Best Hunting Jackets For Men Review Guide For 2023-2024

Best Hunting Jackets For Men Review Guide For 2023-2024 – Whether you’re gunning for gobblers or hitting the high slopes for mountain goats, these are the best hunting jackets for men.

A good hunting jacket fits into whatever system you’re looking to build for your outdoor endeavors. Clearly, what works for folks in the Midwest won’t always cut the mustard in the high mountains of the American West, or vice versa.

Really, what you’re looking to build is a system that fits your activities. Initial baselayers will combine with your midlayer and outer layer jackets to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable in all sorts of weather conditions. Luckily, there are hundreds of jackets to choose from.

We’ve done the work and compiled our favorites here to see them keep reading our Best Hunting Jackets For Men Review Guide For 2023-2024.

Best Layering Jacket: First Lite Sawtooth Hybrid Jacket

The Sawtooth Hybrid from First Lite is a favorite among GearJunkie staffers. And for good reason. The merino combo with DWR-treated nylon panels creates a jacket that’s both forgiving of a lot of movement and tough when busting through brush or chopping wood.

It’s also the best lightweight layering piece on the market. The body mapping of the jacket is intuitive and smart. A full merino back panel provides breathability where you need it most when packing out an animal or sitting against a tree.

It’s comfortable, extremely light, and packable. You’ll find yourself reaching for it on cool days on a run, or layering up against a winter elk hunt.

It’s just a damn good coat that’s gonna work for everyone, no matter what you need it for.

What customers say: “This jacket was perfect straight out of the gates. For the first hunt, I used it in Ohio as the second layer of three. Then, I went on a hunt down in Louisiana and it was a perfect outer layer for duck hunting and deer stand sitting! Highly recommended.” — Michael Powell

Product Details:

• 20.5 micron, superfine, Merino-X wool
• Body mapped insulation through chest and upper arms – 60g 37.5 insulation
• Exclusive 37.5 Active Particle Technology enhances our insulation to help maintain optimal core body temperature and stays warm whether dry or wet
• Zippered, chest stash pocket, ergonomic hood and full zip front; Covered by First Lite’s Warranty

Best Budget Jacket: Carhartt Stormy Woods Camo Jacket

The Carhartt Stormy Woods Camo Jacket is a very affordable and waterproof option for hunters who might not want to drop $300+ on high-tech rain gear. But, high tech is still built into this tough and rugged jacket.

Built with Carhartt’s Storm Defender technology, the polyester shell is flexible, breathable, and waterproof. The break-up Mossy Oak camo helps hunters maintain a low profile. And classic Carhartt tailoring means ample pockets and space for layering.

The jacket smartly stuffs into its own front pocket for ease of storage, meaning it can live in your pack until you need it. And at the price, it’s a win-win for hunters who need a durable, versatile, and waterproof layer available at any time.

What customers say: “I really like this suit. It performed extremely well in an absolute downpour while out bowhunting. I love the fact that it rolls up nicely and is super packable if rain is in the forecast and you’re on the way to your stand. It’s a little loud but overall it’s a great suit and I highly recommend it.” — J.S.

Product Details:

• 100% Polyester
• Imported
• Adjustable closure
• Machine Wash
• 2.8-ounce, 100 percent polyester shell
• 2.5 layer membrane with storm defender waterproof breathable technology and rain defender durable water repellent
• 10K/10K waterproof breathable protection rating
• Fully taped waterproof seams
• Waterproof zippers on center-front and chest pocket

Best Whitetail Coat: Sitka Fanatic Jacket

Sitka’s Fanatic Line is the most innovative when it comes to sitting in a tree stand, staying warm, and keeping quiet. And through using sound science, the team at Sitka Gear fashioned this coat with a Berber fleece that drops sound from movement in the stand to less than half what it would be in normal gear.

This fleece is also wildly warm and windproof. Make no mistake, this is a late-season coat. The diagonal zip allowed for a hand muff to be built directly into the jacket, and body mapping allows for a smooth draw cycle for archers.

