While new, fancy synthetics have come a long way, the simplest solution for staying warming the winter is as old as duck.
Cotton or Linen duck is the fabric your grandparents’, grandparents’, grandparents wore. In fact, they may have worn duck made from hemp. Duck is like canvas. It implies a weave, in this case, a plain weave, and medium. Polyester duck isn’t a thing.
Think of duck as canvas’ tougher, more dedicated sibling. Canvas is good for making paintings, but duck has been keeping workers comfortable since the turn of the century.
In 1920, the Cotton Duck Association (yes, there is such an organization) and the U.S. Department of Commerce laid down the law regarding duck. They classified 12 weights for the material, of which workwear spans four categories.
The heaviest duck is 14-ounces, but some light workwear may weigh only nine. There’s heavier duck out there, but you don’t want to wear it, not if you plan to move comfortably.
Walls Bandera Vintage Walls Duck Jack-Shirt
Let’s start this list off with the layers closest to your body. This 10-ounce duck shirt looks vintage and feels beat up because Walls beat it up already. They hit the garment with sand and stones until it felt like something your grandparents really wore.
No holes, it’s still a professional-looking shirt, and it’ll keep you warm. There’s a light lining of fleece inside this shirt. Don’t let all that softness fool you.
It’s duck, reinforced where it counts—in the elbows and back—so you can wear this shirt over and over to the job site. It won’t blow out.
Like a light jacket, it features six pockets for you to stash your stuff, phones, receipts, nails, whatever.
Dickies Relaxed Straight Fit Carpenter Duck Jean
For a leg-layer, you’ve gotta get yourself in these relaxed carpenter-style jeans. They’re made from a 12-ounce performance duck, 20 percent stronger than regular denim.
They fit right for work but don’t look bad off the work site either. They’re wide enough to wear over boots, but don’t wear like it.
Because they’re Dickies, these pants feature riveting at the stress points, and heavy duty stitching. They come with extra pockets to holster tools or whatever you want, but again, they look like a regular pair of pants.
If it’s really cold, though, you’re gonna want some coveralls over these jeans. We’ll come back to that in a minute…
Carhartt Sandstone Duck Ridge Coat-Sherpa Lined
There’s a good reason this coat from Carhartt is a best seller for All Season’s Uniforms. It’s darn comfy.
For folks who don’t prefer to wear a hooded option, this fitted jacket made from 12-ounce sandstone duck comes with two huge pockets on the outside. They’re perfect for sinking your cold fingers in a warm place with ease.
This coat also houses two inside pockets for stashing whatever. The elbows are pleated allowing for ease of movement.
It sells as a men’s version but is simple enough that it could work as a unisex option too.
Carhartt Flame-Resistant Duck Active Jac – Quilt Lined
In fairness, we offer a version of this jacket without the flame resistance for 100 bucks less. If you don’t need the flame resistance aspect, go with the less expensive version.
They’re both quilt-lined, duck jackets. This one, however, is a 13-ounce duck, finished with Nomex ribs cuffs and waistband.
The zipper up the front of this coat is a big old brass one, the kind that never jams. The zipper tape is also made with Nomex and features a hidden snap closure for electric arc protection.
It’s the winter coat you can wear just about anywhere and not worry about a thing.
Bulwark Fire Resistant Brown Duck Insulated Bib Overall HRC4
If you’ve gotta have the flame resistant duck jacket from Carhartt, then you’ll want these Bulwark duck overalls to go with it.
If you’re a matchy-matchy sort of dresser, Carhartt has a flame resistant overall too, but it’s unlined. They also offer a quilt-lined duck overall, but it’s not fire resistant.
That said, the Bulwark insulated overalls will look just fine with your Carhartt hoodie. More importantly, you’ll stay warm, but not too warm.
Getting in and out of these overalls is a cinch with knee-high zippers. They’re reinforced where it counts, too, from the shin to thigh so you can kneel, crawl, whatever, and stay protected from fire and ice.
The best part is, when they get a little dirty, you can throw these overalls in the wash with your regular laundry.
Bulwark FR Excel FR ComforTouch Brown Duck Hooded Jacket HRC3
If you must have everything match, this hooded jacket from Bulwark may fit the bill for the overalls.
Like fire resistant the duck pair from Bulwark, this jacket can go in the regular laundry. Also, like the overalls, it features Nomex.
It’s a lighter duck than the Carhartt hoodie, at 11 ounces, but offers a unique feature in the duck weave.
Remember when we said there is no such thing as polyester duck? It’s still true, but Bulwark has figured out how to create a cotton-blend duck. They wove enough Nylon, about 12 percent, into the mostly cotton duck to make this jacket super waterproof.
Keeping water and melted snow off your coat will go a long way to keeping you warm.
Carhartt Duck Coverall Quilt-Lined
No more playing around. This could be the last winter workwear piece you ever need, no joke.
The exterior of these coveralls offers 12-ounce, ring-spun cotton duck. It’s tough enough to deflect bullets (not really), but mobile enough to dance ballet (if you want).
All that toughness doesn’t come at the price of your movement. The elbows feature pleating for easy movement so you don’t have to feel like the rusted tin man.
Whether you plan to spend the day getting something done at the work site or spend the entire weekend getting nothing done on the ski hills, these overalls will do the job. You’ll be warm and dry.
They offer a quilted nylon lining stuffed with mid-weight polyester insulation, perfect to wick away perspiration while keeping in your body heat.
The two chest pockets zip closed so you don’t lose your important stuff. You can even add a hood to these overalls. The corduroy-trimmed collar hides snaps underneath for attaching your preferred hood.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with synthetic, non-duck solutions for battling the elements, but duck is a classic. It’s been around long enough that you can bet it’ll be around for your grandkids’ grandkids.
Treat these garments well and you can leave them for those kids to wear when they get big enough. Don’t scoff. Vintage workwear is a big seller online.
To think something you wore to keep warm could fetch ten-times the value in a hundred years might make you think twice next time you put on your workwear.
About the Author
Nick Warrick
Nick Warrick is the Sales Manager at All Seasons Uniforms. With over 15 years of experience in the work uniform business, he has worked with hundreds of clients across 20 different industries. Holding bachelor’s degrees in both Business Administration and Information Technology, Nick revamped the company’s online presence, offering its customers a new uniform shopping experience.