My Favorite Leather Jackets Under $500: Thursday vs Master Supply Co vs Crush on Retro

If you’re trying to buy a quality leather jacket while staying under the 500-dollar mark, you’ve set yourself a real challenge.

Finding the right leather jacket is kind of a big decision. It’s an investment piece, and you want something that will look good, hold up to real wear, and conform to your body over time.

The good news is you don’t need to spend $1,000 to get something that’ll last and look better as it ages. You might need to pick a jacket made from a softer leather like lambskin or goatskin, and it might not be made in the USA, but neither of those conditions mean you can’t get a terrific, longlasting piece.

A lot of companies have been working on hard on producing good leather jackets under $500 and some of the picks on this list really surprised me. One of them punches so far above its weight that I almost felt like I was cheating.

My Top Picks

• Thursday’s Suede Trucker is the safest bet with an easy fit, timeless style, excellent value.
• Crush on Retro’s 1930s Sports Leather Jacket is the surprise contender with thick vegetable-tanned horsehide and true vintage character at a wild price.
• Master Supply’s Field Jacket is the rugged standout; it’s versatile, distinctive, and built for real wear.
• Bonus: Iron & Resin’s Gambler was available in cowhide for around $500, but now it’s sold in horsehide for over $1,000. Their offerings change a lot, so you might be lucky if you click around their site.

My Criteria for Choosing Leather Jackets

Every jacket here clears a baseline of quality: They use real leather. They’re rooted in classic silhouettes and designs. And they look like something you’d wear for a decade, not a purchase you’ll regret in six months.

I think it’s important to not only be limited to cowhide, especially when trying to find great quality at under $500. This list does have some cowhide but there’s also goat suede, rough-out, and even horsehide.

When I started working on this project, I ordered eight jackets. I sent four of them back because they didn’t hold up.

Each jacket was worn, handled, and compared side-by-side. These are not just impressions gleaned from a website — this review is crafted from my field notes. When I started working on this project, I ordered eight jackets. I sent four of them back because they didn’t hold up.

That process taught me something important: most affordable leather jackets aren’t built to age well. They’re thin, plasticky, overdesigned, or otherwise made in ways that only look good in studio lighting.

But I’ve also learned that if you know where to look, you can find a jacket that’s built to last, made from real leather, and capable of developing the kind of character you’ll be proud to wear.

Every jacket in this guide was judged on the same core criteria:

• Leather quality: Is it full grain? Does it feel substantial? Will it age with character or just wear out?
• Construction: Are the seams clean? Do stress points feel reinforced? Does it feel built to be worn?
• Fit & drape: Does it hang naturally on a human body, or does it fight you?
• Comfort: How does it feel on day one? How will it feel in six months?
• Design: Is it rooted in a classic silhouette, or trying too hard?
• Value: Does the jacket feel like it’s worth it for the price?

None of these jackets are perfect. That’s not the bar. The bar is: Is this something I’d actually wear and recommend to a friend who’s trying not to overspend?

Let’s start with the safest bet.

Thursday Boot Company Suede Trucker Jacket

• $360
• Goat suede that’s waxed for extra weatherproofing
• Polyester lining
• Made in India

This jacket is such an easy win.

The Suede Trucker from Thursday Boot Company is modeled after the classic Type III denim trucker jacket silhouette, so it’s tried and true casual aesthetic.

Compared to other jackets on this list, there’s an easier answer to the question of “why is it so inexpensive?”

The answer has to do with the company’s direct to consumer business model and their hyper efficient digital marketing, but the answer is also that this is made with goat suede. Don’t be fooled: as Nick found in his trip to Schott NYC’s leather jacket factory, goatskin is actually stronger than cowhide, while also being a little cheaper.

You get two internal chest pockets in addition to the two chest pockets on the exterior and the two hand-warmer pockets — a feature you shouldn’t take for granted on type III jackets, since purists sometimes prefer no handwarmers. Adjustable waist tabs round it out, which allow you to cinch the waist in a little if you have a more narrow waist.

The fit is spot-on for me. I’m 5’8″, 165 pounds, and the medium fits perfectly, including sleeve length. (I took a medium in every jacket in this roundup except one.)

A useful tip for someone reading an article like this is that when you’re looking at sub-$500 leather jackets, you’re much more likely to find a good suede jacket than a great smooth leather one. This goat suede has real substance to it: it’s impressively hefty, with a drape that feels far more expensive than the price suggests.

Thursday also gets the details right. The internal pockets are genuinely useful if you prefer to keep your phone or wallet away from the exterior.

The jacket looks relaxed but elevated, the kind of piece that works with jeans and boots but doesn’t feel out of place in a smarter outfit like chinos and a pullover.

The hardware is a bit lighter than what you’d find on a more expensive, heavyweight jacket, but that doesn’t mean it’s flimsy. It just reflects what this jacket is: a versatile daily driver, not functional workwear.

This is for the guy who wants something that fits well, feels good immediately, and nails the Type III design.

What I liked:

• Value: At $360, this is one of the safest buys in leather outerwear. It feels more expensive than it is, and it’s also very easy to return or exchange Thursday’s products.
• Comfort: Soft, waxed goat suede and a slick polyester lining make this easy to live in from day one.
• Quality: Clean stitching, good hardware, the suede has good body, and it’s waxed so you aren’t stressing about stains and water.
• Fit: Spot-on out of the box. True-to-size with great sleeve length. A little longer than vintage trucker jackets, which are very short.
• Aesthetics: A classic Type III trucker that works with almost any wardrobe.

Downsides, not dealbreakers

• Lighter hardware: It’s not built like a work jacket; it’s more of a daily driver.
• Suede limitations: It’s tough and basically scratchproof, but the wax might need reapplying after a while — keep an eye on the elbows, that’s where it’ll wear away first.

