The Best Men’s Field Jackets To Wear This Season
The M-65 field jacket became standard issue to United States troops in 1965 during the Vietnam Conflict. A successor to the M-51 field jacket issued to troops during the previous war, the M-65 was heavier, outfitted with more features, and better suited to fend off the cold and often rainy conditions experienced in the jungles of Vietnam thanks to a heavyweight cotton canvas construction. Like the M-51 and M-43 jackets used before it, the new version sported an olive green colorway along with a concealable hood, adjustable cuffs, snap buttons, and a plethora of large pockets throughout for carrying extra gear in the field.
The military field jacket hasn’t changed very much over the past 50 years since the M-65 was introduced, save for a few extra style cues including colors, materials, and subtle changes that don’t skew far from the original design.
Now, long after the Army field jacket has gone by the wayside for gear better suited for combating the cold and rain, the field jacket design has gained even more popularity in the fashion world. You don’t have to be an enlisted soldier to enjoy the stylish looks and functional benefits of a quality field coat, because they look great while out in the city, perform just as well at the campsite or on the trail, and offer plenty of storage pockets for toting your EDC essentials. If you’re interested in adding this classic staple to your wardrobe, here are our picks of the best military-style field jackets available right now, in no particular order.
Tom Beckbe Tensaw Jacket
Wear the Tensaw Jacket out into the field, on the worksite, out camping or climbing, or around town with full confidence it’ll hold up to both the style and durability test. This Tom Beckbe jacket is made from sturdy-but-midweight eight-ounce shelter cloth treated with a wax finish that’ll shrug off rain and patinate beautifully with every use. It’s built with both your mobility and comfort in mind, featuring gusseted underarms and a bi-swing back that ensures you have full freedom of movement.
The Alabama red clay-inspired cotton body lining and polyester twill in the sleeves add a layer of lightweight insulation to keep out autumn wind and chill while also protecting your skin against friction. The stand-up collar features Bedford corduroy that’ll keep wind from seeping in. Thanks to its two front bellows pockets and chest hand warmer pockets, you’ve got room enough for your daily essentials and keeping your fingers toasty warm.
Price: $495
Ariat Calumet Field Jacket
Want a jacket as tough as your favorite cowboy boots? The Ariat Calumet is just what you’re looking for. The jacket is wonderfully weather-resistant, thick enough to keep out the cold and wind while still being lightweight and flexible. The advanced fabric combines organic cotton with sturdy nylon and polyester to deliver maximum durability and comfort both.
With the covered zip placket and snap cuffs, you can seal the jacket up tight even against the worst spring and autumn winds and chills, and the fabric lining on the cuffs add an extra layer of protection to keep your arms warm.
Price: $325
Peregrine Waxed Bexley Jacket
You want to invest in a great jacket, one that’s going to stand the test of time and seasonality … but you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg to do it. Where to turn? Why, toward the ever-stylish digital pages of Huckberry, and one of our favorite jackets of the season — the Peregrine Waxed Bexley Jacket checks all the right boxes when it comes to durable performance, rugged appeal and timeless good looks.
Peregrine has decades (upon decades) of experience crafting the toughest jackets on the market, and it’s only fitting that the brand’s British roots have informed such high-performing outerwear. Peregrine’s Bexley Jacket features water-repellent Millerain cotton fabric — heck, even the collar is lined with soft, brushed cotton fabric for added comfort and warmth when winter weather really takes a turn for the worse. It’ll pair up stylishly with other timeless classics, but especially a natural henley, slim blue denim and moto boots.
Price: $375
Laksen Meteor Tech Jacket
Heading out hunting? Throw on the Laksen Meteor Tech Jacket and you’ll be ready for anything the great outdoors can throw at you. This jacket is made using a blend polyester and nylon that will shrug off abrasions, dirt, scuffs, and stains. The finish is fully waterproof but still breathable enough that you will stay cool in the heat of the day.
The addition of LYCRA wind cuffs (complete with thumbholes) are perfect for keeping your hands warm during the chilly mornings without the need for gloves, or you can just tuck them into the convenient hand warmer pockets. The rear game pocket will give you a convenient place to stash small game so you can keep on hunting, and the front pockets feature waterproof zippers that will shield your phone, keys, and other essentials from the damp and rain. And if a storm kicks up, you’ll love the storm hood stashed inside the zippered collar.
Price: $599
Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket
If there exists the one jacket you’ll want to don when you leave the house (or the tent, cabin, or trail) its this one. The Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket from Flint and Tinder is immediately comfortable, features durable Martexin sailcloth construction, and is flannel-lined for versatility and warmth during the cooler months.
It develops a handsome patina based on the crease patterns of each individual, adding a personalization factor to this stylishly utilitarian jacket that’ll hold up for decades to come.
