Work wear

[bykfixer]

Ashland, Colonial Heights, VA Beach and Roanoke. In the CH store they're at the rear left of the store with Carhartt gear.

If you need some socks nearby is twin packs of Hooey socks that feel like wool dress socks for about $11 for the twin pack. I wear Pendleton and Farm to Feet dress up type morona wool socks in winter and the polyester Hooey socks feel just as warm. And they stay put all day too.

 

[wacbzz]

Finally had a minute to get down to the CH store. Pretty neat place . Wish I had some cash right now for a pair of those Carolina's with the white wedge sole. 🤤

Anyway, got my coat and a bit more...

Didn't think I'd ever find the socks, but I'm glad I did because the ARE nice. The CJ gloves were a snap purchase, but they are soft as my keyboard ninja fingertips!

The coat though...love at first sight and touch. The zippered top pockets were like icing. Perhaps you mentioned them being zippered but I just didn't catch it. Love that it zips closed instead of having to snap it closed and added bonus, the hood is actually a bit smaller than the one on my Carhartt. Also love the broken in feeling.

Thanks for posting the original photo Byk. Never would have found it had you not.

 

[bykfixer]

Did you get the driver gloves or chore gloves?
I bought both at different visits. At first they didn't have my size (M) in the driver type so I bought the chore thickness but those babies give me kung fu grip when using tools. I keep the driver type in the Hawx coat because when I drive I wear a 10+ year old pair of Mechanix leather palm gloves with the finger tips cut off.

I figured out when wearing a ball cap the hood does not seem too big on the Hawx coat. And if not wearing a ball cap I just fold an area of the front upward like you would the brim of said ball cap and it stays put.

Glad you really like the zippered pockets.

The Hawx vest is very similar to the coat without the hood or sleeves.

 

[wacbzz]

I got the driver gloves. I don't mind breaking in a good pair of leathers, but I couldn't pass up on the softness of these.

One of my main dislikes about leather gloves though is the seam. It's always sewn inside, right in the middle of one's finger simply because it's two pieces of leather put together. Usually, on more than one finger, that inside seam annoys the living eff out of my fingers. I've been searching for a pair sewn differently with no results - until weirdly, last night. Apparently, I'm not the only one with this "inside sewn at the middle of your fingertips" annoyance, because there is a company that does handmade leather gloves with an outside, top seam. Expensive, yes, but I'm gonna try them out I think. Vermont Glove

It's funny that you should mention the vest because when I got to the store, the only thing I could find was the vest. I couldn't find the coat anywhere. I was going to ask an associate, hoping they had them there because of my 40 minute drive, when I saw them on a separate hanging rack behind some other items. Phew!!

I'll report back on the gloves after I've had them a bit.

 

[bykfixer]

A bit of an update on the Red Head lined jeans.

They start out stiff like card board. They stayed stiff like card board after a few wearings. Not unusual for brand new unwashed, or treated denim with a lining. But unlike most of my lined jeans did at first where they go back to like new shaping these come out of the wash still shaped like me after being line dried.
So far so good……

 

[Poppy]

A bit of an update on the Red Head lined jeans.

They start out stiff like card board. They stayed stiff like card board after a few wearings. Not unusual for brand new unwashed, or treated denim with a lining. But unlike most of my lined jeans did at first where they go back to like new shaping these come out of the wash still shaped like me after being line dried.
So far so good……

Wrinkly?

 

[bykfixer]

Not wrinkly with hair growing from odd places like me, no.
Reason I line dry lined jeans it to avoid the liner shrinking (or not) differently from the denim.

They have now begun to sag when stood against an object.

 

[Lumen83]

I've had horrible luck with Red Head clothing. The jeans, fleece lined and traditional, ompletely rip and fall apart within a year of normal non-work use. I couldn't be more disapointed. Carhartt clothing is far superior. But now I've moved on to Duluth Trading clothing and find it to be even better than Carhatt in all ways. I highly recommend anyone who likes Carhartt to try Duluth fire hose flex or non flex pants. Their fleece lined collection is amazing as well. And the Cargo pants have a handy flashlight pocket on the outside of the cargo pockets.

 

[bykfixer]

For $29 I wasn't expecting a lot from RedHead jeans.

Diluth fire hose pants are amazing.

 

[Poppy]

Last night we went to the movies to see "Uncharted", when we left the temperature had dropped, and as I passed by the end of the building, I was hit, unexpectedly, by a fifty MPH cross wind. It blew me sideways before I could react. Thankfully I was wearing my three season coat with a hood. I turned my back to the wind, and pulled up my hood. The real temp was in the low twenties, the wind chill must have been about zero.

Gortex or similar lined shells, are the way to go. IMO.

 

[bykfixer]

A coworker and I were tasked with office duty one winter. Both of us were used dressing for cold weather but the office dwellers liked wearing sandals indoors. So we dressed to not be so dang hot in there.

One cold blustery day we stepped out for lunch and when a wind like you described Poppy hit us he said "wooh, I thought for a second there I'd forgot to put my pants on this morning" meaning the single layer pants aren't good at blocking cold wind like lined pants are.

