Who doesn’t love a good lightweight jacket? They’re essential pieces of outerwear for 90% of the world – you can layer, look smart, and just feel damn good when you’re rocking one of your cool (literally) jackets. All the jacket bitches out there know what I’m talking about (guilty as charged). A light jacket is a great way to show your personality through the form and functionality you require in such a garment.
In this edition of Staff Select, we’re breaking down our favorite lighter-weight jackets. And no, we’re not talking about denim jackets — that garment deserves its own edition of Staff Select. But do we all wear vintage reproduction, workwear styles, all cut out of durable canvas? Or do we break away from the tried and true types a bit, in order to express ourselves, and have a nice contrast from the regularly vintage style denim we’re used to wearing on our bottom halves? Well, we’ll show you.
Why trust us? Well, we’ve all been in the game long enough to have field-tested a range of quality clothing, and the Heddels operation puts us onto some of the best clothing in the world week in, week out. Whilst our opinions and experiences shouldn’t be taken as definitive, this series will provide you insight into what has worked for us and why.
Daniel – Vintage Kapital Chore Coat
I found this old Kapital (when they were still Capital, yeah it’s that old) chore coat on Grailed 5 or more years ago… and it’s great. I don’t wear it as often as I’d like to (I live in perpetual sweater weather), but it’s one of my favorite pieces of clothing.
It’s black (clearly garment dyed) and has some fading/roping on the seams already. What I really love about the jacket are the pockets. Yeah, it’s got 3 pockets on the exterior (including a nifty pen pocket on the chest), but it also has two very roomy pockets on the interior that you can fit a notebook, book, sandwich, etc. inside.
The sheer functionality of the jacket makes this thing a great “one jacket” to don when traveling, or when trying to pare down the wardrobe, not to mention it has a blazer type of collar with a small lapel, making it seem slightly more sophisticated than most chore coats out there. I really really love this jacket.
James – The Tenderloins ‘Screaming Eagles’ Corduroy Blouson
I’ve gone through phases of dressing more ‘heritage’ over the years. I’m talking tucked-in shirts and service boots, etc. I’ve also gone through more casual, urban phases. This Corduroy Blouson from Japanese imprint, The Tenderloins, was acquired during the aforementioned smarter phase, but, as I have found myself sitting perfectly in the middle of a ven diagram between streetwear and heritage menswear, this is the jacket that keeps on giving.
Like this? Read these:
No matter where I am in my style journey, this Tenderloin Jacket simply bangs. There’s something about the muted dark olive corduroy offset by the blue chain stitching that allows it to pair with smarter fits all the way to fatigues, sneaks, and a ball cap. It does it all.
I know The Tenderloins never really it big over in the West, but believe me, this piece (and all my other Tenderloin pieces) feels indestructible. Made between 2000 and 2008, it has the feel of a vintage corduroy blouson without feeling old and dusty.
Adding more attachment to this piece is the fact that it used to be slightly too big for me, and I could only wear it with a sweatshirt underneath. As I’ve gotten older and put on a bit more timber, it fits me in a different way but still looks ace. I want to keep this thing forever, so maybe I should tone down my bread intake.
Brad – Barbour International Jacket
For my money – which is unfortunately the only currency I get to spend – no finer fabric exists for lightweight jackets than waxed cotton. The weather-resistant fabric comes with a reassuring heft that lets you know it is doing its job. When you keep the wax in shape, water rolls right off your shoulder, which is why I am a fervent advocate for re-waxing, despite how it may interfere with your patina. In the long run, a few coats of wax will lock in those creases and grainy patches better than letting the original coat fade out.
I’ve gone through a few waxed jackets in my time but my favorite and #1 go-to is my Barbour International. The British-style motorcycle jacket differs quite a bit from the American counterpart but provides the timeless cool factor. Thanks to a battle-tested heritage courtesy of bike racing Bris and the Steve McQueen stamp of approval, the Barbour International looks good with everything. Which is convenient because it is by far the most useful jacket I’ve ever owned.
Four massive pockets come with snap-closure flaps that double over for a water-tight seal. The top left-hand pocket is angled for easy access (I always keep my sunglasses in there) and the top right-hand pocket has a zipper closure for extra security (I always keep my wallet in there).
I got my B.Intl (shorthand used by the brand) on discount from End back in 2015 and I fully expect to wear it for the rest of my life. It just gets better with age, having gone through multiple wax jobs, a few patchings, and a snap replacement. Barbour is excellent at repairing, refurbishing, and re-waxing if you send your jacket to them.
Zach – LaRose Hat Co. Thompson Railroad Coat
Even light jackets can make a bold statement. If your big statement is “rugged but refined,” then the Thompson Railroad Coat by LaRose Hat Company has your ticket to ride.
