I’ve tried six different Carhartt hoodies, so I can give you a pretty good idea of what to expect. The first thing you will need to consider is how warm you want your Carhartt hoodie to be.
Carhartt offers a wide range of hoodies, both unlined and lined, ranging from midweight to heavyweight. Below are my recommendations based off experience with these hoodies.
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These are my choices for the best Carhartt hoodies:
- *My Favorite* – Carhartt Men’s Midweight Hoodie (click here to view)
- Warmest Pullover – Carhartt Paxton Rain Defender Heavyweight Hoodie (click here to view)
- Warmest Zip – Carhartt Quilt-Lined Zip Rain Defender Hoodie (click here to view)
- Most Comfortable – Carhartt Sherpa-Lined Rain Defender Hoodie (click here to view)
- Best for Mild Weather – Carhartt Force Midweight Logo Hoodie (click here to view)
- Best Water-Repellent – Carhartt Quilt-Lined Zip Rain Defender Hoodie (click here to view)
- Best Quarter Zip – Carhartt Paxton Heavyweight Quarter Zip Hoodie (click here to view)
- Women’s Pullover – Carhartt Relaxed Fit Graphic Sleeve Hoodie (click here to view)
- Women’s Insulated – Carhartt Sherpa-Lined Clarksburg Hoodie (click here to view)
Carhartt hoodies can be that first layer of protection you keep stored in your work truck for when a day turns unexpectedly cold. They also can function as warm base layers to wear under your work jacket during winter.
There are several types of Carhartt hoodies, all of which vary a bit in fit, function, and warmth. In this article I want to discuss your options, and use examples of the hoodies that I own so you can find an option that fits your needs.
Types of Carhartt Hoodies
Carhartt makes a range of hoodies that vary in warmth between mid-weight and heavyweight. Here’s what you need to know about some of their most popular types of hoodies:
- Carhartt Midweight Hoodies – These will be perfect for cool fall and spring days. They won’t be warm enough to keep you warm in the bitter cold, but they act as perfect layering piece to use when its cool, but not cold enough for your work jacket.
- Carhartt Rain Defender Hoodies – These Hoodies use water-repellent fabric to help repel away light precipitation. Although there are unlined versions, they do have three insulated versions, all of which I have tried. These are, in my opinion, the warmest Carhartt hoodies.
- Carhartt Heavyweight Hoodies – Carhartt does offer two heavyweight hoodies, that use 13-ounce fabric. I have tried both, and they do provide plenty of warmth. But both of these options are unlined, and I found the lined midweight hoodies to be even warmer.
As I mentioned earlier, I have tried six of Carhartt’s hoodies, including midweight, heavyweight, and Rain Defender. Carhartt does not offer a temperature rating, and I cannot either, but in the table below I listed my opinion on how these rank regarding warmth.
| Style # | Photos | Warmth | Style | Fit | Weight (lbs) | Thickness (mm) | Fabric | Lining |
| 103312 | See My Photos | Warmest | Zip to Chin | Relaxed | 2.31 | 2.01 | Midweight | Quilted |
| 103308 | See My Photos | 2nd Warmest | Zip to Chin | Relaxed | 2.70 | 6.28 | Midweight | Sherpa |
| 104078 | See My Photos | 3rd Warmest | Zip to Chin | Loose | 2.48 | 4.04 | Midweight | Thermal |
| 100614 | See My Photos | 4th Warmest | Zip | Loose | 2.14 | 1.63 | Heavyweight | Unlined |
| 100615 | See My Photos | 5th Warmest | Pull- Over | Loose | 1.98 | 1.66 | Heavyweight | Unlined |
| K121 | See My Photos | 6th Warmest | Pull- Over | Loose | 1.62 | 1.29 | Midweight | Unlined |
In the next sections I want to discuss all six of these Carhartt hoodies individually so you have a better idea how they differ. I will also link to our other resources regarding these hoodies.
Carhartt Midweight Hoodie
This is my favorite Carhartt hoodie. Even though it is a midweight hoodie, it provides nice warmth, and works perfectly for me on those 40-50 degree Fahrenheit days where it is cold, but not cold enough for my work jacket.
Here’s a look at mine:
Think of this hoodie as that work hoodie you can just leave in your work truck and pull out whenever the weather turns unexpectedly cold. It’s also perfect to use as a layer under your work jacket during the brutal winter days.
My size medium weighs 1.62 pounds. This is not a bulky sweatshirt. The thing I like the most is it provides warmth, but it’s not too much warmth. This isn’t a hoodie I slide on and sweat out of in ten minutes. I think it provides that perfect amount of warmth for cool spring and fall days.
