Duluth Trading vs. Carhartt: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Duluth Trading excels at combining durability with innovative comfort, using flexible, feature-rich fabrics for active work, while Carhartt is the gold standard for heavy-duty toughness, built on a legacy of rugged materials like their iconic duck canvas that can withstand the harshest job sites. Duluth focuses on mobility and all-day comfort with a slightly modern aesthetic, whereas Carhartt prioritizes unbreakable durability with a classic, utilitarian look.

Let's compare them directly to help you choose the right workwear for your job and lifestyle.

Duluth Trading: Rugged Gear with Ingenuity

Duluth Trading has built its reputation by creating workwear and outdoor gear that solves problems and maximizes comfort without sacrificing toughness. The brand targets tradespeople and DIYers who require performance clothing that moves with them throughout the day. Innovations like their "Buck Naked" performance underwear and gusseted "Fire Hose" pants set them apart as a company focused on practical, comfort-driven design.

• Product mix: A wide range of men's and women's apparel including work pants, shirts, outerwear, footwear, and accessories. Their most popular lines include the Fire Hose canvas pants for durability and the Ballroom Jeans for extra movement.
• Price point: Mid-to-premium range, with innovations often commanding a higher price. T-shirts are typically $25-$45, while their signature work pants like the Fire Hose Relaxed Fit Cargo Pants are usually around $75-$85.
• Quality &, Materials: Focuses on flexible yet strong fabrics. Their popular Fire Hose canvas is lighter than traditional duck canvas but highly resistant to abrasion, and their performance materials often include spandex for stretch, plus moisture-wicking and quick-drying properties.
• Sizing &, Fit: Generally runs true to size with a focus on comfortable or "Relaxed Fit" profiles. They offer an extensive range of sizes, including options for Big &, Tall customers, ensuring a more tailored fit for various body types.
• Sales: Offers seasonal sales and promotions, but full-price is more common. Clearance sections on their website can offer good deals on past-season items.
• Return policy: Known for a customer-friendly return policy, allowing returns on items that don't meet expectations for quality or performance.

Duluth Trading is the ideal choice for anyone prioritizing all-day comfort, innovative features, and a flexible fit that holds up to hard work without feeling restrictive.

Shop Duluth Trading: duluthtrading.com

Carhartt: The Gold Standard in Durability

With over a century of history, Carhartt is the undisputed benchmark for ultra-durable workwear. Born in Detroit, the brand has outfitted generations of construction workers, farmers, ranchers, and mechanics with gear built to endure abuse. Their identity is rooted in heavy-duty materials like 12-ounce duck canvas, triple-stitched seams, and a no-nonsense design philosophy where function and longevity come first.

• Product mix: Known for its iconic duck jackets, bib overalls, work pants, and beanies. While rooted in workwear, the brand has also become popular in streetwear, but its core collection remains focused on gear for physically demanding jobs.
• Price point: Mid-range, offering excellent value for its durability. Their classic K87 pocket t-shirts are about $20-$25, and iconic work jackets like the Duck Detroit Jacket are typically priced between $90-$120.
• Quality &, Materials: Famed for its heavyweight fabrics, especially the stiff and highly durable "Firm Duck" 100% cotton canvas. Their gear features reinforced seams, heavy-duty zippers, and a construction philosophy that prioritizes wear resistance above all else.
• Sizing &, Fit: Almost always runs true to size, but the fit is intentionally roomy and boxy to allow for layering and maximum freedom of movement during physical labor. If you are between sizes or prefer a closer fit, consider sizing down on jackets.
• Sales: Holds seasonal sales events, and their gear can often be found at discounted prices through third-party retailers.
• Return policy: Offers a straightforward and fair return policy for items purchased through their site or brand stores.

Carhartt is the answer for those who need uncompromising toughness and proven reliability that will last for years, even in the most demanding industries.

Shop Carhartt: carhartt.com

Duluth Trading vs. Carhartt Comparison

Price Comparison

Both brands sit in a similar mid-tier price category, but their value propositions differ. A pair of durable Duluth work pants might cost $75, while a classic pair of heavy-duty Carhartt pants are often closer to $50-$60. You typically pay a bit more for Duluth's comfort-focused features like stretch fabrics and gusseted construction.

Carhartt generally offers a lower entry price for its most rugged items, providing exceptional bang-for-your-buck when it comes to sheer longevity. Carhartt products also see discounts more frequently, especially at retailers like Tractor Supply or Work 'n Gear, making it easier to find a deal. Duluth's pricing reflects its status as more of a specialty brand with patented designs.

Quality & Materials

This is where the two brands' philosophies diverge the most. Carhartt's reputation is built on heavy, tough-as-nails materials like their 12 oz. Firm Duck canvas. This material is stiff when new and requires a break-in period, but it provides unparalleled resistance to abrasion and tearing. It's built for environments filled with sharp corners, sparks, and rough surfaces.

