Recently I wrote about the best Carhartt work jackets, and explained how this Carhartt J140 jacket is my favorite work jacket. The flannel lining is very warm and comfortable, and the firm duck is durable and wind-resistant.
That said, this jacket won’t make sense for all climates. It will be too warm for some southern states, and some of you may actually prefer a pre-washed canvas outer shell instead of the firm shell that the Carhartt J140 work jacket has.
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Here are my general recommendations for Carhartt Jackets based on different winter conditions:
- Extreme Winter Conditions – Carhartt Yukon Extremes Jacket (click here to view)
- Moderate Winder Conditions – Carhartt J140 Jacket (click here to view)
- Mild Winter Conditions – Carhartt J131 Jacket (click here to view)
In this article I want to focus specifically on the J140 jacket to give you an idea of what type of outer shell it uses, what type of lining it uses, and how that compares to other options. In general, this is one of the warmest and toughest Carhartt work jackets available.
Here’s a look at mine:
**As a disclaimer, please understand that Carhartt currently does not assign a temperature rating to their jackets. I obviously cannot either. But I’m going to give you my best judgement on what climates makes sense for this jacket. Just understand this is my opinion based on experience with this Carhartt jacket.
Understanding the Warmth of the Carhartt J140 Jacket
Probably the first thing you need to do if you are trying to find a Carhartt work jacket is understand the different insulation linings that Carhartt offers, and how they differ on warmth. The table below should help you understand the options and how the linings in these Carhartt winter jackets differ.
Here are Carhartt’s available linings, and my personal opinion on how they rank from lightweight 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 | Medium Warmth |
| Quilted-Nylon | Medium Warmth |
| Sherpa | Warm |
| Quilted-Flannel | Very Warm |
| Arctic Insulation | Warmest |
What Lining Does the Carhartt J140 Jacket Have?
This J140 jacket uses the quilted-flannel lining. I’ve used several Carhartt winter jackets over the years, and still do. For Kansas winters, this quilted-flannel lining works perfectly. It is quite warm, and can handle even most of the coldest days we get here in this climate.
Here’s a look at the quilted flannel lining in my jacket:
Again, Carhartt does not offer a temperature rating on their products, so this is just purely my opinion based on experience with these jackets, but I’ve felt like this was the second warmest Carhartt Jacket I’ve tried, behind the J133 Carhartt Arctic Jacket.
What is the Warmest Carhartt Jacket?
In my experience, the warmest Carhartt winter jacket is the Carhartt J133 Yukon Extremes Arctic Jacket. This jacket has a durable nylon duck outer shell that is wind resistant, and the arctic lining is built for extreme cold. Here’s a look at my Carhartt J133 jacket:
If you want to read more about Carhartt winter jackets for the brutal cold, visit my article about the warmest Carhartt jackets. You can also view my Carhartt J133 Review.
UPDATE – As of 2021, Carhartt has updated the J133 jacket and replaced it with a new Carhartt Yukon Extremes Jacket style #104458. The new jacket is very similar in that just like the old jacket it is extremely warm and durable, but there are design differences. For example, the new version zips all the way to the chin. I own both – to read more, visit my article about the Carhartt 104458 Jacket.
Is the Carhartt J140 Jacket Warm?
Yes, this is one of Carhartt’s warmest jackets. The quilted-flannel lining is the second warmest lining that Carhartt offers (the warmest is known as the arctic insulation).
I wear this jacket in Kansas and it is warm enough to keep me comfortable during our winters. It is impossible to know what the specific winter conditions are that you will be facing, but in general, it is safe to assume this J140 jacket can stand up to most winter environments.
If you work outside consistently in sub-freezing conditions in the northern US or Canada, perhaps it would be best to try the J133 jacket from above, which has Carhartt’s warmest insulation. The J133 is styled just like this J140, only it has the warmest insulation (arctic insulation) and the toughest outer shell (nylon duck). It is built for extreme conditions.
