Like most enduring pieces of outerwear, the best men’s 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, we’ve harvested the best of a very good 2025 peacoat crop—and don’t worry, our picks still skew more gangway than runway.
The Best Peacoats for Men, According to GQ
L.L.Bean Wool Peacoat
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Todd Snyder Italian Wool Herringbone Peacoat
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Schott NYC Melton Wool Peacoat
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Private White V.C. The Manchester Peacoat
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In This Shopping Guide
Best Peacoat Overall: J. Crew Dock Wool Peacoat with Primaloft
J.Crew
Dock Wool Peacoat with PrimaLoft®
Pros
- Great price point
- PrimaLoft insulation
- Anchor buttons
Cons
- Point collar won’t be for everyone
On the surface, J.Crew’s Dock Wool Peacoat is everything you’d expect from a peacoat, and nothing more. But in fact, despite it coming in at under $500, there is so much more to it. Forget the anchor-motif buttons (well, don’t forget them entirely, they’re great) and focus on the added down-like insulation that comes from a PrimaLoft lining, the burly flaps on those welt pockets, and the slightly more modern point-collar. Basically, the mad lads went and made an already cool coat even cooler.
Best Budget Peacoat: L.L.Bean Wool Peacoat
Pros
- Best price on this list
- 100% Italian wool
- Vast size range to choose from
Cons
- Not many—perhaps just that there’s nothing too surprising about it
Ok, so we’re not all made of money. L.L.Bean’s peacoat, however, is really not that much of a compromise, despite being the most affordable on this list. It’s made from 100% Italian wool—not a blend in sight—and takes its design cues from true naval jackets. And while it’s plenty warm, it’s cut slightly less close to the body, to leave plenty of room for a thin-to-medium sweater underneath. Also, like many L.L.Bean designs, it’s available in Regular and Tall lengths, and is sold in a size range from Small all the way up to XXXL.
Best Classic Peacoat: Schott Classic Wool Melton Peacoat
Schott NYC
Melton Wool Peacoat
Pros
- As classic as it gets
- Proven durability
- Heavyweight 32oz Melton wool
Cons
- Might be a touch too classic for some
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 it’s in this winner’s ciricle. As for the design, to borrow the name of its iconic biker style, the details are literally ‘Perfecto’.
For example: Subtly engraved anchors on the double breasted placket, wide lapels along with additional higher pockets (perfect for going full Dylan-mode). Cut in a regular silhouette, this option is pretty much the most textbook version of a peacoat you can buy, and in heavy 32oz Melton wool, will likely last you a lifetime.
Best Upgrade Peacoat: Todd Snyder Italian Wool Herringbone Peacoat
Todd Snyder
Italian Wool Herringbone Peacoat
Pros
- Beautiful herringbone fabric
- Adjustable cuff tabs and a throat latch for extra warmth
- Horn buttons
Cons
- The price, maybe—but this is lifetime buy
If you know you love, suit, and frequently wear a peacoat, it’s time to get one that’s truly special. This Todd Snyder piece has all the classic details down, but then builds on them with an Italian herringbone wool-blend, hand-warmer pockets at the chest, and even adjustable cuff tabs to make sure any and all gale-force winds on your journey are kept out. It’s an investment, but the rewards are there, from the decorative (Horn buttons) to the practical (a built-in wool throat latch, for when you really need to keep out the elements.)
Best Slim Peacoat: Private White V.C. Manchester Peacoat
Private White V.C.
The Manchester Peacoat
Pros
- Lifetime repair service
- No details missed (horn buttons!)
- True Melton cloth
Cons
- Higher price point, though again, lifetime repair
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 style—an 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.
Cut from heavy, 30. oz Melton wool, this coat’s able to stand up against more than a smattering of rainfall and snow. The company also did away with some of the sea-faring trappings peacoats are known for in favor of some more elevated details like British-made horn buttons and a bit of tailoring flair, cutting the coat slightly closer to the body. Also: The big lapels are lapeling here, creating an almost shawl collar shape when lying flat, then bringing some Sherlock Holmes-esque drama when popped.
More Peacoats We Love
What to Look for in a Peacoat
The first thing to bear in mind when peacoat shopping is your preferred silhouette. Traditional peacoats are a bit more boxy and have room for layering a thick knit underneath, but more modern styles cut a bit closer to the body. You’ll want a peacoat that retains the classic heavy and coarse wool that the style is famous for, not only because this’ll give you the right heft for insulating against the elements, but also because it helps your peacoat drape in the right way, and means you can pop the collar with adequate aplomb. Next, color. Navy is traditional, and the right move if you want to honor the peacoat’s history, but unless you’re actually in the Navy there’s no rule at eschewing tradition here. These days, we like a black one just as much, if not more. Oh, and a word on the buttons: Gold varieties are out there, but strictly speaking those are Officer’s Coats, not peacoats.
Best Peacoat FAQ
Why is it called a peacoat?
There are a couple of origin swilling around. Some say that the term comes from the Dutch word ‘pijjekker’, with the pij referring to the type of cloth used in making the particular style of coat that became the modern peacoat. Another possible origin stems from the US Navy, whose heavy coats worn at sea were once made from a coarse ‘pilot cloth’, which over time got shortened to P-jacket, and eventually (in the 1700s) became peacoat.
How long should a peacoat be?
Peacoats generally fall at the waist, which would traditionally allow easier movement on the deck of ships. A cropped version is fine, but ending anywhere below the thigh may slightly warp the look.
What’s the difference between a peacoat and a topcoat?
Topcoats are longer in length than a peacoat, finishing at the knees or below. They’re also typically made from lighter, more formal-leaning fabrics like gabardine, which aren’t quite as warm, but for city life didn’t need to be.