If you are looking to buy a winter work jacket, you definitely want something that keeps you warm during those extremely cold days. Carhartt makes some of the toughest work jackets on the market, but what about warmth? Are Carhartt jackets warm?
Yes, in general, you can expect Carhartt jackets to be warm. But ultimately it will depend on what type of Carhartt jacket and what type of Carhartt jacket lining you buy.
Some Carhartt jackets are very warm and built for harsh weather conditions, while other jackets are built more for mild winter days. This gives the Carhartt product line a wide variety of climates it can serve.
In this article let’s discuss which Carhartt jackets are the warmest (in my opinion) so that you can better decide which jacket makes the most sense for you.
***If you are shopping for extreme winterwear, we have a guide that discusses the warmest Carhartt jackets and coats. Visit our article: Warmest Carhartt Jackets.
Are Carhartt Jackets Warm?
Yes, as we discussed, most Carhartt jackets are warm, but it is going to depend on what type of lining you buy. Some linings are appropriate only for spring and fall months, while other linings are built to stand up to very cold temperatures.
All of us have a different threshold for warmth, and what one person considers warm another person might consider too lightweight. But if you are shopping for a Carhartt jacket and wondering about warmth, let’s start by discussing the linings.
**As a disclaimer, please understand that the table below is my opinion based on wearing these jackets over the years. Carhartt does not offer a temperature rating for their jackets, and the “warmth” that I’ve assigned to the linings below is just my opinion, and may not reflect Carhartt’s opinion on this matter. Contacting Carhartt directly for warmth advice is my recommendation.
Here are Carhartt’s available linings, and my personal opinion on how they rank from mild warmth to warmest. Just for reference, I would consider the thermal lining something I’d wear on a mild winter day:
| Carhartt Lining | Warmth |
| Thermal | Mild Warmth |
| Fleece | Mild Warmth |
| Blanket Lining | Medium Warmth |
| Quilted-Nylon | Medium Warmth |
| Sherpa | Warm |
| Quilted-Flannel | Very Warm |
| Arctic Insulation | Warmest |
If you are looking for a very warm winter work jacket, based on my experience, I’d recommend one of these three Carhartt jackets:
- Carhartt 104458 (Nylon shell)
- Carhartt J140 (Firm Cotton shell)
- Carhartt J130 (Pre-washed Cotton shell)
The J133 has the arctic insulation. The J140 and the J130 have the quilted flannel. The J140 will be a firm duck canvas, the J130 will be pre-washed to break it in.
Warmest Carhartt Jackets
Since you are looking for a warm winter Carhartt jacket, let’s discuss in more detail what I consider to be the 3 warmest types of linings:
- Arctic Insulation
- Quilted-Flannel
- Sherpa
If you want to do a deep dive on the warmest Carhartt jackets, visit our article discussing the warmest Carhartt jackets.
Arctic Insulation
This is your solution for those dangerously cold temperatures. The arctic insulation is the warmest type of insulation you can get in a Carhartt jacket.
Carhartt’s Yukon Extremes series is built for these extreme winter environments. These are the toughest and warmest pieces of Carhartt outerwear that I have worn.
They combine a tough Cordura Duck Nylon outer fabric with the quilted-arctic insulation (which is the warmest insulation Carhartt offers).
Nylon Arctic
You can choose from both a Carhartt Yukon Extremes Arctic Coat and a Carhartt Yukon Extremes Arctic Active Jacket.
- Carhartt Yukon Extremes Arctic Coat – Toughest shell (Nylon), warmest lining. Wind resistant, water-repellent. Abrasion and scuff proof. Bi-swing pleated back for easy movement. 6 total pockets. Storm cuffs to protect your wrists. Built with extra room for you to layer underneath. Here is mine, size medium (6’3 200 pounds):
- Carhartt Yukon Extremes Arctic Active Jacket – Toughest shell (Nylon), warmest lining. Jacket style with hood. Cuffed waist can pair with tool belt. Wind-resistant, water-repellent. Abrasion and scuff proof. Here is a look at me wearing a size medium Yukon Extremes Arctic Jacket:
Cotton Arctic
As we discussed above, you can buy the arctic insulation with different types of outer shells.
