A good leather jacket lasts decades. A great one outlasts you. These six are made in the USA by people who have been doing it longer than most brands have existed.
Perfecto 618
The Perfecto is the original motorcycle jacket. Schott has been making it in New Jersey since 1928. Marlon Brando wore one in The Wild One and the design has barely changed since. The cowhide is thick, the hardware is heavy, and the break-in takes months. But once it molds to your body, nothing else comes close. This is the leather jacket.
Best for: Best overall
Check price →184SM Lightweight Cafe Racer
If the Perfecto is too aggressive for your style, the 184SM is the answer. Same Schott quality, same New Jersey factory, but a cleaner cafe racer silhouette. The lambskin is softer and lighter, so the break-in is much easier. This is the leather jacket you can wear to the office.
Best for: Best for comfort
Check price →Comet Motorcycle Jacket
Vanson makes jackets for people who actually ride. Their Fall River, Massachusetts factory builds jackets with competition-weight leather, armor pockets, and seams designed to hold up in a slide. This is not a fashion piece. It is protective equipment that happens to look incredible.
Best for: Best premium option
Check price →Classic Motorcycle Jacket
Fox Creek Leather is the best value American-made leather jacket I have found. They sell direct from their Independence, Virginia shop, cutting out the middlemen. The cowhide is heavy, the stitching is solid, and they stand behind everything with a buy-it-for-life attitude. At $450, this is the entry point for serious American leather.
Best for: Best value
Check price →Coronado Leather Jacket
Coronado makes their jackets in San Diego using Horween and other premium American leathers. The styling leans classic Americana — think bomber and cafe racer silhouettes. The leather quality is excellent and the brand is small enough that quality control is hands-on. Good option if you want something between Schott and Fox Creek.
Best for: Best premium option
Check price →Highwayman Jacket
Lost Worlds is a small-batch operation in New York making some of the finest leather jackets in the country. The Highwayman uses horsehide — denser and more durable than cowhide — and every jacket is essentially made to order. This is for the person who wants the absolute best and does not mind paying for it.
Best for: Best premium option
Check price →