The best overshirts for men

Filson's old Mackinaw Jac-Shirt, renamed: 18 oz 100% wool that Filson says is wind-resistant and insulates wet or dry, with flap chest pockets and a straight hem for wearing untucked.

Why this one: Over the Taylor Stitch Maritime: 18 oz of pure wool against 11 oz wool-nylon, and roomier, for $151 more.

Limitation: Dry clean only, and Filson publishes body measurements rather than the garment's, so check the fit against a jacket you own.

An 11 oz wool-nylon double face cut as a shirt: shirt collar and cuffs, felled seams, two oversized flap chest pockets, fitted at the chest with a straighter body.

Why this one: Over the Filson Jac-Shirt: 11 oz rather than 18, so it layers under a coat, and $151 less.

Limitation: A limited run Taylor Stitch says may not come back, and hand wash only. 20% nylon, so not as warm as the all-wool picks.

Wax London's best-known overshirt in a heavy knitted wool-blend check from Italy, made to sit 'between shirt, mid-layer and jacket', with corozo nut buttons and two patch pockets.

Why this one: Over the Portuguese Flannel Agripa: $7 less, with the fit and care stated, though 80% wool against the Agripa's 100%.

Limitation: 80% wool and 20% polyester, and dry clean only. The sleeves are lined; the body lining isn't stated.

A 100% wool jacquard plaid overshirt with horn buttons and two chest patch pockets, from the Portuguese shirtmaker's wool series.

Why this one: Over the Wax London Whiting: all wool rather than 80% wool and polyester, with horn buttons, for $7 more.

Limitation: The page states no weight, fit, origin or care, and S was sold out on 20 Oct. The US price is converted from euros.

Cut and sewn in Portland from 22 oz melton wool, unlined, with button-flap chest pockets, welt hand pockets, reinforced elbows and bias-cut pockets and yoke.

Why this one: Over the Filson Jac-Shirt: 22 oz melton against 18 oz, with hand pockets, made in Portland, for $76 more.

Limitation: At 22 oz it is as heavy as many jackets, so it won't go under a coat. No care instructions on the page.

C.P. Company's felted virgin wool-blend overshirt, with flap chest pockets, adjustable button barrel cuffs and the lens pocket on the sleeve. Made in Romania.

Why this one: Over the Wax London Whiting: the same 80% wool share, felted, with the lens pocket, for $310 more.

Limitation: Read and priced at SSENSE (C.P. Company's own store blocks reads); one of each size left on 20 Oct, XXL sold out. Photo from Slam Jam, an authorised stockist.

The '60s California surf shirt and still Pendleton's bestseller: pure virgin wool woven in its American mills, machine-washable, with a square hem and two bias-cut pockets.

Why this one: Over the Outerknown Blanket Shirt: wool rather than cotton, so warmer, and still machine-washable, for $30 more.

Limitation: Pendleton calls it midweight and states no weight; a shirt first, so it won't do a jacket's job. Several colourways were unavailable on 20 Oct.

Outerknown's best-known piece: a lofty organic cotton BlanketWeave twill in a relaxed fit, with button-flap chest pockets and buttons made from nuts. 29½ in long in M.

Why this one: Over the Pendleton Board Shirt: organic cotton that tumble-dries, for $30 less.

Limitation: No fabric weight stated and only body measurements published. Cotton, so not as warm as the wool picks.

Modelled on 1940s US Navy issue overshirts, in a triple-brushed Japanese cotton flannel twill, with flap chest pockets, corozo buttons and a crossed back yoke.

Why this one: Over the Pendleton Board Shirt: brushed Japanese cotton in a Navy overshirt cut with flap pockets, for $42 more, but cotton is less warm than wool.

Limitation: No weight, fit or care stated, and no measurements for this colour. Cotton, so not as warm as wool.

A brushed 100% cotton flannel in a regular fit, with a shirt-tail hem Uniqlo cuts to work tucked in or untucked. Machine washable.

Why this one: Over the Outerknown Blanket Shirt: brushed cotton flannel for about $118 less, though lighter and with one pocket.

