Carhartt: the most badass thing to ever meet needle and thread
Tuesday, January 22, 2013 I’m not a clothes guy. Given the choice, I would buy everything from the Army Navy Store. Actually, that’s what I did until the need to procreate forced me to consider otherwise. But really, rip-stop pants with ample pockets and black ribbed sweaters with reinforced elbows are classic, versatile and mission-ready. So what if most of my missions end with “save as…” rather than necklaces made of enemy ears.
Let’s just say I’m not on the pitch list for many clothing brands. And let’s just say when they do send me stuff, I sit on it for years. Yes, plural. So the first part of this post is pure blogger guilt relief. Ralph Lauren and Gold Toe sent me stuff back in 2011. Actually, they sent stuff for Fury. And like a proper blogger’s kid, he wore his cool Ralph Lauren shirt and Gold Toe socks to the first day of school without me asking.
When I snapped this picture, I was actually wearing the Gold Toe socks they sent me as well. But Fury got the cool socks that are labeled L and R because they’re built for the contour of each foot. What? Is that even necessary? He insisted they were the best socks he’d ever worn. So there you have it. Gold Toe makes the best socks (as an SEO guy, I have to say I just gave them killer anchor text– well worth the wait).
Then last March, we moved from SoCal to NorCal, so there was actually another “first day of school.” Without missing a beat, Fury wore his Ralph Lauren shirt again.
Ralph Lauren makes the best shirts to wear on your first day of school (BOOM. Blogger guilt eliminated).
With that out of the way, I would like to get into the whole reason I’m writing this post: Carhartt sent me their Quick Duck Woodward jacket, and this post is a review of it. However, by doing this I’m keeping it real. You can buy Carhartt at an Army Navy store. In fact, I‘ve owned the iconic Carhartt Sandstone jacket for several years. Except I call it my Toby Keith jacket. Sometimes if I’m feeling more classic, I call it my George Strait jacket.
I’m an Asian guy who likes country music. Kindly lead the elephant out of the room now, so I can get on with this post.
Another reason I agreed to this review is because I was cold. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is, San Francisco is always chilly. I started my new job in May, and so far there have only been three days I could walk outside without a jacket. The one I’ve been wearing since my first day is a thin Banana Republic sweater jacket (which in my professional years has become my Army Navy store for office attire).
I call my daily trip to work the “Commuter Triathlon” because there are three parts to it, and PowerBar could get some mileage sponsoring that BS. It starts out with a 45-minute drive to the train station. Then I park the car at the BART station and ride an hour into the city. Then, I unfold this bad boy:
Then I scoot the mile from the BART station to my office. Field mice gestate in less time than it takes me to get to the office.
But let me tell you something. Wearing this jacket makes my commute feel more like a conquest than a schlep. Because it is. Simply. Bad. Ass.
First, the Carhartt brand is synonymous with killing your own food, barehanded. I’ll get to that one day, I swear. No one messes with you when you are wearing Carhartt – even if you’re on a kick scooter. And that’s a bold statement, because ‘wheee!’
Next, this jacket is windproof, water resistant and WARM. Scooting through the mean streets of San Francisco feels like a warm cup of hot chocolate. In fact, I put this jacket through the ultimate test a few weeks ago when I lost my car keys. With my trusty scooter and battle-ready jacket, I rode all over town trying to find a car rental place and/or dealership. When that failed, I had to take a bus that dropped me off a few miles from home. By this time it was 10pm or so, which meant I had been outdoors scooting aimlessly for 7 hours. My face and hands were frozen, but my consistent core body temperature ensured my survival.
This what inability to move one’s face or fingers looks like.
So yes, this jacket saved my life in a #FirstWorldProblems sort of way. Speaking of which, this jacket also has an extra long “drop tail” which means no more embarrassing “unplugging your mac from the power strip” crack at work. It also has 6 pockets, and I’m not talking about costume pockets, either. I’ve transported water bottles, electronics, sandwiches, alcohol and other items in them. The other day, I even carried a lightbulb in one of the pockets. My favorite thing about this jacket is that even though it’s built to be rugged, it actually looks presentable in an urban professional setting. This is the jacket I wear to work. Colleagues and clients see me in it. It can hang with corporate America. Because when your jacket simply defaults to the popped collar look, you’re probably a big deal.
Hey guess what? YOU are also big deal, which is why Carhartt is giving one of you this jacket. Just leave me a comment explaining why you want yourself or your man in this jacket and you’ll be entered in my drawing. I will randomly choose a winner on Sunday, January 27 at 9pm PST. By the way, I wasn’t paid for this review. They sent me the jacket to use and abuse. I’ve so far managed only to spill coffee on it. Damn triple stitched seams.
Note: don't worry if your comment doesn't post immediately. This blog platform has a hyperactive spam filter. I will check it often and push legit comments live in due time.
Reader Comments (52)
Because Virginia was fracken 33 degrees today and is supposed to drop to 12 (WHAT?!?) tomorrow. Also .. My husband still wears those flannel/hoodie things and I'd love for him to have a nice, warm and fashionable coat.
