A great winter coat or jacket serves the all-important purpose of keeping you warm while making you look good. It’s a simple concept that combines form and function, yet it’s a difficult balance to strike for many different brands. The right coat or jacket can breathe life into an otherwise drab outfit while keeping you warm and protecting you from the elements. With that said, winter jackets and coats are some of the most important pieces in a man’s wardrobe for both style and versatility.
No one style of winter jacket or coat is outright superior to another, as it depends on how you plan on using them. Each type has its own unique design, functionality, and purpose, so it’s important to know the differences between them and why they’re important. Figuring out what they are and how they’re important can be difficult on its own; finding a standout from each category can be even more difficult to do. Thankfully, it’s our job to define these garments and search for the best examples we can find. We’ve searched far and wide to come up with at least three shining examples of six different cornerstone genres of winter jackets and coats that will solve your snowy sartorial woes. So kick back, relax, and dive into our guide of the 20 best winter coats and jackets to buy this winter.
The Parka
Heavy Duty Protection
The parka is an iconic jacket that thrives in bitterly cold environments. Parkas can be defined as very warm, heavy, hooded jackets that extend below the waist. You’ll find that most parkas have fur or faux fur trim on their hoods, however, we won’t argue that that’s an imperative quality. Overall, these jackets are for heavy-duty warmth to protect you from icy-cold rain, sleet, or snow in the most freezing conditions. You’ll want to look for good insulation and some degree of water and wind resistance when shopping for a parka.
The North Face McMurdo Down Parka
The North Face is a brand that needs no introduction. It’s dominated the gear space for decades, and its McMurdo Down Parka epitomizes the genius and precision that launched the brand into the stratosphere. The windproof, waterproof, and 600 fill power down-insulated parka leverages a recycled nylon plain weave construction and a DWR treatment to seal this bad boy from the harshest winter conditions. It features two dual-entry front patch pockets, two secure-zip alpine chest pockets, and an adjustable hood with removable faux fur for added style points and warmth. A truly great parka.
Taylor Stitch The Whitney Parka
Taylor Stitch makes rugged, contemporary versions of timeless staples, and its take on the parka couldn’t be more on-brand, stylish, or versatile. Looking particularly rustic in rusty orange, the Whitney features a quilted design and a water-repellent cotton/nylon construction. For comfort and insulation, it’s filled with 650 fill power down that’s guaranteed to keep you toasty in the winter elements. Add to that its four pockets and two-piece hood, and you have a fashionable and versatile parka to last you to Spring.
Canada Goose Expedition Parka
There’s cold and then there’s Canada cold. If you’re going to be tackling the tundra, you can’t outfit yourself better or more stylishly than Canada Goose will. Its Expedition Parka is the apex of the garment, combining form, function, and a design that’s cooler than the Arctic. This parka is so warm that it was designed for scientists in Antarctica to use. Its stellar 625 fill power white duck down throughout its construction and hood can keep users warm to temperatures below -22°F. On top of its insulation and oh-so-cool design, it has more than 10 pockets for optimal storage, as well as a durable, water-resistant construction.
The Peacoat
The Naval Classic
Originating as a Naval officer’s jacket in the 19th century, peacoats are a timeless staple that will forever be in vogue. They’re easy to define: a heavy, hip-length, double-breasted blazer with an oversized collar that’s usually made of wool. If you’re looking to inject an immediate level of refinement, sophistication, and style into your winter repertoire, we recommend one of these. They don’t offer the same protection as parkas or technical jackets, so they’re not the most ideal in heavy rain or snowstorms, but peacoats are excellent at keeping you warm and toasty on dry, windy, wintry days.
J.Crew Dock Peacoat
Brands don’t get a lot more ubiquitous than J.Crew. The clothier has been around for over 70 years, making premium garments that have captured the hearts of those who wear them. Its Dock Peacoat is a modern reinterpretation of its iconic naval coat from the 1930s and features a warm wool construction that’s augmented by eco-friendly PrimaLoft insulation to keep you extra-warm on bitterly cold days. As a historical nod to the jacket that started it all, its buttons sport a reinforced anchor motif, elevating this already chic coat’s character even higher.
Schott NYC Slim-Fit Wool-Blend Peacoat
Schott NYC is a sartorial institution. While the New York brand is most famous for its leather motorcycle jacket, it also makes an array of gorgeous garments. Case and point: its wool-blend peacoat. This swanky coat is made of a dark-grey mélange wool-blend that can conquer the coldest winds. What’s more, it boasts a polyester/cotton blend for its lining, allowing users to layer with ease. Another notable quality of this peacoat is its slim-fit construction, which hugs the user’s body and makes him look less bulky. This is a classic staple that effortlessly blends form and function.
