Work Jacket
I am a native Southern Californian of 45 years moving to a state that has a regular snow season. Once I get over the shock of seeing that foreign white substance from the sky, Id like to keep warm.
Here in CA I wear the traditional Dickies jacket. Its warm enough for our 50F winters. However when the temps occasionally dip,I find it doesn't do the job.
Im not concern too much with price as I am with warmth, maneuverability and longevity(My Dickies Jackets last at least 7-10 years)
Suggestions?
Carhartt Active Jac, with hood. I keep a fleece neckie rolled up in one inside breast pocket, a stocking cap rolled up in the other inside breast pocket, and thick insulated gloves folded up in each outer pocket. Where are you moving, Rudy?
Leo- Yeah the internets all seem to point to Carhartt. Going to Utah.
Enjoy! As mentioned below, layers are your friend. At work, I wear fleece pajama pants underneath my work pants from October to April. For hunting, hiking, snowboarding, I wear UnderArmor’s base layer 4.0 top and bottom in addition to lots of outer layers. I love winter.
511tactical.com/5-in-1-jacket… It keeps me warm down to -30 Good luck
As a fellow Californian, I understand your concern. I moved from Northern California to Detroit, MI the end of January. You will eventually get used to the white stuff but not really. Carhartt is the way to go with several layers. Costco sells some great thermal under garments in the fall. They work very well. Hopefully you are moving to a place where winter is not too long. Winter lasted 5-6…
I cannot recommend any one jacket, but I will advise you to learn how to dress in layers. I am originally from the mountain area in Va. and we were taught this at an early age. Even down here in South Tx. we get some cold snaps. We usually dress with a t-shirt, then an over shirt, an insulated flannel and finally a medium weight jacket like a Dickies or a Carhart. By dressing in layers it…
Layers is essential. If you can't adjust your insulation, you'll sweat and be even colder.
I have learned the best option for me was a vest. Down if it is very cold or a “fluffy” polyester for average cold, 35-50 degrees. These keep my core warm and that helps my hands stay warm. Also, it is possible to shed the jacket when working inside on a warm engine or inside the vehicle. Also I use thermal undershirts that are not very heavy and wool socks. Made life much better for me!
Had enough of California Rudy? Where ya goin….or gone to?
Jamey- I like CA, but the housing market far exceeded middle income salary. Im in the process of obtaining a home loan and am house hunting in Utah. 4-5 bedroom homes for 350k-450k in many parts of the state right now.
I went to Wendover UT when I was in the USAF. It was nice. The mountains looked very close, but in reality they were over days walk away, it is so clear out there, it is amazing. I hope the job market is favorable for you out there. Depending on where you end up, parts can take more time to get.
You should look up DJ Automotive. Your skill set would be in line with their level of service. If your looking in their area. Good Luck! I wish you well
If you like working on Ford and GM diesels, from what I have heard there is a good bit of work out that way.
Rudy, I live in Salt Lake County in Utah and have been here for a little over 4 years. I've lived in Maryland and Michigan previously and the weather here in the winter is similar to Maryland. Generally not too cold most of the time but definitely need a decent coat. If it does get really cold, it usually only lasts for a week or so, then back up into the 30s or 40s.. Cold months are…
Have been through there couple of times, awesome part of the country best of luck
I wear a Snapon hoodie until it gets to around 20 degrees, then I switch to a Snapon Carhardt jacket. If its real cold I do the jacket over a hoodie.
You can't go wrong with Carhartt. I have 6 Carhartt hoodies that I wear for the most part. 2 zip up thermal lined and 4 mid weight pullovers. Their duck jackets are fine when its below zero so I always have one of those but I usually just wear a hoodie if it's above 10 or 15 degrees
If that is your only reason to leave California, i suggest to wait until this bubble burst and then it will be affordable, I have brothers who live all over the country but California is the place for me, i take the good with the bad, I got a house that is on fire right now because they want to buy it from me, but i refuse because I have no need or want to leave and hopefully die in this house…
Sean- with out derailing the thread too much, I will only say the housing market in CA isn't a bubble. The demand far out weighs the supply and that isn't changing anytime soon. The pricing is reflective of supply, not of subprime loans(like it was in the early 2000s)
Exactly. I get calls every week asking if I want to sell. My neighbors 1,000 sq ft home sold last summer for $464,000. I believe investors are getting these homes. A perfectly nice home they gutted it (all drywall, fixtures, cabinets) and rebuilt. So Cal prices are not going down. Good luck Rudy.
