Choosing the best jackets for men is a little like playing Street Fighter: you've got a couple dozen characters — each with their own strengths, weaknesses, and personalities — but the fighter you choose is a strong indicator about how you like to roll. The only difference is that there are no black eyes or losers — everybody wins when you've got a killer jacket on.
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The world of jackets runs wide and deep, full of permutations and offshoots and minor genius, so we decided to break things down as broadly and simply as possible for you. Here are the coats and jackets you really, truly need to know about. The verified classics, the timeless icons, the always-in-style 'fit saviours. They're the best jackets for men, come winter or spring, rain or shine, weeknight hang or black tie ball. Get familiar.
- Lightweight Jackets: Trucker Jackets, Chore Coats, Track Jackets, Work Jackets, Windbreakers
- Midweight Jackets: Parkas, Suede Jackets, Rain Jackets, Waxed Jackets, Anoraks, Leather Jackets, Fleece Jackets, Bomber Jackets, Trench Coats
- Heavyweight Jackets: Puffer Jackets, Overcoats
- How do we select our favourite jackets for men?
- What men's jackets are in fashion in 2026?
- What is the best brand of men's jacket?
- Which jacket is best for UK winter?
Discover the best jackets for men in 2026…
The chore coat looks a little like an overshirt in silhouette, but leans more rigid and sturdy. You can thank the duck canvas or wool material usage for that. Like denim jeans and trucker caps, it's one of those blue-collar clothing items that was once worn for function and is now chosen for style. That doesn't make it non-functional, though! Like its forebears, modern chore coats usually come with an orgy of patch pockets, spread collars and button or snap fastenings. Unlike overshirts, they're also usually found in neutral, unpatterned shades and are best worn as a mid-layer between, for example, a cosy hoodie and an overcoat.
Work jackets
These jackets range from the bare-bones to the over-engineered, but are all designed to take on tough tasks. Usually, they're cut with a roomy silhouette and a hip-length for range of motion (great for high-waisted, wide-legged trousers). Like trucker jackets, work jackets earn their beauty through hard work and wear. Carhartt's Detroit jacket is a perennial fave, beloved for its simplicity and patina potential.
Trucker jackets
Trucker jackets are about as flattering and versatile as outerwear gets. They're cut trim and short, which not only gives a good range of motion, but also visually lengthens your legs. And, like all great garments, they only get better with age. Denim trucker jackets are the standard bearers, but the silhouette works wonders in everything from suede and canvas to nylon and corduroy. Like a pair of classic blue jeans, the trucker jacket goes with… well, everything: throw one over a button-up and chinos for a relaxed take on prep, pull it on with a sweatsuit to bring some texture to your weekend 'fit, or go full Canadian tux like Martin Sheen in Badlands. Hell, you can even pull off a trucker jacket with an actual tux if you're daring enough.
Track/varsity jackets
Why did mid- to late-20th-century Olympic teams look so much cooler than they do now? Part of it is down to the moustaches and perms, but the rest is in the track jacket. A full-zip, mock-neck garment usually cast in shell suit-like polyester or stretch cotton, these staples of sporty guys often come with go-faster stripes to the arms or collar and side pockets for keeping your stopwatch in. They're frequently knitted and springy, with ribbed hems and a logo, and have recently been given the street style treatment by brands like Needles and Wales Bonner. Like the aforementioned Olympic teams, they're best in vintage and/or bright and/or gaudy designs.
Windbreakers
The windbreaker is the less famous, element-busting cousin of the waterproof: a piece of clothing made to combat air instead of water. It comes in a slew of design options, ranging from psychedelic patterns to simple colour blocking, but the majority will have a boxy silhouette with full zips so air can’t run up your torso. They're pretty much indistinguishable from anoraks… unless you take a peek at the elasticated cuffs and hems.
