I’m surprised I’m the only one touting electronic work wear!
too hot - remove jacket
hot - unzip jacket
cold - zip up jacket
too cold - activate your Li-Ion powered heated jacket until warm then turn off
I absolutely love it and can tell you in Calgary I get all of the above. For instance:
5:45 am - walk to car/drive to work temp –14C (heat on)
morning smoke breaks until 10:00 - 0C (jacket only)
mid-day smokes 10:00-1:00 5C (outer layer gone, hoodie only)
1:00-7:00 nothing
7:00 onwards repeat process in reverse
I can see why it would be great for Calgary but I’m in the southern Ontario region. The Carhartt occupies the 20 to 50 F region (–5 to 10 C), which is within the vast majority of winter time here. First time I wore the next step down for two weeks continuously in a long time. Which is what you have all the time. Also, we don’t get the huge temperature difference you guys get so I can pick the jacket, which also means the temperature range accordingly for the day.
I’m bad mouthing Carhartt, deservedly for making clothes that I expected to last longer, but their fit, finish and ability to wear from going to a business meeting to climbing up the latter is second to none. I just didn’t expect the arms and cuffs to wear through from the “rough life” of driving around in a car or shopping/meetings/visiting 90% of the time.
… What you trying to say… not all of Canada get’s 8 months winter with max 4 months good weather? lol
Yeah based on your needs the 3-in-1 Northern Alberta rig guy warmth requirement jacket would be a lot of overkill.
the other one however is my go to for your temp range –5 to 10. I use the heat once per day first thing in the morning and the rest of the day it’s comfortable.
The biggest feature is the stiffness and toughness of the fabric. I own about 20x more tools than flashlights and have invested 15x more money so I’m very familiar with Bosch, Dewalt & Milwaukee. I read a ton of reviews and the Milwaukee performs the best heat wise while also being the most durable.
I’ve used it for many projects (no longer talking about the winter killer but the spring jacket) from tearing out entire decks to carrying 6x6’s on my shoulders and rolling around under cars and deeply reaching into the engine compartments with about 40 things trying to cut me/rip my coat. Still haven’t ripped it once. They’re available at HD and next time you’re there scoping out the flashlight section see if your local store has some demos out. They came out with new stuff this year that’s lighter, more flexible but not as tough. I just checked and the softy one they came out with this year is called axis but the one I have is actually called Toughshell…
I don’t use it daily on a jobsite so I’m not sure what a guy carrying around splinter filled wood or pipe with un-sanded threads would say about it but I’m quite curious.
I have one too… the best part about this jacket is that it is the same exact battery as all the M12 tools making it super-convenient as well. Also having lighted buttons on the chest makes me look like a cyborg.
I have an HD a km away, since they match prices AND a 10% discount, including Amazon, we’re frequent shoppers for household items. For jackets, been there, done that……but HD does not carry work wear in-store anymore. Just junk odds and ends to clear out. At least not in my area or region. Nor does Lowes and I missed a HUGE sale when they got rid of their floor stock.
Only online……it’s $179. Not cheap, but nothing to lose with their liberal store policy. And as usual, HD.com carries enormous selection! :rage:
BTW……this year, here, the lowest I’ve gone out in is –23 C. (–10F). The wind was so strong, had to turn around to breath. All time lowest was –27 C. way back. I think they call that spring in northern Alberta. :confounded:
lol yeah HD.com… or any .com… find exactly what you want at a price you’re excited about and for a split second you rejoice before it dawns on you that it’s too good to be true. You quickly scroll to the top of the page and realize you’ve been foiled, yet again. You admit you’re fine with paying more so long as the CDN company even carries the product… Alas it’s not available in Canada period… OH CMON!! :rage:
If you get a chance to try out the coat I highly recommend it. It’s sometimes available at local tool houses on display. Given the size of your market in Southern Ontario you should have many tool houses nearby?
Yeah I’ve grown up in AB dreaming of BC weather and geography my whole life. But high taxes and low potential for employment is what keeps me further East stuck in the freezer!
My brother had a Carhart jacket I admired. We tripped over a Prana coat that was cheaper and better. I was surprised as Prana seemed to be more of a lightweight brand. It’s good to about 25 degrees for me before I need more layering underneath. $99 here: https://www.backcountry.com/prana-bronson-towne-jacket-mens
Sounds like someone needs the “wide load” version.
The material’s paper-thin. I remember when it was almost literally painful to get a new pair of jeans, ’cause ’til they were worn thoroughly and washed at least a dozen times, it was like wearing tent-canvas. Stiff, hard material.
Now? A brand new pair is like finding an almost-worn-out pair in a drawer… only with tags on ’em.
Don’t forget, they also wear them out for you now too if you want designer ones! I saw a how-its-made on designer jeans and the “designer” component is the most expensive time consuming part where they hand airbrush fading and for those rips/wear patches they actually take an angle grinder to them
I keep telling these idiots who spend big bux buying “distressed” jeans that I can buy a pair of jeans for 25bux, blast ’em a few times with birdshot, take an axe to ’em, etc., then sell the shreds to them for a kewl hunnert.
A good looking takeoff of the M-65 jacket (and why would I know it’s an M-65 jacket unless I have some hidden fashionista genes? :person_facepalming: )
It appears on the light side for the “20 to 50 F” region work jacket. Looked them up and available at SAIL. I’ll check them out.
I was looking through the SAIL online store. Who the h*ll buys $600 “outdoor” jackets where they buy their camping gear and ammo? Sure……“honey, Ima gonna get me some 308s and ahh archamterix over at dat sail store”
Check out the C.E. Schmidt Men’s Utility Jean at Tractor Supply, they are fairly heavy thick fabric like the old Wranglers from back in the day.
And they are reasonable, like $27.
Cabela’s had some decent ones as well last time I was at the Mega Store in Hamburg, PA but they cost more money.
When I came out of the UK Army in ’63.
I bought a UK Airforce “flying jacket”.
Basically a reversed THICK sheepskin with high collar and long sleeves.
Stopped just below waist.
That lasted over 25yrs. used every winter down to minus 10 and more.
Outside in construction on machinery
My second one. bought in early ’90’s. still going well.
If they ever started mfging them again with a longer body.
Nobody would buy anything else. believe me.
I only ever wore ONE T’shirt or light skivvy under them at any time of day/night.
Another one was the US Military Arctic issue canvas hooded with tail flap jackets/coat. Any colour as long as khaki.
NEVER got cold in them either.
My current favorite isn’t technically a winter jacket, but a neoprene jacket made for divers, surfers, and other water sports when not in the water. It’s 2mm thick and has a thermal lining inside. I’ve worn it down to 5deg.F with just a tee shirt underneath. It’s naturally waterproof and wind proof. And not bulky like most winter jackets. The one I got is from HyperFlex.
Personally I prefer choosing clothing by its quality and design. Most mid-price jackets are fine, l found a few really nice jackets here maybe I’m gonna buy one this summer. Personally I prefer Goldwin and The North face but Moncler is not bad too.
For what it is worth, I ended up recently picking up a Tractor Supply store brand “Ridgecut” jacket which seems to be made reasonably well but most importantly to me, it just fits me a lot better than all the other “work wear” brands. ( Carhartt, Berne, Ariat, maybe a couple others) Most of the “workwear” jackets seem to be cut for overweight people as far as I can tell.
I saw other mentioning the heated jackets and I’ll say that you really have to try them on before you buy. I honestly suspect that a single company makes ALL of them and they’re all cut really weird. None of them fit me or the wife. The female ones seemed to be cut for relatively small bust women who are fat and have short but thin arms?
