The best jackets for men in 2024: essential outwear for every season

What are the best jackets for men, exactly? We're glad you asked. When it comes to building a proper wardrobe, there is perhaps no more essential task than assembling a strong and stylish lineup of outerwear. Choosing the best jackets for you 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.

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.

The Best Jackets for Men Shopping Guide

• Lightweight Jackets: Trucker Jackets, Chore Coats, Golf Jackets, Work Jackets, Track Jackets, Windbreakers
• Midweight Jackets: Parkas, Rain Jackets, Waxed Jackets, Anoraks, Leather Jackets, Fleece Jackets, Bomber Jackets
• Heavyweight Jackets: Puffer Jackets, Topcoats, Trench Coats

How do we select our favourite jackets for men?

So, how exactly do we choose what constitutes the best car jackets for men in 2024? Simple. We know our stuff, we do our research, and we get out there to experience as much product as possible. Our jacket picks are made after careful consideration, based on a combination of our personal experiences and the culmination of our fashion team's combined in-depth expertise.

Our section head of menswear for GQ Recommends, Heidi Quill, is obsessed with clothes. Joining British GQ in 2021, Heidi might primarily look after clothing content, but she spends a healthy amount of time up to her neck in samples, checking product for the very best quality, price and design, all before recommending it to you. That includes knowing everything there is to know about a jacket.

And boy, is there a lot to know. With near-infinite styles, materials, cuts, and trends to keep track of, keeping on top of the latest and greatest jackets for men is no mean feat. Luckily, our team of experts (consisting of GQ style commerce writer Gerald Oritz and fashion journalist Faye Fearon), have joined forces with Heidi to help you become acquainted with your absolute dream jacket.

Discover The Best Jackets For Men In 2024…

A jacket favoured by old-school Hollywood stars is a jacket instantly approved by team GQ. Enter the shearling design. Garnering serious style credit, thanks to the likes of Robert Redford and Steve McQueen (be sure to Google their takes on it for full outfit inspiration), the winter-warming style is most prominently characterised by its soft and cosy lining. Often exposed across the collar, it's used to house a bunch of silhouettes from traditional button down frames and overshirt styles to cropped bomber and flight jackets. Put simply, it's as versatile as it is practical. As an easy aid to your outerwear game, it rightfully deserves a place in your wardrobe as we approach those imminent winter days.

The Suede Jacket

During autumn/winter, you won’t find a better texture to see you through the season than suede – and a jacket is the most stylish way to embrace it. A core ingredient to some of the coolest avenues of dress – from Western to rock and roll – the napped leather texture most frequently finds itself shaped into a short, blouson form (often practically detailed with front patch pockets and a nifty collar). Expressing a strong dose of elegance without giving the impression that you’ve tried too hard, it’s one of the most failsafe jackets to see you through transitioning weather: best partnered with a classic turtleneck and straight cut trousers underneath.

The Trucker Jacket

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 off with an actual tux if you're daring enough.

Chore coats have just the right amount of pockets, enough room to layer, are usually made with a durable, mid-weight fabric, and aren't so overly-designed—a true all-season jacket that's pretty close to a perfect piece of outerwear. The chore coat isn't as flashy as other jackets, so it's less of a star and more of a supporting character. It can add depth to a hoodie or ease-up a button-up shirt. You can look to the OGs like Le Mont Michel and Vetra for authentic Bill Cunningham vibes, but every brand from Ralph Lauren to Comme Des Garçons offer a take on the classic, so there's bound to be one with your name on it.

See more of the best chore coats for men

These jackets range from the barebones 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 pants). 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.

Parkas are similar to anoraks in that they both have a hood. The key difference between the two comes down to functionality. Parkas usually have some kind of placket entry (as opposed to a pullover design) and are longer (about thigh or knee length). While parkas can be made with insulation to battle the harshest winters, they're often made in lighter, unlined fabrics geared toward spring and fall weather.

Hell-bent on building an unstoppable force to sprint their way to State Championships, the high school track coach also had a penchant for style, whether or not they knew it. The key to their unwitting swag? The track jacket. The full-zip mock neck jacket was usually made of a bouncy knit fabric made of some kind of synthetic material and often included ribbed hems to keep the wind out—great for brisk mornings and mild spring weather. These days, the iconic piece of sportswear has ascended from the track to fashion trend to certified classic thanks to an ongoing obsession with sports uniforms which brought soccer gear to the runway. Brands like Needles and Wales Bonner leaned into the aesthetic and made it the hot piece of kit of many a fashion bro.