What does “rugged but refined” mean exactly? This style of coat is rooted in the era of steam when train crews wore company uniforms—the epitome of professionalism. Hickory cloth stood up to the rigors (and dangers) that were faced daily. Meanwhile, the denim cuff trim adds a bit of unexpected ornamentation. To take the details a step further, the collar is made from soft indigo corduroy that won’t leave your neck raw. The pockets are also unique; the smaller center pocket is perfect for my phone or small tools and pens. Of course, I can’t understate the uniqueness of double-breasted snaps! Bracing winds and hot sparks won’t get inside when the coat is fully fastened.
There has been one production run so far and supplies are limited to 50 coats total. Contact LaRose Hat Company for pricing and availability.
Kadeem – Engineered Garments NA-2
This Engineered Garments NA-2 is probably my favorite jacket I own. Which, if you know me, is like asking Messi to pick a favorite goal or Nick Cannon to pick a favorite child.
I picked it up on a whim back in 2018 on Grailed after making a joke of an offer to a seller, who miraculously accepted (back when Grailed was the wild west I was something of a low-ball bandit).
It’s a really striking and handsome piece whose design artfully sits somewhere between military and moto. It sports a classic Engineered garments A-line silhouette, with a slightly cropped body, and has impeccable construction that means it’ll likely last a lifetime and then some.
There are lots of cunning little details you’d expect from EG: A corduroy collar, buttery kasha lining, double zips, reinforced elbows, and more pockets than I know what to do with. There’s a really absurd zippered one that goes diagonally across the back which I absolutely adore. To tell you the truth it’s probably the entire reason I got it in the first place.
The jacket also has a very subtle satin sheen, but mine came off after dry-cleaning it once (from spilling flecks of spicy chicken wing sauce on it, if you must know. Shoutout to Crisp in Chicago. Best Korean fried chicken you’ll ever have.) Now it has a little bit of a more rugged, vintage look which is still perfect for me.
Karu – Vintage Baseball Jacket
Does this count as a lightweight jacket? It’s certainly warmer than a chore coat, but it’s a long way away from a letterman jacket. True, it does look fairly padded. But I promise you, the padding is pretty flimsy. Anyhow, I’m going to count this jacket as a lightweight jacket because I like it a lot and I want to write about it.
Matsumoto City in Japan will always have a soft spot in my heart. Why? For many personal reasons, and some other more trivial reasons. One of those more trivial reasons is a small vintage store called Panagorias that sold me a baseball jacket. I was waiting for my friend to try a pair of vintage Wranglers on, and a rack of satin baseball jackets caught my eye. I tried one on for fun, and fell in love with the fit (this is proof that I’ve been wearing cropped fits before it was cool on Tiktok!).
I’ve had this jacket for just under three years now. And I wear it religiously as soon as the weather gets cold enough, and even when the weather is too cold for this jacket. I’ll be honest, I can’t tell you much else about this jacket. Not because I don’t want to, but because I really don’t know much about this jacket. The label inside is hanging on to dear life, one single thread on the right side is keeping it alive. The label is reduced to almost a completely white patch after decades of washes and wear. All I know is that it’s made in Korea, because that’s one of the last illegible texts that remain on the underside of the label. If I had to guess, maybe it’s a Delong jacket from the 70’s or 80’s? The keyword from the previous sentence is a guess.
Anyhow, the next time any of you are in Matsumoto City, venture out to Panagorias. Maybe there’s a brandless, almost label-less baseball jacket waiting for you.
Ben – Vintage Kennedy Windbreaker
Transitioning from Summer to Fall opens up the possibility for early layering but it’s a precarious task. Too light and you’re frozen. Too heavy and you’re in a wearable sauna.
When I’m reaching for a light jacket, I reach for my Kennedy’s windbreaker. I’ve had it for 3ish years now. Found it in someone’s basement on a pick. It’s made of a cotton blend. Very lightweight. It has 2 patch pockets and a drawstring cord along the waist to keep things tidy if you want. The shortie band collar also has strings but its more of a style play.
Featuring an exceptional 3-tone vertical stripe design, it’s eye-catching and original without being too flashy. And when it gets a little colder, it’s easy to layer with. Originally meant for the boating/ yachting crowd, I haven’t used it on the water but maybe one day I will.
David – Kapital K.P.A.M. Army Field Ration Uniform Jacket
When it comes to “sub-parka” weather, I’ve always preferred shirt jackets to just jackets. They are more versatile, they pack easier, and they layer better.
I have a whole host of oversized shirts, but the one I turn to the most is my Kapital K.P.A.M. Army Field Ration Uniform in double indigo denim. It’s a 12oz. cotton, so it’s great for that 45-65-degree grey area or layering into when colder.
It has four pockets, two enormous gusseted ones on the chest that can each fit a tall boy or a Chipotle-size burrito, which makes it ideal for movie theaters, and an interior pocket on each—one pen pocket and one buttoned wallet-size pocket. It’s also large enough to throw over yourself like a blanket or bundle up like a pillow, making it great for travel.
Here’s me wearing it on my 32nd birthday when I ate a scoop of every flavor of ice cream at Baskin Robbins. I got cold about halfway through so I layered it under my CWU 45/p. What a winning combination!
What is your favorite lightweight jacket? Let us know in the Heddels+ Discord Server.
