Nylon-poly fabric isn’t luxurious, but it is quick-drying, wrinkle-resistant, and tough enough to handle most excursions—particularly if they stay on the sidewalk. We really like the removable back panel that converts the Flygo into a full mesh vest, offering maximum ventilation. With 15 pockets total, you could wear this trail running—or to your local coffee shop “cubicle”—and ditch the backpack entirely.
Best Technical Utility Vest: Stone Island Water-Resistant Nylon Utility Vest
Stone Island’s iconic compass logo remains a fashion flex, but the brand’s real strength is going full mad-scientist mode when it comes to textiles, often reinventing existing materials with wild dying and coating techniques. Case in clothing: its utility vest is made from a three-layer fabric, with an outer nylon over a breathable, water-resistant membrane, backed by a whisper-thin polyester base. That nylon outer layer also has a water repellant finish that makes liquids bead up and roll off.
The vest also brings a black ops-by-way-of-Milan vibe, with 3-D pockets more than ample enough to handle your everyday carry (keys, phone, existential dread) and an adjustable front belt with a buckle that cinches everything in. Plus, a secret: a stowaway hood that pops out of the collar, for when it turns out your weather app fumbled the bag. Again.
Best Denim Utility Vest: Snow Peak Takibi Denim Vest
A denim vest conjures visions of handlebar mustaches and reruns of American Chopper, but Japanese outdoor brand Snow Peak reboots the look with a utility-forward twist. Its Takibi vest—takibi meaning “gathering around the fire”—isn’t just a fire piece of menswear, it’s literally fire-resistant.
Made from a flame-retardant fabric milled in Japan that’s been blended with modacrylic and cotton, this vest means business. Adjustable over-shoulder straps a la overalls combine with a zip-front closure to let you slip the Takibi over lighter jackets and shells with ease. Which means, with its two billowy front pockets and one massive back pouch, you’re able to carry anything you need for the campsite.
That said, we’re more likely to throw it over a crewneck sweatshirt, then add some Stan Ray utility pants and Red Wings, and happily leave the cross-body bag at home.
Best Linen Utility Vest: Todd Snyder Linen Utility Vest
From knit polos to easy suiting and everything in between, Todd Snyder has a knack for making it absurdly easy for guys to get dressed. Take this beautiful cigar-colored vest, for instance: it’s a masterclass in making something that can veer costume-y into a piece that’s approachable.
Made from 100 percent linen, it’s unlined, garment-washed, and soft as your favorite summer beach shirt. Toss it over a polo, pair it with some matching linen pants, and finish it off with moc-toes. Better yet, pack it for vacation—this utility vest looks equally good with your favorite swim trunks, a bare chest, and a margarita.
Best Heavyweight Utility Vest: Randy’s Garments 12-oz. Cotton Duck Canvas Easy Vest
Randy’s Garments is much newer than its workwear wave competition (Carhartt, Filson, etc.), but this vest is further proof that the made-in-USA label can hang with the originals. The hefty 12-ounce duck canvas vest feels like it could be dragged behind an F-150 and come out looking fine, which means it’ll hold up just fine for a weekend flea market crawl.
With two deep welt pockets and bar tacks placed right where they count, this is a vest built for the long haul. Obviously, you could pair it with some rugged work pants, but maybe flip the script and throw on some white jeans for a full oat milk latté look (actual oat milk latté optional).
More Utility Vests We Love
We know it’s hard to put your beloved Carhartt Detroit jacket into hibernation for summer. But for every door that closes, a window opens: Carhartt’s OG Classic Vest deletes the arms but keeps the rest. It’s ready to soak up a spring-summer workwear patina like a champ.
British label Universal Works makes some of the best overshirts in the game, but its vests are slept on. This clean version in a rugged khaki twill is practical, lightweight, and low-key in the way you want for a wear-it-with-anything layer.
Nike ACG’s was inspired by a true story: the sub-brand’s designers once teamed up with biologists to make tiny, stylish vests for Jamaican iguanas. That lead to the Black Iguana Vest, designed for hot, wet conditions. A removable bottom portion transforms into a cross-body bag, so you’re ready for whatever the day—or the ecosystem—throws your way.
Cornwall-based Finisterre makes a tough-as-nails fisherman sweater built for blustery winters. Now, its spun up the ideal transitional layer: light enough to grab on the way out the door every day between now and mid-Fall, like a stylish emergency blanket.
Barbour is best known for its waxed jackets and unbeatable outerwear in general. This all-cotton utility vest isn’t made to shrug off a London downpour, but it is lightweight enough for the kind of heat Ol’ Blighty rarely sees.
Engineered Garments showed surprising restraint with this vest—shocking, considering the Japanese brand’s usual “more is more” approach to storage. Of course, this is EG, so the Fowl vest plays with proportion, featuring a cropped front and an elongated back, much like the label’s signature shirt silhouettes. And that self-tie fastening? Just the right amount of EG weirdness to keep things interesting.
How We Test and Review Products
Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.