Windbreakers come in a variety of silhouettes, but the one commonality between them is the fabric. They're usually made of a lightweight fabric like nylon or a swishy sort of polyester that can block the wind. Sometimes, windbreakers are also packable which makes them great for stashing in your bag on standby for when the weather takes a gusty turn.

If you're hardcore anti-umbrella but still very much pro-being dry, you need to have a rain jacket in your wardrobe. From old-school rubber joints to tech'd out Gore-Tex numbers, and of course, the effortlessly elegant trench coat, there's a rain jacket that will fit any vibe. There are even packable ones that will fit into your tote bag (you know, like an umbrella). Remember, if you're not wearing waterproof pants, you'll want to opt for a longer rain jacket that reaches at least thigh level.

For a more rustic and water-resistant feel, grab a waxed jacket. Yes, it falls under the umbrella of rain jackets, but it really deserves its own callout. It's the kind of kit you'll see on a swaggy old Londoner, walking his Airedale terrier around the countryside, i.e. it looks great with a pair of corduroy pants and hardy boots. The fabric is usually a durable cotton canvas that's slathered with wax or oil to help slough rain, and comes with various pockets originally geared toward hunting. That heavy-duty fabric is also helpful in the brush and can protect you from sharp branches and thorns. Barbour is the most famous here, but there are handfuls of other brands that wax their own poetic.

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 a waterproof details such as a membrane shell like Gore-Tex or E-vent, as well as seam-sealed reinforcements.

If rain coats are a group of friends, the trench coat is the chic one from Paris. It's always dashing, no matter if it's paired with brogues or sneakers (maybe even more dashing!). It's certainly the most elegant in the rain, too. A classic tan trench coat never misses, but you can always opt for a hip black version or even a patterned joint for even more flare. Whichever way you take it, the trench is the most compelling case against umbrellas. Most trenches will come in some kind of dense, water-resistant fabric, but there are also lighter versions coated with special chemicals to make them waterproof. Some really great options are designed with a removable liner so that you can even wear the trench through the coldest months.

See more of the best trench coats for men

When you want to feel hot, you reach for a leather jacket. How do you think Neo demolished Agent Smith in The Matrix? A leather jacket. (Also, shoutout to the real leather daddy, Nicolas Cage.) There are plenty of flavours of leather jackets out there, from road-ready moto jackets to club-ready leather dusters to luscious suede bombers and more. You might not think of yourself as a leather jacket guy, but there is definitely a leather jacket that's right for you.

See more of the best leather jackets for men

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 sheep and thought, "that sheep looks mad uncomfortable"? Exactly. The fleece jacket is good for mild climes, great for fall 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 ton of texture and warmth, but you may want to opt for a shallower fleece to cut down on bulk while keeping warm.

See more of the best men's fleece jackets

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.

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 a la Jennifer Aniston. However you puff, just make sure your jacket has enough room to layer underneath—it is a winter jacket, after all.

See more of the best puffer jackets for men

Overcoats just make you feel luxe whether or not they come with a lofty price tag. 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 its with texture or a pattern. Like the name suggests, it's supposed to go over other layers, so they're also cut generously which only adds to the ensemble. Like we said before, topcoats have a lot of different names. Whatever you call it, the sound is just as sweet.

What men's jackets are in fashion in 2024?

The best picks for men's jackets in 2024 (or any other year, for that matter), should deliver in a few key areas – sustainability, versatility, and, of course, comfort. Jackets with eco-friendly materials win extra brownie points, as do jackets with innovative designs that stand out from the crowd. Oversized puffer jackets, tailored wool coats, and utility-style jackets are all fair game, and match all manner of different tastes and styles. Earthy tones and muted colours have won us over, and you'll find all manner of suitable options from the likes of Patagonia, Arc'teryx, and more.

What is the best brand of men's jacket?

There's no right answer, as the best jacket for you will depend on your personal taste and needs. Having said that, you can definitely narrow your search down to top-quality brands like North Face, Patagonia, and more. We'd recommend starting off with the most important specs (pockets, weatherproofing etc), then narrowing down even further by leaning towards brands that have a style that matches your taste.

Which jacket is best for UK winter?

Warm jackets are a must for winter, and given the climate in the UK, waterproofing (or at the very least, water-resistance) is a good idea too. A down-filled parka with a waterproof outer shell ticks both boxes, and you should also pay attention to little details like adjustable hoods, storm cuffs, and pockets, as they can make all the difference in day-to-day wear.

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