These Are The 23 Best Men's Pea Coats, Car Coats, Walker Coats, and Overcoats
We've researched the best men's winter coats, based on material composition, product rating, and price.
A Note About Fabric:
High wool counts are always desirable for the quality of cloth, but the inclusion of polyester and synthetic fibers shouldn’t be as much of a turn-off when shopping for winter outerwear as when searching for a suit or clothing for warmer weather. Natural fibers like wool, cotton, silk, and linen are considered better for the environment, but what’s better when considering the wearer himself?
There’s a reason that it’s hard to find reasonably priced outerwear that doesn’t have a composition of at least 25% polyester or other synthetic fibers like nylon or rayon. Polyester is stronger and more flexible than many natural fibers, and its lack of breathability that makes it burdensome in the summer can be a blessing to wearers hoping to retain heat in the winter.
If you’re looking for dressier outerwear like an overcoat to wear with a suit, a higher wool count is desirable. If you’re looking for a durable winter workhorse such as a pea coat or casual walker, don’t let a high polyester count dissuade you.
Continuously updated as we find new ones or old ones go out of stock, rewritten 2021.
What's the difference between pea coats, car coats, walker coats, and overcoats?
Generally speaking, these coats are defined by their length and formality:
You'll notice in the product titles below that brands and retailers are inconsistent with the naming convention. Some that are listed as car coats are far longer than traditional ones, and some walker coats are simply titled topcoats. For our purposes, we're organizing them by length.
What is a topcoat?
Similarly and traditionally, topcoats and overcoats are defined by their length and weight. Topcoats were lighter weight material and end at or above the knee whereas an overcoat was a little heavier and longer. Today however, you'll find retailers and brands use these terms interchangeably to simply refer to longer coats that fall below the middle thigh.
The Best Pea Coats
The pea coat is a classic cold-weather staple dating back to the 1720s when it warmed the backs of European sailors in harsh weather. Three centuries later, the pea coat retains its venerable double-breasted, short-length design properties but reimagined with a lighter fabric composition that better suits the needs of a modern wearer less prone to taking to the high seas.
Read more about how military uniforms have influenced modern fashion.
Amazon Essentials
Wool-Blend Peacoat
Amazon Rating:
4.2 (35 reviews)
Material:
50% wool, 50% cotton
Color options:
Black, Charcoal, Navy
Schott NYC
Classic Melton Wool Peacoat
Schott NYC Rating
4.5 (233 reviews)
Material
100% Melton wool
Color options
Black, Navy, Charcoal, Oxford Grey, New Navy, Dark Oxford Grey
Nautica
Double Breasted Wool Peacoat
Amazon Rating
4.2 (544 reviews)
Material
52% wool, 40% polyester, 8% other fibers
Color options
Black, Charcoal, Dark navy, Jet black, Comet grey heather, Navy, Carbon
Nick’s Note: Seems like a solid go-to for the budget pea coat shopper.
BGSD
“Mark” Wool Blend Pea Coat
Amazon Rating
4.3 (512 reviews)
Material
70% wool, 25% polyester, 5% other fibers
Color options
Black, Navy
Marc New York by Andrew Marc
Burnett Peacoat with Bib
Amazon Rating
4.5 (12 reviews)
Material
60% wool, 33% polyester, 3% rayon, 2% nylon, 2% acrylic
Color options
Black, charcoal, ink
Lands' End
Wool Peacoat
LANDS' END Rating
4.1 (68 reviews)
Material
50% wool, 45% polyester, 5% other fibers
Color options
Dark charcoal heather, True navy
Pea Coat Outfit Inspiration
Check out these Primer posts on how to style your new pea coat:
The Best Car Coats
If the pea coat originated at sea, the car coat began life inland as a warm outer layer for motorists that soon grew as ubiquitous as cars themselves. The term has been used interchangeably through the last century, but the general modern marketing use refers to a short casual jacket that looks great for a hard day of working in the snow or paired with a cardigan and tie on your way to that evening holiday party.
