The Best Sherpa Jackets for Beating the Cold | Gear Patrol (2024)

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Few garments beat the rugged warmth of a sherpa jacket. These jewels don’t carry the hefty price tag of shearling, and they are closely associated with Western style — the budding darling of men’s fashion.

Sherpa (that is, the term used to refer to the fleece fabrication itself) also finds a home these days in more technical jackets suited for cold-weather exploration or sporting pursuits.

Bespoke Post

Best Overall Trucker Jacket: Line of Trade Montana Fleece-Lined Corduroy Trucker Jacket

• $140.00 at Bespoke Post

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Outer Material: 8-wale cotton corduroy
• Fit: Standard fit (True to size)
• Sizes: S-3XL

Corduroy has been maligned in the past in the world of pants, but it’s always been a mainstay when it comes to trucker jackets. That tradition carries on in fine form here, and in three rich, crisp color options (Midnight might just be our favorite). Line of Trade is part of the in-house lineup of brands at Bespoke Post, and they’ve pulled out all the stops here – including soft 8-wale cotton corduroy, a sherpa-lined body and warm, insulated sleeves.

Boot Barn

Best Upgrade Sherpa Jacket: Scully Boar Suede Pilot Jacket

• $250.00 at bootbarn.com

• Country of Manufacture: Imported
• Outer Material: Genuine boar suede
• Fit: Classic fit
• Sizes: M-4XL

If you’re looking to round out your wardrobe with something a little more eye-catching, a sherpa jacket is already a rugged touch that delivers casual style points and a dash of tradition. But a sherpa jacket in a rich suede, complete with contrast stitching? That might be icing on the cake.

The lining should prove soft and insulating, while the faux shearling collar screams “Robert Redford at Sundance” to us. Keep in mind that the fit is on the roomier side, but the price tag for that much suede is both agreeable and upgrade-worthy.

Levi

Best Affordable Sherpa Jacket

Best Affordable Sherpa Jacket: Levi’s Sherpa Trucker Jacket

• $108.00 at Levi

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Outer Material: Cotton denim
• Fit: Standard fit (True to size)
• Sizes: S-3XL

Although this one differs a tiny bit from the Type III the sherpa lining debuted on, Levi’s modern Sherpa Trucker Jacket is inherently classic, albeit refined for modern bodies.

You might have seen a similar style on the likes of Ryan Gosling, for instance, who loves his sherpa trucker jackets and rugged Red Wing boots. What’s good for the mega-star is good for you, right? We’re inclined to say yes — it’s a way to add some leading-man (off-duty) style to your own cold-weather wardrobe.

It’s available in five washes, each with its own sherpa lining. Best of all, there’s no stretch in this denim, meaning it’ll better mold to your body instead of giving and eventually loosening.

Our tester found this to be an incredible value, even as Levi’s continues to raise its prices. Sure, you’ll find this on a ton of folks, but for good reason — and don’t let its popularity deter you. From the lined arms to the warm collar, you’ll surely be warm in this option, even if it isn’t the priciest pick on this list.

Huckberry

Best Retro Sherpa Jacket: Howler Brothers Corduroy Depot Jacket

• $145.00 at Huckberry

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Outer Material: 98% cotton, 2% spandex corduroy
• Fit: Regular/standard fit
• Sizes: S-XXL

Think back to the sort of jacket your dad wore to do yard work or stoke the bonfire: There’s a chance it might have been a rough-and-tumble sherpa jacket, the kind that could be called into action at a moment’s notice. In terms of color and design, Howler Brothers seems to nail that tricky balance: Retro and rugged, yet easier to wear than a jacket that Dad put through the ringer. Take note of the incorporation of stretch material for added wearability, in addition to the sturdy shank buttons.

Levi

Best Historical Sherpa Jacket: Levi’s Premium Type III Sherpa Jacket

• $90.00 at Levi

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Outer Material: Cotton denim
• Fit: Standard fit (True to size)
• Sizes: S-3XL

Feel like you’ve already seen this one? Well, technically you have. However, this is a Type III from Levi’s Premium, a sub-label under the iconic American brand. This one’s truer to the original and it comes in this tonal black-on-black iteration.

Tecovas

Best Western-Style Sherpa Jacket: Tecovas Shearling Denim Trucker Jacket

• $165.00 at tecovas.com

• Country of Manufacture: Imported
• Outer Material: 14 ounce cotton denim with 1% elastane
• Fit: Standard fit (True to size)
• Sizes: S-XXL

You know Tecovas for its outstanding (and extensive) array of Western boots, and the brand only continues to grow from there. All things Western is the name of the game, as evidenced by this handsome and true-to-form shearling denim jacket. Keep in mind that it retains the body of a classic denim jacket with the a shearling collar meant to be turned up against the cold, so you can (and should) layer up with this piece.

Bespoke Post

Best Workwear Jacket: Line of Trade The Sherpa Work Jacket

• $140.00 at Bespoke Post

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Outer Material: Cotton waxed canvas
• Fit: Standard fit (True to size)
• Sizes: S-XL

The Sherpa Work Jacket from Line of Trade adheres to the workwear aesthetic most closely, right down to the brass cuff rivets for a hard-working finish. If you’ve been looking for a jacket to zip up over an insulating thermal shirt alongside your canvas work pants, this could be your best bet.

It forgoes chest pockets in favor of two side slit ones, and the collar is small, albeit normal-sized. The exterior’s been waxed for waterproofing, and the zipper is YKK for longevity.

