5 Best Men’s Leather Jackets I’ve Worn (plus alternatives)

There is no item of clothing cooler than a leather jacket — unless it’s a bad one.

I spent many years wearing many bad and disposable leather jackets because I was sure that there was a way to find a jacket that was good and not expensive. I was wrong.

That said, you definitely don’t have to spend thousands of dollars to find the kind of cool leather jacket that will last forever and look better every time you wear it.

You also don’t need to spend hours researching the industry to find the right balance of quality and value for your needs because I’ve done that for you! I’ve spent the better part of a decade covering the leather jacket space on this blog, and it’s included a ton of reviews, interviews, and even factory visits.

So when someone asks me what the best leather jacket is, these are the brands I recommend.

My Top Picks for Leather Jackets

• The Best Leather Jacket: Schott NYC Cafe Racer  ($1,045 – $1,105)
• Best Budget Leather Jacket: Thursday Boot Company ($349 – $425)
• Best Leather Bomber Jackets: Cockpit USA ($595 – $1,500)
• The Modern Flight Jacket: Satchel & Page Bomber Jacket ($750)
• Best Modern Leather Jackets: Allsaints (~$700)
• Best Warm Leather Jacket: Taylor Stitch Moto Jacket ($1,250)
• The Best Faux Leather Jacket: Flint and Tinder’s Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket ($298)

My Leather Jacket Buying Criteria

Criteria	What to Know
Leather Type	Generally speaking: – Cowhide is the benchmark; tough and comfy – Horsehide: tougher, less comfy, more pricy – Goatskin: tougher, cheaper, less pretty, more rare – Lambskin: most comfy, least pricy, less tough – Calfskin: more comfy, more expensive, more rare
Construction Quality	– Fewer seams = more single pieces of leather = better aesthetics, pricier to make. – Action backs, choice of lining, panel matching, and leather quality justifiably affect the price as well
Price	– Unless it’s lambskin, I haven’t seen any jackets under $500 that I’d recommend. – My favorites fall between $600 and $1,100, depending on priorities (eg. country of origin) – You can save money if you look for lambskin, sheepskin, and/or jackets with a seam running across the chest
Fit	– Different types of leather jackets tend to be made with different fits – Motorcycle jackets (eg. racers) run slim and short, vintage bombers short and roomy, delivery jackets longer, modern brands are more balanced – Very few brands offer the same style in multiple fits; Thursday and Cockpit USA are exceptions
Body Type	Slim bodies suit a café racer or moto, bigger guys may prefer the bomber’s elastic waist and roomy fit, shorter guys prefer vintage fits that were designed for higher waists
Warmth	Cotton and/or nylon are the default and work well fot fall weather, Thinsulate lining adds warmth without bulk, while shearling is the warmest kind of leather.

The Best Leather Jacket: Schott NYC Cafe Racer  ($1,045 – $1,105)

• (It’s a little cheaper on Huckberry right now.)

Schott NYC is the most influential and powerful company in this space and, fortunately, that hasn’t led to a decline in quality or outrageous price gouging.

Pros

• The most influential leather jacket company ever: there’s tons of history here
• Pretty well-priced for this quality and for American made: look at Prada’s and Gucci’s prices and you’ll know what I mean
• Cafe racer style is just the right balance of edgy and relaxed; anyone can wear it, which isn’t as true for pieces like Schott’s Perfecto

Downsides, not dealbreakers

• Over a thousand dollars; when I bought mine it was about $800, then inflation happened — but I still think it’s worth it
• Fairly slim fitting: that’s typical of jackets that originated on motorbikes, but huskier guys might prefer a bomber jacket or more modern brands (both coming up in this article)

Easily the most influential leather jacket brand ever, Schott’s isn’t the absolute cheapest I’ve ever seen, but when you factor in the quality of the build, the big single pieces of leather, how thicc and plump the leather is, and the fact that it’s made in the USA, I think it’s a solid buy.

