There are few wardrobe workhorses that outperform a trucker jacket. While the first denim jacket appeared around 1905, it din't take off until until 1962, when the Levi's introduced their Trucker model (with its cropped cut and dual chest pockets), that men's style was forever changed. As comfortable as it is durable, it's also endlessly adaptable—you can pair this lightweight outerwear with pretty much everything in your closet.

Now's the perfect time to pull one on, too. The unpredictable weather of spring means you can wear this on it's own with a T-shirt on warm, sunny afternoons, but then layer it over a sweater or flannel on those last few chilly or rainy days. The reason why the jacket is so reliable is because it's managed to keep its irreverent cool and the silhouette can morph with the times. Right now, you opt for a raw selvedge style or black denim version and wear it close and cropped. Or you could choose from relaxed fabrics like linen, garment-dyed twill, corduroy or vintage washed denim and size up for a looser, boxier look.

Of course, if there's one downside about a legendary style like the trucker jacket, it's that there's an endless sea of options when you're trying to find one. And while they all might look similar on the hanger, how they look on the body is all due to the fabric choice and tailoring of the jacket. That's why you want to make sure you get a really good one—a jacket you can wear now and next year and five years from now. We've tried on our fair share, and then washed and worn a handful, to narrow down a select edit of the best ones worth your money. Take a look and see which ones speak to your style sensibility.