The trucker jacket is a garment with character. Toss one on and you’ve got an instant air of James Dean sangfroid. Or perhaps you’re going for a hint of Joey Ramone punk rock rebellion. Marlboro man more your speed? Any way you cut it, a trucker jacket spells attitude—but with a light touch (we’ll save leather moto jackets for another day). There’s a subtlety and versatility to trucker jackets that make them a workhorse in many men’s wardrobes.
Like most anything denim, the trucker’s story begins with Levi Strauss & Co. After pioneering blue jeans, the brand introduced its first denim “blouse” in 1905 as the outerwear equivalent of its hard-wearing pants. It was defined by a boxy fit, double-pleated front, rivet buttons and a single chest pocket. In 1953 it evolved into the Type II, which built upon the original’s workwear design with side tab adjusters and an additional chest pocket. It is the Type III, introduced in 1967, that set the template for most truckers we know today: vertical seams in place of its predecessors’ pleats, smaller chest pockets and the addition of warmer pockets.
As far as design goes, it is a pretty faultless specimen. In the years since, few have been able to improve upon its basic form. The materials, however, have moved far beyond classic indigo-dyed denim. The trucker is transformed into a luxurious off-duty layer when rendered in things like suede, woven cashmere and corduroy. While it’s no replacement for the polish of a blazer, a trucker jacket is an indispensable topper to have in your outerwear arsenal. Here are nine of the best to buy now.
A.P.C. Denim Jacket
A textbook denim trucker, upgraded. A.P.C.’s jacket features stonewashed Japanese denim with a more tailored cut and elevated details like trim along the edges of the chest pocket flaps. It’s an all-arounder that’ll never disappoint.
Drake’s Japanese Selvedge Corduroy Trucker Jacket
A blue jean jacket is a wardrobe essential. If you’ve already got that covered, expand your repertoire with this trucker in a rust-colored Japanese selvedge corduroy. The warm neutral hue is a brilliant match for all manner of creams and blues and can easily be smartened up with more tailored clothing.
RRL Denim Jacket
An astute scholar of all things Western, Ralph Lauren gives us his recreation of Levi’s Type III trucker jacket. There are subtle points of differentiation—rounded chest pockets and vertical seams—but the perfectly patinated wash and whiskering stay to true its vintage inspiration.
Todd Snyder Suede Snap Dylan Jacket
Toeing the line between rugged and refined, Todd Snyder’s snap-buttoned jacket is rendered in luxurious Italian suede. It comes in a range of neutral colors, from black to beige, but we’re partial to this rich olive hue—a fine match for denim and charcoal wool trousers alike.
Levi’s Denim Trucker Jacket
Levi’s Type II jacket is the OG to beat all trucker OGs. Here, the style’s originator revives the historic model that’s now prized by collectors, but upgrades the traditional flap pockets for clean patch pockets. In dark-wash denim with a hint of stretch, it’s a classic you’ll be turning to for years to come.
Harris Wharf London Felted Wool Western Jacket
It’s not denim and not what you might typically identify as a trucker, but Harris Wharf’s handsome felted wool jacket demonstrates the style’s range. It follows the same basic lines as the classic, but the plush wool fabric and refined buttons make for an altogether more elegant off-duty layer.
Oni Denim 16oz Natural Indigo Jean Jacket
Oni is one of the most prestigious of Japan’s many cult denim purveyors, producing all its threads on a single vintage shuttle loom. The brand’s superlative 16-ounce selvedge denim is given one wash—so you fast forward past that stiff breaking-in phase—before being fashioned into this Platonic ideal of a trucker, complete with hand-sewn finishing.
Valstar Suede Trucker jacket
Italian brand Valstar is best known for its buttery soft suede bombers. Lovely as those are, the same sumptuous material feels significantly cooler in a trucker. The versatile pale gray hue is ideally suited to autumnal attire, from camel sweaters to gun check trousers. This is workwear for the leisure class.
Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket
This jacket is the single best-selling item at outdoorsy retailer Huckberry, and it’s easy to understand why. It’s fashioned from hardy waxed sailcloth and lined with downy fleece, offering all the durability and performance of a Barbour but an attitude that’s more Wild West than Scottish Highlands.
Sacai x Kaws Canvas Jacket
Japanese brand Sacai recently collaborated with KAWS, one of fashion’s favorite contemporary artists. The collection includes this fittingly conceptual riff on a trucker, fastening with a chunky exposed zipper instead of the usual buttons. It’s a subtle twist that gives this tried-and-true classic some streetwear swagger.
Author: Kareem Rashed
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