 

[Poppy]

Yes sir Mr. Fixer. I had single layer jeans on and was thankful that my car wasn't parked but 150 feet away. Lined jeans are much more comfortable when it is cold and windy. I have a pair of gortex lined jeans that I gave away because I will never fit into a 32 inch waist anymore. They were stiff, and fully wind and waterproof. If I had a pair of flannels, or dual-folds underneath, I'd be quite comfortable without looking like I was wearing anything but a regular pair of jeans.

 

[Lumen83]

I agree. Lined pants are amazing. Fleece lined work pants are something I look forward to every year when it starts to get cold. They're not going to block the wind like shell pants or gortex lined, but they're so comfortable and warm. I spent a lot of time outside this weekend babysitting one of our fire engines at a detail and the temps were in the teens but I was nice and comfy in some base layers under my fleece lined fire hose pants. Same pants I wore ice fishing on Saturday too. I even enjoy just wearing them around the house.

 

[JayHawk]

Just picked up the Hawx chore coat and really like some of the features compared to the Carhartt. For me, the Carhartt hand warmer pockets always seem unnaturally high and they are much more comfortable to me on the Hawx. Another quirk with the Carhartt is their sizing put me between a lg and xl which was not ideal. Lg in the Hawx fit perfectly (I'm 6' 2" and 185 lbs) giving plenty of length to cover my beltline while working leaned over and has just enough room for layering underneath. I also like the vertical zips on the chest pockets and the smaller hood as was mentioned earlier.

The coat got a good workout this week while working around my property. 50 mph winds, snow and below zero windchill. It worked just fine but due to some soak through I really need to upgrade my rain/snow layer.

So thanks to @bykfixer @wacbzz and the others for the all the discussions about coats, I probably wouldn't have considered it if not for this thread. I know I got the last one the store had so now I need to see if they'll order me another one. I like it so much that now I want a backup.

 

[Poppy]

Just picked up the Hawx chore coat and really like some of the features compared to the Carhartt. For me, the Carhartt hand warmer pockets always seem unnaturally high and they are much more comfortable to me on the Hawx. Another quirk with the Carhartt is their sizing put me between a lg and xl which was not ideal. Lg in the Hawx fit perfectly (I'm 6' 2" and 185 lbs) giving plenty of length to cover my beltline while working leaned over and has just enough room for layering underneath. I also like the vertical zips on the chest pockets and the smaller hood as was mentioned earlier.

The coat got a good workout this week while working around my property. 50 mph winds, snow and below zero windchill. It worked just fine but due to some soak through I really need to upgrade my rain/snow layer.

So thanks to @bykfixer @wacbzz and the others for the all the discussions about coats, I probably wouldn't have considered it if not for this thread. I know I got the last one the store had so now I need to see if they'll order me another one. I like it so much that now I want a backup.

All good reasons to like the Hawx. I only had one Carhartt jacket, and I agree with your sentiment that the pockets are too high.

Have you considered spraying the coat with Silicone spray water repellant?

 

[pnwoutdoors]

Just picked up the Hawx chore coat and really like some of the features compared to the Carhartt. For me, the Carhartt hand warmer pockets always seem unnaturally high and they are much more comfortable to me on the Hawx. Another quirk with the Carhartt is their sizing put me between a lg and xl ...

A major reason I went with the Carhartt, in my case. The model of jacket I got a couple years ago (Carhartt J14 "Santa Fe") came in a Tall variant. That one placed the pockets at the perfect height, whereas the regular-sized one didn't. For all sorts of sub-freezing weather, I find it hard to beat.

Got to love clothing that fits right, works properly, is durable and comfortable.

 

[JayHawk]

Have you considered spraying the coat with Silicone spray water repellant?

I hadn't really thought about that. Have you done it and if so, which product did you use and how were the results?

@pnwoutdoors you're so right about fit and comfort. My Carhartt stuff is all tall sized and still the fit just wasn't quite right. That said, it got the job done for 30 years. Glad you found what works for you.

The Hawx fit for me is great, guess I'll find out if it's as durable long term as Carhartt has been.

 

[Poppy]

I've used this on my tents, my gortex lined boots, and to freshen up the shell of my rain suit.
Those items remained breathable, which is a big plus. On the cardhart type fabric, it will make it more water shielding, but not water proof.

V.I.P. Silicone Water-Guard Water Repellent Fabric Care, 13.13 Ounces, Weather Resistant

I got it at walmart, for less than $10

 

[bykfixer]

I use camp dry spray on water repellent. Spray it on liberally outdoors and let air out overnight.

Ironically while at a work clothes store today looking for waterproof shoes for Mrs Fixer I bought a rain jacket.

First Ariat product I've ever tried.
They call it "Rebar" for a line of work clothes they now produce.

It's soft like a soft shell polyester number that crinkles like a rain coat. Thin, packable, lightweight, and instead of feeling like you are wearing a trash bag this one feels like a wind breaker, only waterproof.

Zippered side pockets with no chest pockets or (surprisingly) no inside chest pocket. The hood has a draw string, the small tooth plastic zipper feels solid and zips easily. Velcro tabs beside it, a button at the elastic draw string waist, velcro adjustable sleeve ends and taped seams should keep wind driven rain outside the jacket. It's long enough to keep your wallet dry in your back pocket but not so long your head jerks back when sitting down quickly.

They had Carhartt rain gear too, but it was more suited for fall/winter rain events where this one is more suited for a warm spring afternnon shower or pop up thunderstorm in summer.

 

[JayHawk]

Thanks Guys