This is a Carhartt Duck Active Jacket review. In this article we review the quilted flannel-lined version, which is our favorite Carhartt work jacket.
The Carhartt Duck Active Jacket combines that traditional tough outer-shell duck lining that Carhartt is famous for, with an ultra-warm, quilted-flannel inner lining that makes it a great winter workwear jacket. In this article I will review the Carhartt Quilted Flannel-Lined Duck Active Jacket that I own (style #J140):
What You Need To Know
The Carhartt Duck Active Jacket is one of the warmest Carhartt work jackets you can buy. It combines the outer-shell toughness of Carhartt with a quilted-flannel inner lining that will shield you from the extreme cold. It comes with a built-in hood with drawstring.
This jacket features 4 pockets, including an inside chest pocket that zip-closes. This zip pocket gives you a safe place to store essentials like your keys, wallet, or phone (I can fit all three in the pocket at the same time).
This jacket has that classic Carhartt style. It is clean, simple, yet functional and very warm. This jacket has cuffed wrists and a cuffed waist which help keep the weather out. If you like this design, see more in our article about the best Carhartt bomber jackets.
The cuff waist also makes this jacket very versatile. Other work jackets can have droptails which cause them to fit down beyond the waist. This jacket has the cuffed waist, which makes it very easy to pair with a work belt.
This coats main drawback is it is not made with Carhartt’s Full Swing technology. Carhartt’s Full Swing jackets come with built-in gusset-style stretch panels so that you can freely move and swing while wearing the jacket. This Duck Active Jacket is not Full Swing, meaning if you are going to be working a job where movement is important, like chopping firewood, shoveling snow, or driving fence posts, then this jacket will not provide you the freedom of movement you will need.
The strength of this Carhartt Duck Canvas Jacket is in its toughness, warmth, and comfort (plus triple-stitched durability). This specific style of Carhartt jacket has been a staple of winter work-wear for decades. It functions perfectly as a dependable winter coat, but can be especially effective for jobs like:
- Construction Workers
- Electricians, Plumbers, and Carpenters
- Lineman
- Food Preparation Workers in Refrigerated Environments
- Mechanics
- Winter Road Crews
- Dock Workers
- Farmers
***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.
Carhartt Duck Active Jacket Review: Fit
One of the biggest issues with work coats is finding the right size. If it’s too tight and too small, it can restrict movement and hinder your ability to move effectively. But if it’s too big, it can be a safety hazard and also just be annoying to work with. Let’s discuss how the Carhartt Duck Active Jacket fits.
How does the Carhartt Duck Active Jacket fit?
The Carhartt Duck Active jacket has a relaxed fit that runs true to size. Because the jacket has a relaxed fit, if you are in between sizes, size down.
For most people, ordering your typical size will work fine for this jacket. Also, remember (as we discussed earlier), this Duck Active Jacket is not a Carhartt Full Swing jacket meaning it does not have the built-in gusset-style stretch panels for greater range of motion. The relaxed, loose fit helps make up for this by giving you some room to move around in the jacket while working.
The relaxed fit also is helpful so that when you layer underneath this jacket with a hoodie or flannel during the dangerously cold winter temperatures, you have plenty of room to fit this jacket over the top.
Below is a look at me wearing my size medium Carhartt Duck Active jacket (I am 6’3″ 200 pounds). For reference, here I am wearing a medium t-shirt:
Here I am wearing a size medium Carhartt Duck Active Jacket:
As you can see, the jacket runs comfortably relaxed, but (in my opinion) true to size. If you are in between sizes, size down. But the extra room can come in handy to give you more freedom of movement and room to layer.
Here is a look at my size medium with a hoodie layered underneath:
As you can see, there is a perfect amount of room built-in to the sizing to comfortably layer a hoodie or flannel underneath. Yes, the jacket runs a little loose, but I think it is necessary if you plan to layer on the days that get painfully cold.
For reference, here is a look at my size medium Carhartt Duck Active Jacket compared to a size medium Hanes undershirt straight out of the package:
Carhartt Duck Active Jacket Review: In-Depth Breakdown
So far in the article we have discussed a summary of the Carhartt Duck Active Jacket, and discussed how it fits, now let’s talk about some of the finer details so that you know exactly what you are getting if you buy this work jacket.
Comfort, Toughness, and Warmth
We graded this jacket highest on its comfort, toughness, and warmth. This is why:
- Toughness – This jacket combines the tough Duck-cotton outer shell that makes Carhartt jackets so durable and dependable, with the triple-stitching on the seams to make sure this jacket will last for you over the long-haul. Some people use there Carhartt jackets for decades, and its this tough outer shell combined with premium stitching that helps make this possible.