Same problem is happening here in Spokane, WA. I read an article the other day that Spokane is in the top 10 of cities to move to for people coming from areas like California and Seattle. The demand for housing is super high and not many houses to go around. Construction companies can't find enough workers for the demand. Lumber prices have doubled because of demand. I was hoping to move, but…
Rudy, All good suggestions so far. Don't forget about your feet. If they get wet, either from damp ground or sweating you will be cold and miserable. I change my socks two or three times during day in cold winter weather. Once at lunch and once in the afternoon or at the end of the work day. I dress in layers and make sure to remove a layer if I start to feel too warm. If I wait too long and…
Hey Rude Dude, Though you and I haven’t met, I have enjoyed your posts over the years at both sites. I too am here in So Cal not too far from you. My wife and I are considering a move out of state as well as the cost of living here is continuing to sky rocket . I hate to leave my current job as my boss pays me well and treats me like gold. But life is what it is. Sorry I can’t offer any…
Paul- Yeah I have to make a move for the better. I have 2 baby girls(7 months old and 6 years old) and I want them to have as good a life as I can provide. Moving was a hard decision as I have lived here my entire life and my current employer(Nick Modesti@ Modestis Car Care) is the best employer Ive had to date. I think one of the hardest parts of our moving was me having to break the news to…
I wish you the best Rudy! your certainly taking a big step to move with a family!! I have never lived in Utah personally but traveled there many times both summer and winter - Its a beautiful state with a diverse landscape….. I dont think the weather is too awful cold there for the most part buts that's coming from a Michigan native-lol.
I totally get it. I don’t know how my boss will handle it when the time comes.
The lightweight fleece pajama bottoms under pants works really well. Several have also mentioned vests. Something lightweight like thinsulate is good. A hat of some sort helps a lot. 75% or more of body heat is lost thru the head. I don't see the fire hazard of fleece mentioned. Fleece, being plastic is flammable. Sometimes very flammable. In any environment with exposure to open flame sources…
I am not a fan of layering cloths when working, so I get really good shoes, wool socks (changed during lunch), and a comfortable hat. Keep your head and toes warm first, then a long sleeve shirt and a wind-block fleece vest. This will keep you comfy down to around 30-35deg once acclimated. Being from CA you may want to add fleece lined pants to start (Carhart Flex), these really help when it…
Like many already said Carhartt makes some nice jackets. You may also check the hoodies out from 1620, they make nice workwear right here in the US.
outdoorresearch.com/us/colossus-pa… You will never get cold.:) I have Carhart and wear them regularly but not to work in, they are too bulky. When working, I layer with multiple light layers and adjust as needed. The above jacket is for hanging out in cold weather, snow activities, kids outdoor sports, ball games etc. It's a lot warmer and lighter than Carharts.
The shops that I have worked at provided coats along with the uniforms. They just add it on to the uniform laundry service. Two coats. One coat to wear while the other is at the uniform laundry service. Then if it's cold, I wear a hoodie under the coat. That's been good enough for me. Of course, you will want gloves and a hat. The thing to remember is that you won't be working on cars outside…
I wear carhartt pull over sweat shirts, black of course. I also wear thermal pants under my regular pants from November to April or so. I have found if I keep my lower body warm my upper body is usually ok. I have some thick socks for the real cold days and I keep an extra pair of cheap shoes and socks in the car in case I get wet during the day. I have also found wearing the latex gloves really…
Good Luck Rudy. I too look forward to your posts, hope they keep coming.
Good luck, Dude. I hope life get easier and more prosperous for you and your family with the move.
No one's mentioned the 12V Milwaukee jacket? Too cold? Hit the switch! milwaukeetool.com/Products/Work…
You shouldn't need much of a jacket for work, if you are planning to continue working on cars, as any decent automotive service shop will be heated. A fairly light jacket is all that you should typically need, because you will not be out long and dry cold is easy to recover from. Keep a heavy coat, of any type, around in case you need to be out longer on occasion. Within a couple of years you…
This is true, don't forget most shops up north have doors and heating systems. In the shop, I typically wear uniform pants, long-sleeve uniform shirt (rolled up to the elbows), undershirt, neck gaiter, and a thin fleece hat. Moving between buildings, I have a jacket sometimes I'll toss on, but it's usually too much of a hassle. I had a job in Sacramento and I was tickled that most of the shop…