Parkas
What do the indigenous peoples of northern Canada and Liam Gallagher have in common? You got it! A proclivity for parka jackets. In these two examples, we can understand why the hooded coat became popular: for staying warm in frigid temperatures, and latterly for channelling one's mod heroes. Though similar to anoraks and cagoules, a parka differs in that it has a placket (as opposed to being a pullover) and is generally a little longer in the hem. They can be found with thorough insulation or fur linings (à l'Inuits) or unlined and fancy-free (à la LG).
Notwithstanding the content of your hobbies list, a leather jacket will fit into your lifestyle. In other words: you don't have to be Marlon Brando in The Wild One in order to rock one. Why? There are countless kinds of leather beyond the belted biker. One of our favourites is the blouson, which offers a neat, boxy topper to an outfit and can even be worn with a shirt and tie as a kind of replacement for a blazer.
The bomber jacket was originally made for high-altitude missions during World War II, but has enjoyed relevance on the ground ever since (thanks, James Bond!). Like the trucker jacket, a bomber jacket does wonders for your legs due to its cropped length. Tack on a pair of well-heeled boots, and you can't help but feel like you're on Cloud 9. Unlike most truckers, though, bomber jackets generally have a roomier silhouette, which is great if you want to pile on a thick sweater underneath. Often, bombers are made with tough nylon or a mix of wool and leather (basically a varsity jacket), but they can also come in some warm-weather-friendly fabrics like cotton and linen.
Here we have the water-defying cousin of the windbreaker. Just as light, except with more water resistance and the same amount of style points. Usually crafted from manmade textiles that have been treated to banish raindrops and keep you dry, the best ones are equipped with a hood and fall at mid-thigh to keep your trousers as dry as humanly possible.
Suede jackets
A suede jacket is the style flex equivalent of wearing the same leather jacket your dad used to smoke ciggies in when he was your age. We can thank Western and then rock ‘n’ roll cultures for giving us this beauty, made completely of suede and often coming with a blouson silhouette and a bunch of utility pockets. Some come completely unbuttoned, making them easier to show off your favourite T-shirt, while others are fully buttoned, making dress shirt layering a bit easier. Just make sure you keep your suede in check with a protectant spray because this is the sort of piece your kid will give to their kids.
Anoraks
Prefer your outerwear with a hood? Anoraks and parkas are defined by their hooded attachments, saving you in a pinch when you've forgotten a beanie or an umbrella. Most versions are either designed to fit a military aesthetic or an outdoors vibe, which should slot neatly into almost every closet. Often, anoraks are great for windy and wet weather conditions, so look out for one made with waterproof details such as a membrane shell like Gore-Tex or E-vent, as well as seam-sealed reinforcements.
If your basis for purchasing a jacket is its proximity to a sweater, a fleece jacket is your jam. Have you ever looked at a farmer's flock and thought, "that sheep looks mad comfortable"? Exactly. The fleece jacket is good for mild climes, great for autumn and spring, and perfect for bringing out the gorp side of you. Fleece jackets can range in style, of course, but so can the fleece itself. Fluffier fleeces with deep piles have a tonne of texture and warmth, but you may want to opt for a shallower fleece to cut down on bulk while keeping warm.
The waxed jacket is the rugged man's raincoat, a thicker, often cotton canvas material that uses a wax treatment by way of waterproofing. Though still practical, it's by far the more traditionally stylish of options, usually taking on worker or hunting jacket guises but also sometimes appearing in trench form. Originally geared towards hunting, these coats often come bedevilled with pockets, and are nice and thick, originally to resist the pull of thorns and branches (and perhaps beagles' teeth) on the hunt.
Overcoats make you feel fancy whether they come with a lofty price tag or not. That's because the extra length gives an outfit motion and drape: something you won't get with a shorter jacket. The added fabric also means there's a lot of real estate to make it a big statement piece, whether it's with texture or a pattern. As the name suggests, it's supposed to go over other layers, so they're also cut generously, which only adds to the ensemble. As we said before, topcoats have a lot of different names. Whatever you call it, the sound is just as sweet.