Crush on Retro 1930s Sports Jacket (Horsehide)

• $359
• Vegetable tanned horsehide, somehow
• Delivery jacket style
• Made in China

This one really caught me off guard.

Crush on Retro 1930s Sports Jacket is modeled after a classic half-belt delivery jacket design. (Delivery jackets have pointed collars and run a little longer than truckers.) It’s made from 1.4mm vegetable-tanned horsehide at a price that feels almost implausible, even for made-in-China.

The interior has a flannel-like polyester fabric lining with smooth, polyester-lined sleeves. Sleeves lined with polyester or nylon is a priority for a lot of guys because cotton lining tends to catch on the sleeves of your shirt as you’re putting the jacket on. (An example of a cotton-lined leather jacket is my editor Nick’s flight jacket from Satchel & Page.)

Pockets-wise, you get a leather-trimmed interior pocket, hand warmer pockets, and a zippered chest pocket. Buckles at the waist allow you to adjust the fit based on your waist size.

Getting real horsehide in a jacket under $400 is practically unheard of. Vegetable tanned horsehide is the de facto leather for jackets that cost well over $1,000. And I’ve handled this jacket myself: the leather has real heft to it. It’s stiff out of the box, dense in the hand, and exactly what you want if you care about long-term aging. The coffee color is deep and rich, the kind of tone that only improves with scuffs, creases, and sun.

The vintage proportions feel intentional rather than costume-y. It looks like something pulled from a 1930s SEARS catalog,.

What I liked

• Materials: Horsehide at this price is rare and genuinely impressive.
• Construction: Weight and density feels like a jacket hold up.
• Design: The vintage design is thoughtful, restrained, and timeless.
• Quality: The horsehide will look better every year.
• Value: $359 for a 1.4mm vegetable tanned horsehide jacket is unheard of.

Downsides, not dealbreakers

• Sizing: You must use the size chart. I’m a medium and ended up in a 3XL to allow layering.
• Break-in: This is the stiffest jacket here. It needs time to break it in.
• Left-handed zipper: A small adjustment, but noticeable.
• Lining: Some guys prefer fewer synthetics

This is for someone who wants real leather character and isn’t afraid of a jacket that fights back a little at first. If you’ve ever wanted a true, vintage-style, horsehide piece without vintage prices, this is the outlier.

Master Supply Co. Field Jacket

• $415
• Roughout cowhide, unlined (similar to suede, but thicker)
• Design reminiscent of Carhartt chore coats
• Made in Pakistan

This is the most distinctive piece in the roundup.

Master Supply Co.’s Field Jacket is made from roughout leather, which means it’s regular full grain leather that’s been turned inside out: the fuzzy side that’s usually on the inside of unlined leather boots or belts is now on the outside. It’s a lot like suede, but roughout tends to be thicker and used on products that endure hard wear.

It’s unusual to see roughout jackets, and Master Supply Co.’s Field Jacket is especially unusual because the jacket is unlined. The inside of the jacket is that smooth, grain side of the leather, so it doesn’t catch on your sleeves when putting it on and it’s more breathable than most lined jackets.

On the exterior, you get reinforced hand pockets, one open chest pocket, one button-flap chest pocket, adjustable cuffs, and buffalo leather under the collar and cuffs.

The silhouette leans into a chore jacket rather than a biker or trucker, which makes it feel fresh without being strange.

The fit is excellent: room for a flannel, but never boxy. It drapes cleanly, creating a flattering shape.

The olive color and texture might make it the most versatile jacket here. It works with denim, chinos, boots, sneakers — almost anything except olive pants.

If I were packing one jacket for a trip, this might be it.

What I Liked

• Leather: The olive rough-out is durable, textured, and distinctive.
• Interior lining: None! Smooth grain leather against your shirt or bare arms is a joy.
• Fit and drape: Balanced, flattering, and natural.
• Design: Stands out without looking over the top.

Downsides, not dealbreakers

• No interior pockets: A miss for everyday carry.
• Sleeves run long: Noticeable if you’re around my height (5’8″).
• Versatility: Chore coats are versatile, but by opting for riveted pockets and asymmetric chest pockets makes this harder to dress up.

This jacket is for someone who wants something rugged, different, and built to be worn hard. It feels like a companion piece rather than an accessory.

Bonus: Iron & Resin Gambler Cow Leather Jacket

• Delivery style jacket
• Made in Pakistan

I was excited to mention Iron & Resin’s The Gambler, as it’s a good quality cowhide jacket that usually runs between $450 and $590 — but right now, they’ve stopped it in cowhide and the Gambler is a $1,200 horsehide jacket.

Iron & Resin is a cool brand but their jacket offerings are constantly changing; it’s very hard to review these guys, as by the time a guy like me has worn something enough to review it, they’ve stopped selling it.

But I’m including this brand because there’s a good chance they’re selling a good leather jacket for under $500 right now. If you’re in the market for one, you should just go to their range of jackets and see if there’s anything that fits the bill.

For example, right now there’s a Western-style jacket in buffalo suede for $399. Will it be there by the time you’re reading this? Who knows, but take a look at their stuff and you’ll probably find something.

Just note that I did not like the fit of my Gambler: be sure you check the measurements of what you’ve found against the measurements of your favorite jacket before ordering. Everyone’s body is different, after all, and what doesn’t work for my body type might work for yours, particularly if you’re thin.

Final Verdict

All four of these jackets prove the same point: you don’t need to spend four figures to get honest leather outerwear.

They’re not Schott. They’re not Aero. But they’re real, and they’ll age with you instead of falling apart. None of these feel like compromises.