Among the many types of outerwear garments from which a man can choose, perhaps none captures the same sense of raw, practicality as the humble duffle coat.
Originally dubbed so due to its unique duffle fabric, these reliable jackets were made popular through their usage by British troops over the course of World War Two. Following the war, surplus models found themselves in the hands of students and other everyday citizens, and they continue to be popular to this very day, worldwide.
A duffle coat is arguably most distinguishable by its wooden or horn toggle fastenings, its large hood, roughly upper or mid-thigh length, and twin patch pockets. Some, more genuine versions are also known to feature plaid or tartan linings, as well.
All of these elements combined make the duffle coat a rather iconic piece of outerwear, one that occupies a similar space to that of the waxed Barbour jacket – in that it is simultaneously rugged and preppy in its cultural and practical history.
Now, chances are, if you’re reading this, it’s pretty likely that you’re interested in acquiring a duffle coat for yourself. Maybe you’ve grown tired of your plain old puffer jacket. Or perhaps you’re looking for something a bit more casual than your typical overcoat. Whatever your reasoning, we commend your taste!
Here you’ll find our expertly-curated list of the best duffle coats you can currently buy, for just about every budget, too. Read on!
Our Budget Pick: Original Men’s Duffle Coat by Montgomery
If you’re simply trying to get the look and feel of a classic duffle coat without breaking the bank, then this would be our choice for you.
This coat is handmade in England from an Italian wool-blend cloth, and features a classic pancake hood as well as four toggle fastenings crafted from real buffalo horn. It has a mid length, so it’ll end somewhere above your upper thigh, which is a fairly classic fit for a duffle coat. And to top it all off, there’s a hidden zipper to ensure some extra warmth retention.
Not bad for around the $200 mark.
Our Mid-Range Pick: Wool Duffle Coat by Brooks Brothers
You can pretty much always count on Brooks Brothers to come through with a solid option for anything remotely adjacent to classic prep style. And this duffle coat once again proves that to be true – it’s a really good option in our book.
For starters, it’s made from 100% wool, which, granted, takes a higher price point to get to, but in today’s modern fashion landscape, you might even find yourself spending more for something that’s made from a poorer quality blend fabric. So, this certainly receives points for the fabric composition.
But what about the rest? Well, the four genuine horn toggle fastenings are beautifully complemented by exquisite leather detail, making this fine coat even more handsome. It comes in two colors, navy and beige, which are both remarkably easy to style and pair with the rest of your existing wardrobe, preppy or not.
The pancake hood collapses gently when worn down, and the two patch pockets feature nicely-constructed flaps to protect their contents. This coat has a more classic, ever-so-slightly longer length, meaning it’ll likely reach about mid thigh.
At under $630, it isn’t cheap, per se, but it is a pretty solid value for a damn nice duffle coat.
Toggle on Tartan: Morris Duffle Coat by J.Press
If you liked that one by Brooks Brothers but something that’s a bit more the genuine article, turn to classic American clothier J.Press and take a gander at this duffle coat offering. Their Morris Duffle Coat is actually made in England, from a quality wool-blend fabric that’s built to last.
It also features leather toggle loop closures, ramhorn buttons, a pancake hood, patch pockets, and pretty much everything else you’d expect. But what really makes this model stand out is its exquisite tartan lining, one that harkens back to the bold history of the jacket, and available with each of their many colors and patterns.
We like the camel colorway for the way in which it contrasts so richly against the colorful tartan lining, but the choice is yours!
For just under $800, you get a hell of a nice coat here.
A Brilliant Collaboration: J.Press x Buck Mason Gloverall Monty Duffle Coat
Does it count as cheating if J.Press (sorta) makes it onto this list twice? This is hardly the first time they’ve collaborated with California-based brand Buck Mason, but it’s certainly one of the coolest things they’ve put out together. Which is saying quite a bit, actually.
This duffle coat comes in a rich tobacco brown, and is made from heavyweight brushed wool – sure to keep you warm and dry. It features wood toggles and closures made from jute, plus a buttoned throat latch to provide extra secure warmth. Its patch pockets are simple yet elegant, and the sleeves include a pair of adjustable tabs.
Perhaps most notable about this coat, however, is its length. Compared to other more modern offerings, this one comes down a bit longer, which is great for providing protection from the harsh winter cold – or the spray of the sea.
At just under $800, it’s on the pricey side, but this is the kind of coat you buy once and enjoy for years and years to come.
And Yet Another Collab: Gloverall x J.Crew Monty Duffel Coat in Wool Blend
It’s collab-city over here, huh? Seems J.Crew teamed up with legendary British outerwear giant Gloverall to bring us this stunning duffel coat (yes, that spelling is also valid). And it offers quite a bit! Let’s take a look, shall we?
Though this is indeed a wool blend coat, it should be noted that it’s 90% wool and only 10% polyamide. Even so, it has a luxurious look and feel and comes in the perfect shade of tan-brown.
Its longer length nearly hits the knee, much like the last one we featured on this list, and features wooden toggles as well as jute rope fasteners. You can expect a more relaxed fit on this model, too, for some extra room for layering and such.
It’ll run you about $750, and they’re going pretty fast, too. All of J.Crew’s hits seem to sell out these days, truth be told, and this is definitely a hit!
British Excellence: British Made Loden Duffle Coat by Cordings
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UK-based brand Cordings is well-regarded for their high quality garments, especially their iconic corduroy trousers, so when we saw they had a duffle coat on offer, we were highly intrigued to take a closer look.
This one is made in England, using a double-faced Austrian loden wool cloth in a dark green, with a rich camel contrast interior. It’s a hefty wool that provides a ton of warmth – and style points, too!
It also features genuine stag horn toggles with leather fastenings and trims, flapped patch pockets, a throat tab, and classic hood. Unfortunately, sizing options appear pretty limited at the monet, but since we dig this one so much, it’s worth keeping your eye on. For around $800 too, it’s too good to ignore.
Pure American Prep: Wool Twill Toggle Coat by Polo Ralph Lauren
Leave it to good ol’ Ralph to make one of the most compelling duffle coat options around. Their take on the classic duffle coat is crafted from a highly-unique wool-twill cloth that was developed specifically for Polo Ralph Lauren by famed UK fabric house Abraham Moon & Sons.
This coat also includes a lovely quilted interior for extra comfort, warmth, and all around style points.
Its four wooden toggles are made from wood, and paired with jute-loop closures, give off a truly classic look. The coat’s shell is 100% wool, it has a strong latch above the throat, and the twin patch pockets are effortlessly stylish.
The coat’s length should come down to about one’s mid-thigh, and there are two iconic colors available: a rich, vibrant red, and a classic navy. Either would be an excellent choice, though the navy may be more versatile; the red makes a bold, preppy statement.
This is the most expensive option on this list, at $1,598, but this is a coat you’ll likely be buying for life. After all, both the duffle coat itself and Polo Ralph Lauren’s take on it are great examples of truly timeless style.
All Toggled Up
We hope you found this list helpful!
Duffle coats are a great piece of classic menswear that offer a contemporary touch to just about any winter ensemble, and we totally think they’re worth investing in.
Hopefully, you like one of the models featured on this list, or you at least now know what to look for in your wardrobe shopping endeavors.
Regardless, there’s something about those toggles that’s just so charming, and we’re glad you agree. You can always count on Real Men Real Style to provide expert advice for both style and shopping – so be sure to visit us often!