The 10 Best Jackets for Men, Period
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Some people are passionate about cars. Some are film buffs. Some have deep wells of World War II knowledge. My recreational (and, uh, professional) interest lies in outerwear. Jackets, specifically. Every season I scour the virtual shelves seeking the ideal one that balances functionality and style. Out of any garment you could possibly shop for, jackets have the highest ROI and the greatest variety. No matter the types of styles—parkas, bombers, bikers, trench coats . . . I could go on—they’re a commitment, an investment. No doubt. But the best jackets also give you exponential returns.
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I’ll be honest, I was a little daunted when I got this assignment—despite my obsession. How the hell does one even begin to put together a list of the best jackets of all time? Which types of jackets are even worthy of a spot? I’ve never envied those movie critics who have to put together “Top 50” lists. Everyone who reads them has an opinion about the inclusions and definitely about the omissions. But that’s the fun, right? There may never be a definitive, conclusive list of the best jackets that thrills every jawns-seeker, but there will be one—this one!—that will get the conversation going.
So how did I approach finding the 10 best jackets? The same way I approach shopping every season. Even when it comes to crowning icons, I looked for style, fit, material, and seasonal appropriateness. For such a substantial list, the criteria also included a jacket’s penchant for imitation. Almost all of the best jackets here are classics, OGs that have been updated and fine-tuned over their many decades of existence. You can bet anything that’s been around for over 50 (or, in some cases, over 100) years—and copied many times over by other designers—is a pretty safe bet in terms of style and performance.
What to Consider Before Buying the Best Jackets for Men:
Style: Style is largely about timelessness in this case. Why was the jacket initially conceived and how does its silhouette and details stand the test of time? Will it always be cool and resistant to the ebbs and flows of the fashion currents?
Fit: Fit is the most personal of the qualities to assess. Whether you’re looking for a slimmer or roomier silhouette, the ability to layer is a crucial characteristic. Luckily, most of the ones here have some alternate versions that change up the fit.
Material: Material is possibly the most important part of the best jackets. Outerwear GOATs have largely been born out of innovations in fabric (i.e. waxed cotton and gabardine) so quality fabrics that serve a clear function is key.
Seasonality: Lastly, you’ll always want to consider seasonality for whichever jacket’s in your cart. These are bona fide closet staples you’ll wear again and again, year after year, so it’s less important when you actually buy them, but it’s worth considering your holistic wardrobe for each season.
Best Motorcycle Jacket for Men
Schott Perfecto Motorcycle Jacket
Marlon Brando—heard of him? Or James Dean? The Ramones? Bruce Springsteen? They all wore Schott’s Perfecto Motorcycle jacket, rebelling against their respective authorities. Whatever anti-establishment stance you have (or aspire to have), the Perfecto is your shorthand. First popularized by Mr. Brando perched atop a motorcycle in the cult classic film The Wild One, the epauletted leather jacket with zippers zigging and zagging was initially banned by school systems because of its association with rough-and-tumble rebellion. Its middle-finger implications only grew with its ascendance as a punk uniform and turns on rock-n-roll stages. Dissidence begets change, so if you’re looking for a way to shake up your wardrobe, Schott’s classic Perfecto is a good start.
Type: Motorcycle jacket.
Material: Leather.
Date of Origin: 1928.
Designer: Irving Schott.
Buy Now on Farfetch:
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Best Denim Jacket for Men
Levi’s Trucker Jacket
Just before the Summer of Love, Levi’s introduced the not-so-sexy sounding “Lot No. 70505” denim jacket, now known as the Trucker. Hippies immediately embraced it, and it became the outerwear of choice for the Haight-Ashbury wandering set. Stripped of the pleats and rivets that had been signatures of Levi’s denim jackets—and its deep workwear roots—since the 1880s, the Trucker was something new, slimmer; it happened to hit at the moment young people were feeling freer. As with most cool things loved by countercultures, the masses quickly adopted the Trucker. Now the style comes in all kinds of materials and colors, with imitations left and right, but there’s nothing quite as cool as the original.
