Carhartt jackets

Pre-owned Carhartt jackets in duck canvas and denim, from the hooded Active jacket to the Detroit jacket with its corduroy collar.

Work jackets in duck canvas

Carhartt designed these jackets as work clothing, and the construction shows it. Most are made from cotton duck canvas, a densely woven cotton that holds up to hard wear, and the main seams are triple-stitched. The zips are heavy metal, and the cuffs and hems are finished with rib knit or adjustable tabs. The lining depends on the model and can be quilted, plaid flannel, blanket, fleece or sherpa.

Duck canvas changes with use. New canvas is stiff and holds its shape, while worn canvas softens, fades and sits closer to the body without measuring smaller. Marks of earlier use, such as faded canvas, paint marks or the embroidered name of a business, are stated in the condition description of each jacket.

The Active jacket

The Active jacket is a hooded work jacket with a full zip and rib-knit cuffs and hem, and many versions have a kangaroo pocket at the front. It is made in duck canvas with a quilted, fleece or sherpa lining, and in denim with a plaid flannel lining. The model has its own page, Carhartt Active jackets.

The Detroit jacket

The Detroit jacket has a corduroy collar instead of a hood. It closes with a front zip, has a zipped chest pocket with the Carhartt patch and two angled welt pockets, and adjustable tabs draw in the hem at the waist. The lining is blanket, often striped, or plaid flannel. Washed canvas is softer and lighter in colour than unworn canvas. The model has its own page, Carhartt Detroit jackets, and its versions, tags and sizing are covered in the Carhartt Detroit jacket guide.

Arctic, Berwick, Sierra and other models

Several Carhartt models share features with the Active or the Detroit. The Arctic, the Santa Fe and most Berwick jackets have a corduroy collar like the Detroit, with a quilted lining. The Sierra has a hood like the Active, with a fleece, sherpa or flannel lining, and the Muskegon is lined with fleece. The Duster is a longer coat that closes with snaps or a zip over a quilted lining. Chore coats, with patch pockets and mostly a button front, have their own page: Carhartt chore coats.

Carhartt or Carhartt WIP

Carhartt is the American workwear company. Carhartt WIP is a separate European company that makes clothing under the Carhartt name under licence, and its jackets have their own page, Carhartt WIP jackets. Both companies make a jacket called the Detroit, so the label decides: on a Carhartt WIP label, Carhartt WIP is written out in full. Work In Progress was established in 1994, so a jacket with a Carhartt WIP label was made in 1994 or later. The difference is explained in Carhartt or Carhartt WIP.

Size and measurements

Carhartt cut its work jackets generously through the chest, so they could be worn over a hoodie or a heavy shirt. The letter on the label is therefore a rough guide, and older jackets differ widely within one size. Each jacket is measured at four points: across the chest from armpit to armpit, the length of the body, across the shoulders and the length of the sleeve.

For a hoodie underneath, 3 to 5 cm on top of that chest measurement is a common margin. The method is explained in the guide to measuring pit to pit, and the Carhartt sizing guide covers sizing by measurement in more detail.

The same jackets can be browsed for men and women, and the full range is on the Carhartt page. Reading Carhartt tags explains how to date a jacket from its label, and Carhartt jackets compared sets the models side by side.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between the Active jacket and the Detroit jacket?

The Active jacket has an attached hood, rib-knit cuffs and hem and often a kangaroo pocket. The Detroit jacket has a corduroy collar instead of a hood, a blanket or flannel lining and adjustable tabs at the waist.

How can a genuine Carhartt jacket be recognised?

Duck canvas has a substantial hand, the triple stitching at the main seams is even and dense, and zips and rivets have weight and clean edges. Genuine wear concentrates at the cuffs and the pocket corners, while even, all-over distress is usually artificial. Every item is authenticated through LegitApp.

How can the age of a Carhartt jacket be told?

The tags give the best indication: the style code, a Made in USA statement and, on older jackets, a union label. Reading Carhartt tags explains what each mark shows.

Can a Carhartt jacket be washed?

The care label inside the jacket gives the instructions for that jacket. Cotton canvas and denim are best washed cold and air dried, because tumble drying is the biggest single cause of shrinkage in cotton. More is in the guide to washing and caring for clothing.

Does Carhartt run large?

Carhartt jackets are cut generously through the chest, to be worn over other layers. Measurements differ within one size, so the four measurements in the description are a better guide than the letter.