The Best Bomber Jackets for Taking Your Style to New Heights | Gear Patrol (2024)

Home / Style / Buying Guides

The bomber jacket has long transcended its utilitarian roots. The jacket’s silhouette looks good on a range of body types, and it’s a versatile garment that can be dressed up or down. They’re warmer, softer and loaded with nuanced details, an all-around improvement over the options pilots were given during WWI.

And like other styles that made their way into the closets of civilians following conflict — like the field jacket, aviator sunglasses and T-shirts — the bomber jacket is now a certified menswear classic that transcends its roots.

Bomber Jacket History

Back in the day, the bomber jacket was standard issue for the bold and the cold. Designed to make pilots as comfortable as possible while airborne in non-insulated airplanes, the jackets were available in only two sturdy materials, leather or nylon. But most early bomber jackets — then called flight jackets, even though they’re now two slightly different styles — had high collars, which kept heat from escaping from around your neck.

The high, cinched waist and knit cuffs do similar jobs. Sure, they help define your silhouette, but they also helped pilots sit comfortably, with the bottom of the jacket hitting above their groin and rising above their rear. The knit cuffs let them control the plane without interference, whether they had gloves on or not.

Even today, the bomber jacket is “deeply rooted in the functionality and adaptability required for combat scenarios,” says Matthew Pantoja, the chief brand officer of Alpha Industries, the company that received the first military contract for the production of bomber jackets in the United States

Varsity vs. Bomber Jacket

It’s fair to wonder how varsity jackets, which were first popular with athletes but have since expanded into the streetwear market, are different from bomber jackets, which have roots in the military. Frankly, they aren’t all that unalike. Varsity jackets often come with insignia from the school or your chosen sport and come in bolder, school spirit-infused hues.

Both the varsity jacket and bomber jacket have knit cuffs at the wrist and the bottom hem, while the varsity jacket often features contrasting leather sleeves and a knit collar. Colorblocked details also define the varsity jacket, but you might say that both have a sporty, heritage-minded look.

The bomber jacket’s journey from field-of-war staple to genuine fashion piece has been a winding journey, Alpha Industries’ Pantoja says.

“Its evolution over the last six decades into a fashion staple has been influenced by subcultures, counterculture, pop culture, and the global reach of American style,” he says.

How to Style a Bomber Jacket

Today, things are a bit…lighter than those uniforms of war. Modern-day bomber jackets retain the distinguishing features of their military service — the slightly shortened torso and ribbed collar, cuffs and hem, a pocket on the arm, plus the occasional collar — yet use lighter-weight fabrics for increased versatility.

As with any other piece of outerwear, details like fit, material and color can (and should) be selected with care, Pantoja said.

When it comes to fit, Pantoja says it “depends on if you like it oversized or regular. But if the latter, the jacket should fit snug but not too tight. It should allow you to move around comfortably without being too restrictive.”

Neutral colors like navy, brown or black are versatile and can work with plenty of different outfits, Pantoja notes.

Drew Green, CEO of Indochino, which makes a wide range of bomber jackets in various fabrications, said the bomber jacket is a do-it-all outerwear piece. “The bomber jacket is an essential for transitional weather because it’s an easy-to-wear layer that goes with nearly every casual outfit and can be easily dressed up or down,” Green said. “They are a great piece to throw on over a T-shirt or collared shirt, particularly as temperatures start to cool down.”

The bomber jackets below are optimal brisk-weather attire, capable of being layered under an overcoat, on top of a simple shirt, or paired with a hoodie.

Alpha Industries

Best Overall Bomber Jacket

Alpha Industries Heritage MA-1 Bomber Jacket

• $160.00 at

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Shell Material: Flight nylon
• Colors: Sage, Black, Replica Blue, Gunmetal, Woodland Camo, Vintage Gray
• Sizes: XXS-LT based on colorway

Just as Alpha Industries set the standard for Field Jackets, they literally invented the MA-1 Bomber Jacket. (Well, Alpha is an offshoot of Dobbs, the original inventor, but the pair became synonymous after the expansion.) These days, they’ve become a fan favorite for everyone from Bradley Cooper to Beyonce to Ben Affleck (and the list stretches on from there).

They’ve made the new one as close to original specifications as possible, checking off all the prerequisites while adding touches like reversibility and the cool, now kind of kitschy, flight tag — plus a classic Sage color that wears well with everything from earthen tones to blue jeans.

Of the bomber jacket silhouette in general, Pantoja noted that “its rich history combined with its ever-evolving design ensures the bomber jacket’s enduring place in global style.” We’re tempted to agree with him on that.