My most worn jacket, the Cafe Racer, now costs a little over a thousand dollars. (It’s a little cheaper on Huckberry than on Schott’s website, if they’ve still got it.)

Every time I’ve met some super important guy in the menswear/footwear industries, he’s nodded in approval at my preference for Schott. They’re simply the leather jacket brand, the one against which everyone else is compared — they make jackets for the U.S. military, they were the first company to put a zipper on a jacket, and their Perfecto is the most famous leather jacket of all time: 

While I might be outing myself as “not cool enough to write a list of the best leather jackets,” I simply wouldn’t recommend the Perfecto to the average guy: it’s so ostentatious and ornate that you have to really have to know what you’re doing to pull it off.

That’s why I recommend the Cafe Racer: it’s minimalist rather than loud, but the mandarin collar gives it just the right amount of edge.

Best Budget Leather Jacket: Thursday Boot Company ($349 – $425)

The only jacket I trust that costs under $500, the main reason they managed to keep the quality of Thursday’s leather jackets so high at a price so low is by using lambskin and goatskin leather, which have plenty of their own advantages.

(Like most of the brands on this list, I’ve owned two of their jackets: the Racer and the Trucker.)

Pros

• More fits available than anyone at any price; some jackets (like the Racer and the Roadster) have Slim, Athletic, and Relaxed fits to suit any body.
• By far the best price for a good leather jacket
• Unusually wide range of colors: the Racer has nine right now, and there are a lot of suede options too
• Lambskin is softer, easier to break in, and (generally considered) more comfortable than the more expensive cowhide
• Most of the suede jackets are goatskin, which is super strong

Downsides, but not dealbreakers

• They don’t sell cowhide or horsehide jackets; if you had your heart set on one of these “traditional” leathers, you’ll need to spend a lot more
• A little like their boots, the jackets aren’t heavyweight: it’s not ideal for riding motorbikes, but I don’t think there’s a practical difference for the average guy

Here on my blog about leather things, my team of freelancers and I have encountered a lot of suspiciously cheap leather jackets. (Troy wrote a brutal review of one here if you want an education on what makes one terrible.)

My point is: we know how to tell when a leather jacket is too cheap, and that’s almost always the case for jackets that cost under $500 — except at Thursday Boot Company.

The price is low, but for sensible reasons: they use lambskin instead of cowhide and keep the leather relatively lightweight. For a jacket you’ll wear casually and not depend on for protection from motorbike crashes, Thursday’s jackets are more than tough enough.

Regardless of the pricepoint, I really want to emphasize how clean the look is, because most jackets you see in the wild have a seam running across the chest. That means money was saved in the manufacturing because it’s cheaper to use multiple small pieces of leather than large unbroken ones.

Thursday’s doesn’t have it, and they have a lot of advantages that expensive brands don’t: way more colors (including suedes) than you usually find, plus several of their jackets come in three different fits so that any-body can be happy with their purchase. Super legit jackets.

Best Leather Bomber Jacket: Cockpit USA’s Tanker ($670)

“Bomber” is actually an umbrella term for any leather jacket that has an elastic knit waistband and wrist cuffs.

The most popular kind of “bomber” is the MA-1 style, which has a subtle knit collar and is far more widespread (and considered much more modern) than vintage style flight jackets.

Cockpit USA makes my favorite MA-1 style bomber — but I’d also recommend them for every other kind of bomber. They’re the leather flight jacket company.

Pros

• Very strong, full grain goatskin leather
• Wool lining makes it unusually warm
• I think they’re the best price for USA-made jackets, just beating most of Schott’s prices
• Great brand for bigger guys: plenty of their models are very roomy and they also have tall sizes
• Authentic Americana: they make bomber jackets for the U.S. armed forces and have featured in tons of movies

Downsides, not dealbreakers

• The wool lining might make it too warm for your climate
• Some dislike goatskin‘s slightly irregular appearance
• Only available in black (but they have lots of other types of bombers)

Look, there are two truly great American leather jacket manufacturers: Schott NYC and Cockpit USA.

