The Best Cold-Weather Jacket For Dads

Even though the weather is forecasted to be weirdly warm later this week, I thought it was a good time to talk about jackets.

I know, not exactly earth-shattering. But I was trying to think about the perfect jacket for cold-weather, specifically for dads. After all, I want you to be prepared for when the weather finally rights itself and becomes actually, you know… cold.

Basically, this fall and winter, as a dad, what should be your go-to jacket? What should be hanging next to your door between November and March? What type of jacket, out of all the options you have for casual outerwear, is going to serve you the best during the daily chaos of fatherhood?

Now, I specifically mention “cold-weather jacket” in order to exclude things like chore coats, denim jackets, sport coats, and any other jacket that technically falls under the category of “jacket” but isn’t really designed for actual cold weather.

In my opinion, the jacket that performs the best in the widest range of circumstances is the jacket you see here, which is a leather flight jacket with knit cuffs, knit hem, and fur collar.

This particular jacket is a G-1 style from the company, U.S. Wings.

Let’s break down why this jacket is perfect for dads…

First off, let’s talk utility. Leather is a remarkably protective material. It’s the skin of a big, tough animal. A good leather jacket will protect you in all sorts of inclement weather and will keep you bone dry. But what I love most about a leather jacket in bad weather is how well it blocks the wind. Nothing blocks wind better than leather.

Not nylon. Not wool. Not waxed cotton. Nothing.

The knit at the cuffs and hem, as well as the fur collar, helps keep the wind out.

Some fur collars detach from the body of the jacket. Mine doesn’t but I never feel like I need to remove it anyway.

As a dad, how many times do you find yourself in need of a waterproof, windproof layer? Are you waiting for your kid’s school to be let out? Are you chatting with one of the other dads to nail down weekend plans with the children? Do you have to dash out the door to get your kid from school because he’s not feeling well? Are you stranded outside during the last few minutes of the Saturday soccer game?

I have lost track of the number of times I thought to myself, “Thank goodness I’m wearing this jacket right now.”

Another feature I find very useful about this jacket is the amount of storage space it boasts. There are two button-closure flapped pockets with side-entry hand-warmer pockets, as well as a large, inner, clasp-closure pocket. I use the flapped pockets extensively for carrying things like toys and snacks, not to mention my keys (as the button-closures keep everything securely in place). The inner pocket is perfect for my phone and any school or work-related papers I need to keep dry.

There is also an action back for full range of movement. This is helpful if, like me, you have long arms and don’t want the sleeves riding up when you’re driving or reaching into the back seat to dispense snacks to hangry kids.

The length and weight are also perfect for dads.

The jacket hits at the waist, which is a perfect length for, not only flattering the male physique, but for comfortably navigating the ins-and-outs of a vehicle. I don’t know about you, but to me, having kids means driving them all over creation. Jackets that are longer than waist-length are a little more cumbersome than shorter jackets. And since I work remotely, I am often working from my vehicle. A short jacket keeps me comfortable all day.

It’s the weight of this jacket, though, that I find is the real difference-maker when it comes to which jacket I consistently choose when out with my kids.

The leather is heavy, but the lining of the jacket is thin nylon.

Now, when I first got the jacket about eight years ago, or so, I was a little disappointed in how thin the lining was. I thought that the jacket wouldn’t work well in cold weather because of it. Fortunately, I have found the opposite to be true. The lighter weight means that I don’t need to constantly take the jacket off and put it back on as I am going about my day.

Why is that important?

Well, in the winter your kids are going to be wearing big, heavy coats. But when you go to put them into the car, you need to remove their coat before you strap them into their car seat. That means the temperature of the vehicle can’t be too cold, because your kid is going to be in, at most, a sweater. If you’re wearing a big, heavy coat yourself then you’re going to be uncomfortable in the warm car or you’ll need to remove your coat, too.

Also, in the winter you’ll probably take your kids places like libraries or museums. Heck, even the grocery store. Do you want to have to take off your jacket and carry it, along with all the other crap you’re carrying so you don’t overheat? Of course not.

With your leather flight jacket, you won’t need to remove it because you’ll be able to stay comfortable even if the temperature of the vehicle or venue is slightly elevated.

Will the jacket keep you roasty-toasty on the coldest of days for a prolonged period of time? No. And I can already hear some of you complaining that you live in a very cold area of the country and need something warmer.

Listen, I also live in a very cold part of the country, so I know where you’re coming from. Two winters ago, it got down to about -20 degrees Fahrenheit (that was WITHOUT the wind-chill) and ice formed on the inside of the sliding-glass door in my bedroom.

Trust me. I know cold.

This jacket won’t keep you warm in THAT kind of weather. But, even for me, that weather is an outlier. And for weather that extreme, I have my long, thick, wool coat. But, for your every day comings-and-goings, you’re not going to need those big guns. And a waterproof, windproof layer like a leather flight jacket that you can easily layer over a thick sweater will be more than sufficient for running errands and ferrying the kids back and forth to school, activities, and playdates.

Now that we’ve gone over the nuts and bolts of why the jacket functions better than other cold-weather jackets for dads, let’s talk about why this is an excellent jacket from a style perspective.

In all honesty, is there anything cooler than a leather jacket in a man’s wardrobe? I don’t think there is. Ever since we were kids, we all wished to someday own a leather jacket. Yes, they are expensive, but they aren’t any more expensive than, say, a good pair of boots, or a quality watch, or a decent sport coat.

This G-1 from U.S. Wings cost me about $400. That’s not cheap, but it is within reach of most people, financially speaking.

What I’m trying to say, is that the jacket you’ve always wanted is actually attainable.

Leather jackets are handsome and manly. Don’t worry about whether or not you can “pull it off”. You can. All you have to do is wear the thing. I always say that I’d rather be the bold, memorable dad in the leather jacket than the timid, forgotten dad in the hoodie.

Given how rugged leather jackets are, you might think their use is limited to strictly ultra-casual affairs. That’s not really true. Yes, a leather jacket will always look good with jeans, but I’ve found it’s perfectly at home with khakis. It is a military piece, after all. I often wear mine with khakis, an OCBD, and sweater.

Sometimes even wool trousers. And since it’s been in our sartorial conscience for so many decades, it has a vintage feel to it, and because of that, looks great with a wool or knit tie.

I’ve worn my leather flight jacket to the office many times and it absolutely works in a business casual environment.

Now, you wouldn’t wear a sport coat or blazer under it, but that’s really only because the sport coat’s hem is longer and would extend below the leather jacket and look a little odd. Although, I DID wear mine, in a pinch, over a blazer while out to dinner with my wife earlier this year. I was unexpectedly cold that night and we were visiting my in-laws and the leather jacket was the only piece of real outerwear I brought.

With all of this being said, one could make an argument that a waxed jacket like a Barbour jacket would be a superior option to the leather flight jacket simply because you CAN wear a sport coat underneath it, given its longer length, which makes it more versatile. That is definitely true, however, the most common Barbour models aren’t going to keep you as warm as a thick layer of cowhide or goatskin will. And for most of us, our day-to-day wardrobes lean more casual or business-casual than business-formal so the added benefit of being able to wear a sport coat would be a nice-to-have rather than a must-have. Also, the longer length of a Barbour means it’s not going to be as comfortable for navigating the interior of vehicles.

And while Barbours absolutely look great, nothing beats the sheer coolness of a leather jacket.

So, for this coming winter, and for the rest of fall, I recommend a leather flight jacket as your go-to “Dad Jacket”.