Type: Trucker jacket.
Material: Cotton.
Date of Origin: 1967.
Designer: Jack Lucier.
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Best Bomber Jacket for Men
Rag & Bone Manston Jacket
Unlike many of the OGs on this list, Rag & Bone’s Manston jacket was, of course, not the first bomber jacket to exist (that would be the MA-1 designed for the U.S. Air Force back in the ’40s). It was, however, one that greatly contributed to the bomber’s current state of ubiquity. Perhaps the style’s greatest achievement to date, its singular peak, happened at a 2019 Duke-UNC basketball game where spectator and former POTUS, Barack Obama, wore a custom version of the Manston embroidered with the number “44” on the left arm. With this one move, revelatory by stuffy presidential standards, he turned the Manston into an icon. Military-inspired, made from slick recycled nylon with ribbed trims and a two-way zipper, he made a solid choice. And you can, too.
Type: Bomber jacket.
Material: Recycled nylon.
Date of Origin: 2015.
Designer: Marcus Wainwright and David Neville.
Buy Now on Mr Porter:
Buy Now on Nordstrom:
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Best Waxed Jacket for Men
Barbour Classic Beaufort Waxed Jacket
It doesn’t get more British than a Barbour jacket. Since 1894, Barbour has been outfitting every sort of British archetype from fishermen and mariners in South Shields to actual royalty (Prince, er, King Charles), to rock stars and models at Glastonbury. Founder John Barbour’s chief innovation was a water-resistant cotton fabric treated with flax oil, but the brand became an international household name when Dame Margaret Barbour designed the shortened Beaufort style, inspired by the shooting jackets in France. The late Princess Diana was a fan, and the preppies and Hollywood costume designers followed. If you’re looking to really keep the moisture out on drizzly days, it’s hard to beat the Beaufort.
Type: Waxed jacket.
Material: Waxed cotton.
Date of Origin: 1980.
Designer: Margaret Barbour.
Buy Now on Huckberry:
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Best Harrington Jacket for Men
Baracuta G9 Harrington Jacket
Ryan O’Neal has a golden touch when it comes to outerwear. Not only did he give the shearling coat a massive bump in 1970’s ivy-adorned Love Story, but he can also be credited for giving Baracuta’s G9 its “Harrington” moniker. It was his character, Rodney Harrington, in the ’60s soap opera Peyton Place who wore the G9 in almost every episode. Style icons like Steve McQueen (particularly in The Thomas Crown Affair), Frank Sinatra (in Assault on a Queen), Elvis Presely (in King Creole) and the kind of big-name actors who do their own stunts have favored it since. Originally designed as sportswear with its water-resistant, cotton-poly construction, tartan lining, and umbrella yoke in the back, the G9 Harrington is still made in England—so American celebrities can’t take all the credit.
Type: Harrington jacket.
Material: Water-resistant cotton and polyester.
Date of Origin: 1937.
Designer: John and Isaac Miller.
Buy Now on Huckberry:
Buy Now on Mr Porter:
Buy Now on Saks Fifth Avenue:
Best Fleece Jacket for Men
Patagonia Classic Retro-X Fleece Jacket
By now, we’ve all heard the stories about Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia founder, eccentric rock climber, and reluctant billionaire. The man’s a legend and his recent forfeiture of his company, which allots all profits to combating climate change, further proves his unconventional approach. While he started producing climbing gear and outdoor clothing earlier, it was his fleece jacket, released in 1977, that really took off; it simultaneously provided warmth and absorbed moisture. Nothing’s perfect out of the gate, so it required some tinkering over the years before it reached mass popularity. It’s been riding high since. Gorpcore’s swell in the last decade, along with Patagonia’s commitment to using 100 percent recycled polyester fleece, has kept the fuzzy jacket a favorite.