Buck Mason

Best Upgrade Bomber Jacket

Buck Mason Storm Stopper Bomber Jacket

• $250.00 at Buck Mason

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Shell Material: Yarn-dyed cotton/poly twill
• Colors: Black, Mushroom
• Sizes: XS-XXL

You could rightly argue, perhaps, that bomber jackets aren’t the best winter coats, which means none of them should be too insulating. This Buck Mason jacket bucks that trend a bit with PrimaLoft insulation, though. However, the bomber jacket is still a transitional jacket — one you can wear for nearly any occasion, with myriad garments underneath (or not). But above all else, they should be simple, and Buck Mason’s aptly named Storm Stopper fits the bill nicely.

It’s made from a mix of cotton and poly, weatherproof and almost painfully plain. That makes it versatile enough to rotate in alongside other casual style staples, particularly a Buck Mason T-shirt and expertly faded jeans.

Uniqlo

Best Affordable Bomber Jacket

Uniqlo MA-1 Blouson

• $40.00 at Uniqlo

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Shell Material: Military twill
• Colors: Black, Olive, Navy
• Sizes: XXS-3XL

Uniqlo uses the bomber jacket’s government name: the MA-1, which is what the Army called these when they introduced them. Sure, this one deviates from what they looked like over 100 years ago, but it’s built for the modern wearer, not a museum.

The modern revamp also means this one comes in more fashionable colors like black, in addition to the standard-issue olive option. The nylon twill outer is also a nod to military styles, while this number is also finished with a DWR coating (no word on how long that might last, though).

It’s slightly shiny, comfortable and a little oversized, which lends an exaggerated look that pairs well with sneakers.

Everlane

Best Lightweight Bomber Jacket

Everlane Bomber Jacket

• $128.00 at Everlane

• Country of Manufacture: Vietnam
• Shell Material: Recycled cotton-poly
• Colors: Deep Navy, Toasted Coconut, Black, Trench Coat Khaki, Kalamata
• Sizes: XS-XXL

You could certainly argue that the bomber might be the ideal “gym jacket.” Not one you’d necessarily work out in, no, but something you can wear there with another layer on underneath, and wear out alone, when you’re warmed up by the workout. This one’s a lightweight cotton-poly blend that’s both water- and wind-proof.

Everlane also designed it with the rest of its minimal “Uniform” Collection in mind – these pieces make up a full capsule wardrobe you can pair seamlessly through a “mix and match” system. Take an Everlane crew tee and organic cotton blue jeans, add this bomber jacket, and consider lacing up some Everlane sneakers.

It’s as easy as that, with the classic bomber jacket as a nice starting point. The use of recycled material, coupled with a weather-ready exterior treatment, isn’t half-bad, either.

Buck Mason

Best Leather Bomber Jacket

Buck Mason Leather Bruiser Bomber

• $495.00 at Buck Mason

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Shell Material: Leather
• Colors: Black
• Sizes: XS-XXL

Leather might’ve been the material of choice when bombers were first made, but Buck Mason’s doesn’t look much like it. It’s simpler, more tailored, and ultimately far lighter — but luxe nonetheless. It’s also a style that falls right in line with Buck Mason’s core ethos: All-American classics updated for the modern man.

The Bruiser name itself even calls to mind the OG leather jackets worn by guys who only need an introduction by way of last name: Dean and Brando come to mind. It doesn’t hurt that this jacket has a rugged appeal that pairs plenty well with its new line of USA-made T-shirts and its classically crafted blue jeans – talk about the ultimate casual #OOTD.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Best Mall Buy Bomber Jacket

Abercrombie & Fitch Workwear Bomber Jacket

• $160.00 at Abercrombie

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Shell Material: Canvas-elastane blend
• Colors: Black, Olive
• Sizes: XS-XXL

Rethink what you thought you knew about Abercrombie & Fitch, because the brand continues to surge back in a big way in terms of refreshing styles (a trend that first started when Aaron Levine was brought on as SVP of Design). This jacket subverts the traditional nylon or lightweight bomber jacket fabric in favor of more rugged stretch canvas with a pleasingly faded finish. It comes in just two simple colors, but its vintage-leaning looks more than make up for that simplicity.

Bonobos

Best Bomber Jacket for the Office

Bonobos The Boulevard Bomber

• $189.00 at Bonobos

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Shell Material: Cotton-nylon blend
• Colors: Black, Maritime Blue, Green Gables
• Sizes: XS-XXL

If you plan to wear your bomber jacket in a slightly more dressed up fashion (like with chinos and a polo at the office, for instance), then the more sleek and minimal, the better.

Bonobos already nails that aesthetic with its excellent stretch chinos, and the same holds true for this bomber jacket. Sure, some offices might accept a vintage varsity jacket with snarky chain stitching, but a plain black bomber like Bonobos’s The Boulevard is a safer bet. It has a ribbed collar and ribbed cuffs, a simple front zipper and two hip pockets.

