Like most enduring pieces of outerwear, the best menâs peacoats have a rich, practical military history. But while parkas, field jackets, trench coats and bombers all have their origins in the air force or army, the pea coat is their seafaring Naval cousin.
Made to withstand whipping winds while on deck, peacoats are typically made from a heavy duty, coarse-feeling wool, and cut shorter for increased mobility. It was only after World War II, when there was a surplus of them lying around, that well-dressed gents quickly realized they also paired smartly with suits, and provided the perfect mix of insulation and ease-of-movement.
For all these reasons, the peacoat has never really gone out of style, but something has changed recently. Specifically, the style is no longer only being promoted by heritage-leaning brands. Instead, from Prada to Lemaire, and Auralee to Buck Mason, many of the brightest designer lights of today are waking up to the wonder of the peacoat. Below, weâve harvested the best of a very good 2025 peacoat cropâand donât worry, our picks still skew more gangway than runway.
The Best Peacoats for Men, According to GQ
In This Shopping Guide
Best Peacoat Overall: Schott Classic Wool Melton Peacoat
Schott is an American icon that has been making the platonic ideal of various menswear jacket styles for over 100 years. Worn by everyone from Rihanna to The Ramones, the brand is known for long lasting clothing, which is one of the reasons itâs at the top of this list. As for the design, to borrow the name of its iconic biker style, the details are literally âPerfectoâ.
For example: Subtly engraved anchors on the double breasted placket, wide lapels along with additional higher pockets (perfect for going full Dylan-mode after viewing A Complete Unknown). Cut in a regular silhouette, this option is pretty much the most textbook version of a peacoat you can buy, and as mentioned, will likely last you a lifetime.
Best Budget Peacoat: J.Crew Dock Peacoat
On the surface, this J.Crew option is almost indistinguishable from Schottâs (anchor buttons, chest height pockets). Where J.Crewâs differs is not only in its price, being about 50% cheaper (and even more with the current discount), but also in its insulation tech, utilizing lightweight primaloft for an added diamond quilted lining. Basically, the mad lads went and made an already warm coat even warmer.
Best Upgrade Peacoat: Buck Mason Melton Admiral Peacoat
Another peacoat made from a heavy-duty Melton, but this time in a more army shade than navy one. Buck Masonâs peacoat has a tailored structure fitting closer to the body than some, and that close fit paired with the heavy wool makes for a supremely wind resistant coat.
This particular style also does away with the lower, vent pockets in favor of chest height pockets alone, which gives the coat an overall sleeker feel thatâs only increased by the Japanese satin lining.
Best Slim Peacoat: Private White V.C. Manchester Peacoat
True story, I recently stopped someone in the street to ask what peacoat they were wearing, and it was this one from Private White V.C. The Northern England-based purveyor of some of the highest quality hand-made outerwear you can find lends their hometown name to this peacoat styleâan ultra-refined, ultra-considered version of the iconic coat, that just so happens to ship free to the United States, and comes with a lifetime repair service.
