While super light and warm might be the trend for when you have to schlep your gear into the backcountry, when you’re gettin’-er-done around town or within striking distance of your truck you might need something that is less likely to grab and snag on split logs, gnarled metal or whatever else you happen to come across. When the temperatures drop and the work gets rough, consider these options with durable Cordura fabric exteriors:
Eddie Bauer First Ascent Mountain OPs Jacket
When mountain guides aren’t taking guests into the backcountry, odds are they’re taking care of other logistics getting ready for their next trip. Mountaineering equipment can be sharp, think about a stack of crampons, ice axes and even ski edges rubbing up against a lightweight puffy and it’s suddenly not hard to predict the next image of fluffy white down filling the air after the horrid sound of a rip. Because the durable Cordura fabric will add some weight, Eddie Bauer First Ascent went with lightweight 700 fill down so the jacket does not add to the burdon of everything else you’re hauling around town. While one is not likely to wear this jacket when it’s above freezing, the DWR finish repels moisture to keep it from soaking in. Lots of pockets and even some slots for pens on one sleeve gives you quick access to the little things you need while working. And a sharp cut makes it easy to wear out to dinner. At $250 (discounted to $170 online as of this writing) this is not the jacket I would choose for getting into grimy messy situations like greasy automotive work or butchering animals.
https://www.eddiebauer.com/
Duluth Trading Company Scrapper Hooded Jacket
For those on a budget or knowing the jobs ahead are going to get messy, the Scrapper is a great option for keeping warm. This is my choice for field dressing the day’s kill or delving into that stubborn engine that just won’t turn over. A smooth interior and roomy cut makes it easy to slide the Scrapper on over fleece or flannel layers when bundling up in the super cold. There are two large mesh pockets inside the jacket for storing gloves when you need your hands free, a Napoleon style chest pocket popular for phones and two cozy handwarmer pockets for when you’ve loaned your gloves to someone who isn’t as fortunate as you to have such a great jacket. Normally $160 ($80 on-line as of this writing), the Cordura fabric repels anything sharp and the Thinsulate insulation is light and warm.
https://www.duluthtrading.com