- Warmth, Comfort – Not only does that tough outer shell help protect from the elements, but this jacket has one of Carhartt’s warmest inner linings: the quilted flannel inner lining. Combined with the adjustable hood, this jacket provides premium warmth and can stand up to the harsh winter temperatures. The soft inner lining combined with the cuffed sleeves make the jacket very comfortable to wear during a day of work.
The quilted-flannel lining is one of the warmest linings that Carhartt offers. It is soft, comfortable, and really protects you against cold even on those painfully cold days. This lining also exists in the hood. Here are some close-up looks at the lining of my jacket:
The tough outer shell is a staple of Carhartt work-wear and many people prefer it. This kind of toughness is needed so that the jacket can withstand the daily grind of an active job and not easily tear and rip. Here is a look at the outer shell up-close:
But if you actually would prefer a softer outer shell, then I would recommend you check out the Carhartt Sandstone Active Jacket.
The Sandstone Active Jacket also has the quilt-flannel lining to provide ultra-warmth, and is practically a match to the Duck Active Jacket, only it features a softer outer shell. The Sandstone jackets have that broken-in feeling straight out of the package.
As mentioned above, the Carhartt Duck Active Jacket also has the triple-stitched main seams. This is one of those details that is kind of easy to skim over, but truly has a huge impact on the long-term durability of this jacket. Here is a look at the premium stitching:
In regards to comfort, this Duck Active Jacket fits easy on the shoulders and has comfortable rib-knit cuffs that hug the wrists to keep the weather out.
Despite having the tough, heavy-duty outer-shell and extra warmth with the quilted flannel inner lining, the Duck Active Jacket has (all things considered) a very reasonable total weight. My size medium weighs 3.16 pounds:
Versatility and Storage
One very important aspect of the Carhartt Duck Active jacket is the rib-knit cuffed waist it has. Not only does this help keep the cold-weather out, but it also helps the jacket be versatile. It can easily be paired with a tool belt if needed.
Some work coats have the long drop tail that goes below the waist and, yes, does provide extra weather protection, but also restricts the versatility of the coat because it makes it hard to pair with a tool belt.
This Carhartt Duck Active Jacket is perfect for construction workers, electricians, and other trades that regularly use tool belts on the job.
We graded the storage of this Duck Active Jacket as an 8/10, making it adequate for most situations. It features 4 total pockets, one of which is a zip-close inner pocket perfect for storing essentials like your keys, wallet, phone etc.
While some other Carhartt jackets have more pockets (for example, the Carhartt Chore Coat which has 6 pockets), for most people the 4 pockets on the Carhartt Active Jacket is plenty of storage space.
The two outer hand-warming kangaroo-style split pockets provide enough room to fit your hands in there even if you are wearing work gloves.
The other inner-jacket pocket opens from the top. Here is a picture of that pocket on my jacket:
One drawback as far as storage and pockets go on the Duck Active Jacket is it does not provide an easy place (like a top-open outer chest pocket) to clip a pen, marker, flashlight, utility knife, or other type of work essential you may want to keep within an easy reach. With this jacket, you might have to rely on clipping a flashlight or utility knife to your belt instead.
As I mentioned previously, this jacket has rib-knit cuff sleeves at fit snug around the wrist to help keep the weather out.
Water Resistance and Flexibility
The Carhartt Duck Active Jacket is water-resistant, but not water proof. If you are outside in a driving rain storm, this coat will take on water. But if it encounters light precipitation like spitting snow or a light rain shower, it will be fine.
One issue that I did touch on earlier in the article was the flexibility of this Carhartt Duck Active Jacket. Although the flexibility of this coat is acceptable and comparable to many other types of work jackets, it is important to emphasize that this jacket does not have the Carhartt Full Swing technology built-in, meaning it does not have the gusset-style stretch panels that stretch and move with your arms and shoulders.
If you are going to be working a job that requires you to constantly swing and move your arms, like driving fence posts or shoveling snow or swinging a sledge hammer, then you may want to opt for a Carhartt Full-Swing Coat. I recommend checking out the Carhartt Full Swing Chore Coat.
The movement and flexibility of this Carhartt Active Duck Coat, although not as impressive as the Full Swing jackets, will be more than adequate for most jobs. If you are a construction worker, lineman, mechanic, or just simply looking for an ultra-warm winter coat, this Active Jacket will give you enough freedom of movement to get the job done.
Where to Buy the Carhartt Duck Active Jacket?
The Carhartt Duck Active Jacket combines the heavy-duty outer toughness of the Carhartt Duck jackets with an ultra-warm quilted flannel inner-lining. The cuffed rib-knit waist provides weather protection and also makes the jacket easy to pair with a work belt.
It is a perfect winter work option for:
- Construction Workers
- Electricians, Plumbers, and Carpenters
- Lineman
- Food Preparation Workers in Refrigerated Environments
- Mechanics
- Winter Road Crews
- Dock Workers
- Farmers