For your commute and for blustery days around town, it’s water-repellent, although we’d avoid wearing it during gale-force storms.

End Clothing

Best Bubble Bomber Jacket

MKI Bubble Bomber Jacket

• $195.00 at End Clothing

• Country of Manufacture: Portugal
• Shell Material: Nylon
• Colors: Black, Slate, Khaki, Off-White
• Sizes: S-XL

Although it may not look like it laid flat, MKI’s Bubble Bomber is indeed a bomber. The difference here is a rather futuristic silhouette at first glance, but the details pay homage to timeless bomber jackets.

The collar wraps tight around the neck and the bottom hem is tight, too. It assumes a more traditional shape once on while being bold and original. Plus, it’s a better insulator than most of the unlined options seen here, and the exterior is finished with a DWR treatment. Keep this option handy when you want the casual style of a bomber jacket with the heft of a more traditional winter puffer jacket.

Indochino

Best Non-Traditional Bomber Jacket

Flaxton Corduroy Navy Bomber Jacket

• $199.00 at indochino.com

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Shell Material: Corduroy
• Colors: Navy
• Sizes: XS-XXL

While useful, not every bomber jacket needs to be made from durable nylon or finished with a weather-ready waxed coating. The bomber jacket gets a touch dressier here thanks to the use of deep navy corduroy, the sort that wouldn’t look out place with black jeans or even slate grey chinos. The fact that it comes from a brand known for its tailoring is also a bonus in terms of fit and quality.

Vollebak

Best Splurge Bomber Jacket

Vollebak Indestructible Jacket

• $895.00 at vollebak.com

• Country of Manufacture: Belgium
• Shell Material: Dyneema
• Colors: Black
• Sizes: XS-XXL

There are bomber jackets and there are bomber jackets – and Vollebak made sure to make the latter. The English brand loaded up its aptly named Indestructible Jacket with an almost absurd amount of bells and whistles, from its weather-ready Dyneema Black exterior to a fleece-lined collar and cuffs, four useful pockets and “ultra-strong bonded thread” in the stitching process. It’s a futuristic-leaning, streamlined option that should withstand the elements and your crosstown commute for years to come.

And yes, it’ll run you nearly $900, but again, it’s about as tough as it gets in terms of bomber jacket design.

Courtesy

Best Suede Bomber Jacket

Taylor Stitch The Bomber Jacket

• $399.00 at taylorstitch.com

  $798.00(50% off)

• Country of Manufacture: Turkey
• Shell Material: 3-ounce calf suede
• Colors: Sierra
• Sizes: M-XXL

Sure, early bomber jackets were made from nylon or leather, but you might not think of suede, even if it’s technically a type of leather. Taylor Stitch went the extra mile in using a soft, supple suede, plus a plaid lining that was custom-developed for the fan-favorite San Francisco brand.

The soft fabric lends this bomber by Taylor Stitch a luxe look while being long-lasting, too. Best of all, the sleeves are acetate-lined for easy on-off.

Lululemon

Best Bomber Jacket for Commuters

Lululemon Switch Over Bomber

• $198.00 at Lululemon

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Shell Material: Water-resistant cotton-blend fabric
• Colors: Grey Sage, Black, Artifact
• Sizes: XS-XXL

If you pack into a tight subway car, cram onto a bus or even bike or walk to work, it’s important to have the right gear. In this case, the best bomber to get from point A (home) to point B (work) is this one from Lululemon, which they dub the Switch Over Bomber.

Lululemon has gone from simply a gym or athletic brand to a company that makes increasingly versatile gear for today’s modern office (or your WFH set-up). This jacket is a polished step up from, say, a Lululemon zip hoodie, with some of the same useful performance features, all in a clean silhouette.

It’s water-repellent, has two zippered exterior pockets and even buttons at the collar, helping keep rain out and off your precious office attire.

Mr Porter

Best Designer Bomber Jacket

Mr P. Cotton-Drill Bomber Jacket

• $329.00 at MR PORTER

  $470.00(30% off)

• Country of Manufacture: Italy
• Shell Material: 100 percent cotton drill
• Colors: Sage Green
• Sizes: XS-XXL

The humble roots of the bomber jacket might not seem a natural fit for a designer update to the silhouette, but the times, they are a-changin’. Mr Porter debuted its own menswear line back in 2017 to great fanfare, and since then, they’ve offered a lower-cost alternative to other designer labels stocked by the UK retailer.

This option is still one of the pricier options among our picks for the best bomber jackets, but it gets the details right – including a classic sage green color, ribbed cuffs and a simple, easy-to-style design.

Related Topics