Baracuta G9 Jacket Review: The Lightweight Look That Works On Anyone

Perhaps no other jacket has the coolness and versatility of the Harrington Jacket, especially Baracuta’s G9 — it’s the original version, after all, after which every Harrington takes its cues.

Nearly every icon of cool has been photographed wearing one. Think of Steve McQueen in his navy blue, collar popped, ready for anything. He thought it was so cool that he also had it in white. Elvis Presley wore it striking a pose early in his career, Frank Sinatra in a yachting cap, James Dean in a bright red, and even Daniel Craig insouciant in the streets of London.

This jacket answers the eternal question: “What can I wear to the office and still look cool?”

The answer is a firm, enthusiastic,

Me.

Baracuta G9 Pros and Cons

Got somewhere to be? Here’s the long and short of things:

Pros

• Still made in England
• Solid windbreaker
• Polyester content makes it easily packable
• Wrinkle resistant
• Many color options
• Classic, but not vintage

Cons

• Expensive
• Sizing is hard to work out (it’s slim)
• Not as rainproof as it thinks
• Zipper gets stuck easily

Why the Baracuta G9?

Let’s talk first about what a Baracuta G9 is.

The Baracuta G-9 is the archetype for all the jackets that came to be known as Harrington jackets. The G-9 is a Harrington, but not all Harringtons are G-9s. Think of it as the Platonic ideal and all the other ones from Tom Ford, Ralph Lauren, etc. are merely reflections of it.

This shining icon dates back to 1937 and few details have changed since then. It’s still made in Manchester, England. The fabrics have been updated, but the cut, and possibly even the sizing, retain their original specifications. It still brings to mind a classic leather flight jacket made of cotton-poly — and the design cues of a mid-century bowling alley. I mean that in the best way. 

This is a waist-length jacket that hugs your waist with an elastic band, then flairs from the band and rises close to your body for a tailored look. There are two fits and we will get into this later.

The sleeves are raglan so as not to offer a seam to the rain. (I also think raglan sleeves flatter the chest, particularly in slimmer fitting jackets.) The back features a five-pointed yoke similar to the edge of an umbrella that runs across the shoulder blades.

The sleeves are cuffed and a Mandarin collar secures with two buttons. It can be worn straight up (recommended) or flared out against your collar bones. The collar is lined with the same material that forms the cuffs and waistband offering some cushioning should it whip at you in the wind. An inside pocket has a button closure.

One of the most distinctive features are the two large slanted pockets on the front that have flaps that button over with a single button each. Equally recognizable is the bright Fraser tartan lining that flashes when the jacket is open. (Fraser is the name of the plaid pattern of white, blue and green on a red background.)

Don’t worry, it’s not loud at all. It is unique to the Baracuta and an instant signifier that this is the real thing.

In all, an extremely functional and good-looking jacket. It is essentially a cloth flight jacket and carries all the historic, adventurous, masculine associations along with it, leveraged well by men and equally alluring by women.

Baracuta G9 Materials and Construction

• 50/50 cotton/polyester blend
• Water resistant-ish 
• Trench coat-like feeling
• 100% polyester lined sleeves for easier layering
• 80% cotton, moisture-wicking, tartan lining

What is this jacket made of? It is a water-resistant material that’s about equal parts cotton and polyester. It feels like the fabric on a modern trench coat, though lighter.

It’s treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish, but it’s a stretch to call it waterproof. Like a waxed canvas jacket, it’s fine in a very light rain, but it’s less raincoat and more windbreaker.

The arms are lined with shiny, slick material of 100% polyester. This makes it easy to slide your arm in and out regardless of what you are wearing. Some guys bemoan synthetic lining, but quickly realize it’s superior in the sleeves; cotton lining catches your cuffs.

The Fraser tartan lining feels identical to the outside shell but is listed as 80% cotton. This lining has Coolmax Technology, designed to wick moisture away from your skin and to keep you cool on warm days.

The cuffs, waistband, and lining of the collar are a soft ribbed cotton blend. I haven’t had mine long enough to see whether or not this material will pill or fray. From what I read online, it appears hearty enough. The elastic is adequate to hold the waist and cuffs in place. When sized correctly, it does not rise up as you move around — I find it reassuring on my 6’2” frame.

The buttons are nice plastic and are sewn on tightly and without loose threads. “Baracuta” is written around the rim of the button, and “Since 1937” is on the face of them. Examining the stitching and threads all over the jacket reveals a high level of craftsmanship. There isn’t a single loose thread on a button or seam.

The zipper is hearty enough and does the job nicely. As a two-way zipper, you can loosen up the bottom when you sit or drive. It is certainly overmatched to the jacket, which bodes well for longevity. Many similar jackets have light nylon zippers that only survive a few seasons.

Now, the insertion pin is surrounded by fabric and is quite tight and “fiddly,” if you will. I have yet to get the hang of it, so zipping up before rushing out of the house is not really an option with this jacket.

Baracuta G9 Colors

This jacket also comes in a range of colors and materials. We all know the classics: Navy, Tan, Natural, and Army Green. Frank Sinatra, Steve McQueen, and Paul Newman wore these with uncomplicated coolness. Steve McQueen is most known for wearing Navy and he makes it look effortlessly commanding and capable. There is quite a range. One of these will suit your aesthetic.