I want this for my husband. He does real life triathlons. He does the commuter triathlon you described. He has three sons (the triathlon of kids?!) and he is a total badass. In fact, true story, his triathlon team was named the Badasses when I met him.
I'd love this jacket for myself. My son an I are avid hikers and geo-cachers and this seems rugged enough to keep me comfortable. And when mama's happy, everybody's happy. :)
My 15 year old daughter would gig you like a frog for that jacket. I would miss reading your blog, of course, but if I could score this jacket, I wouldn't have to listen to her whining anymore. Priorities - I got 'em.
(By the way, you made me laugh out loud more than once in this post!)
I am not entering, however, I've gotta say, Carhartt makes sturdy stuff. It's one of the few jackets my husband hasn't managed to rip, tear, or otherwise render unwearable.
Jim - I'm a huge Carhartt fan. While I am an avid outdoorsman (hunter and fisherman... you should try it), the truth is all of us working stiffs inevitably spend more time in the city than in the woods. So I need my gear to be versatile like that jacket. Keep rocking the Carhartt. Oh... and sign me up for that drawing. -John
PICK ME!!!! It's cold here, in metro Minneapolis. And my baby sis is a Carhart fanatic-she swears by it when she's out in the fields in March delivering lambs (she's a vet student-yeah-smarty pants) her currents Carhart had duct tape on the elbow. Plus she's a broke college kid :-)
Gold toe socks rock. And so do you.
Because my first born is a 12-year-old girl who is into boys now. This jacket looks badass and like something to be worn when intimidating those whipper snappers who want to talk to her outside the classroom. As in, "I can find you any time of day, in any kind of weather, punk."
I would like to win this jacket or my husband because we live in Colorado and he considers wearing a thermal under a tshirt a jacket. This jacket is badass and I think I could convince him to wear it because "Look! Jim has one!" Asian peer pressure, I'm not above it.
Because, like Aunt Julia said above, it's really really cold in Virginia. Also, with eight people in the family, I never get anything new. It all goes to the kids. Ever. Also, I will be in San Francisco in April, and you could help me look like I'm part of the in crowd. Even though we both know I am not and never will be.
Dude because who doesn't want to look like MFing Jim Lin?!
It's 10 degrees here - my husband needs this coat!
I want this jacket because I live in the rugged Northwest and lead a rugged lifestyle. Whether I'm dodging the laptop soldiers at Starbucks, edging out the other parents in the school pickup lane or trying to maintain my cool demeanor while suffering the Mother of All Paper Cuts at work, I need a garment that will be as tough and attractive as I feel I am in my own mind. Also, as someone who honestly DOES plug/unplug my Macbook into the power strip at work and home, that "drop tail" would come in mighty handy. Because Crack kills.
Why do I need this jacket... I know a lot about clothing and you cannot beat Cardheart. Own a few pieces of clothing from Carmhard and I tell you, top notch. My Carnhern coat is my go to coat for snowblowing, I keep it hanging at the back door. I also have 3 pairs of Karrdart carpenters jeans which are good for yard work. I do not have a coat from Cernfart like the one you are giving away, so I feel that it would go nicely with my other Cradhadt clothes. Thank you for your time.
Because people don't realize that Las Vegas gets cold too! We had a 4 day hard freeze last week and I'm still thawing out! I too, think this would look great for business-casual work wear as well!
I have one of those husbands who is too cool to wear a winter jacket in -25 degrees celsius. He claims he's warm but sporting his black spring jacket with toque, scarf, and alligator mittens just doesn't cut it. Oh, he'll need those 6 pockets too. One for him and one for each of the 5 kids to hold all of the their vital things I'm looking for 5 minutes before we have to leave for school but he has already left for work...you know how it is...
It was 27 degrees this morning as I waited at the train station in the dark. The layer of frost made the place look lovely, but this California native is still adjusting to the Oregon weather. You know how the Eskimos allegedly have a million words for snow? In Oregon, we have nearly as many ways to describe the rain and the grey clouds. But no matter what, "cold" always seems to apply. As soon as my fingers defrost, I'm totally going to cross them in hopes of winning the Carhartt jacket.
I would love this jacket for the Huz. Is the contest open to Canadians? Because it's Canada. It's cold. Need I say more? Great post!
You don't have to go to an Army surplus store to get Carhart here. It is sold all over the place. That being said, The Bob would dig that coat for all the badass dog walking he has to do.
Did your blog just eat my comment?? Carhartt...it rocks. The Bob needs it for badass dog walking.
I'd love this for my husband. We live in Seattle. The weather is crap 95% of the year. Plus, I love it when he wears anything Carhartt. Sexay
It's finally time for me to replace my old jacket and this sucker could stand up to working at the Navy yard
Black ribbed sweaters with reinforced elbows are a few other things, too.
I don't need to win the coat; my kid is going to steal yours. #forewarned
Badass. That's all. Wanna look badass.
