The 18 Best Men’s Chore Coats
When the heat of summer fades and the weather turns crisp, hopefully, it doesn’t come as too much of a shock. If it catches you off-guard, there are style moves you can make to fight the chill and look great, quickly. One such move is reaching for the ever-reliable, tough, rugged chore coat. With its roots as a classic working man’s jacket, it’s an enduring style that’s lasted through fast fashion cycles and emerged as one of the more reliable outerwear options for the discerning, style-minded guy.
The best men’s chore coats on the market today work seamlessly with other style essentials, from rough-and-tumble dark denim to sturdy wingtip boots to a durable and long-lasting chambray shirt. Available in an array of neutral colors and fabrications — from selvedge denim to ridiculously tough waxed canvas — it should be a jacket style you put on, break in and never want to take off. In short, it should be able to serve as the only casual outerwear piece you need for fall — and into winter, for that matter. Take a look at our picks for the best men’s chore coats, buy one and wear it proudly and often.
Todd Snyder Knit Chore Coat
Fashion designer Todd Snyder knows a thing or two about making even the most practical style truly chic, and the Knit Chore Coat is a marvelous example of utility made tasteful. Rugged enough to be workwear while still being as light as a sweatshirt, this coat makes the perfect outer layer for cool days or middle layer for truly icy winters. It’s made at a family-owned factory in Toronto, using pure cotton canvas, and keeps the “old school” traditions while still being a modern, trendy garment suitable for both work and casual wear.
Orvis Bedford Cord Chore Jacket
With the Orvis Bedford Cord Chore Jacket, you’ve got a coat you can wear all year around, in every season. The lightweight corduroy fabric is ideal for the days when you just want to add a bit of style to your outfit, but it’s surprisingly warm—perfect for when the weather turns sour. The dyed garment has a rich, vibrant color that will never bleed or fade even with regular washing and use. Thanks to the adjustable cuff closures, bound interior seams, and large patch pockets, this jacket feels as good as it looks and offers all the convenience you need for your everyday use.
Patagonia Men’s Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Chore Coat
We talk often about Patagonia and the brand’s blend of sustainability and durable, rugged style — that’s also true of the Iron Forge Hemp Canvas Chore Coat, the latest entry in a long line of outdoor-ready staples. Made from a ridiculously durable 19.2oz. Hemp canvas — an innovative fabric developed exclusively for Patagonia — this jacket is sewn using Fair Trade Certified methods for extreme attention to detail. As the brand points out, it’s 25 percent more abrasion-resistant than regular cotton canvas, which makes it worthy for wearing every single day that the weather calls for it this fall and winter.
Carhartt Full Swing Chore Coat
Looking for a brand that makes seriously tough, incredibly rugged, real-world gear? Carhartt is the way to go — it’s convenient that the brand is experiencing a newfound fashion resurgence as much as they’re continuing to produce the same gear they always have. That’s good news for you when it comes to the Full Swing Chore Coat, blending abrasion-resistant cotton duck fabric and a soft fleece lining. The lining adds warmth and the exterior is all durability — how’s that for exceptional, yet dependable, style?
Filson Cover Cloth Mile Marker Coat
If you were going to put together a list of the best men’s chore coats, well, number one … we’ve gone ahead and done the hard work for you. Number two: Start with the Filson Cover Cloth Mile Marker Chore Coat, featuring a tailored fit and a tough, Paraffin-based wax treatment. It’s a beautiful coat that’s every bit as functionally minded as the brand’s built-to-last bags and outstanding leather goods, so we’d recommend adding it to your collection of Filson gear — or using the Cover Cloth Mile Marker Coat to start your own Filson wardrobe.
Vuori Ripstop Jacket
Be it the plethora of pockets or the tough-as-nails construction from rugged ripstop fabric, it’s hard not to love the Vuori Ripstop Jacket. It’s the sort of versatile jacket with plenty of space for your everyday carry essentials, especially when you hit the road this fall. It’s also stylish enough to serve as a blazer replacement if you want to grab patio drinks when you get to where you’re going this season, and it’ll be a constant companion on plenty of other fall adventures, too.
Outdoor Research Men’s Lined Chore Jacket
When the winter chill starts slicing through your jacket, you need the Outdoor Research Men’s Lined Chore Jacket. Designed and manufactured by one of the best cold-weather brands in the country, this coat is made with a solid waxed cotton exterior and a super-soft, super-warm Sherpa fleece lining on the interior. The eco-friendly VerticalX ECO technology incorporated into the arms will keep your limbs toasty warm without compromising flexibility and mobility. It’s the work coat you’ll be glad to take with you to every job site.
J.Crew Wallace & Barnes Chore Jacket with Corduroy Collar
For those who want a simpler, understated look, the Wallace & Barnes Chore Jacket with Corduroy Collar is exactly what you’re looking for. Sleek, slim, and lightweight, this jacket looks more like an outer-shirt than a heavy coat, but it’s built to serve as the ideal workwear top layer for cooler weather. The vintage French style has been given a modern update, but it’s got that “classic” look with the vintage cotton duck canvas and corduroy collar.
