The Best Winter Clothes for Men 2026, According to GQ Editors

The best winter clothes for men aren't nice-to-haves, they're survival gear. Depending on where you are, winter is either coming, already being a menace, or never left (shout out to GQ 's small-but-mighty Alaskan readership). Whatever the forecast in your neck of the woods, proper cold-weather gear is both non-negotiable and urgent. That's why we pulled together this exhaustively-compiled guidebook to braving the blizzards in style this year and beyond. To help you transition from leaf-peeping to ice-dodging, the Recommends squad went deep on all the cold-weather essentials- puffy jackets , fuzzy sweaters , hardy boots , and more. Everything you need to make this your coolest (but also warmest) winter yet. The best wintry duds, it turns out, will do a lot more than keep you toasty: they might just inspire your biggest fits yet. The Winter Essentials Hit List The Impenetrable Puffer We love that iconic North Face puffer as much as the next guy. But don't let its objectively perfect design distract you from the avalanche of stellar, lesser-known alternatives on the market-like, say, the baffling-forward HAVEN x Nanga collaboration, or surprisingly great new Gap design immediately below. Dead set on rocking with TNF? Consider one of the Nupste's other ‘Retro’ colors. The Unbeatable Flannel Shirt In cooler temperatures, a reliable flannel shirt is more than a wardrobe essential: it's a no-brainer . (And this winter 2026, it's also extremely on-trend.) Most versions will be plaid, but all of them should feel substantial enough to double as a light jacket come spring, thanks to their heavyweight wool or beefy cotton make. The Digits-Saving Gloves It's easy enough to remember to stock up on coats , boots , and sweaters, but forgetting about gloves is an all-too-common rookie error. And once you're out there on the tundra-or, y'know, shoving your hands under your pits while you wait for a cab-all it takes is one icy slap on the wrist to teach you a lesson. Thankfully, not only will the right pair keep your hands toasty, they'll also look cool as hell doing it. Or, uh, warm as hell? You get the picture. The Endlessly Layerable Thermal On the most dastardly days of winter, when you wake up achy and frigid and physically unable to roll out from under your duvet, you're going to need some back up. You're probably familiar with the thermal shirts you wore hiking and skiing as a kid, but those old-school long-sleeved tees are just as practical and relevant as ever to your cool-guy wardrobe today. Tuck one into your jeans, throw a heavy flannel and a puffer over top, and you've got yourself an unimpeachable cold-weather ensemble. The Comfy Cords When the weather is all doom and gloom, corduroy pants are a much-needed boost of fashion seratonin, like a mug of soothing hot chocolate. The rest of that sweet-toothed analogy holds true, too: cords are an absolute heavenly treat for your lower half. Plusher than your jeans, miles more comfortable than your wool...

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