Winter work jackets like Carhartt?

[Dagny]

Carhartt really pissed me off when they ruined the ro1 bibs by changing the design of the pockets.

 

[redwrench60]

Carhartt really pissed me off when they ruined the ro1 bibs by changing the design of the pockets.

I hate when they make changes to long standing traditional items. Still the best game in town even with the offshoring and occasional changes. though.

I have learned to pretty much only buy Carhartt seconds and buy on clearance at the end of the winter season to put away for next.

 

[silvershaft]

Sitka Grindstone Jacket is the bomb if you can find it on sale. Camofire has it for less than $180 sometimes. It's the best jacket that I have ever bought.

 

[WWheeler]

Walls Blizzard Pruf, available at Wal Mart. Quality seems comparable to me.

I bought a Walls 'super duck', I think it was called, at Wally World sometime pre-Covid for somehwere around $100 that only lasted a few weeks until the first time I tried to wash it. It had a nylon or polyester lining and the outer shell of the coat shrunk like crazy and the polyester inside of course didn't, and it rendered it completely unwearable, with the lining hanging out the bottom of the coat and pushing out the ends of the sleeves. I've had a plenty of other coats with a polyester lining but never one that did that. I don't think it was as much the fact of the dissimilar materials as much as it was that the inner lining was only stitched to the outer shell at around the edges (neck, zipper, bottom, cuffs).

This thread's got me wanting to get a new coat before it turns cold, but I just can't give it all that much thought right now while the heat index has hit well over 120 deg F every day this week so far. Was 107F today with a 'feels like' of 125F.

I might have to give one of those Berne's a try.

 

[Aaron_W]

Im a big fan of Dulth Trading Company. Yes a lot of it is made outside the USA but it is good quality. I don't have one of their heavier coats but really like their fire hose shirt jacket, which is a durable medium / light jacket. Keeps me comfortable into the mid 40s. I have 2, an older one without a hood and one of the newer ones with a Hoodie (sweat shirt material) style hood.

I really like their flex fire hose pants too.

Somebody mentioned Wolverine, I have a heavy work coat from Wolverine that I probably bought 6 years ago. Great coat, only problem for me is it is a very warm coat and it rarely gets cold enough for me to comfortably wear it.

 

[boom_bap]

I've got both USA and imported carhartts. The USA stuff is durable the firm duck so they're pretty durable but they don't add new features that make the newer imported jackets slightly better in design.

I hear you on changing things you like, but sometimes the change isn't bad.

The new active jackets have better cuffs with cordura renforcement that cover the elastic, little pockets for pencils in the front pockets, fleece lined front pockets which is amazing for dry hands. Its small stuff that is nice and makes you prefer one over the other.

Try the patagonia stuff if you want something really nice. Too expensive for my tastes I normally get seconds off dungarees, but I hear the patagucci stuff is really durable.

 

[alfadan]

The thing I hate is every carhartt or that style of coat, the cuffs start fraying. The rest of the coat is still in great shape, but the holes in the cuffs bother me.

 

[Sumboodie]

Big Ray's in Anchorage carries slope gear. Expect to pay $600-700 for coat and bibs. Warm and tough though. Gets down to -60*

Can't remember the brand, can't find it on google either.

 

[boom_bap]

The thing I hate is every carhartt or that style of coat, the cuffs start fraying. The rest of the coat is still in great shape, but the holes in the cuffs bother me.

Thats what the new design changed to try to fix that problem.

 

[Robinson1]

Red Wing has Carhartt-like clothing with a wider shoulder cut.

Carhartt has "Full Swing" jackets with a wide shoulder cut and extra room in the shoulder too.

Either is much better than a "plain" Carhartt jacket.

Red Wing clothing is likely made by Carhartt for Red Wing. They’ve had a partnership on boots for years, Carhartt boots are rebranded Red Wing.