This is the current price of this Carhartt midweight hoodie available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). In my experience, this hoodie fits true to size.
Carhartt Quilt-Lined Rain Defender Hoodie
This is one of Carhartt’s three lined hoodies, and I think this is the warmest Carhartt hoodie (the other two lined hoodies are very close also). It has a quilt-lining with Poly-fil insulation that allows this hoodie to be warm, but not heavy or bulky.
My size medium only weighs 2.31 pounds and is only 2.01mm thick. This hoodie is very warm, and is still thin enough to layer under your work jacket during those brutally cold days.
This is a Carhartt Rain Defender Hoodie, which means it is water-repellent. No, it can’t take on a monsoon and keep you dry, but it will repel away light precipitation. This hoodie zips all the way to the chin for extra weather protection.
This is the current price of this Carhartt Quilt-Lined Rain Defender Hoodie (affiliate link takes you to Dungarees.com). This hoodie has a relaxed fit that, in my experience, fits true to size. To read more about this hoodie, visit my Carhartt Quilt Lined Hoodie review.
Carhartt Sherpa-Lined Rain Defender Hoodie
In my opinion, this is the most comfortable Carhartt hoodie. The Sherpa lining is very warm and very comfortable. The only drawback here compared to the quilt-lined hoodie we just discussed is this hoodie weighs more and is bulkier.
Although I said earlier I think the Carhartt Quilt Lined Rain Defender Hoodie is the warmest, this Sherpa Lined Rain Defender Hoodie is a very close second. This hoodie keeps me warm in everything except the bitter cold.
This is another Carhartt Rain Defender Hoodie, which means it is water-repellent. Like I said earlier, don’t expect these Rain Defender hoodies to keep you dry in a monsoon, but it will repel away light precipitation. This hoodie zips all the way to the chin.
This is the current price of this Carhartt Sherpa-Lined Rain Defender Hoodie (affiliate link takes you to Dungarees.com). This hoodie has a relaxed fit that, in my experience, fits true to size. To read more about this hoodie, visit my Carhartt Sherpa Lined Hoodie review.
Carhartt Thermal Lined Rain Defender Hoodie
This is Carhartt’s third lined hoodie. Out of the three lined hoodies, I thought this was the mildest, but please understand that this hoodie, because it is lined, is still very warm compared to most hoodies.
One thing I like about this hoodie is it has a zip-close internal pocket to give me a safe place to store essentials. This hoodie has a looser fit than the other two lined hoodies we discussed above, so if you prefer a loose fit, and need a lined hoodie, this will be the best option.
This is another Carhartt Rain Defender Hoodie, which means it is water-repellent. Like I said earlier, don’t expect these Rain Defender hoodies to keep you dry in a monsoon, but it will repel away light precipitation. This hoodie zips all the way to the chin.
This is the current price of this Carhartt Thermal-Lined Rain Defender Hoodie (affiliate link takes you to Dungarees.com). This hoodie has a loose fit that, in my experience, fits true to size. To read more about this hoodie, visit my Carhartt Thermal Lined Hoodie review.
Carhartt Heavyweight Rain Defender Hoodie
This is a heavyweight hoodie, so it must be the warmest right? In my opinion, no. Because this hoodie is unlined, despite being made with a heavyweight 13-ounce fabric, I found the three midweight insulated hoodies we discussed above to be warmer than this hoodie.
But please understand, this hoodie is still quite warm. The heavyweight fabric is warm enough to keep you feeling comfortable on cool days, but if you are looking for the warmest Carhartt hoodie, I’d stick with one of the three lined hoodies we discussed above.
This is another Carhartt Rain Defender Hoodie, which means it is water-repellent. Like I said earlier, don’t expect these Rain Defender hoodies to keep you dry in a monsoon, but it will repel away light precipitation. One feature that is different about this hoodie compared to the other Rain Defender hoodies, is this hoodie does not zip all the way to the chin.
This is the current price of this Carhartt Heavyweight Rain Defender Hoodie (affiliate link takes you to Dungarees.com). This hoodie has a loose fit that, in my experience, fits true to size. To read more about this hoodie, visit my Carhartt Heavyweight Rain Defender Hoodie review.
Carhartt Paxton Rain Defender Pullover Hoodie
Looking for the warmest pullover Carhartt hoodie? I think this is it. This hoodie uses a heavyweight 13-ounce fabric and keeps me warm even when temperatures get down into the upper 30’s. Obviously, this might not be the case for everyone, but that’s the temperature range that I use this hoodie for.
This hoodie has a standard design with an attached hood and a front hand-warmer pouch. My size medium weighs 1.98 pounds.
