The 13 Best Fall Jackets for Men, Tested by Style Editors

Fall weather is all over the place. That’s why J.Crew’s Garment Dyed Field Jacket landed the Best Overall selection on this list for displaying seemingly limitless versatility across a few categories. To begin with, the mid-weight cotton fabric handled a wide range of temperatures and weather. It worked in the high 70s with a t-shirt, just as well as in the low 50s with a sweater. The cotton allows for body temperature regulation, but the weave is tight enough to keep out light wind and rain. But if you get caught out in a downpour without an umbrella, water will get through.

As for styling, this was one of the two or three most useful jackets that we tested. J.Crew based the look on an American military jacket from the ‘50s, which has been worn by some of the most stylish men in history. We’ve seen it give a rough edge to a suit and make a t-shirt and jeans look put-together. This is a coat that you can hang by your door and throw on over every outfit, all season long.

One detail that stood out the most in our testing is the particular type of fabric weave that J.Crew chose for this jacket, or rather, how the brand chose to use it. Right there in the full name is “reverse cotton sateen,” which means that it is a sateen weave that has been flipped so that the silky soft texture is on the inside, and the rough canvas-like texture is on the outside. This keeps the vintage military canvas look of the jacket, while giving a smooth texture on the inside, which made it very comfortable to wear.

Read more: Best Rain Jackets

Pros

• Fully waterproof
• Huge pockets allow for plenty of storage
• Underarm zippers regulate body heat

Going strictly by performance, a good shell jacket should make for the best autumn outerwear. We found the perfect example in Mammut’s Taiss HS Hooded Jacket. It is lightweight, functions in a wide range of temperatures, fully waterproof, and can layer over pretty much anything. Stafford was most impressed by the endless pocket space provided by this jacket. The outer pockets are equipped with very watertight zippers that kept everything in our pockets dry during testing.

Rain is usually the biggest weather concern in the fall, regardless of the temperature. Mammut performed the best with water in our testing for a few reasons. The DWR treated fabric causes precipitation to bead up and roll right off, all of the seams are taped to prevent leaking, and the hood has a really high neck—like up to our nose when fully zipped. Stafford really liked how the underarm zippers allowed him to regulate his body heat in various temperatures without getting wet.

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Most down jackets have one big flaw in common: they are bulky. By incorporating a technical lining that helps trap body heat, Columbia was able to replace the pillowy panels used in traditional down jackets with narrow panels that use less material. Our testing showed that it resulted in a lightweight jacket that combines exceptional insulation with unrestricted movement. On top of that, the exterior of this fall jacket is water resistant and the hood and neck provide full head coverage, which handled the rain really well.

Packability is the other standout feature of this insulated fall jacket. It folds up into an inner pocket, which can be zipped shut. The folding process took some practice to get the quilted panels flattened out, but once we got it down, it made a convenient little bag that fit easily into a backpack or carry-on luggage. When combined with the exceptional insulation and weather resistance, this packable fall jacket is one of the best options for travel and commuting that we’ve ever come across.

Nobis’s take on a fishtail parka is refreshing and functional. It blends old fashioned elements like patch pockets and a back vent, with a modern fabric and sleek color options. Fashion Director Ted Stafford was impressed with the weather resistant fabric, ample pockets, and overall quality of construction. It held up really well against the wind and rain in our testing, especially the adjustable hood with a high zip neck. Anyone who sits down on a train or bus to get around on a daily basis will appreciate the back tail providing a perfect seat cover.

As far as fall jackets go, this one is on the heavier side. Our editors found that it works best for people who live in colder areas or someone looking for a jacket that can take them from the fall, into the colder winter months. It is packed with Primaloft insulation, which has been exceptionally effective at locking in body heat every time we’ve come across it in outerwear testing.

Denim jackets and chore coats are both great fall outerwear because you can leave them on all day as a part of your outfit. Alex Mill combined both into one ultra-versatile jacket that we rocked as a blazer at the office and as a collared shirt for a night out, landing compliments in both cases. The recycled denim fabric is super soft to the touch and didn’t require any breaking in. Even without any stretch material in the fabric, the material had a natural flexibility to it, and the boxy shoulder offered plenty of movement.

Layering is crucial for a good fall jacket, and this one provides plenty of options. Our style editors used it as a casual top layer with a t-shirt, got a little fancier with a button down and tie, and warmed up with a hoodie. It also worked underneath warmer layers like a down vest and a parka. This is a piece that you can pretty much wear year round in a wide range of styles, making it one of the best bangs-for-your-buck option on the entire list.

Pros

• Easy to style
• Machine washable
• Great for layering

One of the quintessential fall jacket styles is the bomber, so our style editors tested quite a few. Buck Mason was our top pick for that category because of the fit. The Los Angeles menswear brand did an excellent job of honoring the heritage of the design while making it more functional for everyday wear with a slimmer cut and less bulky insulation. We found ourselves wearing this jacket everywhere because it looked good with everything and, and is so easy to just throw on. Its usefulness comes from its simplicity.

Our style editors found that this jacket really shines with a t-shirt and jeans. It is a perfect option for that first jacket you put on when summer temperatures begin to drop. The fabric is light and breathable, so it did well on days where it was warmer as well as chilly evenings. Rain was the only big drawback for this jacket, since it doesn’t provide much weather resistance.

