One item of gardening clothing we wouldn't be without is a gardening jacket - hanging on a hook by the back door, ready to grab once you've stepped into your favourite gardening shoes. As well as protecting you from the elements, garden jackets up their usefulness factor by boasting a plethora of pockets, which are handy for storing everything you need - including small garden tools, your mobile phone, a pack of tissues, and maybe even a tin of mints.
While you can get away with wandering out to your garden wearing just the clothes on your back in the warmer months, once the thermometer drops, it's time to reach for your trusty gardening jacket to protect you from the worst of the winter weather. Rather than opting for a bulky, duvet-style coat, the best gardening jackets offer a more slimline design so as not to hamper your movement, whether you're raking the lawn or pruning the roses.
Best gardening jackets at a glance:
We have carefully curated a round-up of all styles of gardening jackets, from traditional wax-coated choices to more modern reversible options. Whether you need robust outerwear for the allotment, a weatherproof coat to cover you as fill up the bird feeders, or simply a practical jacket to slip on as you put the bins out, we think you'll find a suitable option in our sartorial selection of the best gardening jackets currently available.
Best gardening jackets
Best waterproof gardening jacket
Regatta A number one Amazon best seller with a 4.3-star rating from nearly 10,000 reviews, this jacket from Regatta comes highly recommended. Reviewers love the affordable price and how lightweight and easy to wear it is. Shoppers are happy with its waterproofing levels, which protect you from moderate rain.
This jacket is made from material featuring Regatta's Hydrafort technology, which is not only waterproof but also windproof, helping you stay warm when the wind chill factor is high. This zip-up jacket has a hood, elasticated cuffs, and an adjustable shock cord hem. This cheap and cheerful choice comes in navy, black, and dark olive.
Pros
- Features Regatta's Hydrafort technology for weather and wind-proofing
- Two large front pockets for essentials
Cons
- Only available in three colour choices
Best traditional gardening jacket
Barbour 
Heritage brand Barbour is the Rolls Royce of outdoor clothing, with Royal Warrants galore. If you're looking for a gardening jacket that's fit for a king but with a modern twist, consider the Ashby. It's a rework of Barbour's traditional Bedale design that's been given a more contemporary silhouette while keeping traditional touches such as the classic tartan trim to the lining and inner pockets.
This jacket is crafted from Sylkoil waxed cotton, which gives it a weatherproof matte finish. Other design details include a corded fold-down collar with a throat strap, a front zip fastening, and gold-tone branded press stud fastenings. Reviewers love this jacket's traditional style, which works both in the garden and the pub garden.
Pros
- High-end quality with some designer touches to make this jacket stand out
- Made from Sylkoil waxed cotton, which is weatherproof
Cons
- Will require re-waxing over time to keep it in good condition
Best gardening jacket for style
Seasalt www.seasaltcornwall.com
This casual jacket from Seasalt is said to be inspired by the way Cornish artists would adopt the tough workwear of fishermen to wear in the studio. Any keen gardener will know it as "The Monty Don Jacket," which is what the horticultural legend often wears while filming and presenting some of his many popular TV shows. Why does The Don love this jacket so much? It's just on the right side of casual for outdoor use, made from a cotton and linen blend that is durable but comfortable, and can be machine-washed at 30 degrees - useful if you've spent the morning elbows-deep in dirt.
This jacket features three patch pockets - a great design for quickly accessing tools and accessories. If you're channelling Monty, you'll want to opt for blue, but it is also available in two shades of brown, beige, green, and grey.
Pros
- A relaxed jacket that's comfortable to wear every day
- This practical choice is machine-washable at 30 degrees
Cons
- This jacket does not have any internal pockets
Best gilet-style gardening jacket
Result A gilet-style jacket offers you ultimate freedom of movement whilst keeping your core warm, thanks to the sleeveless design. This Result Lance gilet can keep you super warm thanks to large zips in the inner jacket that lead directly to the jacket's lining, meaning you could place heat pads inside for a totally toasty outdoor experience.