A safety harness port also allows for adding or pulling layers without disconnecting from your safety system, eliminating unnecessary risks while up high.

This is the most expensive jacket on the list, but not by far. And it’s certainly suited to a specific hunter with specific needs. You’ll likely not be wearing this coat daily, but it just might keep you in the tree long enough to add more success to your season.

What customers say: “I hunt all over Wisconsin and sat in negative temps with winds over 20 mph and was not cold at all. Combined with the Fanatic bibs, doesn’t get any better. Should last a lifetime. I wear my base layer and Fanatic hoody under it and I’m good to go. My only regret is not buying it sooner. Can’t say enough about this set.” — Joe Kop

Product Details:

• 100% Polyester
• Machine Wash
• FULLY FEATURED LATE-SEASON HUNTING JACKET: The Fanatic Jacket is the whitetail hunter’s perfect tool for capitalizing on late-season conditions. Due to Windstopper Technology, the jacket can withstand cold winds while remaining ultra-silent
• INNOVATIVE DESIGN: Thanks to diagonal-zip design, a pass-through hand muff lined in Berber fleece for exceptional warmth was included. To round out the design, functional pockets for a rangefinder and grunt tube that flank the diagonal zipper for quick at-hand needs were added
• CONSTANT-CONNECT SITKA SAFETY HARNESS PORT: Simplifies donning and doffing the jacket while secured to a torso-mounted harness tether, eliminating the need to disconnect from your harness when adding or subtracting layers
• SCIENCE OF SOUND: The new Fanatic Jacket is very quiet. It allows a hunter the ability to move with more confidence by cutting the audible engagement distance in half
• TECHNOLOGIES: An enhanced high-loft Berber fleece face silences the new and ultra-quiet GORE-TEX INFINIUM with WINDSTOPPER technology, which is packaged with PrimaLoft Silver Hi-Loft Ultra insulation for the coldest days in the stand

Best Upland Jacket: Filson 3-Layer Field Jacket

Your grandpa’s favorite outdoor brand continues to make waves in hunting gear, all these years later. While many of Filson’s jackets fit a wide variety of use cases, it’s the 3-Layer Field Jacket ($395) that continues to be the go-to on days we need a reliable, kickass shell.

You honestly cannot ruin this thing. And you can’t look bad in it. It’s the most rugged jacket we’ve ever worn, and it beats back briars, thorns, branches, and the occasional puppy teeth.

The 7.5-ounce 100% nylon with waterproof membrane, plus 100% polyester brushed tricot backing, combines for a bombproof coat that beats out the durability of every jacket we’ve ever worn.

That is not an understatement. Additionally, the pockets are both generous and classic in cut and style. A built-in game bag holds a few pheasants or a limit of smaller birds.

The microfleece hand-warming pockets are a godsend when working outside or taking a moment in the field. The hood construction is legit.

We can’t say enough good things. So, we’ll leave it to Jim.

What customers say: “Waterproof, weatherproof, durable, versatile.” — Jim H.

‘Nuff said.

Product Details:

• Imported
• Machine Wash
• Fully seam-taped three-layer waterproof, breathable laminate with articulated sleeves and reinforced forearms
• YKK AquaGuard pit zips and two-way front zipper. Zippered rear game bag
• Expandable shell pockets, microfleece-lined handwarmer pockets, zippered chest pockets and zippered security pocket
• Two-way adjustable hood and drawcord-adjustable waist. Fabric tabs on chest pockets for attaching a whistle, calls or transmitters
• 8.8-oz. 100% nylon with waterproof membrane + 100% polyester brushed tricot backing. Machine wash cold. Dry low.

Best of the Rest SKRE Hardscrabble Jacket

This all-season softshell is a favorite among users of the SKRE hunting systems. Water- and wind-resistant, the Hardscrabble is an outer shell that can be worn with layers or on its own, weather depending.

Lined with microfleece, the face of the fabric is designed to keep sound down while maximizing protection from the elements. Pockets and closures have YKK zippers, and a storm hood provides optimal and adjustable protection when needed.

