When temperatures plummet, your first inclination might be to reach for your favorite cozy sweater or practical puffer jacket. But far too many fellas seem to neglect their legs during wintertime, leading to chilly knee-wobbling and an unequal amount of warmth retention throughout. All of this to say – you’re gonna want to keep your legs warm too, guys!
For day-to-day casual wear, it’s hard to beat a solid pair of jeans. Even better when they’re of a heifer weight, or even lined with additional material for maximum warmth. For the most part, it’s considered a bit more on-theme to wear darker wash denim during the cooler months, but this is hardly a steadfast rule.
In this list of the best men’s jeans you can buy this fall and winter, you’ll see tons of variety, from differing washes, fits, and features.
So, let’s get into it, shall we? Here are our picks for the best fall and winter jeans.
The Best Budget Fleece-Lined Jeans
Men’s Fleece Lined Five Pocket Jean by Wrangler Authentics
There’s nothing like a cozy fleece lining to warm you up on a chilly day, and this pair by Wrangler Authentics is a great budget option to fill that purpose. With a comfortable, relaxed fit, classic stonewash and black wash variations, as well as soft brown fleece lining, these will serve you well during the coldest winter days to come.
The best part? You can get ‘em for under $40 on Amazon. Sort of a no-brainer.
The Best Overall Fleece-Lined Jeans
Men’s Double L® Jeans, Classic Fit, Fleece-Lined by L.L. Bean
For a fleece-lined jean with a somewhat more premium design, turn to famed Maine clothier L.L. Bean. This pair comes in a versatile stonewash that’s neither too light nor too dark – it sits comfortably in the middle of blue denim hues for maximum styling flexibility. Made from a heavyweight cotton, these jeans are already a warm pair even before you account for the cozy fleece lining.
We also love the rise on these, with a waist that comes up comfortably high. For just under $80, they’re hard to beat.
The Best Flannel-Lined Jeans
Men’s Double L® Jeans, Classic Fit, Flannel-Lined by L.L. Bean
For another great cold-weather option, consider yet another excellent pair of L.L. Bean’s Classic Fit Double L Jeans, this time with a soft cotton flannel lining. These heavyweight jeans mean business on even the chilliest of days, and we can’t get enough of the classic blue denim wash. The flannel lining has a great little bit of pattern too, which adds even more visual interest.
These sit at your waist in terms of rise, and again, at just under $80 in terms of price.
The Best Budget Heavyweight Jeans
15 oz Heavyweight Selvedge Denim Jeans by Bronson MFG
You don’t always need to go with something lined if you’re looking for a good, winter-appropriate pair of jeans. Sometimes, the heft of some heavier denim alone is enough to keep you fairly warm, and these 15 oz selvedge jeans by Bronson MFG are just the ticket. They feature a straight leg fit and a mid-to-high rise on the waist, and are dyed with indigo for you to wear into and fade for yourself.
Hurry though, because these bad boys go out of stock pretty often. Snag yourself a pair for right under $70.
The Best Overall Heavyweight Jeans
Vintage Relaxed Straight Jeans in Raw Selvedge by Madewell
Looking for some truly outstanding heavyweight jeans? Madewell has you (and your chilly legs) covered. Just take a quick gander at their Vintage Relaxed Straight Jeans in Raw Selvedge and you’ll quickly see the appeal. These sport a unique, slouchy, and relaxed fit through the thigh and leg, with wide leg opening of 16.5 inches and a decent rise of 12 inches.
Made from 100% cotton, these also weigh about 15 oz, and feature some damn impressive craftsmanship. They’ll run you almost $200, but these truly are some killer heavyweight jeans.
The Best Light Wash Jeans for Winter
Cowboy Cut Original Fit Jean: Antique Wash by Wrangler
We know what you’re thinking. Light wash denim? For winter? Well, actually, yes! Despite darker wash denim tending to be fall and winter’s favorite, there’s no rule against some nice lighter wash jeans year round. They can look especially smart when paired with a black sweater, black coat, boots, you get the idea. And we’d recommend the Wrangler Cowboy Cut Jeans all year long, as well. Their antique wash just happens to be one of their best.
