Published September 28, 2018 12:00AM
If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside.Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy
5 Cozy and Performance-Oriented Men’s Flannels
The Best Part of Fall? Flannels.
Look rad in plaid.
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)
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
California Cowboy High Sierra ($148)
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
Black Diamond Modernist ($85)
ADVERTISEMENT
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.
Outdoor Research Pilchuck ($90)
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.
ADVERTISEMENT
Taylor Stitch Yosemite Shirt ($125)
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.
