Best Men's Hardshell Jackets

Updated October 2020

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more

Bottom Line

Pros

Cons

Best of the Best

ZAPT

Cordura US Army Tactical Jacket

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Bottom Line

This tactical jacket has lot of pockets and gear functions while providing heavy duty hardshell weatherproof protection.

Pros

Designed as a shell over your other layers to keep you dry. Well ventilated. Very well made. Heavy weight fabric, that still breathes well. Zippers are smooth. Lots of practical pockets. Includes a pocket for your flashlight inside the coat. Includes hook-and-loop tape on the sleeves for patches. A great jacket for riding on a motorcycle.

Cons

This hardshell does not come with a hood like many on the market.

Best Bang for the Buck

This jacket has a hardshell exterior, but is also designed for warmth.

Pros

Includes a quilted liner. Durable. Lots of pockets including vertical exterior pockets for pens or tools. A nice winter jacket if you tend to get overheated. Lighter weight than many others. Quilted lining. Very dry. Really cuts out the wind effectively.

Cons

Not built for heavy duty warmth. You may still find yourself needing layers.

A basic hard shell made from a nice breathable and waterproof material and extra space for layering.

Pros

Hood can roll into the collar when not in use. Comes in a lot of color choices. A lightweight choice for protection against the rain. Easy to roll up and pack. Good ventilation. Zippers and hook-and-loop-secured cuffs are well constructed. Breaks the wind well.

Cons

This jacket is a bit short on pockets compared to others. It does not have any interior pockets.

Banded

Men's Pathfinder Jacket

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Bottom Line

This hardshell jacket will keep you very dry without leaks.

Pros

Zippers are waterproof. Hardshell fabric delivers on breath-ability. Comes in 3 hunting camo patterns. Hood can zip completely off. Includes an interior pocket. Hand pockets have zippers.

Cons

This jacket does not have as many pockets as some others, but the ones it has can keep things dry.

A hardshell made with the rigors of hunting and back-country hiking in mind.

Pros

Cut large to fit over layers for warmth. Thin and light waterproof protection. Good pockets. Comes in 2 camouflage options. Hood can fold into collar.

Cons

Though designed for hunting, the hardshell – like others – can be noisy when you are moving around.

Why trust BestReviews?

How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

30 Models Considered

8 Hours Researched

2 Experts Interviewed

195 Consumers Consulted

Zero products received from manufacturers.

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

If you’re out and about in inclement weather, then you need to invest in a quality hardshell jacket. While softshells are designed to protect you suitably from wind, they rarely are waterproof. Hardshell jackets are waterproof, windproof, and well-insulated to keep you warm. Frequently they have lots of pockets of all sorts of shapes and sizes. You’ll likely want to get a hardshell jacket with a hood and maybe even a removable inside layer so you can wear your jacket year round.

Other Products We Considered

The BestReviews editorial team researches hundreds of products based on consumer reviews, brand quality, and value. We then choose a shorter list for in-depth research and testing before finalizing our top picks. These are the products we considered that ultimately didn't make our top 5.

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