Limitation: A shirt-weight flannel with one chest pocket, and Uniqlo states no weight; sold as unisex in men's sizes.

Universal Works' four-pocket overshirt in naturally dyed organic cotton canvas: unstructured, generously cut, with a back yoke and pleats and pockets taken from military fatigues.

Why this one: Over the Kestin Durno: four pockets and canvas that wears in, for $19 less.

Limitation: Canvas and four pockets put it at the jacket end of overshirts; the maker's chart calls it the Dockside Jacket. No weight or origin stated.

Norse Projects' Arresskov in 325 gsm garment-dyed cotton broken twill, relaxed, with two chest pockets, side-seam pockets, an offset placket and corozo buttons. Made in Turkey.

Why this one: Over the Universal Works Dockside: a stated 325 gsm twill, garment-dyed, with side-seam pockets, for $65 more.

Limitation: No care instructions on the page, and the size chart is the Arresskov pattern's rather than this fabric's.

Edinburgh label Kestin's overshirt in garment-dyed 5-wale corduroy, made in Portugal, with a camp collar that buttons to the neck and room to layer over a tee.

Why this one: Over the Universal Works Dockside: soft wide-wale cord and a camp collar, made in Portugal, for $19 more.

Limitation: Only two chest pockets, so nowhere for your hands, and no weight stated.

A.P.C.'s overshirt in off-white 100% organic cotton denim: a straight, loose cut with sloping shoulders, one chest pocket and the A.P.C. label on the buttoned placket.

Why this one: Over the Norse Projects Arresskov: a looser, plainer cut in organic denim with one pocket, for $35 more.

Limitation: A.P.C. states no weight, origin or care, and it has a single pocket.

Garment-dyed cord with a contrast chest pocket, a double pen slot and the badge on the sleeve, in Stone Island's comfort fit. 100% organic cotton corduroy with a snap front and snap cuffs.

Why this one: Over the Kestin Durno: garment-dyed organic cord with a snap front and the badge, for $416 more.

Limitation: S was sold out on 21 Oct, and Stone Island states no fabric weight or wale. One chest pocket and no hand pockets.

A soft cotton corduroy shirt jacket in a relaxed fit, with a spread collar, button front and cuffs, a chest patch pocket and a back yoke. Hits at the hip.

Why this one: Over the Kestin Durno: cotton corduroy in the same easy shape for $189 less, with no stated wale or origin.

Limitation: One chest pocket and no hand pockets; Gap states no wale or weight, and publishes body measurements only.

9.2 oz eight-wale cotton corduroy over a vertical-quilted nylon taffeta lining, garment-washed, in a loose fit, with flap chest pockets and two welt pockets.

Why this one: Over the Uniqlo Padded Shirt Jacket: 9.2 oz corduroy over the quilting and hand pockets, for $108 more.

Limitation: The lining makes it too bulky to tuck or wear under a coat. No origin or care stated on the US store.

A relaxed CPO in yarn-dyed 7.5 oz brushed woolen twill, insulated with PrimaLoft and lined in nylon ripstop, with corozo buttons and two patch-and-flap chest pockets.

Why this one: Over the Carhartt WIP Whitsome: brushed wool rather than cotton cord, with PrimaLoft insulation, for $50 more.

Limitation: Dry clean only, and only the golden-brown check was in stock on 20 Oct.

A Kind of Guise's quilted overshirt in fine organic cotton baby cord, with a padded, quilted lining, rubber press buttons, side-seam pockets and a slightly rounded hem. Made in Spain.

Why this one: Over the Carhartt WIP Whitsome: finer organic baby cord with press buttons, made in Spain, for about $163 more.

Limitation: Sold in euros: $361 is €315 converted on 20 Oct. No chest pockets.

Brushed cotton flannel over polyester padding, in a relaxed, boxy cut, with two flap chest pockets and padded side pockets.

Why this one: Over the Carhartt WIP Whitsome: the same padded shirt-jacket idea in brushed flannel, for $108 less.

Limitation: Polyester filling and lining, hand wash only, and no garment measurements published.