The Best Bombers Jackets Are Operating at a Higher Altitude

The best bomber jackets for men burn bright and long. Buy one, and you kind of become known for it among your peers. Partly that’s because it’s the type of layer you’ll want to throw on every day, no matter the forecast or whatever else you’re wearing. But it’s also because bomber jackets emanate a high-flying energy that’s impossible to look away from. Just try to imagine Tom Cruise racing his Kawasaki GPZ900R down the Top Gun runway in any other jacket style. Go on, we’ll wait. Tough, right?

And this fall 2025, it’s not just guys looking for Maverick-level confidence who are rocking bombers. Instead, the bomber is having a renaissance in fashion as a whole. (Just look at the upcoming Schott bomber collaboration with cult Danish label Mfpen, which already has menswear Reddit’s tongues wagging.) Honestly, it’s not hard to see why the bomber is back: It injects every single fit with laid-back cool, while also providing practical protection from wind and rain.

To help you source the right one for you, GQ Recommends went deep on the best men’s bomber jackets on the market right now—no passports or Dramamine required.

Best Bomber Jacket Overall: Alpha Industries

When you talk about modern bomber jackets, one comes to mind faster than all the rest. Alpha Industries became a key supplier of military outerwear in the 1960s, producing not only bomber jackets like this timeless MA-1 but also field jackets, parkas, and other garments. The MA-1 bomber, however, stood out, with its bright orange lining, and sage green or sharp black exterior. That lining isn’t just intended to be a fun reveal—it’s yet another safety feature, and makes this fully reversible jacket highly visible in emergencies.

The MA-1 is lighter than a leather bomber, but still insulates like a North Face Nuptse. The snug collar, wrists, and waistband? All intentional design elements to further trap heat and keep out the cold. If you had to go with just one, this is the bomber that completes every outfit—whether you’re rocking a sweatsuit or 501s—and is built with quality materials for the long-haul.

Best Upgrade Bomber Jacket: Buck Mason

Leave it to Buck Mason to take inspiration from a classic liner jacket and work it into another staple. Their bomber is a midweight style, packed with Primaloft for some stealthy insulation, while the nylon ripstop material will change a little over time (sure, you might not be flying fighter jets, but at least you’re making an impression on your fabrics.) While the silhouette is a bit slimmer than the original, it keeps the other signature bomber details, from the ribbed collar to the flap pockets to the vintage-indebted shade of olive-green.

Best Vintage-Like Bomber Jacket: Buzz Rickson’s

Reproducing military garments is no small feat—you’ve got to think about the year, the function, and where on earth you’re going to dig up the materials. Lucky for us, Japanese label Buzz Rickson’s has earned a reputation for being one of the most meticulous brands out there. They go to extreme lengths to recreate garments as faithfully as possible, right down to the fabric, hardware, and construction techniques. Typically, they’ll even deconstruct original pieces to figure out how exactly they were made.

Take their L2B bomber jacket. It’s rooted in military aviation, and was initially designed in the 1950s for the US Air Force as part of the L-series of flight jackets. The L2B is the lightweight cousin of the heftier MA-1, made for warmer climates, and Buzz Rickson’s version is scarily close to the original, complete with the epaulets (those shoulder details) found on the early versions, which were later removed. Just note: L2B jackets aren’t insulated—the lining material was changed to wool-and-rayon from the earlier wool-and-nylon blend—so you’ll want to throw a sweater under when the mercury drops. Finding an exact repro of anything from that era is like searching for a needle in a vintage haystack, leave it to Buzz Rickson’s to deliver it right under your nose.

Best Bomber Jacket for Winter: Filson

One of the sad things about your average bomber is that, once temperatures truly plummet, it can’t really compete with a wool coat or puffer jacket when it comes to keeping you toasty. Unless, that is, you buy Filson’s Down Bomber, which stuffs 650-fill-power goose down into Filson’s signature waxed cotton outer, and even works some wool into the ribbed cuffs for extra insulation. And while Filson could have stopped there, the design team still made time for some visual fun: The different greens contrast handsomely, and the unexpected large patch pockets are add some handsome, rugged heft.