Ted Baker Summit Wool Peacoat
Ted Baker is a standout British designer brand that consistently churns out hit garments. Its Summit Wool Peacoat is a work of beauty, employing a luxurious wool blend for its construction. This warm jacket can be dressed up or down, giving it an appreciated dimension of versatility, and its intricately printed lining gives it a welcomed sense of character that we’ve grown to love and expect from Ted Baker.
Billy Reid Bond Peacoat
There are iconic peacoats and then there is Billy Reid’s Bond Peacoat. It isn’t with an ounce of hyperbole that we say the Bond Peacoat is a sartorial masterpiece. This peacoat helped launch the Alabama standout into the limelight of the fashion industry, particularly after James Bond himself coincidentally wore it in Skyfall (the coat is named for the brand’s Bond Street store, not the superspy). Its melton wool blend offers warmth, comfort, and insulation, and its finer details like its genuine horn buttons, leather undercollar, and four front pockets make it truly one-of-a-kind. The design of the Bond Peacoat is effortlessly cool, blending timeless, traditional style with modern sensibilities.
The Puffer Jacket
Get Down
Puffer jackets are just that — puffy jackets. Their hallmark is their baffled pockets of insulation which contain either real or synthetic down. These jackets are lightweight, short, and usually offer a high degree of water and wind resistance. A newer, more contemporary feature of these jackets is sustainability, which is why you’ll find that most jackets in this category feature a construction from recycled materials.
Columbia Powder Lite Jacket
How can a best jackets list be complete without including at least one Columbia garment? For nearly 85 years, the Portland-based outfitter has been a mover and shaker in the outdoor gear space, and its Powder Lite Jacket is an example of why that is. This minimalistic jacket leverages OMNI-HEAT technology for enhanced warmth and insulation, while its water-resistant nylon construction will protect you from the elements. For added versatility and security, it also features two zip pockets to keep your belongings safe.
REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket 2.0
People get so swept up shopping at REI that they tend to forget the famed retailer has an in-house brand that makes stellar gear. Who better to design jackets than one of the biggest clothing outlets in the space? REI Co-op’s 650 Down Jacket 2.0 is a no-frills jacket that features a recycled nylon shell construction. Its DWR treatment enhances the jacket’s water resistance and also provides it with a stout level of wind resistance. For added insulation and sustainability, the jacket is filled with 650 fill power down that’s certified to the Responsible Down Standard.
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer/2 Jacket
Arguably the puffer jacket you think of when you hear the phrase “puffer jacket,” Mountain Hardwear’s Ghost Whisperer/2 Jacket is the lightweight, cold-tackling jacket of your dreams. Keeping in line with the sustainability theme that the previous two jackets featured, this jacket is made of recycled whisperer 10D x 10D ripstop and is filled with 800 fill power RDS Certified Down Insulation for optimal warmth and insulation. Its cuffs also leverage synthetic down insulation to avoid welting while its lightweight, highly packable design allows users to stuff the jacket into its own hand pocket for easy packing and transportation.
The Technical Jacket
Performance Meets Style
Our technical jacket guide defines the garments as jackets “that fuse performance materials with a futuristic streetwear aesthetic.” These garments are made with cutting-edge materials to yield a minimalistic, versatile, and oftentimes fashion-forward look. You can expect high-end proprietary materials that are quick-drying, water-resistant, and wind-resistant, along with innovative constructions that protect you from the elements. You’ll find the occasional heavy offering, but most of these jackets tend to fall on the lighter side of the weight spectrum, without conceding insulation, of course.
Arc’teryx Atom AR Hoody
If you’re looking for a premier technical gear company, then you could do a lot worse than Arc’teryx. Its Atom AR Hoody is a stylish, versatile, and ultra-warm hoodie that will prepare you for harsh winter conditions. The Atom AR Hoody features a construction made of durable and wind-resistant Tyono 3 that is treated with a dura coating for enhanced toughness, while its DWR treatment makes it resistant to water. For insulation, the Hoody uses Coreloft synthetic insulation for quicker drying, heightened warmth, and durability. Add in its Permeair panels in the underarms, and you have one of the most versatile hoodies on the market.
Aether Nordic Jacket
For the uninitiated, AETHER is a Los Angeles-based gear outlet that makes mind-bogglingly great garments. The brand’s Nordic Jacket is particularly top-notch, blending contemporary style, technical fabrics, and honest-to-goodness versatility. This waterproof, wind-resistant, and seam-sealed beauty offers total protection from the elements, while its 800 fill power grey goose down insulation and technical wool construction allow it to dominate the cold. It features a three-point adjustable hood, five pockets (including a ski-pass pocket), and a RECCO rescue reflector.