Because there's nothing more BA than Carhartt. Except maybe for Dickies. Nah, Carhartt is better. And I live on the prairie where it's frickin' cold. I need warmth, and six pockets to stuff full of Cheerios, sippy cups, and wipes. Because there's nothing more BA than being a parent.
I gotta have the jacket because I'm pretty sure the zombie apocalypse is imminent, and I need something bite-proof. Seriously, why do the survivors on Walking Dead run around in t-shirts? I know they are in Georgia, but really? Put on some damn canvas clothing that rotting teeth just bounce off of! When society collapses, the first place I'm going in the Carhartt store.
So, for the future of humanity, please give me the jacket.
Plus I've got two kids that enjoy gnawing on things. Just a matter of time until they move onto me.
Because I live in the boonies outside Chicago - where Winter ALWAYS gets spelled with a capital W. And where I work on bicycles in my garage. And my motor scooter (the Coot Scoot) - the Chinese scooter my wife bought me that always needs some sort of repair - good weather OR bad.
Random strikes again! ;) My impression of you just went up a few notches when you admitted - living in California! - that you like country music. Nice.
My husband is really good at "losing" his coats so I'm sure we could use an extra one around here! That or my weed growing man children will use it in a few years!
I'm in Boston, and the only choices for warmth/fashion are either carhartt or north face. And somehow I value my indie cred. Please pick me!
So I can get my husband out of his drag boat racing championship jacket and present him in cold climate as the kick ass ninja man he is totally capable of being.
My hubby would love this jacket, and I love him. I think that's a good reason. :o) Thanks for the opportunity.
Because my man has killed food. Me? I kill plants with wild abandon. Some are edible, so I guess that counts for something.
My 16-yr old son would look awesome in that jacket! Not warm enough this time of year cuz it's way too cold in Ohio right now.BUT. Come spring? Heck yeah!
And BONUS - my 8-yr old will grow into it when his big brother outgrows it! SWEET!
So, my husband works outside on mountain tops year-round and because his line of work is extremely dangerous everything he wears has to be FR (that's flame resistant) and Carharrt makes the best FR everything, but FR is like, way more expensive all the time. Sometimes when he comes in from work I look at him and how dirty he is and then I mentally calculate that he's wearing an outfit that costs more than all my best handbags, and I'm like DAYUM, and then I get over it real quick as soon as I think of the sign his boss has in his office that says Try Not to Die a Horrible Death. He totally needs all that Carharrt FR armor!
But, come date night, it would be so great if he had a spanking new fresh jacket that's not FR, and he would really appreciate it too. :)
Because sometimes Atlanta gets cold. Like today, for instance. And I don't like cold days without a nice jacket.
anything goes. really.
I want the jacket for my husband. He is as rugged of a coffee spiller as you seem to be with all of his computer geeking. However we live in Colorado so sometimes I take him to his non-native habitat of the outdoors, it could come in handy.
My husband would LOVE this jacket!! He works on a delivery truck for Lowes and is out and about in the "elimintes" everyday. Plus, the day that you'll let me know if I win is the day before his birthday...that's gotta be a sign right? :)
My husband needs this jacket. He used to be a rough and tumble work outside kind of guy, then he realized he couldn't do that forever, and went to school to manage the rough and tumble work outside guys. He works in an office, and has to wear a button up every day to look presentable. He is always asking me to find him (he doesn't buy his clothes, I do - men don't shop apparently) clothes that are respectable, presentable and tough enough to get dirty. This sounds perfect. Please save me hours of shopping and at least one return. My man needs a new jacket!
Thanks!
It was 4 below zero when I got up today, and my Carhartt is 22 years old. It does still work, but the zipper's finally dying, and the sleeves are, well, ventilated.
I have a big 'ole bad-ass 19 year old son who could use a cool jacket that is a timeless classic-because if he doesn't get a job, he will be moving from Naples Fl to Dayton Ohio...and he has never owned a jacket :)
I'm a Scoutmaster. A jacket like this would be a welcome addition on a camping trip or other cold weather outing.
I like this Jacket. I wanna use it in winter & It is now winter running in our country. As a father, i will recommend it to my son. It looks like pretty well here.
My hubs could use this coat. I think he would appreciate the rugged sophistication of it.
I dont want my husband to freeze becauae well I sort of love him a lot.
So thats why im entering.
That jacket looks completely functional and boss. It also does not appear to be a Members Only jacket, so it would be a welcome addition to my husband's bod. His affinity for the 80's is unshakeable- but this jacket might do it.
Boston is 1F, coldest day in 42 years! Pick the coldest temperature from your comments!
No, joking, if I got picked, please give it to the most deserving one of your choice. Good luck to whoever wins it.
Love, mom
The shirt looks good. It would create a great impression on the wearer.... especially, first day of school. The jacket looks neat...and the pockets just make the entire jacket very handy.
Getting to wear jeans to your dream job in San Francisco. Just one of the many reasons you're my idol! I wanna be just like you when I grow up! :-)
I had a lovely carhartt jacket which like several items of clothing has done a strange disappering act! This never happens with my average clothes