Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Your New Jacket Should Be Lightweight, Versatile and Stylish

Beau Hayhoe
John Thompson
By and

If you’re anything like us, perhaps your search for your new favorite jacket is in full swing — and that’s why we’ve got some handy tips and tricks to help you find the perfect jacket. Namely, we’re going to tell you about the best lightweight jackets to pick up to start this season.

Now is a great time to grab easy-to-layer fabrics like cotton-canvas and nylon. The silhouettes on display here are of the casual-yet-dependable variety, from a classic bomber jacket to a lightweight field coat, but they’ve all got one thing in common: They’re shedding the fabric that your winter coat enveloped you in. Welcome to a new season of better weather, where stylish layering potential abounds. All it takes is one of the best lightweight jackets.

Recommended Videos

Related Guides

Flint and Tinder Unlined Waxed Trucker Jacket

With the feel of a tough work jacket and the cut of a modern trucker, this Flint and Tinder jacket is entirely unique, highly wearable, and practically made for warm weather. It’s pre-washed for a soft hand feel and worn look, and its weather-resistant waxed exterior admirably keeps elements out. A sleek, lightweight jacket made with a cut-and-sew process — it doesn’t get any better than that. It also makes a versatile shirt jacket for the season.

Related

John Elliott Cotton Poplin Fram Flight Jacket

Cotton poplin provides a cool, lightweight feel on the body. Couple it with a nice desert color and a wash process that creates a unique puckering effect, and this JE bomber is perfect for warmer weather — and for cool nights.

Fjallraven Raven Lite Jacket

You know Fjallraven for the brand’s rugged outdoor gear and everyday carry essentials. Get to know this iconic brand for a new take on a classic Fjall silhouette. The Raven Lite Jacket plays off the original Raven silhouette from the 1970s, yet this edition is the perfect lightweight jacket, made with G-1000 Air fabric and featuring essential pockets for everything you’ll bring on your next adventure.

Alpha Industries L-2B Loose Bomber Jacket

You can never go wrong with a black bomber, especially when it’s from Alpha Industries. Strong and sharp, the L-2B is made to be more breathable and loose-fitting to wear better in slightly chilly weather. It makes an excellent statement jacket to go with your everyday wear.

DL 1961 Vaughn Trucker Jacket

DL 1961 Vaughn Trucker Jacket

Does anything scream American dream quite like a classic denim jacket, cut from lightweight denim in a pleasing light wash? Nope, not to us. Wear this modern take on the denim trucker jacket with a white slub tee, tan chinos, and low-top white sneakers. Just add a Bloody Mary at weekend brunch, and you’ve got quite the seasonal ensemble.

Todd Snyder Made-In-New York Coach’s Jacket

When breezy weather strikes, you want the right layers: Lightweight yet durable and classic yet fresh at the same time. It’s good news that Todd Snyder has come through with a cool-as-can-be coach’s jacket in a classic navy color. It checks all boxes and offers the kind of easygoing style your wardrobe needs.

Editors' Recommendations

Beau Hayhoe
Beau Hayhoe
Contributor
Beau Hayhoe is a freelance men's style writer, consultant and PR pro based in Brooklyn. Beau's menswear and gear writing has…
Our Top Picks for the Best Men’s Denim Jackets
best mens denim jackets men s jacket

A great denim jacket is an essential addition to every man's wardrobe. Not only do they provide a classically cool look, but they're practical, too, thanks to their durability and versatility. Most denim jackets work as a perfect middle-temperature layer during the spring or fall, some are light enough for a hot summer day, and others still are extra heavy to provide warmth in the winter. Whatever the case, a subpar Canadian tuxedo top won't cut it, as they tend to fit poorly and fall apart fast.

These recommendations have been selected based upon a combination of firsthand trials by the writer as well as reviews from top industry experts and actual customer ratings. In other words, these are suggestions you can trust.
Best Overall: Woodies Trucker Jacket

Read more
The 9 Best Leather Jackets for Men to Own
Young man wearing sunglasses In the city

There are few clothing items as quintessentially cool as a leather jacket. They come in all manner of varieties, and the right one can make you seem tough, slick, professional, or laid back, whatever your preference happens to be. That being said, not just any slapjack will do. You need one that is cut to suit the mood, and to strike an accurate attitude, only the best leather jackets will do.

To that end, we've wrangled up a selection of the best leather jackets for men. The jackets you'll find here have been chosen to cover a wide range of styles and price points, allowing you to find your ideal hide husk no matter what image you're going for or the budget you're working with. Whatever the case, there is an awesome leather jacket for you, and it's included somewhere below.

Read more
The 18 Best Puffer Jackets for Men This Winter
A hiker in puffer jacket taking a picture of the mountain view.

Pack up your short shorts and break your best boots out of storage, because the time is here to gear up for the season ahead. That especially includes your outerwear rotation, no doubt about it. You know what that means: The frigid winds and arctic chill of winter won’t be long in following. Not to mention the precipitation, snow, sleet, hail, and “wintry mix” all very much included. And when the time comes, you won’t find a better defense from the cold than one of the season’s best puffer jackets.

Shopping for a puffer jacket, though, often means working your way through a lot of outerwear. Men’s puffer jackets come in all shapes and sizes -- and most importantly, varying degrees of warmth. Some are better suited for casual cold, while others will lock in enough heat to summit a snow-capped mountain and still be sweating. To help you get started, check out these puffer jackets, each with its own strong suit. Here’s to staying warm and looking your best all fall and winter long.

Read more