The 20 Best Jacket Brands for Men, According to Style Editors

Todd Snyder cut his teeth at Ralph Lauren, then ran the Men’s line at J.Crew before starting his own brand in 2011. That’s why the New York-based brand offers a rich variety of mid-century American inspired jackets that still have a contemporary feel. The trucker style Dylan jacket has become one of the label’s signature designs, and is available in a luxurious Italian suede or denim.

Waxed cotton was invented by English sailors, and Barbour was the first company to turn the fabric into outerwear. From humble farming origins, to high society clout by way of the Royal Family, this jacket brand seems to work for everyone. With a vast archive and constantly updated assortments, it is hard to pick favorites, but the Ashby is by far Barbour’s most popular design. These jackets are built to last a lifetime, so the company offers an in-house repair program to fix damages and apply a fresh coat of wax.

Relwen is a newer brand that has made a splash by upgrading classic menswear pieces with a rugged twist. This Huckberry subsidiary often takes inspiration from vintage military gear and old school outdoors equipment, then swaps out the fabrics and hardware for lighter and more durable features. A great example is the Quilted Insulated Tanker Jacket, which has a Cold War era military look, and is infused with soft cotton twill shell, polyester ripstop lining, and bonded seam construction.

Super stylish basics put Buck Mason on the map, but the full service clothing brand makes excellent jackets as well. Founder Erik Allen Ford has a talent for anchoring his Los Angeles swagger with the every-man appeal of his Missouri roots. This is done by taking inspiration from the classics, but keeping things simple. For example, the Bruiser Moto Jacket is a pared down biker jacket that can fit into just about any man’s wardrobe.

For over a century, L.L. Bean has been one of the most trusted outerwear manufacturers in America. Rooted in outfitting hunters for the grueling Maine wilderness, it has since expanded over the years to take on a New England aesthetic without losing its rugged edge. From shackets and peacoats, to anoraks and puffers, the jacket variety is impressive. Most of the heavier parkas and shell jackets use a proprietary TEK fabric that is waterproof, rip resistant, and easy to clean.

Seemingly overnight, Alo has become one of the hottest athleisure brands on the planet. What started as two friends making yoga gear in 2007 has grown into a full line of everyday clothing that puts comfort first and foremost. The Los Angeles giant has a minimalist and monotone look that is both very modern and looks great with most casual fits. Its jacket designs include fuzzy topcoats, baggy windbreakers, and streamlined hooded puffers.

Believe it or not, Peregrine has been around for 220 years. Almost every product is made in the UK, and most of its materials are sourced from the country as well. The English brand makes some of the finest tweed jackets and waxed cotton coats in the world. Most notable is the Bexley Jacket, which takes inspiration from both vintage military uniforms and British motorcycle jackets.

As you would expect, Sweden has produced some of the world’s finest jacket brands. Of those, Fjallraven is the most famous and arguably one of the best. What sets the brand apart is a commitment to longevity, demonstrated by a lifetime repair program. Any jacket can be fixed for free if you send it back to the company. The Greenland Jacket is insulated, hooded, waterproof, and has ample pocket space.

Vuori is best known for comfortable staples like joggers and golf quarter zips. However, the athleisure brand’s jackets deserve just as much attention. Vuori achieves exceptional comfort and stretch by using plenty of elastane in all the fabrics. That doesn’t come at the price of functionality, as models like the Steadfast Hooded Jacket are still waterproof and fully insulated.

The North Face is one of the best known clothing companies in the world today, but it started out making hardcore adventure gear. That tradition lives on in an assortment of GORTEX-infused jackets that protect from the elements and look damn good doing it. Ranging from the weather proof shell jackets, like the Summit Jacket, to tough-as-nails parkas, like the Arctic Parka GTX. Split the difference with the streetwear-approved 1996 Retro Nuptse puffer jacket.

Schott has a pretty impressive resume. The New York City jacket brand made peacoats for the US Navy during Word War II, invented the Perfecto leather biker jacket in the ’50s, and still makes most products in New Jersey. On top of that, much of its leather comes from the legendary Horween tannery in Chicago. Go for a more cosmopolitan take on a leather motorcycle jacket with the Cafe racer.

J.Crew has been selling preppy staples since it was a mail order catalog in the ’80s. Current Men’s designer Brendon Babenzien has been pulling some beautiful looks from those rich archives, including a range of timeless jackets. There is a retro puffer coat for the mountains, a boxy topcoat for the office, and a rugged barn coat for nights and weekends. For outerwear that can pretty much do it all, check out the Sussex Quilted jacket.

With Canada Goose, you get what you pay for. The parka specialist originally designed outerwear for researchers headed to the North Pole and Antarctica. That kind of warmth and protection from the elements does not come cheap, and when the brand started expanding to sell to the public, it did not sacrifice a bit of quality. That explains the hefty price tags, but if you can afford it, the performance is absolutely worth it.

Some heritage outdoor apparel brands have expanded to include casual clothes, but Mountain Hardwear has maintained a lean and specialized assortment. That level of focus provides top performance in its jackets. Most of its outerwear filling is real goose down, most shells are GORETEX, and its sherpa is oh-so soft. Everyone could use that performance in his life, as demonstrated by the super agile StretchDown hooded jacket with interlocking square quilting, which does a bang-up job of keeping us warm and protecting us from the elements.

Alpha Industries makes great retro military jackets because the brand started out as a US defense contractor in 1959. One of its first designs was the MA-1, which is essentially the OG bomber jacket. All the best Cold War era military outerwear is available here. For winter weather comfort, try the the N-3B Parka with a removable faux fur hood liner.

Jackets may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Lululemon, but it probably should be. The super soft fabrics and streamlined fits that made the brand famous are now available in outerwear. Of course, most of them have been beefed up with weather resistance and insulation. One of Lulu’s most useful coats is the Cross Chill jacket, which is equipped with the brand’s RepelShell fabric that is both fully waterproof and incredibly flexible.

Marmot flies under the radar in a crowded outdoor gear market, but we still think it’s a noteworthy label. There is an ’80s aesthetic that runs through most of the brand’s designs that’s back in style. At the same time, you can get modern tech like stretch infused fleece, interlocking square quilting, and recycled synthetic insulation. Those old school and modern vibes meet in the Guides Down Hooded Jacket, which has vintage looks made from recycled materials.