Carhartt J140 Temperature Rating
If you are looking for a J140 temperature rating, as I mentioned earlier, unfortunately Carhartt does not do temperature ratings for their jackets. All I can tell you is from my personal experience, the J140 is warm enough to handle tough winter conditions.
But again, if you are worried about extreme, dangerous temperatures, the warmest Carhartt jacket is actually the J133. If you want to read more about the warmest Carhartt jackets, visit our article: Warmest Carhartt Jackets.
Is the Carhartt J140 Jacket Good for Mild Winters?
For cool, but mild, winters that you’d experience in the southern US, I think the quilted flannel lining used in this J140 jacket is a bit too warm. Obviously, personal preference can greatly impact this.
I’d probably lean towards one of the milder linings, for example the thermal lining or the fleece lining. The blanket lining might also be a nice fit for those who like a warm jacket, but live in a mild climate like the southern United States. The Carhartt blanket lining is warm, but I would describe it as a medium-warmth.
If you like the design of the J140, but live in a warmer climate, the J131 jacket has the same design, but has the thermal lining which might be the better option for you.
Understanding the Outer Shell Fabric of the Carhartt J140 Jacket
Canvas fabric is important for a work jacket because it gives you the abrasion resistance you need on the job. This J140 has a firm cotton duck canvas outer shell fabric.
These firm duck outer shells also provide a level of wind resistance needed during those brutal winter days. Sometimes when comparing Carhartt winter jackets, this outer shell fabric is the most difficult thing to understand.
In general, the more durable the outer fabric, the stiffer the jacket will be. Canvas will break in over time, but the firmer, stiffer outer-shells (like this J140 jacket) will take some time. If you do not like stiff jackets, you might want one of the fabrics that is pre-washed to help break it in.
Please understand that Carhartt does offer soft-shell jackets too, which means that not all their jackets use a canvas outer shell. But but here are your options for outer canvas fabrics for the Carhartt Work Jackets:
| Outer Fabric Duck | Details |
| Extremes Nylon | Toughest; Wind/Water Resistant |
| Firm Cotton | Toughest Cotton; Wind/Water Res. |
| Traditional Cotton | 2nd-Toughest Cotton Shell |
| Washed Cotton | Tough, but Broken-in Feeling |
| Sandstone Cotton | Tough, but Broken-in Feeling |
| Quick Duck | Lightweight, Flexible Blend |
They nylon duck is the toughest, and also is very wind-resistant. I will warn you, although this nylon canvas is very durable and good for extreme environments, it is also very noisy. This might not be a huge deal, but it’s noticeably noisier than the cotton canvas duck fabric.
Here’s a look at the nylon duck canvas on one of my Carhartt work jackets (the J140 does not have this nylon fabric shell):
If you prefer cotton, the firm duck and traditional duck (in my experience) are very similar, and both take time to break in. The J140 uses this firm duck outer shell, which is the toughest type of cotton shell. It will be stiff at first, but break in over time.
Here’s a look at the firm duck on my J140 Carhartt winter jacket:
My advice – If you need something durable, I’d stick with the firm cotton duck shell of this J140 jacket. If you care more about comfort (but don’t want a soft shell jacket) I’d go with either the quick duck shell or the pre-washed cotton duck shell that has a worn-in feeling on the first wear. The nylon duck is best used for extreme climates and jobs.
Is the Carhartt J140 Jacket Stiff?
Yes, you can expect the J140 jacket to be stiff off-the-rack. It uses a firm cotton duck outer shell, which will have a break-in period. Some jobs need this stiff, firm outer shell to stand up to tough work sites.
The firm cotton duck shell adds some protection against scrapes and scuffs, and is both water-resistant and wind-resistant. It is Carhartt’s second toughest shell (behind the Cordura Nylon Duck).
If you want a Carhartt jacket that has more of a broken-in feeling off the rack, then you will want the J130. The Carhartt J130 is very warm and designed similarly to the J140 jacket, but it uses a pre-washed cotton canvas shell. The pre-wash process helps break the fabric in so it isn’t as stiff.