Both sell a huge range of pieces, are made in the USA, and have been extensively worn in pop culture and U.S. military history.

But if one were to associate them with one kind of leather jacket, Schott NYC would be motorcycle jackets and Cockpit USA would be bomber jackets.

Cockpit USA‘s enormous range of bombers includes all the greats from history, including the genre-defining, furry-collared G-1, but I’m aware that most guys looking for bombers want something more like the MA-1, which may be the most subtle and easy-to-wear leather jacket there is.

They only has one kind of MA-1, but Cockpit USA’s Tanker jacket is still the best on the market: it’s made in the USA, it’s got toasty Melton wool lining, and it’s made from black goatskin.

Although the MA-1 was never officially made in leather, it’s a great choice by Cockpit: people want leather bombers, goatskin was used on many jackets in the World Wars, it’s stronger than cowhide, and its lower cost helps put the price of the Tanker at under $700. Simply jaw dropping for a USA-made jacket.

The Modern Flight Jacket: Satchel & Page Bomber Jacket ($750)

This small brand specializes in bags, so I was pleasantly surprised when they released a leather jacket — because it might be my most worn. 

Pros

• Classic design with a modern fit: taller and slimmer than most jackets like this
• Natural materials: if you prefer no synthetics, you’ll appreciate the cotton flannel lining over the usual nylon
• Removable shearling collar gives you more temperatures (and styles) in which to wear it 
• Calfskin leather jackets are very rare: softer than cowhide but stronger than lambskin, it’s a cool balance
• Well priced for the quality, even for a jacket made in Turkey

Downsides, not dealbreakers 

• The cotton sleeve lining means your sleeves catch when you put it on (I couldn’t care less, but for some it’s a dealbreaker)
• The fit isn’t ideal for overweight or shorter guys
• I’ve worn this jacket so much that the color is fading at the seams — I don’t know if you’d like that or not, but in any event, it’s a testament to how much I’ve worn this piece. 

There are a lot of unusual things about this jacket that are easy to miss: I wouldn’t call it a slim fit, but it’s slimmer and taller than old fashioned bomber jackets.

The shearling collar is removable, which means there are lots of temperatures in which I can wear it.

The lining is cotton instad of polyester, which I love because I have a bias toward natural materials. 

And the leather is calfskin, which is super unusual.

Calfskin is softer and easier to break in than cowhide, but it’s also more expensive. Generally speaking, if someone wants a jacket that’s more comfy than cowhide they go with lambskin (like Thursday) because it’s also cheaper. 

But by using calfskin instead of lambskin you’re getting a jacket that’s both stronger and softer than cowhide. This full grain leather also looks a lot more like, well, leather than lambskin, which tends to be very smooth.

So for me (at least with my build) I found in Satchel & Page’s Bomber a jacket that fits better, is stronger, and is more comfy than your average cowhide jacket.

Best Modern Leather Jackets: Allsaints (~$700)

This is the rare example of a brand that sells leather jackets for under $750 without making them badly.

Pros

• Well priced for jackets of this quality (when they’re made of cowhide)
• Ideal balance of stylish and subtle: if you don’t love the Americana vibes of some of the other jackets on this list, you’ll be happy here
• They try to be sustainable: recycled lining and leathers certified by the Leather Working Group are nice touches you don’t often see

Downsides, not dealbreakers

• Some jackets are cowhide and some are sheepskin: the cowhide ones are a good deal, the sheepskin ones aren’t. Check the product description.
• Not made in America, if it’s a priority.
• Fewer single panels of leather than most good brands: more seams means more money saved in production, but at least this jacket doesn’t have a seam across the chest

Even the most GQ-reading, Soho-dwelling fashionista knows that old-fashioned leather jackets still look grea with modern streetwear.

