IF you don’t have one of the best gilets in your wardrobe, you’re missing out.
This versatile, sleeveless jacket comes in many shapes and sizes, from padded-down versions to canvas workwear styles.
But regardless of which one you go for, its potential as a layering piece is unmatched. Wear one as a mid-layer underneath a heavier coat or jacket in winter, or pair a utilitarian style over a T-shirt in spring — the choice is yours.
Either way, you won’t regret your purchase, and your wardrobe will instantly become a whole lot more adaptable.
Whether you want one to wear on the commute, need an added layer for a winter hike, or you just want the practicality of having more pockets, these are the best gilets for men.
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Best men's gilets at a glance:
- Best padded gilet: Trespass Men's Clasp Padded Gilet
- Best work appropriate gilet: Amazon Essentials Gilet
- Best for layering: Berghaus
- Best water-repellent: Mountain Warehouse
- Best premium design: Asket
Trespass Men's Clasp Padded Gilet
- Trespass Men's Clasp Padded Gilet, £19.99 from Amazon - buy here
Coming with a padded, polyester fill and three zipped exterior pockets, this practical Trespass design is essentially a sleeveless winter coat.
Wear it in much the same way and layer it over a hoodie and denim jeans, and you can't go wrong.
Amazon Essentials Gilet
- Amazon Essentials Gilet, £32.70 from Amazon - buy here
A sleek, padded nylon gilet, this is the ideal office-appropriate piece.
With a comfortable fit and two exterior pockets, It’s slim enough to fold away into a bag but warm enough to see you through winter and beyond.
Berghaus Men's Prism Polartec Interactive Gilet
- Men's Prism Polartec Interactive Gilet Fleece Vest, £45.50 (saving £19.50) from Berghaus - buy here
Made from soft, durable fleece and with three external pockets, this is a lightweight option that'd be the ideal accompaniment for a hilltop walk.
Thanks to its simple design though it could just as easily combine with chinos and a long sleeve tee for a casual weekend look.
Mountain Warehouse Grasmere Gilet
- Grasmere Mens Gilet, £29.99 (saving £20) from Mountain Warehouse - buy here
Mountain Warehouse has made affordable, functional outerwear for some time, and continues to impress with its mix of simple designs and technical fabrics.
This gilet is no different with its water-repellent polyester fabric and handy zipped pockets.
Asket Zip Vest
- Asket Dark Navy Zip Vest, £150 - buy here
Asket prides itself on its simple, minimal designs and impressive craftsmanship. Its garments are among some of the best quality you’ll find anywhere, and they’re always made from interesting, durable fabrics.
For its gilet, it’s gone with a water-repellent recycled nylon, as well as a relaxed fit that ensures it’ll complement virtually anything you wear with it.
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Stan Ray Works Vest
- Stan Ray Works Vest, £109 from END Clothing - buy here
Stan Ray is well known for its durable workwear, from its carpenter trousers to its chore jackets. It offers solid construction and hard-wearing fabrics, ensuring its pieces last.
For this gilet, the US brand has gone with a relaxed fit, two large flap pockets and a rugged cotton duck fabric.
It’s the perfect finishing touch to a casual look consisting of utility pants, a hoodie and trainers.
COS Reversible Padded Gilet
- Reversible Padded Gilet, £89 from COS - buy here
COS isn’t afraid to push the boat out when it comes to design, and this gilet is a case in point.
It’s reversible for a start, with one side green and the other a quilted navy. Great for layering over a hoodie or long-sleeve tee, this is a piece that will keep you warm (and stylish) throughout the colder months.
A Day’s March patch pocket vest
- Alesatno Patch Pocket Fleece Vest, £72 (saving £48) from A Day's March - buy here
Combining the best of both worlds, this A Day’s March gilet is made from fleece and features utility-style pockets, giving it a workwear feel.
Incredibly practical and warm, its double zip offers a customisable fit while its large pockets give plenty of storage options.
Sirplus Waterproof Padded Recycled Gilet
- Sirplus Navy Padded Recycled Gilet, £250 - buy here
Combining stylish design with ultimate practicality, this Sirplus gilet is minimal, durable and incredibly easy to wear.
Combine it with other tonal garments for a pared-back look, or use its navy base as a way to introduce colour with other parts of your outfit.
What is a gilet?
A gilet is simply a sleeveless jacket, which is usually worn to provide an extra layer of warmth to an outfit.
The word simply means "vest" in French, meaning that it's quite open to interpretation — hence the number of styles and materials available.
How to wear a gilet
The beauty of a gilet is that it can be worn up or down — a padded gilet can be a good addition to a corporate outfit, with a shirt and tie beneath, and it looks just as good with a jumper and jeans.
The only thing we'd avoid is wearing it with a t-shirt.
Styles of gilet to look out for
Padded
The smartest of all gilet styles, the padded, down-filled gilet is often worn with tailoring and sharper, office-ready looks.
It’s usually lightweight and fairly thin, which makes it suitable to wear under suit jackets or as a mid-layer under a tailored overcoat.
This is the style to go for if you need some added warmth on the commute or in the office throughout winter. It won’t win you any points for individuality (it’s a look that’ll have you seamlessly blend into any financial district of any city around the world) but for practicality, comfort and warmth, it’ll serve you well.
Utility
Utility gilets or vests are perhaps the easiest to wear of the entire bunch.
They usually come with plenty of pockets, making them incredibly practical, and they’re often crafted from durable fabrics like cotton canvas or moleskin.
This is a style that’s perfect for wearing with denim jeans and layered with chore jackets, parkas and other casual outerwear. For a versatile, no-fuss, functional layering piece, the utility gilet is the one to go for.
Fleece
Fleece was originally designed as a fabric for hiking and outdoor pursuits. It’s lightweight, breathable and warm, making it ideal for clothes that are worn on long walks, whether up hills, mountains or just to the local pub.
That means that fleece gilets instantly evoke the outdoors, making them the choice for those who need a mid-layer for actual hiking, or people who want to look as though they do.
They’re inherently casual, so wear yours with similarly laid-back, technical pieces, or just throw one on over denim jeans and a T-shirt.
