Love or hate flannels and shackets, their burlier cousins, all you want, but there's no denying the perfectly functional application of them all. Flannel comes in many fabrics and patterns, and while the mere mention of the word conjures imagery of plaid-clad grunge music icons — or maybe just Dad in his weekend getup — there's more to the illustrious cloth than meets the popularly-cultured eye.
For instance, flannel may be synonymous with plaid, but flannel is a cloth, and plaid is a pattern. And flannel is not exactly any one specific cloth, either. It's a general term for tightly woven fabric most commonly of either cotton or wool that is modestly milled and raised and sometimes brushed.
Thick or thin, flannel's greatest appeal might be that there's a flannel for all seasons, despite a predominance of fall tones where patterns are concerned.
It can be hefty and warm, light and airy, monochromatic, or fully rhapsodic in more colors than we'd dare count. If one thing is unquestionably definitive about flannel it's that it can, unconditionally, be worn and loved by all. Below, you'll find our most beloved flannel shirts.
Here are the best flannel shirt brands for men:Updated on 9/21/20 by Amir Ismael: Updated links, added United By Blue as best eco-friendly option, and added notes for what else we've considered. We're currently testing new products from Orvis, Fjallraven, and United By Blue for the next update.