Price: $298
J.Crew Field Jacket
J.Crew designed this field jacket based on the M51 Army-issue jacket that has become so recognizable—and such a well-loved style choice. The addition of a drawcord at the waist lets you adjust it to your physique, and the drawcord at the hem ensures you can cinch the jacket tight to keep out the wind and cold.
The pure cotton fabric is made with a sateen weave that’s smooth to the touch and has an eye-catching texture that will only grow more beautiful over time, especially with its garment-dyed finish. With two chest and two waist pockets, you’ve also got plenty of storage space for your phone, tools, keys, and other daily essentials.
Price: $268
Barbour Sapper Waxed Cotton Jacket
Barbour has a penchant for crafting modern clothing with some serious vintage flare, as seen with their legendary Steve McQueen Rexton Jacket. It’s only natural then, that they pay homage to the military field jacket, a classic favorite for everyday wear on the street. The Sapper Field Jacket features a medium weight 6 ounce waxed cotton exterior with a weatherproof treatment, an assortment of pocket storage, and all the trimmings that make it a win in the field and out.
Price: $450
Taylor Stitch Pathfinder Jacket
For those early autumn days when the days are warm and the nights a bit chilly, the Taylor Stitch Pathfinder is the jacket to pack. Made from eight-ounce dry-waxed organic cotton canvas, it’s lightweight enough you won’t overheat when the sun’s up. The addition of an organic cotton chambray body lining, recycled nylon sleeve lining, and organic corduroy at the pocket flaps and cuffs will do wonders to keep you warm if the wind picks up or the temperature drops.
The interior snap welt pocket gives you extra storage space for items you want to keep protected, and the two side-zip chest pockets make it easy to keep your phone and notebook within easy reach. Thanks to its two-way YKK zipper, enamel-finished snaps, storm flap, action back, throat latch, and bar tacked seams, it’s tough and reliable for any autumn weather conditions.
Price: $298
Barbour Classic Beaufort Jacket
For dependable style through fall and winter, there’s long been one brand to turn to for classic British heritage and iconic style — that brand is Barbour, and from the big screen (as seen in “Skyfall”) to your next big cold-weather adventure, they’ve got you covered (literally and figuratively).
Specifically, the Barbour Classic Beaufort Jacket is a weather-resistant waxed cotton jacket made to get around the city and go in the field in equal measure. It’s got a classic design complete with plenty of pockets for everyday carry essentials — that classic design also lends itself to versatility and plenty of wearability. This is the type of jacket that goes with inky blue denim, a chambray shirt and brown leather boots as well as it pairs with a white Oxford shirt, grey chinos and leather sneakers in equal measure — and we’d wager you’re going to want to try it out as often as you can when the weather takes a turn for the worse.
Price: $425
Orvis Heritage Field Coat
For more than a century, Orvis offered some of the best in outdoor apparel. It’s no surprise that they’ve brought back to market the classic field coat, subtly updated for taking on the elements this winter season. Gusseted underarm panels offer superior ventilation for those in warmer climates, while the waxed canvas construction will repel rain, snow, and wind when you need it to most — during the frigid temperatures of the fall and winter. Wear it year after year, it will only become better-looking with age.
Price: $275
Fjällräven Raven Jacket
You’ll be hard-pressed to find a tougher, more versatile and weatherproof jacket than this! The Fjällräven Raven Jacket is built with hunters, hikers, mountaineers, and anglers in mind, using a hyper-tough blend of organic cotton and recycled polyester. It’s got plenty of features well suited to everyday use—from the adjustable, stowable hood to the button bellow pockets and zippered inside pockets—but if the elements turn against you, you’ll be glad for its extra rain- and wind-resistance and durable construction.
With extra openings at the sides for ventilation and a drawcord at the waist and hem to adjust the fit to your body type, it’s made to be your go-to jacket for every adventure.
Price: $250
Filson Tin Cloth Field Jacket
Leave it to Filson to deliver consistently, season after season, when it comes to the best men’s style gear and the most rugged picks you can get your hands on. And if you’ve been in search of the best field jacket on the market, you’re in luck, because that’s exactly what the Filson Tin Cloth Field Jacket brings to the table. It’s as tough as it gets, crafted from the brand’s legendary Tin Cloth fabric to stand up to the elements. Pair it with a Filson henley and work pants when the going gets tough out there.
Price: $465
Alpha Industries M-65 Field Jacket
Take this out into the field with you, and you’ll be ready for anything. The Alpha Industries M-65 Field Jacket is patterned after the classic field jacket worn by the U.S. military, manufactured to military specifications and complete with all the military functions you want and need.
It’s got pockets enough for anything you want to carry, is incredibly durable, and finished with a wind- and water-repellent coating that will keep you warm and dry through all but the worst storms. The blend of cotton and synthetic fabrics make it both comfortable and highly practical to use for any outdoor or work activity.
Price: $250
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