Buck Mason Dry Waxed Canvas Highland Jacket
Buck Mason is the brand you want for hunting, fishing, trekking, or camping, and the Dry Waxed Canvas Highland Jacket is the ideal mountain companion. Thicker and heavier than many of its counterparts, this waxed canvas chore coat is made in Scotland with a blanket-lining to keep you extra warm even on the coldest peaks. The corduroy detailing doesn’t just give it a classic look; it also makes it much more comfortable to wear. The standard, true-to-size fit ensures you’ve got a coat that just looks right on you. Best of all, it’s one of the most rugged chore coats you’ll ever find.
Howler Brother HB Depot Jacket
Howler Brothers delivers a truly useful, versatile top layer in the HB Depot Jacket. Made using duck canvas (a blend of linen and cotton with a layer of wax for maximum weather-proofing), this coat has the brand’s signature Western style and a look that will make you feel right at home in any log cabin or ski chalet. When things get really cold, slip your hands into the oversized hand pockets placed comfortably at your hips, and you’ll love how soft the pockets’ inner lining feels on your skin. And don’t think we’ve forgotten your EDC items—thanks to the secure interior chest pocket, you’ve got space enough to carry your wallet, ID, keys, cards, cash, and other items you take everywhere you go.
Brooks Brothers Stretch Cotton Twill Chore Jacket
Whether you’re exploring your city or working on a job site, you’ll love how flexible and versatile the Brooks Brothers Stretch Cotton Twill Chore Jacket feels. It’s made using the classic waxed cotton canvas, but with just a hint of elastane mixed in to give it a bit of stretch and flex when you move. It’s not just practical, though, but it’s also surprisingly stylish, with a vintage appeal that has been tastefully upgraded with some modern flair. Plus, it comes in some striking color options that make for easy customization of your daily outfits.
Bonobos Stretch Cotton Chore Jacket
We’ve all got that favorite T-shirt that just feels right, silky soft after years of wear and stretched perfectly to match your body. Well that’s exactly what you get in the Bonobos Stretch Cotton Chore Jacket. It’s lightweight, surprisingly soft, but never sacrifices durability while delivering maximum comfort. The metal shanks at the cuffs and center give it the workman flair that makes chore coats such a popular style, and you’ll love how tough and rugged the coat feels every time you slip it on. Keep it handy for those days when the weather starts cooling off but you’ve still got hours of work to do.
Peter Millar Moleskin Chore Coat
The Peter Millar Moleskin Chore Coat takes a classic, utility-forward style and gives it a truly aristocratic update. The coat is sensible and practical, cut in the chore coat look, but with an elegant moleskin finish that elevates it to a luxury garment rather than just common workwear. The mixture of cotton and synthetic fibers gives it just the right amount of stretch so it moves and bends with you whatever you’re doing.
MACKINTOSH Drizzle Chore Water Repellent Jacket
When the rain starts falling, the MACKINTOSH Drizzle Chore Water Repellent Jacket will be your best friend. Not only is the dry-waxed canvas incredibly rugged, but it’s also water-repellent and will shrug off all but the heaviest downpours. It’s the ideal blend of fashion-forward design and practical style, making it an excellent coat to keep in your car on those days when the weather turns against you.
RRL Mechanic Chore Coat
The RRL Mechanic Chore Coat goes for a different look than every other coat on our list. Instead of paring down the workman style, it leans into it, using an indigo-dyed Japanese twill and railroad Wabash stripes that harken back to the days of the great railroad projects that spanned the breadth and width of North America. Just to complete the vintage look, the coat is given a wash and then hand-distressed. The American-made metal buttons give it just that right “tough” accent to complete the workwear style, and you’ll love how this coat just melts onto your body like it’s made for you and only you.
Buck Mason Felted Chore Coat
Buck Mason takes the chore coat style to the next level with its Felted Chore Coat. Not only is it cut in a unique style—tailored to be slim in the arms and roomy in the body, complete with flip-up collar that turns it from a jacket into a blazer instantly—but it’s also made from hyper-tough Merino wool. The fabric is super durable, weather-resistant, and all natural. It’s even great at keeping out the wind and cold as the worst of winter sets in.
Vans Drill Chore Coat Thermoball MTE-1
Vans has dedicated itself to standing out from the crowd, and the Drill Chore Coat Thermoball MTE-1 does exactly that. Made using synthetic fabric rather than the classic waxed canvas, this coat has been finished with a water-repellent sealant that shrugs off rain, sleet, and snow. The interior polyester insulation is lightweight but surprisingly warm. It’s the all-weather coat that will keep you skating and cycling well after the snow starts falling.
Filson Workshop Tin Cloth Chore Jacket
This clean-cut, hard-wearing jacket is the woodsman and outdoorsman’s best friend for any job in even the harshest weather. Filson Workshop Tin Cloth Chore Jacket is made using a dry-finished Tin cloth that offers next-level durability, and it’s unlined to prevent the coat from feeling overly bulky or heavy. Best of all, it’s super tough and won’t rip, tear, or come apart at the seams no matter how hard you wear it.
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