This is another Carhartt Rain Defender Hoodie, which means it is water-repellent. Because it is water-repellent, I like to layer this hoodie underneath my work jacket during the winter months.
This is the current price of this Carhartt Heavyweight Rain Defender Pullover Hoodie available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Dungarees.com). This hoodie has a loose fit that, in my experience, fits true to size.
What is the Warmest Carhartt Hoodie?
In my opinion, the warmest Carhartt hoodie is the Carhartt Quilt-Lined Rain Defender Hoodie. Here’s a look at mine:
Carhartt does not offer a temperature rating for their hoodies, and I certainly cannot either. This is just my opinion from wearing these hoodies. No, I haven’t put them through scientific testing.
But this hoodie provides me premium warmth, and keeps me warm in all conditions except the bitter cold. Because this hoodie uses a Poly-fit insulation, despite being very warm, it is reasonably lightweight and non-bulky (my favorite lightweight hoodies).
This is the current price of this Carhartt Quilt-Lined Rain Defender Hoodie (affiliate link takes you to Dungarees.com). This hoodie has a relaxed fit that, in my experience, fits true to size. To read more about this hoodie, visit my Carhartt Quilt Lined Hoodie review.
As I mentioned earlier, if you are looking for the warmest pullover hoodie, then I think it is the Carhartt Heavyweight Rain Defender hoodie. Here is a look at mine:
No, this pullover option in my opinion is not as warm as the lined hoodie I discussed first. But this is the warmest pullover Carhartt work hoodie that I have tried.
I like to use this as a layering piece under my work jacket in the brutal cold. This hoodie is not lined, but uses a heavyweight fabric for warmth.
This is the current price of this Carhartt Heavyweight Rain Defender Pullover Hoodie available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Dungarees.com). This hoodie has a loose fit that, in my experience, fits true to size.
Are Carhartt Hoodies Warm?
Okay, so now you know what the warmest Carhartt hoodies are, but are all Carhartt hoodies warm? Again, this is based just on my opinion since Carhartt doesn’t offer a warmth rating on their products.
Carhartt work hoodies have been the warmest hoodies I have owned. Even the mid-weight hoodie I own offers a reasonable amount of warmth. I will sweat out of it on mild days.
Now, obviously don’t mistake these things for winter coats. But if you are using Carhartt hoodies for either spring/fall temperatures, or as a base layer for the winter, they will provide you with quality warmth. My insulated Carhartt hoodies provide me warmth in all conditions except the bitter cold.
What are Carhartt Hoodies Made of?
The material used in Carhartt hoodies will differ from sweatshirt to sweatshirt. In general, most Carhartt hoodies use a cotton/poly blend. The ratio of these fabrics can vary depending on what hoodie you choose.
Do Carhartt Hoodies Shrink?
Okay, as I just said most Carhartt hoodies use a cotton/poly blend, which can help reduce shrinking. But how much does it help? Do Carhartt hoodies shrink?
In my personal experience, yes, you can expect Carhartt hoodies to shrink very similar to most standard clothing. I would expect a small amount of shrinking, but not enough to affect what size you order.
Carhartt Hoodie Sizing
How do Carhartt hoodies fit?
In general, expect Carhartt hoodies to run true-to-size. In my experience, the pullover hoodies fit true to size. They don’t run too tight or too loose, and provide me enough space to move freely without being too baggy or sloppy.
Here is a look at my pullover hoodies:
The zip-front hoodie also run true to size and have a fit that won’t hug tight against the body. Here I am wearing one of my insulated zip-front Carhartt hoodies:
And here is that same zip-front size medium Carhartt hoodie compared to a size medium Hanes undershirt straight out of the package:
In general, my recommendation is to order your normal sizing for Carhartt hoodies. If you want to read more in depth about sizing, visit my article about Carhartt Hoodie Sizing. ***This article is property of workwearcommand.com.
Are Carhartt Hoodies Waterproof?
No Carhartt hoodie is waterproof, but the Carhartt Rain Defender Hoodies are “water-repellent”. What is the difference between waterproof and water-repellent?
Water-repellent means that you can expect the garment to provide water resistance againt light precipitation. Don’t expect a water-repellent garment to be completely waterproof and shield off a driving monsoon. But you can expect these hoodies to bead up light precip.
Here’s a video so you can see how my Carhartt Rain Defender Hoodie handles water:
If you need a water repellent hoodie, then my advice is to stick with Carhart’s Rain Defender hoodies. To read more in-depth about these hoodies and to see options, visit my article about Carhartt Rain Defender Hoodies.