The Yukon Extremes series is the toughest outer shell fabric, the Cordura Duck Nylon. But if you prefer a cotton shell, instead of nylon, Carhartt does offer this arctic insulation with a cotton duck shell. Options:
- Carhartt Duck Cotton Traditional Arctic Quilt-Lined Jacket – This jacket has a tough cotton outer shell as opposed to the nylon outer shell of the Yukon Extremes series featured above, but still has the arctic-grade insulation. This jacket is water-repellent and wind-resistant. Arctic insulation. Bi-swing pleated back for easy movement.
- Carhartt Sandstone Cotton Traditional Arctic Quilt-Lined Jacket – The Sandstone cotton Duck fabric has a broken-in feeling to it compared to some of the stiffer outer shell fabrics that Carhartt offers. It is still tough and rugged. Arctic insulation. Bi-swing back. Corduroy collar.
Quilted-Flannel and Sherpa Insulation
The quilted-flannel and sherpa-lined insulations, in my opinion, are the next two warmest Carhartt linings after the arctic insulation. Both of these types of insulations are very warm and can protect you on almost all winter days.
If you are in the northern US, the arctic grade may be best for you. If you are in the middle of the country, the quilted-flannel and sherpa linings might be that perfect combination of warmth and comfort.
Quilted-Flannel
The quilted-flannel is my favorite lining because it is extremely comfortable and still very warm. My personal go-to Carhartt jacket is the J140 jacket, which uses the quilted flannel lining.
- Carhartt J140 Duck Quilted Flannel-Lined Active Jacket – My personal favorite. Tough and warm. Very comfortable. Jacket style with hood. Cuffed waist can be paired with tool belt. Firm cotton duck. Here is a look at this jacket:
The quilted flannel lining is very soft and warm. It might not be as warm as the arctic insulation, but it is still very warm.
Sherpa-Lined
The Sherpa lining is another comfortable, warm lining that many people prefer. If you like Sherpa-lining, you have several options from Carhartt. Here are two of the most popular:
- Carhartt Sandstone Cotton Duck Sherpa Sierra Jacket – Cotton outer fabric with Sherpa inner-lining. Sherpa lining also in the hood. Made for comfort. Bi-swing back for easy movement. Storm cuffs to help keep weather off your wrists. Here’s a look at mine:
- Carhartt Bartlett Sherpa-Lined Jacket – Heavyweight Duck cotton exterior with Sherpa-lined interior. Hooded with a bi-swing back for ease of movement. Two chest pockets for extra storage. Droptail for added weather protection.
Conclusion
Ultimately, if you are looking for the warmest Carhartt jackets, stick with the Yukon Extremes Arctic Series.
These jackets, in my experience, are the warmest and toughest that Carhartt offers. They are best for extreme winter conditions.
If you live in the middle of the US, you may not need the arctic insulation. This will likely come down to your personal comfort level.
I live in Kansas, and I personally wear the J140 coat the most. It doesn’t use the arctic insulation, it has the quilted flannel, which is also very warm.
I also own a couple jackets with the arctic insulation, but save those for the few brutal winter days we get in this region.
The J140 jacket is very warm, and can handle tough winter environments.
Ultimately, Carhartt doesn’t temperature rate their jackets, so if you are undecided, it might take trial and error to figure out which lining fits your needs the best.
But if you are looking for a very warm winter work jacket, based on my experience, I’d recommend one of these three jackets:
- Carhartt J133 (Nylon shell)
- Carhartt J140 (Firm Cotton shell)
- Carhartt J130 (Pre-washed Cotton shell)
The J133 has the arctic insulation. The J140 and the J130 have the quilted flannel. The J140 will be a firm duck canvas, the J130 will be pre-washed to break it in.