REI

Best Sustainable Sherpa Jacket: Patagonia Pile Trucker Jacket

• $179.00 at REI

• Country of Manufacture: Sri Lanka
• Outer Material: Organically grown cotton
• Fit: Standard fit (True to size)
• Sizes: S-XXL

A mix of recycled and organic materials make up Patagonia’s Pile Lined Trucker Jacket. They’ve also used a less impactful dye process, and the entire jacket is sewn according to Fair Trade Certified guidelines. It doesn’t hurt that it’s a rugged option that’s warmer than even the brand’s durable Iron Forge Hemp material, which adorns its shirt jackets and other material. This piece, on the other hand, is about as cozy as can be.

Trust the outerwear brand even when it comes to lifestyle silhouettes, as they put everything they make through rigorous sustainability and durability tests.

Eddie Bauer

Best Sherpa Shirt Jacket: Eddie Bauer Faux-Shearling Lined Thermal Shirt

• $83.00 at Eddie Bauer

  $99.00(16% off)

• Country of Manufacture: Sri Lanka
• Outer Material: 52% cotton, 48% polyester shell
• Fit: Classic fit
• Sizes: S-3XL

Sherpa as a material is widespread and found in all sorts of menswear essentials beyond just its namesake jacket. It can even be translated into a modern shirt jacket, with an exterior that closely resembles your favorite thermal shirt base layer.

This shirt jacket is a grab-and-go, easy-packing piece that’s perfect for nights around the bonfire when the temperature dips unexpectedly – yet it’s not quite brisk enough for a full sherpa trucker. Snap chest pockets deliver the same EDC utility as a sherpa trucker jacket.

Courtesy

Best Corduroy Sherpa Jacket: Wrangler Sherpa Corduroy Trucker Jacket

• $79.00 at wrangler.com

• Country of Manufacture: China
• Outer Material: Cotton corduroy
• Fit: Regular/standard fit
• Sizes: S-XXL

Sure, there are plenty of corduroy sherpa jackets on the market (some of which we love and have recommended ourselves). But there’s only one Wrangler, and it just makes sense that the brand would carry forward its heritage in a cozy, rugged way with this piece.

Wrangler has a long legacy of making Western influenced workwear, after all. This sherpa-lined corduroy trucker jacket is no exception. It’s slightly oversized to make layering easy, while the collar is pointed for maximum neck coverage.

Dick’s Sporting Goods

Best Sherpa Jacket for Layering: Carhartt Relaxed Fit Denim Sherpa Lined Jacket

• $120.00 at Dick's Sporting Goods

• Country of Manufacture: Mexico
• Outer Material: Cotton denim
• Fit: Relaxed fit
• Sizes: S-XXL

If you want a warmer work jacket, look no further. Carhartt’s prowess in the workwear department is nearly unmatched, and it’s as if they’ve designed this jacket for frigid mornings where your to-do list simply can’t wait. In fact, we’re willing to bet those situations are exactly what the iconic Michigan brand had in mind.

Unlike Carhartt’s use of duck canvas, denim is a swerve in terms of exterior material, but the cotton denim should prove softer to the touch and a bit more easy to move around in.

Carhartt’s sherpa-lined denim work jacket comes with big scoop pockets, two button chest ones and a zipper front with sealing snaps. The neck is soft and fleece-covered, and so is the body. It’s a bulky jacket, but that’s the point.

History of Sherpa Jackets

The style, as you see it below, dates back to at least 1967, when Levi’s introduced a lined Type III Jacket. Style historians trace the textile’s emergence further back and even to a particular people — “Tibetan people living on the high southern slopes of the Himalayas in eastern Nepal” — but the sherpa collar peaked in the ’70s, most agree.

“Due to the extreme temperatures that they live in, the Sherpa often dress in warm wool lined attire,” says Kelly Fujikawa, vice president of design at Eddie Bauer.

It remained a part of the working class wardrobe for both its warmth and its wearability — something soft yet plenty sturdy. The sherpa jacket is a durable, classic piece of American outerwear and, if it’s not already draped over your shoulders, should be a strong contender for your cold-weather jacket roster.

How to Wear a Sherpa Jacket

Sherpa jackets are inherently warmer than traditional versions of the same jacket. As such, it’s smarter not to layer as intensely. Whereas a thermal might work under a standard denim jacket, it will not under a sherpa one — there just simply isn’t as much room.

Try wearing a sherpa jacket overtop a long-sleeve T-shirt or a fine gauge sweater. A thinner crewneck sweatshirt works, too, and will help keep your chest cold if you don’t button the jacket all the way up.

Faux shearling fleece jackets that veer from the trucker jacket style (yet feature sherpa fabric) can also provide the same warmth and functionality. However, the silhouette of some of these pieces more closely resembles a zip jacket or shirt jacket at times.

“Modern day faux shearling provides the warmth and coziness of authentic wool, without the heavy weight. It is also easier to care for than wool,” Fujikawa says.

The fabric itself, regardless of style, can prove both useful and on trend this season, Fujikawa adds.

“Spurred by the Gorpcore trend that started several years ago, classic outdoor fleece and faux shearling continue to be key items that are important to men’s wardrobes this fall,” Fujikawa says.

Why We Might Not Use ‘Sherpa’ in the Future

It’s important we highlight an ongoing dialogue brands are having about the way they use the word “sherpa.” The North Face, for example, just announced it would stop using the word. It encouraged other brands, like Levi’s and Gap, to do the same.

A reference to a woolen material used by the Sherpa people, sherpa is simply another word for “pile fleece,” The North Face argues, and it will use “pile” going forward.

“The Sherpa people traditionally wore the fur on the inside because it created an air pocket that insulates,” Henry Navarro, a designer and professor in fashion from Toronto, told NBC News. “They shared that knowledge with all these explorers, and that has never been fully recognized,” he said.

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