Veilance Deploy LT Jacket
Designed for navigating urban environments, Art’teryx’s in-house sub-brand, Veilance, is a technical garment wunderkind, and its lightweight, minimalist Deploy LT Jacket is a winter weather dynamo. The jacket leverages the windproof and waterproof qualities of its GORE-TEX construction, which augments the water-resistant WaterTight zip pockets. Its asymmetrical front zipper provides a layer of contemporary flair, while the hood’s StormHood construction and internal adjustment cords offer yet another level of versatility and protection.
Mission Workshop The Bremen
Being a Bay Area brand, it’s no wonder that Mission Workshop pushes the technical aspect of technical jackets farther than nearly every brand in the space. Its Bremen is the Workshop’s take on a classic Mackintosh raincoat, so it retains the elegance and sophistication of a Mac while adding the complexity and contemporary flair that Mission Workshop is known for. To create the Bremen, Mission worked with Olmetex to create a three-layer, lightweight, breathable, waterproof, and windproof (phew) ePTFE fabric for its construction. Its collar is particularly sophisticated, featuring a full seam taping that allows it to transition from a traditional collar to a storm collar for added versatility.
The Topcoat/Overcoat
Dress It Up
Topcoats and Overcoats are similar in aesthetic but different in construction. The key differentiator here is weight: topcoats sport lighter constructions while overcoats are heavier for greater insulation. Both of these coats are refined, sophisticated, and designed to be the outermost layer on your outfit — which, in most cases with these jackets, will be a suit. Given their size, the general rule of thumb for both of these coats is that they should at least reach your thigh.
J.Press x Todd Snyder Spectator Coat
Todd Snyder is no stranger to collaborations, having done a litany of them with famous brands. The menswear maestro’s collaboration with Ivy League mainstay J.Press, however, has yielded one of the most stylish coats on the market. The Spectator Coat has traditional overcoat attributes while also introducing unique elements like its belted back. The coat is made out of opulent camel hair, which is proven to keep you warm on the coldest days. This coat is suave, warm, comfortable, and has the ability to raise your wardrobe’s style points exponentially.
Mr P. Camel Hair Coat
Designed by the fashionable folks over at MR PORTER, the ultra-lux Camel Hair Coat oozes style and sophistication. The coat features an opulent Mongolian camel hair construction for enhanced softness and insulation, while also bolstering the luxury quotient of this garment. Moreover, its camel hair construction makes this coat lighter than its wool counterparts, however, it is six times as insulating due to the structure of camel hair. Its design is elegant and understated, with a loose fit for easy layering.
Burberry Checked Wool and Cashmere-Blend Coat
Few brands sport the recognition and status that Burberry does, and this stunner shows why. The British brand’s painfully gorgeous Checked Wool and Cashmere-Blend Coat draws inspiration from the traditional car coat, featuring a tonal-grey and red checked pattern as well as a streamlined design, save for the top button which acts as a wonderful point of symmetry. Given its longer silhouette, it will protect you easily from the elements while also making you look dapper as all get-out.
The Trench Coat
Noir-Style Protection
Like so many different garments, the trench coat’s roots can be traced to the military, specifically World War I. Trench Coats are waterproof, belted, longer, and while heavy, they are usually not made of wool, like overcoats and topcoats. Despite their combat origins, trench coats have become a staple in the fashion world and are a shining example of purpose-built design and classic style. They are mainly used as raincoats but don’t feature much insulation, so you’ll want to skip these for winter wear if you live in a colder climate.
Uniqlo Trench Coat
Uniqlo may be more known for its dependable collection of basics, but make no mistake, it has a variety of fashion-forward garments in its lineup, too. Case and point: this out-of-this-world stylish trench coat. From its chic look to its DWR-treated cotton blend construction to its handsome belt, this refined trench will zhush up any ensemble it joins. Its timeless design gives it plenty of stylistic versatility, and its price tag makes it one of the biggest bargains in all of fashion.
Engineered Garments Drizzler Coat
Engineered Garments is a chic boutique brand that designs timeless staples through a contemporary lens. Its minimalist and understated Drizzler Coat reinterprets the trench coat with a durable cotton ripstop construction, an oversized fit, and backpack-like straps on its interior for extra flair. A particularly inspired feature is its hidden hood and wide collar opening, which transforms into a fashionable storm collar if desired.
Mackintosh Oxford Bonded Cotton Trench Coat
Mackintosh is one of the all-time great coat makers and creator of the original raincoat. It’s such an iconic brand that other, less-iconic brands model their raincoats after Mackintosh’s. The brand’s Oxford Bonded Cotton Trench Coat is proof in the sartorial pudding of Mackintosh’s greatness. This handmade coat features its signature water-repellent bonded cotton construction for protection from the elements, while its buttoned throat latch, streamlined design, and front slash pockets evoke a classic look and feel.
The 20 Best Winter Boots for Men
Now that you’ve got your outerwear covered, check out our guide on the 20 best winter boots to get your feet feeling just as warm as the rest of you while out exploring the cold.
