Men's Jackets

What this category covers

Men's jackets cover everything from a packable rain shell to a wool overcoat for a wedding in January. In Ireland the challenge is less about extreme cold and more about rain, wind and the way the weather can change within an hour. A good wardrobe of jackets is built around those conditions rather than around what looks good in a catalogue shot from somewhere drier.

The main types you'll come across are:

• Rain shells and waterproofs: thin, breathable jackets with a membrane and taped seams. The single most useful jacket for Irish life. See waterproof jackets.
• Quilted and padded jackets: light insulation stitched into channels or diamonds. Good for dry, cool days and a staple of the smart casual look.
• Puffer jackets: thicker down or synthetic insulation for real warmth. See puffer jackets.
• Parkas: longer, often hooded, frequently insulated and sometimes waterproof. The closest thing to one jacket for the whole winter.
• Fleeces and softshells: comfortable mid layers that double as outer layers on mild, dry days.
• Overcoats, car coats and field jackets: the smarter end, usually wool or cotton, worn over a suit or knitwear.

Who it suits and when in the Irish year

From October to March, most men want something insulated, and ideally something that copes with rain too. A parka or a waterproof with a fleece underneath is more useful here than a heavy puffer that soaks through on the walk from the car park. Winter days are more often 4 to 8°C and wet than freezing, so warmth without water protection only gets you halfway. For the colder end of the year, our winter jackets page goes into more detail.

Spring and autumn are where a light quilted jacket or a fleece earns its keep, often with a packable shell stuffed in a bag. In summer, a thin waterproof or a cotton overshirt is usually enough, though anyone who has stood at a GAA match in August knows that a breeze off the stand can still bite.

If you cycle to work, walk the dog twice a day or spend weekends hillwalking in Wicklow or Kerry, put your money into a good waterproof first. If your days are mostly car, office and the odd evening out, a smarter insulated jacket and a light shell might serve you better.

The key decisions

Weather protection or style first

Technical jackets keep you dry and warm but can look out of place over a shirt and chinos. Smarter coats look the part but often aren't built for sideways rain. Decide which matters more for the jacket you wear most days, and cover the other need with a second jacket. The men's jacket style guide helps with the look; the guide to jackets for Irish weather covers the practical side.

Length

A hip-length jacket is easier to move in, cycle in and drive in. A thigh-length parka or coat keeps your backside and the top of your legs dry, which matters more than people expect when you're waiting at a bus stop in the rain.

Fit and cut

Men's jackets come in slim, regular and relaxed cuts, and the same size label can mean quite different things between brands. European outdoor brands often cut slimmer than US brands. The fit section explains how a jacket should sit at the shoulders, chest and waist, and it's worth a read before ordering online.

Common mistakes

Buying for the shop, not the street. A jacket that feels warm in a heated shop can feel thin on a damp, windy evening. Think about the worst day you'd realistically wear it.

Choosing warmth over waterproofing. A thick puffer that wets out in twenty minutes leaves you cold and damp. In most of Ireland, a waterproof outer layer with something warm underneath is more versatile.

Ignoring sleeve length. Sleeves that stop short of the wrist when you reach for a steering wheel or a handlebar let in rain and wind. Our guide to sleeve length shows what to check.

Going too big to be safe. An oversized jacket lets wind in at the hem and cuffs and often looks sloppy. A jacket that fits well over one warm layer is usually the right size.