe. The key is not layering it too far away from the skin where you want the heat.
M12 Battery And Charger: Simple, Fast, Reliable
The M12 battery requires a Milwaukee M12 rapid charger. This intelligent charger takes little time to bring the battery up to full charge. M12 Lithium Ion batteries come in 3.0, 2.5, 2.0 and 1.5 amp hour batteries.
MSRP Axis Vest $149.00
MSRP M12 2.0 Battery $38.00
MSRP 12V Li-Ion Charger $20
Milwaukee M12 Axis Heated Vest Specifications
| Model | Milwaukee M12 Axis Heated Vest |
|---|---|
| Power Source | M12 12V Lithium Ion battery |
| Heating Elements | Carbon fiber elements across chest and back |
| Heat Settings | High, Medium, Low |
| Run Time | Low 8 hours, Medium 4 hours, High 2 hours (with 2.0 Ah M12) |
| Shell | Ripstop wind and water resistant stretch fabric with lofted insulation |
| Care | Washer and dryer safe |
| Battery Options | 3.0, 2.5, 2.0, 1.5 Ah M12 |
| MSRP Vest | $149.00 |
| MSRP M12 2.0 Battery | $38.00 |
| MSRP 12V Li-Ion Charger | $20 |
Pros And Cons For Cold Weather Hunts
- Pros: Instant core heat, real wind and water resistance, quiet and flexible, simple one touch controls, long low setting run time, washer and dryer safe.
- Cons: Best performance requires the vest close to skin, battery and charger sold separately if you do not already own M12 gear.
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