As mid-seasonal cool gradually gives way to full-blown winter, the archetypal men’s denim jacket is one staple that pays dividends (well, not literally) to have in your wardrobe.
Both a fantastic penultimate layer or signature slice of outerwear, this timeless workwear design (introduced in the late 1900s) has been adapted by countless designers over the decades – offering an appeal to Americana enthusiasts, neo-preppy types, streetwear fiends, and just about everybody between.
To that end, here are all of the best men’s denim jackets we’ve come across this year. From Ralph Lauren to MJ Bale, view the full list below.
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Jump To:
- Boss Hunting’s Best Denim Jackets For Men
- Country Road Denim Overshirt
- Ralph Lauren ‘RRL’ Indigo Denim Trucker Jacket
- Levi’s Type III Sherpa Trucker Jacket
- 3Sixteen Type3s Denim Jacket
- MJ Bale Kamakiri Selvedge Denim Jacket
- A.P.C ‘Basile’ Embroidered Overshirt
- Blackhorse Lane Ateliers NW6 Type 3 Denim Jacket
- Lee ‘101’ Denim Trucker Jacket
- Carhartt ‘OG’ Detroit Jacket
- Fear Of God Essentials Denim Jacket
Boss Hunting’s Best Denim Jackets For Men
Country Road Denim Overshirt
DETAILS
- Saitex denim
- Overshirt style
- Suitable for cold climates
- “Indigo” blue
Designed in Australia and made using eco-friendly denim, this overshirt is a great alternative to the more standard trucker-style mens denim jacket. Medium in weight and structure, it’s perfect for trans-seasonal days or as an interstitial layer in your next winter ensemble.
Clean lines, branded metal rivets, and contrast stitching around the buttonholes complete the picture; while the relaxed fit ensures effortless all-day comfort.
Ralph Lauren ‘RRL’ Indigo Denim Trucker Jacket
DETAILS
- Japanese-made 11.03oz denim
- 1950s-inspired work jacket
- RRL’s most lightweight style
- ‘Overdale wash’
For the man whose appetites are equal parts sartorial and heritage workwear, this Ralph Lauren trucker jacket is a monster of an investment piece. Part of the famed American designer’s ‘RRL’ diffusion label, this number is crafted in luxe Okayama denim – in a weight that makes it wearable throughout half of the year.
In line with RRL’s reputation, this piece is chockful of authentic workwear details: including double-stitched seams, copper-tone rivets, and roomy “expansion pleats” on the placket.
Designer denim doesn’t get much better.
Levi’s Type III Sherpa Trucker Jacket
DETAILS
- 100% cotton denim
- Based on Levi’s OG trucker
- Equipped with fuzzy sherpa collar
- ‘Stonebridge’ light blue
This Levi’s Type III Sherpa is an elevated outerwear option without the sky-high price tag.
One of the most well-priced inclusions on our shortlist of mens denim jackets, the style is accurately described as being both ‘Type III’ and ‘Sherpa’ inspired. The basic two-pocket design is embellished with a toasty fleece-lined collar — great for taking some of the sting out of cold weather.
That aside, this is classic Levi’s through and through. Adjustable side tabs give you a touch more definition through the hem, while the ‘Stonebridge’ blue dye is a cinch to wear.
3Sixteen Type3s Denim Jacket
DETAILS
- Japanese-made 14.5oz ‘shadow’ denim
- Inspired by the classic Type III design
- Hand-pockets lined with corduroy
- 3Sixteen’s signature ‘crossed’ back
A real covert favourite among menswear cognoscenti, 3Sixteen absolutely nails the brief when it comes to expertly crafted denim clothing. The New York brand’s range of best-selling ‘Type 3s’ jackets is no exception.
It goes without saying that there are a range of differently weighted denims to choose from, but of these, the ‘Shadow Selvedge’ is my undisputed favourite. Raw, weighing 14.5 ounces, and made to age gradually to a “bright blue with lots of contrast”, it is the essence of Okayama denim made wearable.
From the details, it’s also evident that the Type 3s have been designed by folks who really love (and understand) workwear. The underside of the collar is reinforced with zigzag-style topstitching, and for extra mileage in winter, the jacket’s hand pockets are lined in fine-wale black corduroy. Toasty.
MJ Bale Kamakiri Selvedge Denim Jacket
DETAILS
- Kuroki Mills 13oz denim
- Rider-inspired silhouette
- Only 100 pieces made
- Classic ‘Indigo’ dye
A real first for homegrown clothier M.J. Bale, the ‘Kamakiri’ is part of the brand’s new Japanese-made denim capsule (also consisting of a dress shirt and selvedge jeans).