But if everything else on this list has seemed a little too old fashioned for you, please don’t run to Gucci or Prada. You don’t need to spend nearly ten grand to get a more modern look — I think you’ll find what you want at Allsaints.

What I like about their lineup is that they’re modern, but not unwearably fashion forward or elaborate. They’re stylish yet minimalist, a rare balance that’s exactly what most guys are looking for.

Our writer Troy here reviewed their Cora jacket, which we selected because it’s their bestseller, but that doesn’t mean you need to choose a racer style jacket. They’ve got great takes on the leather trucker jacket, multiple suede bombers, and I find AllSaints’ take on the cross-zip motorcycle jacket to be very wearable. 

Best Warm Leather Jacket: Taylor Stitch’s Moto Jacket ($1,250)

This is a really, really cool jacket that’s made in America with plump, hardwearing leather that ages beautifully — and it comes in three colors if you’re not a fan of this “designed to darken beautifully with wear” golden shade.

Pros

• Great balance of stylish and simple
• Layer of Thinsulate makes it warmer than most leather jackets
• 3 colors of impressively thick, supple leather
• Made in the USA by Golden Bear, a very iconic brand
• “Action back” shoulders give extra mobility (and style points, and construction cost)

Downsides, not dealbreakers

• $1,250: The leather quality and the history of Golden Bear are strong arguments for the price, as is the insulation — but it’s a very expensive jacket.
• No cinches or buckles to adjust the waist, a common feature some guys prefer

The fit is modern without being too tight and the design is simple, subtle, and, well… symmetrical, a quality that actually stands out here. (Usually, there’s just one chest pocket!)

It’s a collaboration with Golden Bear, a San Francisco brand founded in the 1920s that’s beloved by leather jacket enthusiasts.

For the average person, though, perhaps the biggest selling point is the imperceptible layer of Thinsulate insulation that make this jacket considerably warmer than similar pieces.

If you need really serious warmth you can get a shearling B-3. But for most of the world, and for those looking for a leather jacket that looks like a leather jackets (and not like there’s a sheep on your back), the Moto is my favorite extra-warm option.

The Best Faux Leather Jacket: Flint and Tinder’s Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket ($298)

• The actual best alternative to leather is waxed canvas
• Faux leather is made of plastic and it sucks: it’s less durable and worse for the environment than actual leather
• Similar vibes of casual Americana, durability, and all-weather resilience
• Flint and Tinder’s is the best value for American-made

I’m being a little tongue in cheek with that title, but I’m completely serious when I say this: if you want a vegan alternative to a leather jacket, don’t buy vegan leather, buy waxed canvas. 

Scientists are always working on alternatives and there are some mushroom-based ones that are pretty promising, but right now there’s no good vegan leather: it’s always full of plastic and is probably worse for your carbon footprint. (It’s both less durable and will never biodegrade.)

If you want a leather jacket alternative for reasons related to sustainability, I think there are really good arguments for just buying a used one (they fit better with some wear!). But if you straight up don’t want to be clad in dead animal skin, I urge you to get waxed canvas instead of faux (plastic) leather.

Jackets like Flint and Tinder’s trucker broadcast similar vibes of classic Americana and rugged masculinity, and they even look better with age.

In fact, I’ll go out on a limb and say that in some ways, waxed canvas jackets are superior to leather jackets: they’re better at repelling water and they’re more abrasion resistant. I once sliced open a leather jacket on a nail, and that wouldn’t have happened with canvas!

Wrapping Up

I’ve been testing and reviewing and researching leather jackets since I started this website over eight years ago, and I’m really confident in the picks above. I want you to remember that you don’t need to spend thousands (plural) on a good leather jacket, but you won’t find any good ones that cost less than the prices in this article! 

A leather jacket is the kind of item that truly becomes a part of your life, a companion throughout the decades. The right one will provide an experience unlike any other item of clothing you’ve ever bought, so the last thing I want to do is recommend a jacket that won’t let you have that same experience. 

You’ll find it on this list.