 

[chrisziem]

Hello Hansen makes a work line. Pricy but quality

 

[rick carpenter]

For just wearing I like my Carhartt J130 jacket best because it doesn't have a hood and it moves well with me, but the hooded J164 is better insulated yet a bit stiffer. For working in cold weather most of the time I can get by with a Carhartt quilt-lined hoodie and a Berne sherpa-lined v-neck vest. In real cold weather I break out my Walls insulated coveralls, but they're such a pain to get in and out of when you have to go inside a warm building for a bit.

Feels a bit odd talking about winter wear when it's 100+ now!

 

[DemoFly]

They’ve had a partnership on boots for years, Carhartt boots are rebranded Red Wing.

No. No they are not.

 

[audiojem]

Berne has really up there game equal or better than Carhartt but at 25% less great value!
Nice heavy duty zippers too.
They also make a lot of the outerwear for the farm stores Schmidt brand etc.
Try it for yourself.
Enjoy
AJ

 

[JeepYJ]

I have some Berne items and Carhartt. The Berne insulated bibs are much less expensive and work great for me. I only wear them a few to maybe a dozen times a year if it gets really cold. Jackets can go with either one. My last Berne jacket went for 20+ years with daily use for about half that time before it was retired to only being worn when doing dirty work. The newer Carhartt jackets are cut way too large IMO. Try it on before buying.

 

[Robinson1]

No. No they are not.

 

[audiojem]

About 5 years ago or so Carhartt made new sizing patterns to fit the American Worker allowing for more room I think they run on the large size now.
If you have not looked at Berne in the last few years their quality has come up immensely and now are head to head or exceed Carhartt.
Triple stitching, same weight duck, nice big heavy duty zippers, much better price points.
Buy early in season for best selection and sizes.
Try them.
AJ

 

[Jr5]

I don’t like what carhardt did to the Detroit jacket. They new ones are nothing like the original. Cut and materials are terrible. I’m gonna look at deluth, my old carhardt is shredded beyond repair.

 

[Pexto]

... In real cold weather I break out my Walls insulated coveralls, but they're such a pain to get in and out of when you have to go inside a warm building for a bit.

Around my house this is known as the Carhartt dance. GJ should really have an emoji for it.

 

[DemoFly]

11 years ago. Carhartt boots are payless shoes now.

 

[rust in the eye]

Filson

 

[GaryM909]

I see this is an old thread but I wanted something better than an off the shelf parka when I was working.
I found a custom shop in our city that made one offs as well as supplying clothing for big oil and outside workers at the airport.
I had a FR parka made with the same fabric the fire depts use and also had sewn on safety stripes with my first name and company name embroidered on. Theft is quite common in camps because lots of people show up without the proper gear. It was well worth the extra money because it lasted over 15 years. I threw it away when I retired because it had a few too many burn holes.
When my son started his first job as a welding inspector I bought him one too and had his first name embroidered on the front. He has had his for over 10 years

 

[PCustoms]

Report the spam bump and move on...

 

[redwrench60]

Carhartt is still the best game in town. Heavy duty zippers, hardware and firm cotton duck last a long time. Insulated bibs and a J140 hooded jacket when it’s messed up cold and you’re going to be out in it all day.

 

[redwrench60]

Carhartt has a lot of new cheap garbage for skinny-jean lumber jacks and hipsters but many the traditional core items are still sold. Like the good old B01 brown carpenter britches that you prop up in the corner like a walking stick. The first year is just getting them broken in.

 

[Tdbo]

I'll do a +1 on the Berne and CE Schmidt recommendations. Have been happy with both without the Carhartt tax.

 

[finn]

My Menards duck jacket was probably ten years old when this thread was started in 2017, and is still the jacket I grab for work. The two newer Carhartt jackets on the hook are still too nice to get dirty. They’re “going to town” jackets.

And, yes my now (probably) 28 year old Menards jacket still has its original zipper.

 

[richfinn]

In Europe we have a Swedish brand "Snickers" (It's called something else in USA because of the peanut/chocolate bar).

Carhartt is just another cool USA fashion brand for Skateboarding over here.

