Our Favorite Men’s Denim Jackets to Wear in Every Season

Whether you’re a ranch worker, the lead singer in a rock band, or simply a connoisseur of the venerated Canadian tuxedo, every guy needs a good denim jacket in his closet. The best denim jackets for men offer the same timeless style, casual ruggedness, and easy-going coolness that have made the garment a menswear essential for more than a century. And while the style may be old, it’s anything but outdated, as the latest crop of jean jackets is filled with an outstanding blend of classic and modern coats to suit every taste.

History of Denim

On May 20, 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis obtained a U.S. patent on the process of utilizing rivets in the construction of men’s denim work pants — marking what’s widely viewed today as the birth of modern blue jeans. Though they were originally aimed at cowboys, railroad workers, and miners, blue jeans would later be widely adopted by a huge percentage of the planet, with half of the world’s population now wearing jeans at any given point in time — making it difficult to overstate how significant and game-changing of an invention Strauss and Davis introduced.

Recognizing the immense potential of riveted denim construction and spurred on by the success of blue jeans, Strauss would later repurpose the material and construction technique into America’s first jean jacket in 1880. Garnering nearly as much success as his pants, Levi’s jean jackets instantly took off, with orders flooding in and units flying off of the shelves. This design went largely unchanged for close to 80 years, with Levi’s introducing a lightly-modified second-generation jean jacket. In the 1960s, however, the jean jacket saw its most significant update to date with the introduction of the Levi Strauss & Co. Type III denim jacket in 1962.

Sharing its denim construction with Levi’s pants, the Type III — or “trucker jacket” as it became unofficially known as — distinguished
itself from its first and second-generation predecessors with a more tapered cut and the addition of welt hand pockets and bar tack construction at the chest pockets and sleeve openings. Over the subsequent years, the Type III’s design has been widely emulated by a slew of different companies. Today, the jean jacket has become a men’s wardrobe staple and is available in a wide variety of colors, washes, styles, and cuts — our favorite of which we’ll be counting down below.

Japanese Denim vs. American Denim

The best part of buying a new jacket is the sense of character it gains over time. As a result, Japanese selvedge denim has since been touted as one of the world’s most precious textiles. This is courtesy of countless Japanese brands utilizing unique dyes to promote a similarly unique aging process, among several other particular care guidelines to account for that will assist its look in the long run.

Although American brands are heralded for bringing jeans to the forefront, Japan’s innovation in the field has deemed selvedge denim an art form of sorts due to its more sophisticated, meticulous construction method. When it comes to buying jeans, Japanese selvedge will typically take more time to break in than the oft-softer brand of American-made bottoms; that said, you don’t necessarily have to worry about something like this when buying a jacket, considering it’s often easier to dictate the proper size for outerwear than it is any pair of pants. All in all, this by no means comes down to a form of competition, but more your personal preference, as either material you choose will bode well in the long run, albeit each having its distinct look, feel, and fades. If you’re still eager to learn more about each country’s history in the denim world, check out our guide comparing each iteration.

We took a look at a range of brands, styles, and price ranges, casting a wide net but only keeping the best of the best. Our search led us to American heritage brands that were outfitting cowboys and miners at the turn of the century, high-end boutique purveyors of Japanese selvedge denim, and style-forward designers who are putting their own unique spin on this well-worn icon of Americana. 

What to Look For

Material: The big difference here will be between Japanese and American denim (which we got into above). Another big difference is the choice between selvedge denim and regular denim – selvedge will be more durable and high-quality, but that means a higher price tag as well. Besides that, if you want a little more stretch in your jacket, look for one that has a bit of elastane.

Shape/Fit: Several silhouettes swarm this boundless space of outerwear, but it would be a genuine disservice to overlook Levi’s contributions to making the garment what it is today. The heritage brand’s timeless Type-I, Type-II, and Type-III designs have served as respective archetypes for how countless clothiers design their denim jackets. Unsurprisingly, this has been the case since the initial iteration’s first release sometime between the late ’40s and early ’50s.

Wash and Color: As countless brands have shown us, jeans don’t have to come in standard shades of blue and black; the same goes for their outerwear counterpart. There are several washes and colors to account for, each adding a different personality to your look. As a result, the versatile variety of options to choose from deem the denim jacket ideal for several seasons, as it’s easy to dress it up or down, á la the aforementioned Canadian Tuxedo.

Weight: Like with any piece of clothing, just because it’s heavier doesn’t mean it’s necessarily better — after all, you won’t catch any of us rocking heavy-set coats in the dead of summer just to look cool. Unlike other elements you should look for in this department, this doesn’t come down to personal preference as much as it does flat-out common sense. While most options weigh somewhere along the lines of 12 and 15 ounces, there are lighter options out there, too, some of which are ideal for warmer weather. All in all, denim jackets are no different from other jackets in that they are meant to keep you warm when necessary, and weight obviously plays a big part.

Levi’s Trucker Jacket

Best Starter Jacket: If it’s a true icon you’re after in a denim jacket, then Levi’s should realistically be the only brand on your radar. The American heritage brand’s founder literally invented the style in the 1880s, and Levi’s has been churning them out in their famed trucker form since the 1960s. This forward-thinking version of the classic garment includes soft and breathable Tencel in the blend and is made using sustainable manufacturing practices and materials. And while the clothier’s modern-day catalog couldn’t hold a candle to its archival offerings, it’s still the perfect place to start.