Built on a foundation of sanforized 13oz denim (supplied by the famed Kuroki Mills), this mens denim jacket is far and away one of the most premium outerwear pieces M.J. Bale has ever offered to its customers.
The fit is classic, the details considered; and to really hammer home the ‘for life’ quality of this garment, it’s dyed in natural indigo – a colourway that will develop a rich patina over time.
A.P.C ‘Basile’ Embroidered Overshirt
DETAILS
- Mid-weight denim
- Embroidered pocket detail
- Looped yoke
- Indigo blue
Bringing a touch of Parisian cool to the proceedings, as only A.P.C. can, the ‘Basile’ is yet another cosy overshirt-style option for those who don’t co-sign the trucker or cowpoke aesthetic.
Made from a washed and preshrunk cotton fabric, this is the denim jacket reenvisaged as the ultimate in weekend wear. A voluminous fit and keeper loop (stitched onto the garment’s yoke) suggest the brand designed this with easy breezy wear in mind, and this is definitely one we can see your significant other reaching for on the Sunday morning coffee run.
Blackhorse Lane Ateliers NW6 Type 3 Denim Jacket
DETAILS
- Italian-made 15.5oz denim
- Based on iconic ‘Type III’ trucker
- Internal handwarmer pockets
- Raw denim colourway
To Londoners what 3Sixteen is to the denizens of NYC, Black Horse Lane Ateliers specialises in all things denim. That expertise comes across keenly in the ‘NW6’: the brand’s in-house take on the typical Type III trucker jacket.
Fashioned from gnarly 15oz selvedge (supplied by the Italian miller Candiani), this is pretty much as close as wearers can get to the genuine article if what they’re after is a period-accurate1960s denim jacket.
The boxy cut (i.e. leaving room through the hip and the chest) makes perfect sense for men who like to play the layer game; and, on the odd chance that you happen to be in London after several concerted years worth of wear, Black Horse will even repair your NW6 for free. How good?
Lee ‘101’ Denim Trucker Jacket
DETAILS
- 98% cotton, 2% elastane
- Classic trucker silhouette
- Side entry pockets
- ‘Lunar’ black
The most unfussy (and certainly affordable) denim jacket to make it into our Buyer’s Guide, this style from Lee is appropriately dubbed the ‘101’.
A really great option for polychrome-challenged dressers – who prefer all of their clothes in black, black, and a “slightly darker” black – the details here are exemplary in their simplicity.
All of the rivet closures are coated in a matte finish and the pockets have been angled slightly inward for better carrying capacity. As for branding? Well, the only sign of it is a discrete yellow tag (sewn onto the left-hand chest pocket).
Carhartt ‘OG’ Detroit Jacket
DETAILS
- Norco 11.25oz denim
- Diamond-quilted lining
- Big, fashion-forward fit
- Blue stonewash
In the past decade, there’s no doubt that Carhartt has morphed into something of a caricatured brand – particularly among Inner City cubicle farmers who hope the brand’s famed duck canvas outerwear will transform them into Ben Affleck à la The Accountant at weekends.
Still, designs like the ‘OG’ Detroit Jacket leave denim heads in no doubt as to why the brand was able to achieve such critical mass in the first place. Working from Carhartt’s robust 11.25oz ‘Norco’ denim as a foundation, there’s more to this slightly oversized slice of outerwear than first meets the eye.
Many of the jacket’s visible seams are triple-stitched for improved durability and the interior is diamond-quilted – an excellent feature for achieving warmth without added bulk.
Fear Of God Essentials Denim Jacket
DETAILS
- Mid-weight, non-stretch denim
- Oversized shoulder seam
- ‘Cloud Dancer’ white
- Rear logo appliqué
Part of Jerry Lorenzo’s more accessibly priced spin-off from the award-winning Fear Of God imprint, ‘Essentials’ specializes in, well…what it says on the proverbial tin.
The cuts here are reflective of the American designer’s primary brand – offering a similarly fulsome, gender-neutral perspective on good design. If you know and love Levi’s ‘Type III’, then this white denim jacket shouldn’t hold too many surprises.
Instead, Lorenzo focuses on teasing out more personality from small details: think a really extended shoulder seam, or armholes cut wide enough that they’d probably look proportionate on John Cena. Fun, fun stuff.
Now that you’ve got all of your bases covered, vis à vis mens denim jackets, consider taking a look at some of our other recommended stories below:
