Honestly, Carhartt jackets are pretty great. They’re reasonably priced for the warmth/comfort they give you. As far as I know, some of their products are also produced in the US. I’ve had nothing but good experiences so far.
Usually, people get curious about two things.
➥➥First, how does the popular J130 jacket fare versus the J140, another iconic piece of warm clothing?
➥➥The second one is straightforward. What is the warmest Carhartt jacket?
Both are questions I can answer somewhat easily.
Compared to the Sandstone J130, the ring-spun duck in Carhartt J140 makes it better at protecting you against the elements. The tradeoff?
The sandstone duck of J130 feels softer to the touch as it’s brushed for additional comfort. Ring-spun means fabric that’s stiffer and harder to break in.
Those two are quite warm for sure, but neither of them is the warmest Carhartt jacket you can find.
This is a title reserved for Carhartt’s J133 Yukon jacket.
Its secret is the Cordura® duck construction. Instead of cotton duck, here you have ultra-tough nylon that’s 1000 denier thick. This is very thick, I assure you. That’s a fabric made to keep you warm even in extreme weather conditions.
With the introduction taken care of, let’s take a closer look at these three Carhartt beauties. 🙂
Carhartt J130 vs J140:
A matter of fabric feel
Carhartt are masters of duck construction. There’s no doubt about it. I think they have at least four or five variations of weaving it into their clothes. As I mentioned, these two jackets feature completely different duck construction.
J140 comes with the so-called ring-spun cotton duck. Nevermind the name – we’re talking about old school sturdy duck (just ‘duck’!) here. This is how classic jackets made of this material feel like.
The result of the ring-spun approach is a stiff fabric that is extremely durable. It’s also a champion at protecting against weather conditions like wind or rain.
Targeting a completely different feel, the J130 is made of sandstone duck. Here we have an opposite approach – the duck has been sanded and neatly brushed. The end product is a soft, cozy and comfortable piece of clothing that still keeps you warm.
Sandstone duck also means that your jacket will break in the more you wear it – in a better way than stiffer ring-spun fabrics. Some people prefer fluffy-feeling gear and sandstone will fit this preference.
Keep in mind that the sandstone J130 is alright with weather conditions…but it’s nowhere near the level of J140 in terms of wind/rain protection.
One common misconception about these two jackets
I’ve seen a few people insist that the J140 is warmer than its sandstone counterpart. A commonly cited reason is the different lining, with the J140 having a special thermal lining.
I disagree.
In fact, both of these jackets come with Carhartt’s Quilted-flannel lining. It’s one of the two warmest lining types from the brand.
There’s no difference in the lining here – right down to the quilted-nylon lining you can find in the sleeve construction of both jackets.
Utility-wise, you get a rather large drawcord-adjustable hood with both of them too. The pocket system is well-thought out. You have two front pockets and two inner pockets.
If you’re like me and dislike gloves, you can keep your hands inside the front pockets. It works out surprisingly good!
So why is the Carhartt J133 Yukon the warmest jacket they have?
There are two reasons why this tough guy here wins the warmth competition:
#1 The superior lining
Remember that I mentioned how Carhartt has two exceptionally warm lining types?
J130 and J140 come with the Quilted-flannel which is quite warm, true.
However, the real deal is the brand’s Arctic-Quilt lining. And that’s exactly what the J133 Yukon has in store for you.
The lining here features quilted polyester insulation that has arctic-level weight and thickness. To add to this, there’s a triple stitching system for the main seams. It doesn’t get more durable than this.
#2 Again it all comes down to the duck
At the beginning of this post I pointed out the Cordura® duck construction. Unlike other duck types, this one is not made from cotton. Instead, here you have tough, extra thick nylon.
Don’t worry – it’s not slippery, as some people might think. What it does, however, is offer even better water repellant properties and protection from harsh winds. Note that it doesn’t make the Yukon J133 jacket waterproof. It sure makes it more resistant than any other Carhartt jacket, though.
Note: The fabric feel is again a bit rougher, like standard duck. Durable and ready to bear wear and tear, yes…but it’s not remotely as soft as the Sandstone J130.
How cold is too cold?
A consideration
Now, let me point out that I can’t really know exactly how cold your local area can get. For general purposes, these three jackets should be more than enough.
If you find yourself in more extreme conditions – like really, really cold, you can also look into merino wool outer layers. I’ve written a bit on some merino wool brands.
However, if you want some quick recommendations, consider Icebreaker’s Helix long sleeve zip which relies on merino power to keep you cozy during the winter.
If you’re on the lookout for other workwear brands (other than Dickies, of course) – check my article comparing Carhartt with Berne. A note, though: the three jackets I discussed here excel over any Berne alternative. That article is more about pieces of clothing such as bib overalls or sweaters.