Type: Fleece jacket.
Material: Recycled polyester.
Date of Origin: 1977.
Designer: Yvon Chouinard.
Buy Now on Rei:
Buy Now on Patagonia:
Buy Now on Backcountry:
Best Trench Coat for Men
Burberry Kensington Heritage Trench Coat
As the name suggests, trench coats were originally developed for the military, used in the, well, battle trenches. Prior to their invention, British soldiers wore topcoats made of heavy wool that would become even heavier when wet. Enter Thomas Burberry’s innovation: gabardine, a waterproof, yet breathable cotton fabric primed for unpredictable weather and difficult damp conditions. These days, dramatic and sometimes cartoonish associations abound (everyone from Humphrey Bogart to Inspector Gadget has worn one), but it’s actually a stalwart piece of outerwear worth having in your closet. Burberry’s trench coat protects you from fickle transitional weather, instantly elevates what’s underneath, and, yeah, it can give your fit a bit of noir mysteriousness, too.
Type: Trench coat.
Material: Cotton gabardine.
Date of Origin: 1914-1918.
Designer: Thomas Burberry.
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Best Field Jacket for Men
Alpha Industries M-65 Field Jacket
It’s not exactly a surprise that several of the jackets on this list have military origins, including the M-65. An ability to withstand extreme conditions while providing ample storage and utility are much-desired qualities for the military and civilians alike. However, the M-65 hit different, almost immediately. While the original Alpha Industries version was standard-issue as a field jacket in the Vietnam war, it quickly—and ironically—became a uniform of the anti-war movement. Robert De Niro’s turn as a veteran in Taxi Driver took the jacket to the screen, further reflecting its symbolism of the time. Beyond its activist roots, it’s probably the most functional and useful jacket you could own. It’s wind-resistant, water-resistant and has pockets galore plus a handy hood hidden in the collar.
Type: Field jacket.
Material: Nylon and cotton.
Date of Origin: 1965.
Designer: Alpha Industries.
Buy Now on Alpha Industries:
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Best Puffer Jacket for Men
Moncler Maya Hooded Down Jacket
It gets real chilly in Monestier-de-Clermont, the French mountain village for which Moncler is named. Workers, mountaineers, and skiers alike needed garments to protect them against the harshest mercury-barely-registering climates. In 1952, René Ramillon and André Vincent delivered with their down-filled jackets, and the puffers have been on an upward trajectory ever since. An Olympic sponsorship, entry into the cities and fashion worlds in the 1980s, a starring role on tour with the artist formerly known as Kanye West, and a cameo in Drake’s “Hotline Bling” video minted an icon. The glossy nylon shell, lightweight boudin quilted down filling, and detachable hood will keep you warm—and serve as a style flex—on and off the slopes.
Type: Puffer jacket.
Material: Nylon laqué and down-fill.
Date of Origin: 1952.
Designer: René Ramillon and André Vincent.
Buy Now on Mr Porter:
Buy Now on Matches Fashion:
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Best Chore Coat for Men
Carhartt WIP Michigan Chore Coat
Chore coats in every kind of fabrication are everywhere right now. Some current iterations (we won’t name names) stray far, far from the jacket’s workwear provenance—either as engineer’s uniforms that date as far back as 1917 or as the French bleu de travail—and wouldn’t encourage the wearer to lift a finger. But somehow Carhartt’s Michigan chore coat carries its blue-collar spirit (a sentiment reflected by Paul Newman in Nobody’s Fool), even when paired with box-fresh AF1s. Constructed (you really feel that this jacket is, in fact, constructed) from sturdy canvas with easily accessed patch pockets and a signature corduroy collar, this topper is ready to clock in.
Type: Chore coat.
Material: Cotton canvas.
Date of Origin: 1923.
Designer: Hamilton Carhartt.
Buy Now on End. Clothing:
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