In my world, one that’s seen me work with anglers and hunters, outdoors people and conservationists, the Carhartt brand was familiar, but one I more often associated with “work” wear. Still, I knew plenty in that world that turned to Carhartt for its renowned rugged dependability. And Carhartt’s new Quick Duck 3-in-1 Rockwall Jacket lives up to that reputation, plus it looks sharp and functions well for casual, day-to-day wear, too, particularly in the often-varied temperatures of Canadian autumn and spring.

It boasts a water-repellent blended cotton shell and a removable fleece liner, so like similar jackets, it can be worn three ways: together, or separately as shell or fleece. I tested the three pieces together through a range of cool temperatures in late October, and found no reason to break them down.

I was also pleasantly struck by a number of the jacket’s small details, many of which I suspect were inspired by the company’s workwear history and that Carhartt devotees have long appreciated. Notably, the jacket’s distinctly tapered wrist cuffs, which are longer on top and shorter on the underside, felt like they delivered a greater range of movement, but still kept my forearms warm — no doubt a hit with those constantly working with their hands in the cold. Then there were the pockets (four front, two lower zippered with cover flap, two buttoned breast and two Velcro-fastened inside), which anyone who’s worked outdoors knows are a boon when they’re well placed and well designed and maddening when they’re not. These are definitely the former. Lastly, the sturdy zipper with plastic coating also stood out — it was always easy to grab, and I could appreciate there’d be never be frozen fingers hitting frozen metal.

One small gripe: I found the fleece liner didn’t always stay in place when I took the jacket off. Not a deal breaker by any stretch, just a wee annoyance in an otherwise handsome, rugged and functional jacket.

carhartt.com