Clothing > Jackets
11 Best Denim Jackets for Men
There are certain menswear essentials that just have an effortless sense of cool to them – the best denim jackets qualify handily in that regard.
Like your denim jeans, the denim jacket is a tough workhorse that only gets better with age. The design has changed little over the years, featuring a button front, button chest pockets, slanted side hip pockets and a fold-over collar.
Each feature proves more useful than the last, which is perhaps why the best denim jackets were trusted by prospectors and Wild West adventurers, and then eventually, guys with tough jobs to do (there’s a reason truckers trusted the, well, denim “trucker” jacket).
It’s still a casually cool style move, and the best options mold to your body with each passing day. Let no one tell you otherwise – you can pull off a denim jacket, and these are the ones we love.
- Dependable DNA: Denim jackets are often as sturdy as you favorite pair of blue jeans, made with similarly durable hardware and even indigo-dyed cotton denim fabric.
- Heritage-approved style: Today’s denim jackets aren’t all that much different from vintage pieces back in the day, which gives the piece a sense of utility and rugged appeal.
- Effortless cool: A dark blue denim jacket can upgrade casual outfits, like a white tee and black jeans or a henley and tan chinos. Don’t be afraid to mix and match.
The Levi’s Trucker Jacket is a serious heavyweight in the menswear world – the brand helped popularize denim in the United States, after all. Its trucker jacket is a straightforward classic, made from soft denim in a range of washes and available for an affordable price. Best of all, it was made to pair easily with Levi’s jeans.
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Levi’s Denim Trucker Jacket
If you’ve yet to experience the versatility and rugged appeal of a denim jacket, I’d say it’s a good bet to go straight to the source. The Levi’s Trucker was my first denim jacket years ago, after all. From the soft denim to the wide range of washes and colors, to the standard fit, it checks every box.
Hiroshi Kato Blade Denim Jacket
While it might seem simple on the surface, the best denim jackets have taken on a number of forms over the years. This crisply cut option from Japanese denim masters Hiroshi Kato, for instance, plays off an old-school 1930s silhouette, yet still feels fresh for today’s modern man.
Todd Snyder Selvedge Denim Jacket
In my opinion, there’s not a designer that does modern takes on American classics better than Todd Snyder. He uses luxurious materials, like this better-with-age cotton selvedge denim, then adds small details like contrast stitching and custom hardware. It’s nearly perfect, down to the last stitch.
Raleigh Denim Workshop Lookout Denim Jacket
A denim jacket can be every bit as flattering as a blazer, only in more casual style situations. How so? This jacket plays off iconic trucker jacket details (like V-front stitching) and channels retro style with a pleasingly faded light wash – it’s an investment-level denim jacket.
Wrangler Classic Denim Trucker Jacket
The Wrangler legend precedes itself, with its hard-wearing jackets a favorite of ranchers, riders and now, stylish guys across the globe. From the iconic “W” stitching on its chest pockets to the rich color, this denim jacket is a tried-and-true winner.
Dickies Denim Chore Coat
Leave nothing to chance when tackling your to-do list – Dickies has been helping DIY-ers take on tough tasks for years, and this denim work jacket is just the latest entry into a tough-as-nails lineup. It doesn’t hurt that it’s stylish enough to wear off-duty over a thermal shirt with grey jeans.
Bridge & Burn Burl Denim Jacket
It’s the subtle details that take cotton denim fabric, turn it into a ruggedly good-looking denim jacket, and then elevate from the pack.
For Portland-based Bridge & Burn, those touches include rivet-reinforced hand pockets, contrast zig-zag stitching and a corduroy collar that pops handsomely against inky blue denim.
Tecovas Buckaroo Denim Trucker Jacket
Some menswear pairings just work together seamlessly, like that of a durable pair of Western boots and a hard-working trucker jacket.
Tecovas delivers the perfect complement to the aforementioned boots with the Buckaroo, which boasts double-entry pockets and a richly faded, vintage-inspired blue denim finish.
Ariat Denim Trucker Jacket
Saddle up and go to work with this rugged, tough denim trucker jacket, with an expertly faded vintage wash and handy, classic details like front snap chest pockets.
Ring-spun, non-stretch denim provides durability and toughness, and this jacket will surely get better with age the more time it’s given in your style rotation.
Todd Snyder Rigid Selvedge Denim Jacket in Indigo
The difference with the best denim jackets for men often lies in the fabric itself, long before it takes shape. With Todd Snyder, only the best of the best will do when it comes to denim, and with construction hailing from Louisiana’s famed Vidalia Mills, this rich selvedge denim jacket is top-of-the-line in every way.
Levi’s Type III Sherpa Trucker Jacket
Levi’s helped bring the denim trucker jacket to the masses, so it only makes sense that the brand would produce a terrific example of the original style well into the present day.
The Type III Jacket gets an upgrade here with sherpa insulation across the interior of the jacket, a cozy touch that adds a dash of classic style.
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