It gets down to minus 50 degrees Centigrade in parts of Sweden which is fairly cold (and it sometimes feels like your nutsack is going to freeze off in Northern England during January/February)

It's nice Quality/Expensive/Modern, but it is excellent gear if you wanna stay warm dry and comfortable

Innovative men's workwear for craftsmen in the UK

Snickers Workwear offers a wide range of quality workwear for men. Find your work trousers, work jackets, topwear, accessories and more.

www.snickersworkwear.co.uk

 

[PMD1966]

I've had a few lesser brands, Walls, bear, dickies, some brand from menards, the thing that pushed me back to carhartt is the zippers. sick of the cheaper coats losing teeth or getting messed up at the bottom.

if you can find a carhartt outlet that sells seconds, you can get better deals, but I stick with carhartt exclusively now...

My oldest Carhartt is over 40 years old. Looks like Hell, but the zipper still works.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I have always been a Carhartt guy - but just ordered a set of insulated bibs and jacket from Brunt.
Fit and function seam equal, we will see how the durability on them holds up.

I just couldn't justify roughly 2x's the price on the Carhartt stuff

 

[nicks78camaro]

I have had good luck with the Cabela's Redhead brand "Carhartt style" coat

 

[tiredoldironworker]

Yeah Carhartt has just about priced themselves out of the market for real construction workers. Berne and Walls are what everyone wears around here. Sometimes discount stores like Ollie's have screaming deals.

 

[toolmiser]

If you decide to go with the Carhartt stuff..... check out Dungarees.com

https://dungarees.com/?gclid=CMLizauJ3NUCFa8y0wodWg4G6w

They are a major seller of Carhartt & are the only place I've found that have good "sales".

Got my last winter "jacket" there. It was from there scratch and dent section. Never found what the issue was and it's going three years later. BTW, sold my "used"carhart coat on ebay.

 

[Farmall450]

The Carhartt arctic insulated coats are available in Cordura and are very warm. If you get one, also get the hood that snaps onto the collar.

Reminds me that I need to find one or two hoods. Not sure if they're the same, but my arctic and my full swing both didn't come with a hood (super annoying, imo).

 

[Caa311]

I don’t like what carhardt did to the Detroit jacket. They new ones are nothing like the original. Cut and materials are terrible. I’m gonna look at deluth, my old carhardt is shredded beyond repair.

I want them to bring that style back so bad! That is my favorite jacket. Perfect if you are an equipment operator sitting down. Dickies Eisenhower jacket is almost a straight knockoff of the Detroit.

 

[Toold_up]

I don't own any of their jackets but their denim and duck material is tough as nails (Made in USA too) !

100% American Made Jackets Made in USA for 111 years

For over 120 years our 100% American Made Jackets have clothed the workers who helped make Round House the largest maker of Made in USA workwear. Decades of time tested labor have produced the jackets America needs.

www.round-house.com

 

[Quick01GT]

Check out Arborwear, I love their stuff.

I LOVE the double thick sweatshirts. Quality stuff.

 

[jives]

I consider outside work jackets to be consumable items. If my job was outside I would think differently, but my current "garage" or "chore" coat must take abuse and is expected to get grimy and greasy, used to wipe hands, grind, weld, and lie in the snow and mud in the driveway and garage. I cannot try to preserve the coat as I carry rusty and sharp metal or lay my arms in grime. My current coat is on its third year, it is some sort of off-brand from BJs Wholesale or TSC, and cost on closeout, $25. It is surprisingly warm. Good knit cuffs and waist. The only thing I don't like is the hood (hoods get in the way), and I like external storm flaps with snaps. The zipper is good, and no issues. Just starting to show wear on the cut/sleeve junction and on the patch pockets. If I had a $120 Carhartt I'd never wear it doing actual garage/outside work.

 

[Drunkonunleaded]

Filson

Mostly imported at USA prices. Avoid.

 

[skernv99]

Big Bill® Official Site

Big Bill® Official Site - Shop the entire Big Bill® Workwear Selection. Rugged workwear stitched to last since 1946. Shop premium workwear and outdoor gear made in Canada & USA, built for real workers.

www.bigbill.com

made in Canada (at least the majority of their stuff is). For US customers, your order will ship from Vermont.