Lithium-ion cells hate the cold. Below 40°F, internal resistance rises and usable runtime can drop by 20% or more. The fix isn't a bigger battery — it's smarter handling.
Keep spare packs inside your jacket or a warm truck cab, not on a frozen tailgate. A pack at body temperature delivers noticeably more cycles than one left in the wind.
Never charge a freezing battery. Charging a pack below 32°F causes lithium plating that permanently damages the cells. Let cold packs warm to room temperature before plugging in.
Brushless tools handle cold better than brushed, but condensation is the hidden enemy when moving gear between cold and warm environments. Give tools 15 minutes to equalize before hard use.
A little care goes a long way — winterized tools perform like summer tools if you follow these habits.