Reviewers love that there are many pockets, both zipped and flap-closure. They also like that the jacket closes with a sturdy zip and poppers for an extra secure fit. We like this jacket in bottle green, but it's also available in striking red, classic black, and handsome French navy.
Pros
- This jacket boasts multiple pockets, inside and out
- Sleeveless design for optimum arm movement
Cons
- The mobile phone pocket is too small for larger handsets
Best chore coat gardening jacket
Dickies www.dickieslife.com
Described by the brand as the essential Dickies overcoat, this hardwearing garment is designed to be worn when you're undertaking tough tasks. This jacket is made from soft yet durable brushed duck canvas that's been stone-washed for a pre-worn finish.
This button-up jacket features a smart corduroy collar and offers a fleecy lining for warmth. The cuffs are adjustable, and there are three pockets - two on the front of the jacket and one internal. We're featuring the men's version of this jacket, but it is also available for women.
Pros
- Soft, fleecy lining for warmth when outdoors
- This jacket offers three good-sized patch pockets
Cons
- This jacket does not have a zip closure
Best reversible gardening jacket
Seasalt www.seasaltcornwall.com
We like this Seasalt raincoat for its timeless design. It is a take on a traditional fishermen's mac, so this jacket will never go out of fashion. That simple design gives you an adjustable hood, two large front pockets, and a zip closure that makes it completely waterproof once zipped up.
The fact that it's reversible is an added bonus. You can choose between the cheerful "Sunglow" side or opt for the always-elegant navy. This also scores points for being eco-friendly - it's made from 100% recycled polyester. This jacket's fit is generous, allowing for chunky knitwear underneath, ideal for a winter's afternoon pottering in the garden.
Pros
- The main jacket is made from 100% recycled polyester
- Comfortable, oversized design to allow for warm weather clothing
Cons
- Some reviewers don't like that there's no hanging loop
Best women's waxed gardening jacket
Barbour The prestigious brand describes this Barbour waxed jacket as an authentic country-to-town layer. Thanks to its high-end, quality design, great tailoring, and premium materials, it will earn its place on your coat rack. An up-to-date take on a Barbour classic, the Beadnell offers a relaxed, easy fit, giving you plenty of manoeuvrability for gardening tasks.
Features include a heritage-inspired tartan lining with engraved branded studs, a cord-textured collar, and our favourite thing of all - not just two practical studded pockets, but two hand warmer pockets perfectly placed on the jacket's waistline for some digit defrosting.
Pros
- Attractive, heritage-inspired tartan lining
- Two handwarmer pockets and two studded pockets
Cons
- This jacket is not machine-washable
How we chose the best gardening jackets
All of these gardening jackets have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the style, materials, and, of course, the number of pockets in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching all types of jackets suitable for the garden to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
What do I need to know about the sizing of gardening jackets?
The advice for the sizing of gardening jackets is the same for any kind of outerwear - order your usual size. Size charts on the retailer's website should give you more insight into this. Some retailers, like Amazon, share useful customer information they glean from reviewers about whether or not the garment fits true to size or if you need to size up.
How do I wash my gardening jacket?
Most of the jackets we're featuring are practical, machine-washable garments as gardening clothing, like gardening aprons, typically are. Often, manufacturers will recommend washing them on a 30-degree cycle to be on the safe side. Check the laundry label instructions on your jacket to see what the manufacturer recommends.
The only jackets we're featuring that can't go through the wash are the waxed jackets. Machine washing a wax jacket will remove the special protective coating that makes it weatherproof. You can brush dirt off wax jackets and spot-clean them, but in the long run, waxed jackets will eventually need to be re-waxed.
How can I get a jacket re-waxed?
If you search online, you will find many professional jacket re-waxing services available. Alternatively, you can buy wax cotton dressing that you can apply yourself with a soft cloth or polishing pad. There are hundreds of helpful YouTube tutorial videos which show you the best way to do this.
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Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens, Yours, Take A Break Pets, and A Modern Kitchen. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.