Joe's Picks

← Coats and Jackets Worth the Investment

Bomber Jackets Worth the Wardrobe Space Worth Adding to the Rotation

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Joe's Top Picks

Bomber Jackets That Handle Casual With Ease STANDOUT Badam Bomber Jacket Jump to section ↓

Brown Bomber Jackets That Earn Their Place in Your Wardrobe THE_DOUBLE_F Dark brown zip-up bomber jacket in wool Jump to section ↓

$370.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

Classic Bomber Jackets That Actually Earn Their Keep PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Stone Ruched Sleeve Cropped Bomber Jacket Jump to section ↓

$31.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Red Bomber Jackets Worth Building an Outfit Around DOROTHY PERKINS UK Cutie London Tartan Plaid Bomber Jacket Jump to section ↓

$18.75 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

The Grey Bomber Jackets We Keep Coming Back To VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Terrex Hike Bomber Down Jacket - Grey - Grey Jump to section ↓

$44.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

Varsity Bomber Jackets You'll Be Glad You Found SNEAKIN UK Varsity bomber jacket Gant Cord Varsity Jump to section ↓

$172.64 SNEAKIN UK

Bomber Jackets That Handle Casual With Ease

The bomber jacket has had enough bad years that it deserves some credit for surviving them. Cheap nylon versions with garish embroidery did a lot of damage to its reputation and it has taken a while for the good ones to reassert themselves. What a proper bomber actually does is fill the gap between a heavy coat and no jacket at all, which in practice is where a lot of casual dressing actually happens. Weekend errands, an evening out that does not warrant a blazer, travelling light in autumn. It works because the silhouette is clean enough to look considered without requiring any effort. The ones worth owning are the ones that sit well at the hip, have some weight to the fabric, and do not look like they were designed with a logo as an afterthought. We have been particularly interested in suede, washed cotton, and nylon options that age well rather than just photograph well. These are our picks.

STANDOUT Badam Bomber Jacket $319.95 STANDOUT

SNEAKIN UK Denim hooded bomber jacket Dickies $71.46 SNEAKIN UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Yumi Pink Relaxed Lightweight Bomber Jacket $51.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Sand Suede Bomber Jacket $35.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Taupe Contrast Seam Sweat Bomber Jacket $9.75 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

LA REDOUTE UK Short Bomber Jacket with Press $39.99 LA REDOUTE UK

BONMARCHE UK Bonmarche Long Sleeve Bomber Jacket $20.00 BONMARCHE UK

SNEAKIN UK Down jacket Superdry Bomber Merchant MA $73.54 SNEAKIN UK

INSTOCK UK Joanna Long Sleeve Buttons Bomber Jacket - ML Magenta $24.85 INSTOCK UK

STANDOUT Elmhurst Tech Bomber Jacket $164.95 STANDOUT

STANDOUT Osurf Bomber Jacket $288.95 STANDOUT

MADE IN PARADIS UK Jacket adidas Stadium Bomber $56.88 MADE IN PARADIS UK

Brown Bomber Jackets That Earn Their Place in Your Wardrobe

The bomber jacket has a trust problem. Not because it's a bad garment, far from it, but because so many versions of it look right on a hanger and wrong on an actual person living an actual life. Brown specifically is the colour that separates the ones worth owning from the ones that end up at the back of a wardrobe by February. Get the shade wrong and it reads cheap. Get the fit wrong and it reads sloppy. Get both right and you have something that works over a heavyweight knit, under nothing but a crew neck, and across more occasions than people give it credit for. We've been looking at bombers in tan, cognac, tobacco, and deeper walnut tones, paying particular attention to how the leather or nylon sits at the waist and how the collar behaves unzipped. These are not fashion pieces waiting for a trend to carry them. They're the kind of jackets that get better the more you reach for them.