Comfort was the adjective that came up again and again in our testing for this jacket. Eddie Bauer used two layers of microfleece, a flat layer on the inside and a corded layer on the outside. Our testers went with their typical size and it had a loose, almost boxy fit that gave plenty of room to move, but didn’t look over-sized or sloppy. The two hand pockets are even cozy, whether you’re protecting your hands from the cold or not.

The Chutes Pro Corded Shirt falls into the “shaket” category, working equally well as a heavy shirt or a light jacket. Our style editors like it as an easy option to grab during warmer transitional weather early on in the season. Once things get colder, it becomes a good layering piece. The super comfortable fabric makes for a great middle layer between a t-shirt and a heavy winter coat.

Pros

• Hood zips into collar
• Very well insulted
• Easy to style

This is the puffer jacket that set the standard for puffer jackets. North Face re-issued the classic 1996 design that helped take the brand from outdoors equipment to high end fashion. The feel is pillowy, like wearing a sleeping bag, which trades off a little mobility for extra warmth and cushioning. All of that down also acted as a strong barrier against the wind in our testing, but it was not very water resistant.

Walking around in a big puffy jacket is remarkably comfortable, but the real appeal for our style editors is the look of this bonafide classic piece of outerwear. It is an instantly recognizable design that is still simple enough to match a wide range of looks. We wore it with a hoodie and joggers, an oxford shirt and chinos, and a sweater and jeans. It just works every time.

Pros

• Water and wind resistant
• Built to last a long time
• Low maintenance cleaning

Filson has a reputation for long-lasting durability, and it showed up in our testing for the Wool Jac-shirt. This burly shacket felt like a layer of armor against the elements. Sheep’s wool is naturally water resistant, and when it is woven very tightly, like it is here, it creates a strong barrier against wind and rain. When we wore it in a light fall shower, it kept us nice and dry underneath, however, it was not ideal for heavy downpour or prolonged exposure. Since wool is antimicrobial, it requires minimal maintenance to stay clean. A little spot cleaning when necessary did the trick in our testing.

As is often the case with wool, an itchy texture was the one big problem with this jacket. It got better after a few wears, but it was never as comfortable to the touch as cotton or fleece. We recommend always wearing a long sleeve layer under this jacket.

The corduroy trucker jacket with a fleece lining and collar is a retro look with a huge styling range. Ralph Lauren makes Stafford’s favorite take on this classic American look right now. The corduroy is soft, and the fleece lining provides an extra layer of insulation, while both materials provide nice texture to any outfit. Stafford recommends this as a go-to, everyday jacket that can carry an outfit by itself or be a neutral layering piece.

Plenty of fleece lined truckers are available, but Ralph Lauren stands out to our style editors by using extra long fleece. It provides more cushion and more insulation than the other options we tried out. The preppy stalwart also did a really good job picking a brown and tan that matched just about every piece of fall clothing we tried with it. There really isn’t a bad way to wear this jacket.

Pros

• Easy to store in bag or pocket
• Back pocket is useful for exercising
• Water repellent coating works in the rain

Simple, sleek, and weather resistant, the Warp Light does everything you want a packable jacket to do. There are no bells and whistles here, just a reliable outer layer you can throw on in a pinch or use for fall outdoor training. It handled wind and light rain with no issue in our testing. The reflective details on the sleeves provide a bit of enhanced visibility but are really more of a styling detail. It folds up smaller than any other packable jacket we tested, which makes it the best option in that category.

This fall jacket is short on pockets, which we expected from a jacket that folds up this tightly, but the one big pocket on the back is very functional for training. Our tester appreciated the easy access zip closure, and the placement helps minimize the bouncing around of anything placed in there. We took it for a run and did some light cardio training with a phone and keys in there and it never caused a problem.

A houndstooth harrington jacket is the kind of mid-century vintage menswear that our style editors would recommend for every man. It provides an instant boost to any wardrobe and is impossibly easy to work with. What makes this one even better is that Todd Snyder put a modern twist on this classic look by using a stretchy polyester fabric. It felt more like a track jacket in our testing, and there is even a matching pant to make a full tracksuit out of it.

The best fall jackets are lightweight pieces that can carry an outfit when thrown over a t-shirt and jeans. This harrington does that as well as any jacket we tested. Our style editors especially liked it as an office jacket because it has a refined look, but is super comfortable for commuting. We also wore it like a blazer, putting it over a t-shirt and under a heavier top layer.

Pros

• Very well insulated
• Can layer under or over pieces
• Packs into a small bag

Sometimes, the best fall jacket is a vest. The Ultra Light Down Vest from Uniqlo is an exceptionally useful piece for any man’s wardrobe, and is one of Stafford’s favorite pieces of fall outerwear. Put it over a sweater, sweatshirt, or button down for an easy top layer. It is lightweight and compact, fitting easily under heavier jackets or blazers. Uniqlo even provides a bag which the vest can fold up into, which is how we like to keep it on hand in a work bag or backpack.

Insulation was the most impressive feature of this vest in our testing. We field tested a few light quilted vests, and this one did the best job of locking in body heat to create a warm feeling pretty quickly and consistently. We rocked it for commuting to the office, on a chilly morning run, and layered it under a topcoat for a little extra warmth. This is the one vest we recommend that can do it all.