Look rad in plaid.
Look rad in plaid. (Photo: Tadeusz Lakota/Unsplash)

5 Cozy and Performance-Oriented Men’s Flannels

The Best Part of Fall? Flannels.

Look rad in plaid.
Image

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

There are plenty of reasons to celebrate the coming of fall (ski-mountain season passes are on sale, barrel-aged beers are flooding the shelves, bonfires) but really, we’re most psyched to break out our flannels. Here are five of our favorite flannels, from a traditional take to a shirt designed for drinking beer and every step in between.

Patagonia Fjord Flannel ($90)

(Courtesy Patagonia)

Patagonia uses a 6.5-ounce organic cotton with heavy-duty warmth and a “lamb’s butt” softness for its Fjord, which has become a cold-weather staple. Two big chest pockets offer storage, and you can take your pick of fall colors and patterns. If the Fjord is too heavy for you, you can opt for the Lightweight Fjord, which is made from a thinner, 4.5-ounce cotton.

Buy Now


California Cowboy High Sierra ($148)

(Courtesy California Cowboy)

It’s a thick shirt, with a flannel from Portugal that’s lined with a soft cotton-and-rayon thermal layer, so it’s incredibly warm. The big red check gives it a classic look, but it’s full of modern details, like a sunglass loop on the chest, a water-resistant dry pocket for your phone, and a dedicated beer pocket that can hold a bottle or can. Yep, a beer pocket.

Buy Now


Black Diamond Modernist ($85)

(Courtesy Black Diamond)

Flannel doesn’t always mean plaid. Black Diamond’s Modernist is built from 100 percent organic cotton with a slim, athletic cut. In addition to the front chest pocket, it has an internal chest pocket where you can stash a passport or whatever you’re trying to hide.

Buy Now


Outdoor Research Pilchuck ($90)

(Courtesy Outdoor Research)

This is a new shirt from OR that hits the “performance flannel” niche with a blend of polyester, cotton, and wool. It’s incredibly soft (thanks, wool!) and all that polyester does a good job of managing moisture. The horizontal stripes and double chest pockets give it a western sensibility that we dig.

Buy Now


Taylor Stitch Yosemite Shirt ($125)

(Courtesy Taylor Stitch)

The Yosemite is built for durability from a brushed flannel of nine-ounce, 100 percent organic cotton. It has a more tailored fit than some of the other flannels on this list, with a shorter tail that’s meant to be worn untucked. Another nice touch—the pencil slot on the front pocket.

Buy Now

Lead Photo: Tadeusz Lakota/Unsplash

When you buy something using the retail links in our stories, we may earn a small commission. We do not accept money for editorial gear reviews. Read more about our policy.

sms