Best Jacket/Coat?

Cant open your link here at work for some reason...but I found this. Same as what I have one...different color lol

http://http://www.pater-familias.com/picks/field_stream_hoodie_flannel_quilted_jacket/

 

Whatever you can find at a Walmart in Wyoming will be sufficient. I never wear my coat driving so I wasn't worried about bulkiness. Personally I would go for something fairly water resistant, wind resistant, has a hood, and a fleece lining is nice. Something dark in color because you are going to get oil, grease and diesel on it. The only other requirement is that it fits hanging on the back of your seat. A nice pair of coveralls is great for when you have to chain or dig out of the snow. There is some good imitation Carhardt stuff that isn't as expensive.

 

Someone figured out that they were good and durable, hence, you didn't need to buy another one every few months. Bad for business!

I've spent just about every winter since I was 6 outdoors. From playing and sledding all winter, to splitting and stacking firewood, to 12 years as a ski and snowboard instructor, I've spent most every day of every winter outside. This was in the Catskills, NY mind you. It wasn't arctic tundra, but wasn't Orlando, FL either.

Layers have always worked best for me. Thermal underwear, long sleeve t-shirt, sweatshirt, fleece, thin water/wind proof jacket. On the slopes I wore my ski/snowboard gear, and all I wore under those was boxers and a t-shirt, but no way am I pumping diesel in $600 worth of winter gear! Great thing about layers is it's like wearing a thermostat. Get too warm, drop the fleece. Still warm? Drop the sweatshirt rather than going from a huge down parka to a t-shirt then freezing your arse off.

Neoprene liners and wool socks have always kept my feet warm and dry. I just picked up a pair of those over-the-shoe rubber knee boots for those especially slushy days, or that dock/parking lot with a foot of water to wade through.

Oh ####, I'm way off topic. Um, I plan on using a light, wind/water proof jacket, and that would be only for either cold winds or rain/snow. I may look like a fool with only a hoodie on a 14 degree day, but trust me, I'm warm!

 

your link does not work....

 

DARN IT! loll

 

My company gets us jackets for Christmas, usually cookie cutter type windbreakers, but free and thoughtful none the less. This year they stepped it up, a perfect winter coat in my opinion, nice and light but super warm, granted I live in Florida and see about 20 degrees on our coldest mornings, but this things is great and does the job well. You know what really makes it a good jacket? The fact that the company hands them out as a sign of appreciation, you don't see much of this anymore.

 

OK Not all clothing is tax deductible! A nice warm coat isn't!
Clothing that IS tax deductible is if the company requires a uniform!
The uniform must have the company name or logo on it.
But if your company does not require a uniform, clothing is not tax deductible!

HazMat protection is covered.

Steel toed or safety shoes ARE covered as trucking falls under OSHA operating rules of heavy equipment construction zones.

Gloves: ONLY if work gloves. Like those 3 for $5.00 bundles you see at the truck stop or flea market. You know with the gauntlet, those cotton work gloves, latex or rubber gloves if you work with any thing considered hazardous like fuel, oil, chemicals and so forth. Those arctic, fleece lined battery warmed ones; unless you're stationed at the north pole they might be but down here, pay what you want but don't expect them to get through the red flag line!

But your everyday clothing isn't covered. Sorry, but I tried and found out!

As for the keeping receipts. That's good advice BUT don't throw them away in 3-10 years! OR that 7 year as you mostly hear!
The IRS can come at you at any time for any year they want! It's up to YOU to prove them wrong or you right! They just say it and you're pretty much grass and they are the lawn mower unless you have a good tax lawyer!

I have every tax form and receipt I've ever filled out since my first job from when I was 16 years old! OK, I always did the easy stuff until about 1980 where I found that things I was spending money on were worth something later! I have 2 of those big office filing boxes in the attic with every single log book and receipt for anything trucking related!

I've gone through 2 audits in my life time and came out ahead both times as I had everything I needed and the first audit was for something 10 years back!
As my father taught me, when it comes to the IRS keep everything for ever!
Keep them for LIFE is the word here

 

Carhart

 

I worked much of my driving life in Maritime Canada where it can and does hit -40 with wind (damp cold too) and I heartily recommend a 2 piece snowmobile suit. Light weight to wear, wind and water resistant, easy on and off (pantlegs are zippered part way) and can keep you toasty at 80 mph on a snowmobile in the coldest weather. Lots of places up north carry em so you don't have to pay premium for manufacturer's logo.

 

I like DICKIES WORK HORSE line... i have their coat which is nice in the sub 0 temps when tarping and their double knee jeans hold alot better than levi's since im not a huge fan of bibs and coveralls