BGSD
Matthew Car Coat
Amazon Rating:
4.6 (36 reviews)
Material:
70% wool, 25% polyester, 5% other fibers
Color options:
Black
Amazon Essentials
Wool Blend Heavyweight Car Coat
Amazon Rating:
4.4 (33 reviews)
Material:
50% wool, 50% cotton
Color options:
Black, Charcoal, Navy
Cole Haan
Classic Coat
Amazon Rating:
4.4 (32 reviews)
Material:
70% wool, 20% nylon, 10% cashmere
Color options:
Black, Camel, Charcoal, Espresso
Cole Haan
Signature Water Resistant Car Coat
Nordstrom Rating:
4.5 (4 reviews)
Material:
100% polyester
Color options:
Black, Navy, Tan
Vince Camuto
Short Wool Blend Car Coat
Nordstrom Rating:
N/A
Material:
62% wool, 33% polyester, 5% other fibers
Color options:
Black, Charcoal, Navy
Andrew Marc
Mullins Quilted Bib Jacket
Nordstrom Rating:
N/A
Material:
100% polyester (shell/lining/filling), 100% (bib)
Color options:
Grey, Navy, Olive
The Best Walker Coats & Topcoats
As its name implies, the walker is essentially a short overcoat that ends well above the knee to ease the wearer’s perambulations. Dressier than a car coat, a walker can be worn with a suit, particularly if one commutes to work in the city and needs a practical but warm top layer that won’t get caught in the car door or stuffy on the subway.
We're including topcoats starting in this section, but as mentioned above that terms is now used inconsistently by brands.
Cole Haan
Long Classic Wool Blend Topper Coat
Pick it up on Nordstrom Rack for $150
Nordstrom Rack Rating:
5 (2 reviews)
Material:
50% wool, 45% polyester, 5% other fibers
Color options:
Brown
Tommy Hilfiger
Barnes Walker Coat
Buy on Amazon for $120.55-$184.99
Amazon Rating:
4.5 (150 reviews)
Material:
70% wool, 20% nylon, 10% cashmere
Color options:
Black, Camel, Charcoal, Navy
Nick’s Note:
I dig the color options, the reviews, and the partial cashmere composition. One of the better walkers I’ve found.
Peter Manning
Fulton Wool Cashmere Topcoat
Peter Manning Rating:
5.0 (8 reviews)
Material:
Wool cashmere fabric
Color options:
Charcoal, Camel, Navy, Black
Ted Baker
Dudno Oversize Check Wool & Cotton Blend Coat
Pick it up on Nordstrom Rack for $299
Nordstrom Rack Ratings:
4.8 (5 reviews)
Material:
71% wool, 18% polyester, 7% polyamide, 4% cotton
Color options:
Navy check
Cole Haan
Wool Blend Leather Trim Bib Insert Coat
Pick it up on Nordstrom Rack for $345
Nordstrom Rating:
5.0 (2 reviews)
Material:
60% wool, 28% polyester, 12% other fibers
Color options:
Graphite, Black
DKNY
Navy Solid Button Coat
Nordstrom Rating:
3.7 (6 reviews)
Material:
50% wool, 49% polyester, 1% nylon
Color options:
Navy
The Best Overcoats
A traditional full-length overcoat is the most appropriate to be worn with a suit, though it can add an elegant – and warm – layer to a dressed-down wool sweater worn with your best jeans and boots. A mostly-wool single-breasted overcoat, knee-length or longer, is a good place to start before graduating to more complex overcoats like the Chesterfield, covert coat, guards coat, or paletot.
London Fog
Signature Wool Blend Top Coat
Nordstrom Rating:
4.6 (68 reviews)
Material:
60% Wool, 30% Polyester, 10% Rayon
Color options:
Charcoal, Black, Camel
J.Crew Factory
Plaid Thompson Car Coat
Pick it up on J.Crew Factory for $198
J.Crew Factory Rating:
N/A
Material:
Wool/poly
Color options:
Glen check combo of black, grey, and brown
J.Crew
Ludlow Topcoat in Wool-Cashmere
J.Crew Ratings:
4.5 (22 reviews)
Material:
Wool/cashmere
Color options:
Navy, Toffee
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