All products featured on GQ are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.
There exists a sequence in our genetic code that predisposes us to love light jackets. Show us even just a couple of the best light jackets for men and it’ll trigger a primal, physiological response worthy of David Attenborough’s narration. We become giddy, emotional, and practically ungovernable in our financial decisions. Another unlined poplin jacket? Yes. Always yes.
Why is this? It’s simple. From April through November—that’s more than half the year—light jackets handily beat all their outerwear competition. In the transitional months, they’re a cinch to throw over a knit sweater or a hoodie. And come high summer, they’re light enough to ball up and toss into your tote until the sun goes down and your arm hairs prick up.
What adds to our light jacket obsession even more is the myriad of styles and options to choose from. From sporty windbreakers to rugged harrington jackets, hybrid shirt jackets to classic truckers, the lightweight outerwear section is full of tasty options. If you’re struggling with choice paralysis, we can relate. Which is why we’ve broken down the best lightweight jackets for men so you can breeze through the options and clear the way to your next style evolution.
The Best Men's Lightweight Jackets Hit List
- The Always-Fly Harrington Jacket: Baracuta G9 Harrington Jacket, $449
- The Worn-In Work Jacket: Knickerbocker Catskill Canvas Coat, $395
- The Hard-Wearing Denim Jacket: Levi’s Embarcardero Station Jacket, $98
- The Double Duty Shirt Jacket: Stone Island Logo-Appliquéd Garment-Dyed Econyl Overshirt, $570
- The Sporty Windbreaker: District Vision Ultralight Packable DWR Wind Jacket, $250
Shop by Category
Harrington Jackets
The Harrington jacket is a menswear signature often associated with style god Steve McQueen and hence, his legions of stylish followers. Originally crafted as a wind and water-resistant jacket for golfing, it’s since taken on a life of its own off the fairway thanks to its functionality and downright flattering proportions. (Like bomber jackets, harringtons are cut with a roomy yet cropped silhouette—see: menswear’s golden ratio).
Typically, Harringtons are made from a lightweight fabric like poplin or gabardine, and come with elastic cuffs and hems. But in cooler months, lined versions can provide extra heft and insulation. They’ve got a preppy feel which makes them look great with a button-down shirt and slacks, but also ultra cool oversized with a graphic tee and baggy jeans.
Work Jackets
Jackets built for withstanding hard manual labor might not sound like the kind of thing you’d wear for late-Spring cocktail hour. But it turns out they’re actually the perfect layer to enjoy just that. They’re often built with sturdy canvas or denim which provide structure and a beautiful drape, and just the right thickness to keep you warm in the evenings. Whether it’s a chore coat or a cropped style like the classic Dickies Eisenhower jacket, a work jacket is a time-tested silhouette that’s essentially a cheat code for looking more rugged and capable. Just make sure to opt for a style that doesn’t come with a heavy winterized lining.
Denim Jackets
Dig into menswear’s history books and you’ll notice one statement piece shared between some of the most swaggy guys to ever grace the earth: a denim jacket. From James Dean to Kendrick Lamar, trucker jackets and denim jackets have evolved far beyond their workwear origins to become veritable must-haves for every guy, style-conscious or not. Denim is the perfect medium for getting fits off during the temperate season and, unlike most other fabrics, it actually gets better with age. The denim jacket’s western connotations makes it perfect with worn-out jeans and cowboy boots, but it also looks great over a plain tee, a pair of chinos, and loafers (a.k.a., the perfect transitional outfit).
Shirt Jackets
Here’s a secret: sometimes the best jacket is actually just another shirt. Overshirts are like Hannah Montana. (We listen and we do not judge.) You get the best of both worlds—extra weather protection of a jacket with the lightness of a shirt. It’s the way you choose to wear it that determines what the garment actually is, but typically, overshirts are cut in a relaxed silhouette—great for this golden era of baggy pants, but also for layering (it’s in the name, afterall). Overshirts often also come with a few pockets for whatever trinkets you happen to find on your vintage-hunting excursions, and often look almost exactly like a regular shirt. So if you’re wondering, yes, you can just wear another, looser button up over your existing button up.
Windbreaker Jackets
Technical windbreakers and rain shells used to be reserved for the outdoorsy homies among us. You know, the guy whose IG main feed is nothing but mountain trails and camping. It makes sense: they’re lightweight and ultra-packable, and ideal for outdoor activities with uncertain weather forecasts. Off the trail, however, their utility is undervalued. Nowadays, brands are increasingly savvy about making gorp-y shells that not only look fly but don’t feel like you’re wearing a trash bag. Hell, some of them are even light enough to pack into themselves, so you can keep them easily on your person or in your workbag for when conditions change on a dime. Be sure to look for ones treated with water-resistant or water-repellent coatings to ensure the maximum value — and to get an all-around technical jacket that looks just as good as it performs.