Duluth Trading, on the other hand, engineers fabrics like its Fire Hose cotton canvas, which is strong but significantly more pliable and flexible than Carhartt's duck. Duluth heavily incorporates spandex into many of their work pants and shirts, prioritizing comfort and freedom of movement right off the rack. While very durable for most tasks, they may not hold up to the same extreme abuse as heavyweight Carhartt gear.

Fit & Sizing

Duluth Trading provides a more modern range of fits, including Standard Fit, Relaxed Fit, and Trim Fit options in many of their pants and shirts. They cater to a wider variety of body types out-of-the-box and are generally considered true to size with a focus on wearing comfort.

Carhartt clothes are designed for work. Their classic fits are generous and roomy to accommodate layers underneath and allow for unrestricted movement while bending, lifting, and swinging tools. Some customers find they need to size down in Carhartt outerwear for a less baggy fit if they don't plan on heavy layering. Both brands offer excellent Big & Tall selections.

Product Selection & Style

Carhartt's aesthetic is iconic and utilitarian. Their style is defined by simplicity, function, and a recognizable color palette of Carhartt Brown, black, and navy. While it has crossed over into mainstream fashion and streetwear, its core design purpose remains for the job site.

Duluth Trading has a slightly more outdoor-lifestyle and even casual aesthetic. While built for work, their clothes feature more modern styling and details that don't look out of place on a weekend hike or at a brewery. Their product line is also broader, with more emphasis on things like performance underwear, witty graphic t-shirts, and innovative travel gear.

Shopping Experience

Both brands have strong e-commerce websites and a growing number of physical retail stores. However, Carhartt has a huge advantage in third-party availability. You can walk into thousands of retailers across the country - from farm supply stores to workwear shops to department stores - and buy Carhartt gear on the spot.

Duluth Trading operates almost exclusively through its own branded stores and website. This gives them more control over the customer experience but makes them less accessible for immediate, in-person purchases if you don't live near one of their locations.

Return Policies

Both brands stand behind their products with solid return policies. Duluth Trading is especially known for its "No Bull Guarantee," which has historically been very flexible for customers who find an item doesn't perform as expected. Carhartt also offers a standard return process for products that are unworn or defective.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both brands are excellent choices for work gear, but the right one for you comes down to what you value most.

Choose Duluth Trading if:

• All-day comfort and mobility are your top priorities.
• You need clothes that can move, stretch, and bend with you in active jobs.
• You appreciate clever, functional details like crotch gussets and extra pockets.
• You want workwear that easily transitions to casual, everyday wear.

Choose Carhartt if:

• Your primary concern is maximum, uncompromising durability.
• You work in construction, welding, farming, or other high-abrasion environments.
• You prefer a classic, heavy-duty workwear style and don't mind a break-in period.
• You need affordable, time-tested gear that you can rely on for years of hard use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Duluth Trading or Carhartt more expensive?

Duluth Trading products are often slightly more expensive than their Carhartt equivalents. This price difference reflects Duluth's focus on innovative fabrics with stretch, gussets, and other comfort-oriented features.

Which brand is more durable?

For sheer resistance to tearing, abrasion, and abuse, Carhartt is generally considered more durable, especially their lines using heavyweight 12 oz. duck canvas. Duluth's Fire Hose material is very durable for its weight, but Carhartt's core products are designed for the most extreme conditions.

How do Duluth Trading and Carhartt pants fit?

Duluth Trading offers a wider variety of fits, from relaxed to trim, that feel more like modern casual pants. Carhartt pants, especially their classic work pants, have a much roomier, traditional fit designed for mobility and layering over base layers or boots.

Does Carhartt run large or small?

Carhartt generally runs true to size but with a generous, roomy fit. If you're used to slimmer fashion sizing, it will feel large. Many people who wear their jackets for casual use instead of layered work choose to size down for a closer fit.

What makes Duluth Trading's "Buck Naked" underwear special?

Their "Buck Naked" underwear is made from a lightweight, moisture-wicking, and stretchy blend of nylon and spandex. It's designed to prevent chafing and stay comfortable during long, active days, and it's one of Duluth's most popular product lines.

Can you find Carhartt and Duluth in stores?

Carhartt is widely available in thousands of retail locations, including farm supply stores, specialty workwear shops, and even some large chain retailers. Duluth Trading products are sold almost exclusively through their own official website and branded retail stores.

Which brand is better for casual office wear?

Duluth Trading is a better choice for a casual office or daily wear. Their styles are more refined and modern, with pants and shirts that can easily pass in a business-casual environment, whereas Carhartt's look is distinctively work-focused.

Do Carhartt and Duluth have good warranties?

Yes, both companies stand behind the quality of their gear. Carhartt offers repairs on certain gear and has a warranty covering manufacturing defects. Duluth is known for its "No Bull Guarantee," which gives customers confidence in the performance and longevity of their purchase.