If you want to read more about how the J130 and the J140 compare, visit this article (J130 vs J140) where we compare how Carhartt Active Jackets fit.
What is Quick Duck Fabric?
Quick Duck is unique to Carhartt, and is a fabric blend that they offer which is lighter in weight than other canvas shells, but still durable. So, no, don’t think of this like a flimsy jacket.
The Quick Duck fabric still feels like canvas, but it is lighter in weight and, in my experience, more comfortable and more flexible. Here is a close-up look at the Quick Duck fabric on one of my Carhartt work jackets:
As you can see, it still has a canvas texture. No, it isn’t quite as durable as the tough cotton duck or the nylon duck, but this is a nice middle-ground that still provides some abrasion resistance, without the stiffness of canvas.
Carhartt J140 Jacket Sizing
How does the Carhartt J140 jacket fit?
In general, you can expect this jacket to fit loose, but I have always ordered my normal sizing and it has worked out fine for me. The extra room built-in helps for layering underneath, and gives you space to move and function while working.
Here is a look at my size medium (6’3″ 190 pounds):
Here is my size medium compared to a size medium t-shirt straight out of the package:
***If you want to read more about Carhartt jacket sizing, visit our article How Do Carhartt Jackets Fit?. This article is property of workwearcommand.com.
Does the Carhartt J140 Jacket Shrink?
While, yes, you can expect 100% cotton Carhartt winter jackets to shrink some over time, in my experience, the shrinking is minimal, and does not affect what size I order. As with anything, after enough wash cycles, the cotton fabric will shrink a little bit.
Here’s a look at my old Carhartt J140 jacket that has been washed and worn for 5+ years sitting on top of my new J140 jacket:
As you can see, there’s a little bit of difference there, but once you consider how many wash cycles that Carhartt winter jacket has been through, and also consider how much rain/sun it has taken on, the change is minimal. I honestly didn’t even notice a change until I compared it. To read more, visit my article about Carhartt jackets shrinking.
Is the Carhartt J140 Jacket Waterproof?
This jacket is water-repellent, not waterproof (best waterproof insulated jackets). This means you can expect this jacket to repel light precipitation, but don’t expect it to shield off a driving rain storm. Here is a look at my J140 with light precipitation on the sleeve:
This firm cotton shell is also wind-resistant to help add some weather protection to the jacket. This jacket can’t take on a monsoon, but in my experience, it will protect you from light rain and snow.
How Much Does the Carhartt J140 Jacket Weigh?
I’m not sure if Carhartt publishes an official weight for the J140, but here is a look at my size medium. It weighs 3.16 pounds:
Carhartt J140 Work Jacket Design Features
This jacket is made with the standard features typical of Carhartt’s active jackets. You can expect 2 front hand-warmer pockets, with two internal pockets. One of the internal pockets is a zip pocket, perfect for storing essentials.
The jacket has a cuffed waist with cuffed sleeves. It has an attached insulated hood with drawstring, and is a full-front zip. Here are some photos of mine:
Is the Carhartt J140 Jacket Made in the USA?
Yes, this jacket is a made in the USA work jacket, but made with imported parts:
Carhartt J40 Work Jacket Conclusion
This jacket is my favorite hooded work jacket. The firm duck 100% cotton canvas outer shell is very durable and also offers some weather protection. Yes, it will be a bit stiff at first, but it breaks in just fine with time.
Again, Carhartt does not assign temperature ratings to their jackets, which just complicates the buying process. Here is my opinion based off wearing this jacket for years: this jacket will be warm enough to handle winters in most all continental US states (yes, there may be some extreme exceptions). But it also will likely be too warm for mild winters in the southern US.
Click here to buy this Carhartt J140 jacket available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com). This jacket has a loose fit, but I order my normal sizing. To explore other options, visit my article about alternatives to Carhartt, or my article about the best workwear jackets.