Shearling jackets
It might not be the jacket you first think of needing when you want to spruce up your but a shearling is a strong contender. Made famous (and heroic) by the pilots of WWII, shearling became a mainstay for Hollywood's faithful whenever they ventured anywhere with very un-Hollywood-like weather. Serious style cachet followed, as you might expect from anything worn by Robert Redford and Steven McQueen. Generally suede and trimmed with cosy shearling, the best options in its category are impressively big in silhouette and heat retention.
No one alive today will be able to remember a time when trench coats did not exist, a fact that obscures just how modern this jacket really is. While the silhouette is rocked and stocked by dudes across East London and beyond, its origins make it more equipped for trench warfare than spilling iced matchas. Its key details, like epaulettes and waist ties, were designed to hold items like your rifle or to keep rain out while trudging through mud. These days, it's paired up with some baggy trousers and collared shirts because, duh, rule of three, people. Burberry is the most notable creator these days, but you can find styles at just about every heritage menswear label.
It's hard not to think of New York City when you think of a puffer jacket. Yes, there's that one Seinfeld episode, but there's also Frank Ocean in this immense orange joint, A$AP Rocky cruisin' through the streets in the infamous Gucci x The North Face puffer, and New York Nico in winter (also those Baby Yerrda memes). Despite its Big Apple attachments, the puffer jacket has range. You can obviously go full gorp from head to toe, all goth in a wild Rick Owens x Moncler ensemble, or just keep it regular in a pair of perfectly faded blue jeans à la Jennifer Aniston. However you puff, just make sure your jacket has enough room to layer underneath — it is a winter jacket, after all.
How do we select our favourite jackets for men?
Making sure you leave a GQ article with some genuinely good shopping advice is the raison d'être of our Recommends team, and that means we're always on the hunt for the best new clothes for you to add to your wardrobe. We have a knowledge base of decades in the shopping department at GQ, and closer to a century when you combine the expertise of the entire team, whose opinions we also consult in the day-to-day running of our guides.
Our jacket picks are the result of careful consideration from American GQ style commerce writer Gerald Oritz, style writer and clothes obsessive Marcus Mitropoulos, and British GQ senior commerce writer Jessie Atkinson. We've looked at every major (and some more minor) jacket and coat categories for this guide, and have only recommended examples from brands that we trust implicitly with our own wardrobes.
What men's jackets are in fashion in 2026?
When it comes to jackets, it’s quite tough to gauge what will take off next. Last season it was the work jacket, spearheaded, as ever, by the Carhartt Detroit. This season, we have only to look to the runways to predict what's going to be big.
Giorgio Armani, Hermès and Burberry sent broad-shouldered trench coats down catwalks across Europe, a sign that slightly twisted trad menswear continues to make its comeback. In the workwear department, brands like Uskees, Universal Works, Percival and more are doubling down on a concoction of overshirts, chore jackets, and ripstop utility pieces. Take a peek into vintage stores and you’ll also still see a good amount of leather jackets and military surplus flying off the shelves.
If we had to give you a concrete answer, we’d suggest lasering in on trench coats, chore coats, overshirts and bomber jackets.
What is the best brand of men's jacket?
Asking this is like wanting a foodie to let you know what the best Asian cuisine is in London. Nearly impossible to objectively determine, and very much so based on circumstance. However, brands like Burberry, Barbour and Levi’s have historically had a monopoly on trench coats, wax jackets and denim truckers for ages now. Head over to The North Face or Moncler for puffers, Carhartt or Drake’s for chore coats, and Uskees or Wax London for overshirts. Brands like Uniqlo, Percival, and Bottega Veneta will consistently keep you happy at a range of prices.
Which jacket is best for UK winter?
Warm jackets are a must for the UK winter, but you can get away with being cheeky. Sure, a puffer vest or full jacket is the easiest move to keep yourself warm. But think about grabbing a wool overcoat with an overshirt underneath, or throw on a couple of overshirts under your chore coat. Layering is just as much your friend as a single investment piece.
