LIVE A LITTLE is a style and lifestyle journal for the adventurous man—written from the pen of a former magazine editor turned menswear copywriter.
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Paid subscribers to LIVE A LITTLE gain access to in-depth style breakdowns to stories like: the 24 Best Fall Shirts Under $100, 105 Foolproof Men’s Style Essentials, and the 23 Watches That Will Never Go Out of Style.
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LAST MONTH, I wrote a guide to the best fall shirts under $100. It’s gotten quite a bit colder since then, and being the logical man I am, it’s only right to give a breakdown of the best fall jackets to pair them with.
Fall jackets are great because they complement an outfit with ease. They’re often lighter, leaner, and easier to deal with than a true winter coat. But that doesn’t mean you can’t wear a fall jacket when the winter comes.
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A fall jacket’s versatility comes down to one word: layers. If you want to wear any of these pieces when it’s 20-degrees out, all you have to do is layer appropriately. You can wear a hoodie under a Carhartt Detroit Jacket, or a crewneck sweatshirt under a Patagonia Nano Puff. Layering also gives you another dimension of styling. You’re adding texture and color that can take an outfit from good to great.
The Best Fall Jackets for Men Under $300
Keeping a functional and stylish wardrobe on a budget is about as hard as it gets in men’s fashion. I set this report’s price limit to $300, because I believe there are tons of price-friendly finds out there where quality and design is legit.
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Most of the picks on this list I’ve worn for years. The others I’m familiar with reviewing through my past roles at Men’s Health and BroBible, as well as my current role as a copywriter Huckberry.
Remember, the LIVE A LITTLE style philosophy focuses on —> comfortable, versatile, timeless. In other words, try not to overthink. These are jackets you can live in. Jackets that will collect stories. Not dust.
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I breakdown each jacket in this story, but if you want to view the story in one clean list, head to the “Rundown” section at the bottom. After you’ve found your new jacket, use the leftover cash from what you might’ve spent to go grab drinks with friends, or take your significant other out to a concert.
The Steady Favorite: Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
My yellow Patagonia Nano Puff has been my most trusted jacket over the past three years. Lightweight, functional, cool color. I wear it everywhere, layering it over flannels, light hoodies, crewneck sweatshirts, and more.
The Nano Puff has also become a favorite travel companion of mine. When not in use, I can pack it into one of the jacket pockets and store it in my carry-on. $229.
Ol’ Reliable: Flint and Tinder Flannel Lined Waxed Trucker
Years before I found myself working at Huckberry, I received a Flint and Tinder Flannel Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket (the FLWT as we call it at HQ). This was back in 2021 when I was living in Nashville, working as the Style & Gear Editor at BroBible.
The FLWT has been a steady workhorse in my wardrobe ever since. It feels like armor when I put it on, a durable shell with a soft blanket-like liner to battle the elements. This jacket has been with me through the thick and thin. Navigating everywhere from dive bars on Broadway to NBA games in NYC. $298.
The Sleeper: Roark Hebrides
I got a Hebrides jacket two years ago in a green color that’s since been discontinued. Man, this thing is comfortable, and every time I wore it, I got a ton of compliments on its look. The photo you see above is me wearing it on the way to grab coffee with my family dog, Charlie.
You can get a Dark Military green color in this jacket now. There’s also an all-black version and a cool patterned version called Onyx.
I’m a huge fan of Roark. They make super functional apparel that always keeps rugged, adventure-driven style. This jacket reflects that promise and is super underrated for the price point. $139
Best Shell: Arc’teryx Gamma Hoody
There’s a few outdoor brands I can recommend with great water-resistant shells for fall, but I always start with Arc’teryx. The Gamma Hoody is a weather-resistant jacket with gentle stretch and light breathability. This version is not insulated, so it’ll play best with mild fall weather, or serve as shell piece to sweatshirt or crewneck midlayer you throw on underneath.
Any of the Arc’teryx insulated jackets will do you good. I like the Gamma though due to price point (lower-end for Arc gear), and due to the fact you can roll this up in a bag and bring it out when nasty weather hits. $300.
The 007: Barbour Powell Quilted
If you want to channel some James Bond in Skyfall energy, then the Barbour Powell Quilted will do you good. It’s got a gentle 50g insulation, a fleece-liner, and a corduroy-lined funnel neck.
When it comes to price, the Powell Quilted is on the lower end of Barbour. It won’t have the weather-resistance and durability like you would with a waxed version like the Bedale Jacket, but it’s still plenty durable. Nevertheless, the Powell Quilted has got a timeless rugged look with legit function. You’re getting an investment piece that will cost a pretty penny, but won’t crush your bank account. $300.
A Menswear Must: J.Crew Barn Jacket
In 1983, a young designer for J.Crew named Sid Mashburn created the Barn Jacket. It became a legendary piece for the brand, and would help set in motion the career of Mashburn to where he is today.
It’s pretty damn hard to find a better canvas jacket under $200 than the Barn Jacket. There are multiple colors to choose from these days. A couple months ago, I covered a deep blue limited edition Barn Jacket (pictured above) that looks incredible. Every guy should own a waxed jacket at some point in his life. It might as well be a Barn Jacket. $198.
The Damn-Good Parka: Finisterre Coastland Insulated Parka
Some guys like the extra leg coverage on a jacket. That’s where this modified parka from UK surf brand Finisterre. The Coastland Parka is cut just a tad shorter than traditional parkas, making it a leaner and easier to move, which makes all the difference for a LIVE A LITTLE guy.
It’s loaded with lightweight recycled insulation, and treated with DWR to repel water and wind. The fit is relaxed, so you can layer underneath appropriately. It’s $305, so technically out of the range on this list. But you won’t find such a high quality parka for this price point, so I say don’t let $5 keep you from looking at this piece. Finisterre is making waves in the game right now.
Mr. ‘70s: Schott Corduroy Delivery Jacket
Schott is known for build quality and timeless apparel. This corduroy jacket has big ‘70s energy. It’s cut like a bomber and repping a brown wide-wale cord exterior. Inside there’s a plush plie liner that upgrades the warmth. $235.
