The best Barbour jackets will play a big role in your wardrobe for years to come. With many different designs that are wearable from autumn through until the spring, this weatherproof purchase is an investment you can certainly get a lot of cost per wear out of.
Loved by celebrities and the Royal Family, the best Barbour jackets are something of an institution when it comes to the types of coats you should own. A wardrobe essential, Barbour makes some of the best waterproof jackets, making them practical throughout the year, and as the heritage brand has progressed, its range of styles now straddle a multitude of coat categories - ensuring there is something for everyone.
The waxed styles are water-repellent and are ideal for wear in the city or the country. Looked after properly, the best Barbour jackets can last for years. "A Barbour jacket will never date and makes a great investment", says Charlie Bell, deputy fashion editor of woman&home.
Best Barbour jackets 2024
For elevated style whilst battling the elements, there is no greater outerwear choice than a Barbour jacket. Although Barbours are casual, there is something incredibly polished about the brand's designs, whether you choose waxed, quilted or padded.
Best Barbour jackets: Waxed
RRP: £269.95
Length: Mid-length
Style: Fitted
Colour: Black, olive or navy
Spotted on the Princess of Wales, this classic olive green wax Barbour jacket is a staple in the brand's collection. The multiple pockets deliver a utility feel that makes this a practical coat for outdoor activity such as dog walking. It's available in UK sizes 8 to 18, and we'd recommend sizing up if you want to wear the best wool jumpers underneath.
RRP: £299
Length: Mid-length
Style: Unisex
Colour: Olive
This unisex jacket is largely regarded as the most popular Barbour coat. With a fairly boxy shape, the Beaufort is a Barbour jacket that has been spotted on the likes of the late Queen Elizabeth, as well as other members of the royal household. You can find out more about this style in our Barbour coats review.
RRP: £185
Length: Mid-length
Style: Relaxed fit
Colour: Olive
Kate Middleton has also got the the Edith jacket from Barbour's collection with Alexa Chung. Although this design is now sold out, it is largely based on the Beadnell wax jacket. 100% cotton, this breathable style is coated in Barbour's traditional wax finish to keep the coat water repellent.
Best Barbour Jackets: Quilted
RRP: £209 (now reduced to £149)
Length: Long
Style: Sleeveless
Colour: Black
Gilets are a firm fixture in our autumn capsule wardrobe, and this longline iteration is ideal for slipping over knitwear. The longer length ensures maximum coverage, while the two front patch pockets are super roomy.
RRP: From £179.80
Length: Short
Style: Belted
Colour: Black
A close fitting jacket, this one boasts Barbour's Polarquilt construction for warmth and comfort, with a diamond quilted outer and fleece lining. A slim fitting design, this could be slipped under a winter coat for added warmth.
RRP: £221.05
Length: Mid-length
Style: Relaxed fit
Colour: Olive
According to the Barbour website, "Liddesdale has been the cornerstone of winter wardrobes for the past 30 years." It's undeniably one of the most iconic styles, and features a plush diamond quilt design, soft cord collar and stud fastening down the front.
Best Barbour jackets: Collaborations
RRP: £280 (now reduced to £140)
Length: Long
Style: Lightweight padded
Colour: Black with floral collar
Barbour has collaborated with directional style brands in recent years to keep its fashion commodity high, and this House of Hackney line brings some femininity and softness to the brand. We love the pop of floral print on the collar.
RRP: £545
Length: Cropped
Style: Relaxed fit
Colour: Leopard print
Ganni's collection with Barbour has been hugely successful, and this jacket epitomises both brand perfectly. The cropped length, leopard print and oversized collar is ideal for anyone who wants a high fashion take on a classic.
RRP: £349
Length: Long
Style: Oversized
Colour: Beige
Another collaboration we love is Alexa Chung's Barbour edit. Kate Middleton's a fan too, and this hooded trench coat exudes Quiet Luxury. Pair it with barrel leg jeans and chunky boots.
Best Barbour Jackets: Coats
RRP: £269
Length: Long
Style: Belted
Colour: Khaki
If it's warmth you're after, this Barbour coat is for you. The colour is very on trend, and it's machine washable, which makes it a practical choice. It's available in UK sizes 6 to 20, and the waist belt will give you a nice silhouette even under loads of layers!
RRP: £279
Length: Long
Style: Reversible
Colour: Black and neutral
Talk about getting two for the price of one! This Barbour International coat is reversible and showerproof, so it's ready for anything the Great British weather can throw at it. Well worth the price tag.