Carhartt Denim Sherpa-Lined Jacket

Best Sherpa Jacket: Odds are you’ve come across the ubiquitous, relatively similar option from Levi’s at least once or twice in the past year, so we decided to switch things up a bit. Carhartt’s take on the matter still stays true to the timeless garment’s blue-collar roots, all the while serving as a stylish choice for people who can’t stop buying into the workwear craze — realistically, it’s a win-win for all parties involved. The enviously soft piece is composed of 12.5-ounce washed denim, then finished with a fuzzy lining, several roomy pockets, and a zipped closure, so there’s no need to worry about buttoning up.

Pangaia Nettle Denim Jacket

Best Sustainable Jacket: Purchasing any form of clothing from Pangaia is one of several ways to lower your carbon footprint and is arguably the most voguish way to go about it. The brand’s Nettle Denim Jacket is constructed using PANettle, a proprietary blend of plant-based materials like Himalayan wild nettle, a naturally renewable resource that grows sporadically and in abundance, assuring it’s as eco-cognizant a textile as you could imagine. Additionally, the brand uses organic cotton and a PPRMINT treatment to ensure it lasts quite some time — remember to recycle it when all is said and done.

Taylor Stitch The Long Haul Jacket

Best Organic Selvedge Denim Jacket: We love a good pun, so we’ve got to give Taylor Stitch some credit for calling this trucker jacket “The Long Haul.” But we’re obviously not going to recommend a garment based purely on its name, and thankfully, the San Francisco-based brand doesn’t let us down with the quality of this coat. The Long Haul features 100% organic cotton selvage denim construction that’s been given a thorough wash for a lived-in vintage look, plus unexpected extras like a pair of front welt hand-warmer pockets.

Ginew Thunderbird Jacket

Best Japanese Denim Jacket: At first glance, no one would blame you for saying this jacket and the previous American-made pick are one and the same. This selvedge-constructed jacket weighs 12 ounces compared to the last pick’s weight of the 14-ounce composition, deeming it a bit lesser in that category. As a result, the Los Angeles-bred clothier garners the top spot for Western-styled denim jackets thanks to its traditional silhouette, chic corduroy collar, and meticulous, cowboy-approved detailing. It’s all finished off with custom-branded hardware and under-collar embroidery.

RRL Lot-271 Denim Trucker Jacket

Best Trucker Jacket: When Ralph Lauren’s name is mentioned, the first diffusion line that comes to mind is usually Polo by default. In other cases, it might be the Purple Label, especially regarding high-end staples like this. And while both imprints are still mighty fine options that serve their purpose, only so many designer labels can hold a candle to the style icon’s Western-inspired RRL label. The sub-brand’s jacket is made from Japanese denim and styled to look like those vintage ’50s trucker jackets, resulting in a handsome piece of timeless outerwear built to last a lifetime. To ensure longevity, it’s also reinforced with double-needle stitching at the seams.

Flint and Tinder Speckled Denim Rancher

Best Rancher Jacket: In the world of jackets, Flint and Tinder have become somewhat of a household, famously outfitting Pedro Pascal in The Last of Us with their waxed trucker jacket. While this denim jacket isn’t quite as iconic, it’s certainly just as rugged, and made entirely in the USA. Not only is the cut and fit vintage-inspired, but F&T employs the unique pattern of speckled denim to give you a truly timeless look. For stoarge, you get two flap chest pockets and two slanted side pockets for easy access, and it’s unlined to offer you more layering options.

Todd Snyder Selvedge Denim Jacket in Medium Wash

Best Selvedge Denim Jacket: Todd Snyder understands how to use high-quality fabrics, and never settles for anything less than the best. This medium wash selvedge denim jacket proves just that, and features a design inspired by classic trucker jackets from back in the day. This modern take on the iconic style has a slim fit that falls at the hip, and an indigo wash to drive it all home. It’s finished with shank buttons and a duo of buttoned flap chest pockets to keep things simple yet elegant.

Lee 101 Rider Jacket

Best Slim-Fit Jacket: With the exception of Levi’s, no brand is more associated with America’s long-running love affair with denim than Lee. Founded in 1889, Lee has a longstanding reputation for making hard-wearing workwear, and their classic Rider Jacket has been favored by legitimate cowboys since it debuted in 1948. This modern recreation of that post-war original is part of the brand’s high-end heritage 101 imprint and features trademark zigzag stitching on the placket, cat eye waistband adjusters, and premium Japanese selvedge denim construction.

Hiroshi Kato The Blade Indigo Raw 14oz Selvedge

Best Raw Denim Jacket: This insanely unique choice from lowkey designer Hiroshi Kato takes after ’30s-era denim jackets, which is why its plethora of details and finishes may seem off-kilter when laid next to a plain old silhouette. Nevertheless, these final touches make it much more striking, notably its orange accent stitching and sturdy button closure. But, for this to be the best selvedge jacket in a fashion world chock-full of them, it needs to offer something special; that said, how do 14 ounces of four-way stretch denim sound? This heavy-set piece is built for colder days and provides more freedom of movement than meets the eye, deeming it one of the more appropriate pieces for winter’s bitter end.

Filson Denim Short Cruiser Jacket

Best Premium Jacket: Filson first began outfitting America’s outdoorsmen in 1897. Their products have been keeping the country’s builders and sportsmen warm and safe for more than a century, and there’s no better denim jacket we can think of for braving the elements than the brand’s Lined Denim Short Cruiser. The cozy, flannel-lined piece is sewn in the heart of the states using sturdy raw denim from the iconic Cone Denim Mills, a North Carolina-bred textile innovator that’s been doing its things since 1891.

The Best Western Shirts for Men

White tees are cool, but what better way to tackle the All-American get-up than with a proper shirt beneath your new denim jacket? Luckily, our guide to the best Western shirts is here to help.