THE_DOUBLE_F Dark brown zip-up bomber jacket in wool $370.00 THE_DOUBLE_F

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Charcoal Funnel Neck Ruched Sleeve Wool Bomber Jacket $28.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

INSTOCK UK Zip Bomber Jacket and Trouser Co-ord Set - BROWN L $25.94 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Zip Bomber Jacket and Trouser Co-ord Set - BROWN ML $25.94 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK Zip Bomber Jacket and Trouser Co-ord Set - BROWN SM $25.94 INSTOCK UK

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Faux Suede Bomber Jacket Brown $28.50 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Wool Effect Zip Through Bomber Jacket Brown Marl $28.50 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

STUARTS LONDON Real Hoxton Ryan Bomber Jacket - Brown $195.00 STUARTS LONDON

STUARTS LONDON Timberland Strafford Leather Bomber Jacket - Brown $135.00 STUARTS LONDON

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Brown Checked Funnel Neck Bomber Jacket $27.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

STUARTS LONDON Schott NYC Leather Bomber Jacket - Brown $200.00 STUARTS LONDON

INSTOCK UK Mens Military Bomber Jacket Cargo Cotton Windbreaker Brown Size KEFITEVD $34.99 INSTOCK UK

Classic Bomber Jackets That Actually Earn Their Keep

The bomber has spent decades being done badly. Worn too large, in the wrong fabric, with a silhouette that reads more costume than clothing. Which is a shame, because a well made classic bomber is one of the most useful mid layer options in a man's wardrobe. It works over a plain crew neck, over a shirt, even over a fine knit when the weather is awkward and you need something that looks considered without trying too hard. What we look for is straightforward. A clean ribbed collar and cuffs that hold their shape. A body length that sits properly at the hip. A fabric with enough weight to feel intentional rather than flimsy. MA1 heritage is useful as a reference point but we are not interested in pieces that lean too hard into the military angle. The bombers in here are ones that slot into a real wardrobe and stay there. Not trend pieces. Not costume. Just well built jackets that do exactly what they promise.

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Stone Ruched Sleeve Cropped Bomber Jacket $31.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

OXYGEN_CLOTHING Boris Bomber Jacket $83.70 OXYGEN_CLOTHING

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Men's Hooded MA Bomber Jacket Green Surplus Goods Olive Green - Size: Xxl $94.99 SUPERDRY_UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Tan Faux Suede Concealed Placket Bomber Jacket $18.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

LA REDOUTE UK Classic Bomber Style Unisex Jacket $123.00 LA REDOUTE UK

STUARTS LONDON YMC Bros Bomber Jacket $136.50 STUARTS LONDON

JUICY COUTURE UK THYME VELOUR BOMBER JACKET - Green $140.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

JUICY COUTURE UK BLACK VELOUR DIAMANTÉ BOMBER JACKET WITH FUR LINED HOOD - M Black $160.00 JUICY COUTURE UK

INSTOCK UK Classic Bomber Jacket - Stylish Zip Design - Perfect for All-Outfits - Red One Size Fits $21.94 INSTOCK UK

STUARTS LONDON YMC Bros Bomber Jacket - Olive $136.50 STUARTS LONDON

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Men's Everest Classic Embroidered Hooded Puffer Bomber Jacket, Green, Size: $129.99 SUPERDRY_UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Black Super Soft Elasticated Waist Bomber Jacket $21.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Red Bomber Jackets Worth Building an Outfit Around

Red is not a neutral move and that is exactly the point. A red bomber done well is one of those pieces that does the heavy lifting in an outfit without you having to think too hard about it. Wear it with grey trousers and white trainers and the whole thing lands. Wear it over a navy crewneck and dark jeans and it holds just as well. The problem is that red varies enormously, from tomato shades that clash with almost everything to deeper crimsons that sit surprisingly well against a wide range of colours. Fabric matters too. A bombers silhouette can go soft and oversized or clean and fitted, and neither is wrong, but you need to know which one suits how you actually dress. We have been particularly focused on options that feel considered rather than loud. These are the ones that make the outfit rather than fight it.

