14 Best Light Jackets for Men, Tested & Reviewed

Features: Some jackets on this list have useful elements like UV protection, water resistance, and a packable design. Others keep it simple: plenty of pockets and maybe a hood. Keep an eye on the features you prefer in a jacket, whether it’s zip pockets, a button-up front, or an adjustable hood. Our selection includes a mix of all of the above.

Fabric: Choose your jacket based on how lightweight and breathable you want to go. For instance: Linen is never a bad option for keeping things cool in the summer, but suede can be if you’re prone to overheating. A lightweight jacket with a super-light fabric will be great for the summer but not so ideal if you want to wear it in the winter. So pay attention if your jacket comes with a lining, too; that will make it a tiny bit heavier.

Style: Consider the look of your jacket and how (and where) you’ll be wearing it before buying. Sportier options, like the selections from Nike and Lululemon, will get the job done in terms of function but are harder to dress up—you might not want to wear those to a nice summer dinner.

How can I style a lightweight jacket for the summer?

The beauty of wearing a lightweight jacket in the summer is that you can throw it over what you’re already wearing—with a bit of nuance, that is. Don’t put Nike’s windbreaker atop your date-night fit, if you’re wearing dress shoes and a button-down.

All of these jackets and shackets are agreeable with most fits. A foolproof formula: tee (or short-sleeve polo), khaki or linen shorts, loafers, jacket. For something even more casual: tee (or tank), casual shorts, sneakers, jacket.

How can I style a lightweight jacket when it’s not summertime?

These jackets are so lightweight, you’ll need to layer up when the fall and winter roll around. They are, by definition, jackets, so don’t think you can wear them alone when a chill comes in. Instead, layer a lightweight jacket underneath a heavier (and longer) topcoat, or try a long-sleeve cardigan or sweater underneath.

Which are the best lightweight fabrics?

Linen is going to be your BFF if you want a lightweight, breezy fabric. It’s the kind of fabric that doesn’t cling to your body (or your sweat) when the temperatures rise, but it stays cool all day long. The only downside is that linen is prone to wrinkling, so you should have a steamer or iron on hand when you pull linen out of your wardrobe.

A lightweight polyester fabric is great for the summer, too. Take the Nike windbreaker on this list, for example—its polyester shell is moisture-repelling, super light, and not tight, making it a breathable, easy option for hot weather.

Which fabrics are the most low-maintenance?

As I mentioned above, while linen works for the summer, its tendency to wrinkle doesn’t exactly make it low-maintenance. Some fabrics that are low-maintenance, however, include cotton, polyester, and suede. Cotton and polyester can typically be thrown in the washing machine when they get dirty, and they won’t be ruined by an onslaught of sudden rain. Although it’s usually dry-clean only and not so ideal if you’re caught in the rain, suede is a wrinkle-free fabric that always looks good.

Which brands are best for lightweight jackets?

We aren’t going to recommend any brand we don't fully love and endorse, so every one on this list is a solid pick for lightweight jackets. If you want us to narrow down the list even further, though, fan-favorite brands like Uniqlo, Nike, and Mack Weldon are known for their durability and high-performance qualities. For something more elevated, you can’t go wrong with Loro Piana (if you have the funds for it, of course). Banana Republic, Todd Snyder, and J.Crew are other brands we come back to time and time again, as always satisfied customers.

Here at Esquire, we’re experts in menswear, which entails knowing how to stay cool (and feel cool) all summer. We prioritize only the best, most stylish, breeziest choices for ourselves, and the ones we pick for you are the same ones we would wear—and we only accept the very best in terms of functionality and style. We looked specifically at fabric, included a wide mix of style options for different occasions, and considered the expertise of our fashion editors, who have tested and reviewed many of these selections.

We’re not going to say something is great unless it’s actually great. Every product in Esquire’s roundups has been carefully chosen by our fashion and e-commerce teams.

Each pick on this list—and all our other lists—has been selected through a process of testing it out ourselves. We won’t tell you to buy something that we wouldn’t spend our own money on. Instead, we tell you to buy things we know you'll love, because of how much we love ’em, too.

No two tastes are the same, because no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you’re looking for advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to start.