Winter jackets.....alternative to Carhartt

I love Carhartt, have three of them but….I go through one every 4-5 years. What is annoying about it is that I don’t wear my “go to” more then 70-80 days a year (Jefferson traditional). So basically, they have about 350-400 days of wear and they are done. The back of the sleeves and the cuffs wear through.

Sure, it’s not a huge expense but they are now closer to $150 (closer to $250 up here) and that’s getting up there for an everyday jacket. Something that you wont worry about if you have to change tires.

So….as winter closes, I’m trying to hunt down a new all around winter jacket on sale and it’s not that easy. I picked up an HH today, will decide if I want to keep it.

So….any Carhartt fans and have you looked or found a cheaper alternative?

have you checked out Duluth? my brother in law is a contractor and swears by the durability of their firehose pants.

Worth a look IMHO.

filter by material “fire hose canvas”… Seriously, he raves about them.

I wear kahkis or dress shirts every day. More work clothes thrown away by coffee stains than actual work…. sadly.

Used to drive a skidsteer. So I understand, just being honest with my current “work situation”

Interesting jackets. But, Duluth ships to here but no stores or distribution.

That’s my problem with expensive jackets. I will rent a a skid steer to clean up any huge accumulation of snow and I don’t want to wear $300 Pentagonnow fashionista stuff.

I went to a cop shop, tough wear, but I don’t need tearaway gun pockets.

Something that doesn’t look like I’m delivering mail or baby calves but tough……

I don’t know about the jackets but I know Carhartt pants aren’t what they used to be. I’ve settled on the Riggs Workwear cargo pants as they seem to hold up much better and are pretty reasonably priced.

If you do not mind looking, check out Red Head at Bass Pro Shops. I had on of theirs in 2xl and it wore fine.

I’ve had a number of Carhartt jackets, but the price is getting stupid, and there seems to be no consinstency in them any more. My boss started buying us Berne brand jackets and they’ve held up pretty well. I think Walls makes a decent product also.

I’m an electrician and wear mine almost daily, as I’m in Montana and it’s never gonna warm up this year :frowning:

For me, 4-5 years seems like a long time, but again I wear them a lot and am in some pretty bad spots at times.

Most of my FR clothes are Carhartt and Walls. Ive heard a lot of good things about Duluth Trading but have never tried any

Isn’t HH “fashionista stuff”

Guess what? They stopped carrying Red Head in Bass Pro up here. It competed with Columbia and Carhartt at a quarter of the price. So out they go……

They have ONE decent jacket but the arms hang down to the knees. These fashinista companies try to make one size fit all and the minute they don’t have a tall size, their arms are ALWAYS too long. And that goes for their shoulders too.

I hate to see their design manakin. 4 foot wide shoulders, 6 foot arms and a 5 inch torso….more or less……

Yup. They forgot who made them who they are.

If I go through them here in my “once in a while” rough use, I doubt they will last a year for you.

I think Carhartt is going up market and forgetting their roots and what “tough” means. There is no way that a tradesman is going to spend a couple hundred bucks for a jacket that will tear through in a few months.

When I was a kid I’d wear through the elbows on my jackets just from being rough… Mom would sew leather or denim patches on the elbows. Now for outdoor work I don’t like to wear jackets; I layer up with the top layer being a loose fitting flannel shirt. I can’t think of one jacket that I had worn through the elbows as an adult, and I’ve worked outside for a good part of my adult life; though the cuffs get gnawed up.

I agree about “them” forgetting “us” and I hate buying anything without trying it on first.

I looked up the Jefferson Traditional…nice looking jacket, but not anywhere close to what I work in.

My wife hates when I get nicer clothes, jackets, jeans, shirts, etc. because they all become “work clothes” sooner or later.

I have owned several CH carpenter pants and jackets. They are not made like they were when they were made in the usa. They used to be very tough and stiff to wear until they got broke in, almost leather like. The first couple of pair of pants I owned lasted for about 3 years and the first jacket I purchased back around 2002 and I still own, its about shot but still keeps me warm. After a few years of owning my first CH pants and jacket I purchased more and santa was pretty kind as well. But the second batch started tearing and wearing within weeks of owning them. I thought maybe it was just my bad luck. So I purchased more and replaced a few of the bad ones, the same thing happened again. The jacket was decent but still not as good as the first one. So I gave up and seeked alternatives like you. Dickies carpenter pants use to be pretty durable but then they started using thinner material and the same thing started happening again, crap within weeks. I tore the stratel out of one pair the second time I wore them, back to wally world they went for a replacement. I have tried several different brands and had about given up for a tough working man pair of pants. 2 December’s ago ole Santa saved the day, I got my first pair of Fire hose pants from Duluth trading. Santa brought me another pair this Christmas and this will be the only brand I purchase for work pants. The first pair I got still look very good and not one single tear, they wear very well and are very tough. They block the wind out very well for warmth yet are still very breathable and cool in the summer months. The fire hose pants are very tough and you pay dearly for them but judging by how the first pair have wore in a little over a year, I’m guessing a 4 to 5 year life span, maybe longer. If I buy two pair a year, it will take several years before the first pair ever need replaced. I’m saving money compared to how many CH and dickies I was going thru in a year.
As for jackets, the next jacket I purchase will be from Duluth made of the same fire hose material. When you consider how tough and long this stuff last it saves you money in the long run. So that’s my cheaper alternative, pay more now and buy less later because they last way longer.
Just my two cents :stuck_out_tongue:

F I L S O N

There’s no comparison. Filson will outlast ten of the cheaper winter coats, and you’ll look absolutely great.
Forget 90 percent of the rest of their catalog, but the jackets are classic styles, and made to the very highest standards, with the toughest fabrics.

Some other premium brands are pretty good, but Filson is the king.
If you can find a store, you’ll see what I mean.

How does the firehose feel? Are they as stiff as the old heavy duck or softer?

I see a couple of pieces on their site, but since I have to import them, it makes it very complicated. Usually, I always buy xl and 2xl because those sizes mean different thing to different manufacturers…err, importers. Now imagine trying to send one back and all the expenses.

However….I’m heading south next week….and will call Duluth tomorrow.

North Face has really stepped up their game since losing brand appeal. I’ve got the “Gothic” or something like that and its more than warm enough for MN. They’ve got a version that has a tunic that goes below the waist if that’s what you’re looking for as well IIRC. Sort of a coated canvas/synthetic hybrid feeling material. Flexible while not being slick or feeling like something is going to poke right through it like a lot of winter jackets I’ve tried on in stores. Waterproof too.

The performance and aesthetics of Canada Goose without the cost or having PETA members freak out on you in public (its synthetic down).

Buy the previous year’s colors during the summer and you can get it almost half price.

I bought a few Smith’s winter work pants last year. Denim with flannel lining. They’re so comfortable I can wear them to sleep. Seem pretty durable too, though I’m not as rough on my clothing as I used to be.

They feel very similar to how the original CH use to. They are some what stiff until they are wore and washed a couple of times. After the break in period, you will reach for them every time over the other brands in your drawer, I know I do. They probably get wore more than any the other pair too, because if they’re clean, that’s the pair I will wear. If you do end up with a pair or a jacket, I’m pretty sure you’ll be hooked. I been around construction for 30 years and they are by far the best pants I have ever owned. Lots of big pockets to carry phone, pocket Knife, flashlight and a few other necessary work tools. :smiley:

I don't deal with really cold weather here, but when I do, I like goose down coats.

My brand of choice many years ago was Triple F.A.T. Goose.

I have the Gotham. It’s at the end of the closet as the “nuclear winter jacket”. Lol

Can’t call it rough wear.