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Cutie London Tartan Plaid Bomber Jacket $18.75 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

MONSOON Nolan Knit Bomber Jacket Red $26.00 MONSOON

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Cherry Red Faux Leather Oversized Bomber Jacket $35.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

FILA UK Paolina Sheer Bomber Jacket - $32.00 FILA UK

INSTOCK UK Fairtrade Organic Bomber Jacket: Unisex - L Red $35.00 INSTOCK UK

INSTOCK UK MA- Light Weight Bomber Jacket in Red - No Logo $128.00 INSTOCK UK

FILA UK Paolina Sheer Bomber Jacket $32.00 FILA UK

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Cutie London Mesh Bomber Jacket In Red $18.00 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Men's Everest Bomber Jacket Red Deep Red - Size: $64.99 SUPERDRY_UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Men's Everest Bomber Jacket Red Deep Berry - Size: $87.49 SUPERDRY_UK

The Grey Bomber Jackets We Keep Coming Back To

Grey is the right colour for a bomber and we will make that case all day. It sits between casual and considered in a way that navy never quite manages and black can feel too deliberate about. A grey bomber works over a crew neck, over a shirt, even thrown on top of a suit if the cut is right. The problem is that most of them get something wrong. The fabric is too thin and loses its shape by October. The fit is too boxy and reads costume rather than clothes. The zip pulls feel like an afterthought. We have been through a lot of bombers looking for the ones that get the weight, the silhouette, and the finishing right simultaneously. These are the ones that have stayed in our rotation past the first season, which is the only test that actually matters. Buy one in the right shade of grey and you will wear it more than almost anything else you own.

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Terrex Hike Bomber Down Jacket - Grey - Grey $44.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

DOROTHY PERKINS UK Pixiegirl Petite Boucle Bomber Jacket In Grey $37.40 DOROTHY PERKINS UK

SUPERDRY_UK Superdry & Co Men's The Merchant Store - MA Bomber Jacket Dark Grey Tarmac - Size: Xxl $62.99 SUPERDRY_UK

KAIIA_THE_LABEL Kaiia Wool Effect Zip Through Bomber Jacket Grey Marl $28.50 KAIIA_THE_LABEL

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Grey Wool Look Longline Bomber Jacket $26.60 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

TOKYO LAUNDRY Coats Jackets Myers Quilted Suede Bomber Jacket in Grey $29.99 TOKYO LAUNDRY

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Grey Marl Cotton Fleece Double Zip Bomber Jacket $19.60 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

VIADUCT CLOTHING adidas Terrex Hike Bomber Down Jacket - Grey - M Grey $44.99 VIADUCT CLOTHING

STUART TREVOR UK MA- Light Weight Bomber Jacket in Grey $128.00 STUART TREVOR UK

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Grey Tailored Woven Elasticated Waist Bomber Jacket $24.50 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

THE_DOUBLE_F Grey wool-blend bomber jacket with zip $302.50 THE_DOUBLE_F

PRETTYLITTLETHING UK Grey Faux Suede Covered Placket Bomber Jacket $42.00 PRETTYLITTLETHING UK

Varsity Bomber Jackets You'll Be Glad You Found

The varsity bomber sits in an interesting position in menswear. It has real heritage behind it, proper construction credentials, and a silhouette that works on a grown man without looking like a costume. The problem is that most of them miss the mark by enough to matter. Too shiny, too oversized in the wrong way, sleeves that look like they belong on a different jacket entirely. Getting it right is about proportions, fabric combination, and finding one that reads like a considered choice rather than a fancy dress decision. We've been looking specifically at options where the wool body and leather sleeves are balanced properly, where the ribbing sits tight without looking cheap, and where the colour combinations are actually wearable beyond the age of nineteen. Some of these lean classic. A few have a quieter, more contemporary take on the format. All of them are worth the money. The varsity bomber done well is genuinely one of the most interesting casual jackets you can own right now.

SNEAKIN UK Varsity bomber jacket Gant Cord Varsity $172.64 SNEAKIN UK