With a slimmer thigh and slightly flared bootcut opening, these jeans have a great western flare that can still be style with more contemporary looks. Oh, and they’re a nice mid-to-high rise, which is always a total bonus. You can snag them for under $50, too!
More Great Jeans We Love for Winter
That’s hardly our full list, and we’re not done here just yet. While the jeans featured above leaned rather heavily into some of the more standard categories you’d expect for fall and winter denim, there’s some stuff that’s simply too hard to define – or otherwise too damn nice to ignore this season.
So whether you’re still looking for the perfect pair of warm jeans to combat these chilly temperatures, or just interested in some more excellent addition to your denim rotation, read on below for even more great pairs we recommend.
Wallace & Barnes Creased Slant-Pocket Jean in Japanese Selvedge Denim by J.Crew
Built from a soft-yet-sturdy 13.75 oz denim, these jeans by J.Crew’s popular Wallace & Barnes label offer up a look that’s quite unique and super sleek. With their relaxed, straight fit and longer rise on the waist, these seem pretty standard at first, until you take into account their distinctive, hard-pressed creases down the front of the leg.
They’re also made from a selvedge denim fabric sourced from the Kaihara mill in Japan, one of the biggest and best-known denim producers in the world. We also love the medium-dark wash on these – it’s perfect for the colder seasons. And they’re not insanely priced either, at $168. Go J.Crew!
90s Straight Jean by Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch have made waves these last few years due to a much-overdue brand revitalization, and their denim offerings remain as exciting as ever. While their looser fitting jeans have received much fanfare, we wanted to highlight their 90s Straight Jean as a standout product in their own right.
With tons of great washes and colors, and one of the most classic, flattering straight fits you can get, we think these are an absolutely stellar pair of jeans for only $79.
Rail-Splitter Lined Jeans by Filson
Looking to live out all your lumberjack-inspired fantasies? Filson has you covered with their Rail-Splitter Lined Jeans, which, not unlike the L.L. Bean pair shown earlier, also features a flannel lining. These are some hefty jeans, too, coming in at 14.5 oz, and they’re sewn in the USA, to boot. They come in a classic straight cut, and their raw indigo wash is perfect for self-fading adventures. Oh, and they’re currently on sale for under $180!
Sullivan Slim Stretch Jean by Polo Ralph Lauren
Slim jeans aren’t dead! Polo Ralph Lauren knows this, which is why they’ve continued to offer great-fitting slimmer cuts like their Sullivan Slim Stretch Jeans. We really like their Westlyn Stretch wash for its darker mood, perfect for fall and winter wear. These have a lower rise with a slim fit through the seat, thigh, and leg, but they’re damn sure to be quite the flattering pair. And at under $150, they’re well-priced as well.
Organic Cotton ’90s Loose Jeans by GAP
Gap has enjoyed a decent little brand renaissance moment this year, with tons of new, looser fits being introduced that harken back to their history in the 90s. Their Organic Cotton ‘90s Loose Jeans are some of the best to come out of this brand direction, with four great washes and a truly relaxed, loose fit with the perfect amount of slouch. We especially love the washed black pair, which appears as a broken-in gray denim.
These jeans feature a mid-to-high rise that’s over 12 inches and a longer inseam that stacks at the hem in a surprisingly pleasing way. Make no mistake, these don’t look sloppy. It’s a sort of relaxed sophistication that can only be achieved through some well-manufactured jeans – and these are it. Made from a 13 oz organic cotton, these are a great pick for fall, winter, or all year round.
For under $80, they’re a steal, and often go on sale, too.
That concludes our look at the best jeans that will keep you warm, looking good and prepared to brave the winter weather. Each of these options allows your legs to have whatever they need – be it extra insulation, or tough everlasting fabrics hence making sure that they are as warm as the rest of you. Also, it is very important to keep in mind that winter jeans are not just to keep warm but a chic fashion enhancement across the season.
When it comes to winter jeans, never forget how important they are when layering for a cold commute or relaxing by the fire on a snowy night. For the love of fashion, don’t allow the cold weather to ruin your look. Step out stylishly in jeans which can withstand the challenges of the season.