RRP: £672 (now reduced to £571)
Length: Long
Style: Belted, cape
Colour: Camel brown
Do Barbour coats get any chicer than this? The cape adds a heritage feel, and whilst this comes with a hefty price tag, it's a future heirloom. It falls below the knee and has plenty of pockets to keep your essentials.
FAQs
Which Barbour wax jacket is most popular?
The classic Barbour Beaufort jacket is considered the most popular and timeless from the brand. A wax jacket, with a below hip hem length finish, this outdoorsy piece is an iconic part of the Barbour collection.
Androgynous in style it is relatively loose through the body making it ideal for slipping over knitwear. The jacket features two front patch pockets with curved bottoms and a classic Barbour cord collar in a chocolate brown hue. With a distinctly borrowed from the boys feel, this popular silhouette is practical, stylish and will never go out of fashion.
Which Barbour jacket is best for winter?
A showerproof Barbour jacket, with extra padding and length is considered to be the best type of Barbour jacket for the winter. The Barbour International Myers Reversible Showerproof Quilted Jacket is a great choice for winter as it delivers the benefit of extra warmth through its longline silhouette. It's showerproof, machine washable, has a hood and is reversible. The padded style feels a little more casual and sporty, while the smoother side offers a slightly more grown-up feel.
Are Barbour jackets worth the money?
A Barbour jacket is worth the money due to both its style and functionality. Weatherproof and warm, this stylish British brand has a huge wealth of heritage that ensures it is always on trend. The jackets, with a little bit of TLC and re-waxing when needed will also last a lifetime and can be passed on to other family members, such is their longevity.
Are Barbour jackets still in fashion in 2024?
Barbour jackets have never really gone out of fashion, but unless you've been living under a rock you'll have seen that barn jackets are the IT jacket of 2024.
While the classic silhouettes are ideal in a minimalist wardrobe and can guarantee to keep you dry and warm from one season to the next, the brand has really pushed forward with more directional collections, teaming up with style icons, fashion brands and external creatives to create limited edition collections to keep the Barbour name at the forefront of fashion.
While of course the classic shapes remain supreme, if they feel a little too heritage for your style, you can buy into the brand's weatherproofing expertise through a collaboration collection.
Loved by celebrities and of course the royals, it is unlikely that Barbour will fall out of fashion favour anytime soon.
Which Barbour jackets do the royal family wear?
Between them, the Royal family has quite the collection of Barbour jackets, with the brand having held three Royal warrants since its launch in 1894.
woman&home's, royal editor, Emma Shacklock has been watching the family sport a range of Barbour jackets for years.
"The Royal Family is known for championing British clothing brands - Barbour being one of the most iconic of them. Barbour jackets have a rich heritage and are the perfect combination of style and practicality which is always important to the royals. They also have a quintessential countryside aesthetic and given many royals either live or have other homes in the countryside, they might well feel especially comfortable wearing this style.
"The Princess of Wales is a particular fan of Barbour coats, but Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth, Prince William and King Charles have all been seen sporting one at some point. The brand even received royal warrants from Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth and King Charles when he was Prince of Wales. We’re most likely to see Barbour coats or jackets worn by the royals for outdoor-based engagements in spring and autumn when the weather is wet and temperatures not freezing cold, allowing them to layer pieces underneath or over the top, as appropriate. As a practical piece, it’s also possible they wear them a lot at home or in day-to-day life outside of royal duties or appearances during these times of year or for countryside pursuits."
While the late Queen Elizabeth was thought to be particularly loyal to her classic Barbour Beaufort jacket, Kate Middleton has been spotted in a number of different wax Barbour jackets over the years, as well as the quilted Barbour Longshore jacket.
While Kate's collection of Barbour jackets have largely sold out, the brand's signature style is often at its core core throughout collections, with numerous similar styles available.
How long should Barbour jackets last?
Barbour jackets, with the right aftercare, can literally last a lifetime - it's what makes them such a good investment. Having said this, it is important to adopt a proper maintenance cycle for your jacket if you want it to stay in tip-top, weatherproofed condition.
Helpfully, quilted Barbour jackets are machine washable, and you can read our guide on how to clean a Barbour jacket here.
We also recommend finding out how to to rewax a Barbour jacket. While this might seem like an arduous task, it is certainly cheaper than regularly replacing your Barbour jacket and can make a one-time purchase stay around for years to come.
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