Best Winter Work Jackets

Recently I put my hands on some of the most popular workwear jackets to compare them on toughness, warmth, and purpose. I live in Kansas, and although I have experience with many different winter work jackets, my favorite jacket for work is the Carhartt J140. It uses a durable 12-ounce water-repellent canvas shell and has a quilted-flannel lining that is very warm and very comfortable.

*This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (info)

Here are my choices for the best workwear jackets for winter work:

5 Things to Consider When Buying Workwear Jackets for Winter

Bi Swing Back

A bi-swing jacket provides you with more range of motion through your shoulders and back. If you are shopping for a work jacket, finding a bi-swing option might help ensure that you retain your freedom of movement even while wearing a firm canvas shell.

This can be particularly important for activities such as splitting firewood, shoveling snow, or any other job that needs full range of motion through the shoulders and arms. Most bi-swing workwear jackets have gusset panels on the shoulders which allow your arms to move more freely, and prevent the jacket from feeling like a straight jacket.

bi-swing-jacket

If you would like a bi-swing back jacket, the Fislon Tin Cloth Jacket on our list at the top of the page has an bi-swing “action” back.

Hood

Do you need an attached hood for your work jacket? Although there are plenty of hooded canvas jackets on the market today, you can also find a lot of jackets that don’t come with an attached hoods. Some of these hood-less jackets will have snap buttons under the collar so you can attach a hood if needed.

If you prefer a hood, be sure to consider the size of the hood. Some workers need a hood that can fit over the top of a hard hat. In general, most workwear brands do a good job of creating a hood that has some versatility, but if you wear a hard hard, it’s worth considering the size of the hood.

Pockets

How many pockets do you need? Most work jackets have front hand-warmer pockets, and some sort of internal chest pockets. I prefer work jackets that have a zip internal pocket that gives me a safe place to store essentials like my phone, wallet, and keys.

Here’s a look at the zip internal pocket on my Carhartt J140 workwear jacket:

carhartt-duck-active-jacket-review-lining
carhartt-duck-active-jacket-review-pocket-zip

Drop Tail or Cuffed Waist

Do you want a drop-tail waist or a cuffed waist on your work jacket? A drop-tail waist gives you added weather protection past the waist, but a cuffed waist help trap in heat, and is also easier to pair with a tool belt.

carhartt-duck-active-jacket-review-back-layer

As you can see above, my Carhartt J140 flannel lined hooded workwear jacket has a cuffed waist, which gives it a sort of bomber style. But, again, one drawback to a cuffed jacket is it doesn’t provide protection below the waist. If you want the added weather protection, a a canvas work coat may be best.

Zip Design

For extreme weather, having a work jacket that zips all the way to the chin can be a nice benefit. This helps keep the wind and weather off your neck while you work. Here’s a look at how the Carhartt Yukon Extremes Jacket zips all the way to my chin:

104458-carhartt-jacket-zipped

If you are searching for a workwear jacket to use in extreme cold weather, a zip-to-chin design can really help trap in extra heat around the chin, neck, ears, and face. To read more about this jacket, visit m