Carhartt’s Best Fall Layers for Men, According to SPY Editors
Our editors independently select the products we recommend. We may earn a commission on items bought through our links.
Spy.com may receive financial compensation from affiliate and advertising partnerships on this page and/or when you make a purchase after clicking through partnership links.
Carhartt is rooted in work, tested on job sites and in agricultural circles. But the last ten years have proven it’s not only tough enough for unpredictable conditions, but urban-dwelling Zillennials’ hikes to and from the subway as well.
Their reach has expanded but their designs haven’t skewed from their durable, practical roots, and they’ve stayed loyal to their base. This loyalty to a sect of consumers only reinforces their appeal to folks whose tough conditions max out at a frisky bodega cat.
The fall-to-winter transition is where Carhartt’s thick fibers and tough outerwear shine the most. Their stuff is built to ward off chills on unexpectedly blustery days. Everything they make is built for layering — a crucial dressing strategy during season in-betweens.
SPY Editors are big Carhartt people. Their stuff is built for the common man, the man who wants to look like the common man and the not-so-common man who, despite his misgivings, knows he looks damn good in a vest.
Shop Carhartt’s Essential Workwear for Men
Duck-Insulated Flannel-Lined Active Jac
This jacket is rated three of four on Carhartt’s warmth scale, a step below their max insulation for extremely cold conditions, so it’s perfect for city living. It’s lined with rugged cotton duck on the outside and the body and hood have a layer of flannel for warmth that feels just like a blanket. It’s got ribbed cuffs and a ribbed waist for keeping cold air out, and inside pockets for insulating precious cargo.
Duck Sherpa-Lined Utility Jacket
This jacket has a rating of 2, so it’s less warm for extra rainy or windy days during the fall. It’s built rugged and durable without being super rigid, and has sherpa fleece lining the body and hood for comfort. This jacket would pair perfectly with a flannel underneath, and despite the workwear look has silver adornments that help it pass as slightly more stylish than the average puffer.
Rugged Flex Canvas Fleece-Lined Shirt
Some days require heavy outerwear, and others just need a step up from a T-shirt. This fleece-lined canvas shirt should really be categorized as a shirt-jacket, or shacket, because it’s made with a fleece lining on the inside that defends against the cold more than the average button-down. It’s made with Rugged Flex stretch technology so you can still move, despite the extra warming fabric, and the spread collar is designed for layering over a t-shirt.
Duck Sherpa-Lined Mock-Neck Vest
A Carhartt may seem like quite the statement, but trust us when we say it’s the statement you want to make. It communicates that you’re prepared. You’re ready for the road ahead, but also still plenty mobile in the upper body. You’ve taken care of business and are enjoying sherpa-lined warmth and a cotton duck exterior without getting too bogged down in excessive layering. Be the Carhartt vest guy.
Heavyweight Flannel Long-Sleeve Plaid Shirt
It wouldn’t be fall without a flannel, and Carhartt’s heavyweight shirt is made with cotton that super soft, slightly heavier than the average shirt for layering warmth, but also has enough stretch to move with you throughout the day. You probably won’t be chopping wood for hours, but you could in this shirt and you’d not just look the part, but feel comfortable doing it too.
Shop Carhartt’s entire line of men’s workwear and apparel and stay warm and ready for anything during the colder months of the year.