SKRE also offers complete hunting systems at bargain rates. Through their bundle offers, hunters can save money by purchasing anywhere from three to 16 items as complete kits with major discounts. This is one of the smartest moves we’ve seen in the hunting industry, and it offers a unique way to get a full kit at a discounted price.

What customers say: “Based on my first few outings with this product, I am in awe of how well it works. I have shopped around for a while looking for the best quality on the market and have ended up sending back some competitive brands because I was not wowed. That is not the case with this jacket. The fit is fantastic and it is comfortable and warm.” — Ryan Robb

Product Details:

• Comfort and Mobility- Our Hardscrabble series is designed to insulate to your core without sacrificing range of motion. Our ultra quiet, extremely durable fabrics will hold up in the most extreme conditions. The multi-directional stretch of this jacket will not hinder movements when it matters most.
• Attention To Detail: Featuring durable YKK zippers, water resistant Teflon shield, large zipper pull tabs, adjustable storm hood, dual adjustable waist cord locks, chest and hand pockets and our proprietary MTN-X2 Soft Shell fabric exterior carefully bonded to a microfleece interior. Our commitment to quality is second to none.
• Nothing but the best: Designed for hunters by hunters, this durable outer layer all season jacket provides excellent breathability via dual ventilation pit zippers and exceptional wind resistance that is sure to exceed expectations of any serious hunter
• Feature Driven: MTN-X2 Face Fabric Bonded with Microfleece, Teflon Shield+DWR, anatomical fit, machine washable, water resistant, breathable, wind resistant, packable, lifetime warranty and available in MTN stealth and Summit Patterns as well as solid grey.
• Must Have For- Early, mid, late season, western big game, whitetail, turkey, waterfowl, hunting, shed hunting, hiking, camping and backpacking

Best Hunting Jackets For Men Buyers Guide For 2023-2024

How to Create a Good Layering System:

Hunting jackets are really the final layering piece of an overall system designed to keep you temperature-regulated in any scenario. So, it’s important to consider what your personal layering system consists of and which hunting jackets will fit your kit best.

Base Layers & Softshell Coats:

Don’t be fooled into thinking you need to stick with one brand to build a layering system. Starting with your base layers, focus on buying wicking materials that will keep you warm even if they get wet. Wool still reigns, and we have a full breakdown of the best base layers to help you here.

Although a softshell coat can often have water-repellent qualities, think of it like your early-season jacket for September evenings or summer backpacking trips. The ideal softshell is a windbreaking in-between coat that is easily stashable and durable.

Insulating Jackets:

These are your lightweight, insulating layers between base layers and your shell in a complete layering system. Insulated with either down or synthetics like Polartec, pay attention to either down counts or synthetic weights. An 800-fill down coat is extremely warm, whereas 80 g of synthetic insulation is more of a midweight jacket.

Down has its upsides. Its warmth-to-weight ratio is phenomenal. But if down gets wet, it loses both loft and warming qualities. And it’s often much more expensive.

You’ll see that downs are beginning to be treated and marketed as hydrophobic. However, synthetics tend to outperform down in water-repellent qualities. That being said, a shell is your final layer and can protect your down from getting soaked.

Shells:

The final bastion of protection against the elements, your shell is your waterproof, windproof, batten-down-the-hatches jacket. For me, a true shell has an adjustable hood and cuffs, some sort of drawstring at the waist, and a full zip nearly to your nose to truly snug yourself in.

It can be a raincoat in the summer months. Or it can have mapped insulation for winter months. But it can truly mean the difference between cold and wet misery (and possible hypothermia) and staying comfortable in crappy conditions. Some sort of shell should always be in your pack no matter the season.

Like its name, you’ll often shell out extra bucks for the technology of a quality hunting jacket. Where you might be able to skimp a bit on base layers and insulation, my thought is to drop a bit more cash on a quality shell that won’t fail when you need it.

Conclusion:

Thanks for taking the time to read our Best Hunting Jackets For Men Review Guide For 2023-2024.