Baracuta G9 Insulation

• “CoolMax” lining helps moisture-wicking

There is no insulation to speak of on this jacket. It is designed as a light windbreaker to be worn on those cool mornings when the temperature dips thirty degrees from midday, and works just as well over a light polo shirt as it does a sweater. It is light, folds flat enough to go into a bag or over your arm when it’s too warm to wear.

So, does the Coolmax lining work? To be honest, I don’t know because when I get warm, I simply take it off. I find the jacket works well between 45 degrees and 65 degrees Fahrenheit; if it gets colder, you should layer beneath it because the jacket won’t quite do the trick.

Is the Baracuta G9 Waterproof?

• Not really

It performs well if you don’t expect too much out of it. It has two jobs: it will keep you warm, keep the wind off of you when the temperature dips, and you will look extremely cool while wearing it.

It may keep some rain off of you, but the jacket is entirely too short and with no real protection at the back of your neck once your hair soaks and the water drips down your back. The cotton cuffs would act like sponges in a downpour, and whatever rain rolled off of it would soak into your jeans.

It has two jobs: it will keep you warm, keeping the wind off of you when the temperature dips and you will look extremely cool while wearing it.

So don’t be misled by the talk of water resistance and the semi-detached yolk across the back. This isn’t a Barbour nor a Burberry Trench.

This is a tailored-fit, lightweight jacket primarily designed to look cool. In that, it performs perfectly.

Baracuta G9 Sizing & Fit

• Two fits available: classic and tailored
• Size up from your normal size

So, if you are paying attention to anything in this review, pay attention to this. The fit is very important. Get it right, and you will join the Pantheon of Cool. Get it wrong and it will look like you thrifted a Members Only Jacket.

Baracuta offers two fits:

• The Authentic Fit, which is baggy and more relaxed, is probably best suited for those of more generous proportions.
• The Regular Fit, which is much more tailored — what many call a “modern” fit.

In my opinion, you want the Regular Fit because this jacket should be contoured to your body. When cut too baggy, this jacket looks more retiree than retro, and you want to be a spy. You want to be Steve McQueen in a dune buggy bouncing along the sand in Truro. Tailored is the way to go.

However, you have to be careful with the sizing. I am a pretty solid 44 across most brands. I am 6’2” and 215 lbs. or so, 16.5” neck, 35.5” raglan sleeves, and with a 38” waist size. This is an English jacket. England has men the same size as me. Surely the 44 would fit?

What a mistake that would have been! 46 fits perfectly. It’s as if their sizing is from the days before size inflation when measurements flattered our dimensions instead of our egos. Since the sizing is so crucial with this jacket and much of its coolness resides in it having a tailored look, it is important to nail it.

How to Style a G9 Harrington Jacket

• The G-9 works best as a smart casual jacket
• Fits well into preppy looks or slimmer-fitting casual wear

I take advantage of the long history of this jacket to style it in many ways. For the office, I go for tailored chinos and a button-up shirt in pink or a university stripe. For a bit of color, I match my shirt to my socks, and I usually wear suede brogues in either chocolate or neutral.

The Baracuta G9 finishes off this look with a bit of gravitas and sartorial cool. With this combination, the jacket looks almost Prep and would certainly fit in on the links or in the boardroom.

When I am off duty, I wear it with my cuffed Schaeffers Garment Hotel selvedge jeans, long-sleeve polo, and red socks going into Briar Red Wing Blacksmith boots. I am going for a confident, mature look.

In the picture up top, Stridewise Editor-in-Chief Nick English is wearing a more classic fit with a denim shirt, canvas pants, and moc toe boots. He also pairs it with a short sleeve navy polo, jeans, and leather sneakers for a more modern look.

Baracuta G9 Price

• This jacket retails for $449.

So the question that you must be asking is whether it is worth it to spend $450 for a windbreaker. And I think you know the answer. Seeking value isn’t always why we buy these things, is it? We’re seeking cool and heritage, and they both have a price tag. Imitators are exactly that, and with each successive copy, you lose more and more cachet.

The Baracuta G9 is the perfect unobtrusive jacket that covers on and off-duty that still projects strength and attention to detail through its riff on a military cut and tailored fit.

I look at it like this: $450 is the cost of entry. Taken care of, this jacket will last the rest of your life. You’ll get your use out of it. Can you really put a price on cool?

Yes, probably, but if you can afford $450, you probably won’t regret it.

Wrapping Up

The Baracuta G9 is the perfect unobtrusive jacket that covers on and off-duty and still projects strength and attention to detail through its riff on a military cut and tailored fit.

So many different types of people, from James Dean to Ivy League students, have worn it through the years and it carries so many different associations that surely some of this can be adapted to you and your look.

It features nice materials and solid construction so it should last for many years with the minimum of care.

As for the cost, I think of my favorite Stoic philosopher, Epictetus:

“Think first who you would be and then do what you must do.”

If $450 brings you some cache of cool, then do what you must do.