Ben Davis Jackets Explained: Original Heavyweight vs. Mechanic’s vs. Denim

Ben Davis has made work clothes in the Bay Area since 1935, and the gorilla patch is as San Jose as it gets. The jackets are built for the job site first, which is exactly why they have become a streetwear staple. Three are on our racks every fall; here is how they differ.

Original Heavyweight Button Jacket

This is the one people mean when they say “a Ben Davis jacket.” Heavyweight twill shell, snap-button front, two front pockets, a pointed collar and a soft blanket lining through the body. The cut is boxy and square through the shoulders, so it drapes straight rather than hugging. It is the warmest of the three and the most classic looking.

• Best for: cold mornings, the vintage workwear look, wearing over a heavyweight hoodie.
• Fit note: cut roomy to go over layers. Take your normal size unless you want it slim, then size down one.

Original Mechanic’s Jacket

The Mechanic’s swaps the snaps for a heavy-duty zipper and the blanket lining for a quilted polyester lining. The shell is a 10.5 oz cotton-rich twill, lighter than the Original, with elastic cuffs and an elastic waistband that keep drafts and grime out when you are bent over an engine or a workbench. It sits shorter at the hip and moves more freely.

• Best for: active work, driving, layering under a heavier coat, a cleaner, sportier look.
• Fit note: the elastic waist means it fits close at the hip. True to size for most people.

Original Heavyweight Denim Jacket

Same snap-front Original pattern cut in heavyweight denim instead of twill. You get the Original’s square shoulders, pockets and lining with the texture and fade of denim. It stiffens up less over time than raw denim and pairs naturally with Dickies or Makobi below.

• Best for: the trucker-jacket look with real warmth, anyone who wants denim without a tight fit.
• Fit note: same as the Original; roomy, true size for layering.

Side by side