The Best Men’s Winter Jeans For Battling Cold Weather

Jeans: the world’s favourite casual legwear. Dependable, durable, versatile and capable… except when winter hits hard. As much as we love it, denim’s insulating properties are, at best, limited. Add to that the fact that it loses what little heat retention it has the second someone whispers the word ‘rain’ near it, and what you have is a recipe for cold legs.

The trouble is that denim jeans are a staple—perhaps the most notable example. People want to wear them for the reasons outlined above. They don’t want to spend several months trying to create passable outfits around a pair of insulated salopettes (good luck with that).

Jeans make putting fits together easy. So, how can you go through winter and stay warm without subbing them for something less stylish?

Thankfully, there are some options. Below, we’ll discuss what to look for in a pair of winter jeans and the brands making the best versions.

What Makes A Pair Of Jeans Winter-Friendly?

A few things can make denim better suited to the colder months. Here’s a quick overview of what to look out for.

Denim Weight

The average consumer probably doesn’t examine the weight of their jeans before buying, but those in the world of raw denim know how much of a difference weight makes to both the look and feel of jeans.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, heavier cloth is better when it comes to choosing denim for the winter. The extra heft of the material will go some way towards helping to block out the cold. And while insulation still won’t be the best, it’ll be much better than a pair of paper-thin stretch denim jeans from a high-street store.

Aim for 14oz fabric and up. The higher you go, the stiffer and more cumbersome jeans get, but that applies mostly to raw jeans. If you like the deep indigo look but dread the breaking-in period, you could always choose a one-wash option. This way, you get all the perks of raw denim without the initial discomfort.

Flannel And Fleece Linings

Wrangler

In the world of workwear, lined jeans are commonplace. Denim is durable enough for manual labour (that’s why it was invented, after all), and adding a warm lining means those who work outdoors can continue to benefit from it during the coldest parts of the year, too.

The most common materials are flannel and fleece. We recommend the former unless you’re dealing with extreme cold. It offers good insulation but is still thin enough to retain freedom of movement and leg mobility.

Tech Fabrics

If neither of these options appeals, you could go down the more technical route. Several brands use clever, insulating, heat-retaining fabrics to make their jeans suitable for cold weather.

Some incorporate moisture-wicking tech to eliminate cotton’s absorption issue, while others rely on fancy reflective fibres that trap body heat within the fabric.

The Best Brands For Cold-Weather Jeans

LL Bean

The original American outdoor outfitter, L.L. Bean is known for building hard-working clothing for life in the rural USA.

The brand offers several of its classic denim legwear styles in fleece- and flannel-lined versions, providing warmth and durability for those who spend their days in the great outdoors.

Shop now at L.L. Bean

Carhartt

It should come as no surprise that insulated jeans are something that American workwear heavyweight Carhartt does well. The brand is known for making long-lasting gear for long days toiling away in the cold, exemplified in its range of fleece- and flannel-lined jeans.

Tough, warm and reasonably priced. What more could you ask for?

Shop now at Carhartt

Wrangler

You’ll find that most classic American denim brands make insulated versions of their jeans, and Wrangler is no exception. After all, it’s in their best interests to ensure that jeans can be year-round garments, and adding a nice warm lining is a surefire way to ensure you can continue to shift units when it’s cold.

For example, Wrangler’s Rugged Wear Thermal Jeans feature a slightly oversized fit and a quilted Thinsulate lining.

Shop now at Wrangler

Lee

Similarly, Lee is another classic American jeans manufacturer that has adapted its product for cold weather use.

Geared towards those who work outdoors, the brand’s flannel- and fleece-lined jeans blend warmth and durability, allowing you to enjoy the perks of denim even when the mercury dips down low.

Shop now at Amazon

Dickies

Heritage workwear brands often offer the best bang for your buck when it comes to practical clothing, and that’s certainly true when it comes to winter jeans. Take Dickies, for example. This American workwear label offers a range of insulated denim legwear perfect for braving cold temperatures, and for a highly reasonable price.

Are they going to win any awards for fashion? Probably not. But if you want a solid pair of jeans that won’t leave you frostbitten or broke, there are few better options out there.

Shop now at Amazon

Naked & Famous

We’ve spoken a lot about insulated jeans, but there’s another way to tackle the issue. If you’re the type of guy who likes to buy higher-quality items that last longer and look better, you might get along better with the heavyweight denim approach.

Countless niche brands from America, Japan and beyond offer super-heavy denim, but Naked & Famous is notable for offering the weightiest product on the market—a leg-destroying 40oz.

Honestly, you probably don’t need to go anywhere near this weight. However, the brand offers several more palatable options up to 40 so everyone can get on board, from seasoned raw-denim veterans to soft-calved newcomers.

Shop now at Stuarts London

Iron Heart

Few brands are as revered as Iron Heart when it comes to heavyweight denim. This Japanese label specialises in ultra-durable jeans designed for hardcore denim enthusiasts. Known for their heavyweight fabrics, which range from 21oz to 25oz, these jeans are built to withstand cold weather and daily wear without breaking a sweat.

But Iron Heart’s jeans don’t just offer warmth; they’re also meticulously crafted, with a focus on quality construction and a fit that ages beautifully over time.

These are jeans for those who want a pair that will last a lifetime, develop unique fades and keep them warm when the mercury drops.

Shop now at Iron Heart