An aviator jacket has a shearling or fur collar, a heavy hide and a wool lined interior, built for genuine cold. A bomber jacket has a knitted rib collar, cuffs and hem, a lighter build and a roomier body, built for movement in milder conditions. Both come from military flight gear, but they solved different problems.
The names get used interchangeably online, which is why people end up with a jacket that is either far warmer or far lighter than they expected. Here is the actual difference.
The Aviator Jacket
Look for: a wide shearling or fur collar that folds up around the neck. Heavy leather. Wool or shearling lining. Often buckle straps at the collar and cuffs.
Aviator jackets came from open cockpit and high altitude flying, where the temperature could drop far below freezing. Everything about the design is about trapping heat. The shearling lining is not decorative, it is the insulation. The wide collar folds up to cover the throat and ears.
The best known example is the B3, a sheepskin jacket with the wool left on the inside of the hide. It is the warmest jacket in the category by a clear margin, and also the bulkiest.
Choose an aviator if you need real winter warmth, you want a jacket with visible texture and presence, or you like the traditional military look. See Aviator Jackets and Shearling Leather Jackets.
The Bomber Jacket
Look for: knitted rib at the collar, cuffs and hem. Straight centre zip. Roomy body, short length. Usually a smooth polyester or quilted lining.
Bombers came from enclosed, heated cockpits where crews needed freedom of movement more than insulation. The ribbed hem and cuffs seal out draughts without adding bulk. The short body stops the jacket bunching when seated.
The result is a much lighter, more mobile jacket that works across three seasons rather than just winter.
Choose a bomber if you want something you can wear most of the year, you prefer a cleaner silhouette, or you want a jacket that layers easily over a hoodie. See Bomber Leather Jackets.
Side by Side
- Warmth: aviator by a wide margin.
- Weight: bomber is far lighter.
- Seasons: aviator is winter only, bomber works across three seasons.
- Collar: aviator has shearling or fur, bomber has knit rib.
- Silhouette: aviator is bulky, bomber is cleaner.
- Versatility: bomber, easily.
- Presence: aviator, easily.
How Each Should Fit
Aviator. Size up if you are between sizes. The shearling lining takes up real space inside, more than most people expect, and you need room for a jumper underneath in the weather this jacket is built for. The shoulder seam should still sit on your shoulder bone. The hem sits at the belt line.
Bomber. Also size up if between sizes, but for a different reason. The ribbed hem does the shaping, so the body is meant to be full. A tight bomber loses its whole character. The rib should sit at your waistband and the cuffs at the wrist.
Our guide on whether to size up or down in a leather jacket covers the rule for every style.
What About the A2?
The A2 sits between the two and confuses things further. It is a leather flight jacket with a shirt style collar, knit cuffs and hem, and a light lining. So it has the bomber's ribbing but a folded leather collar instead of knit or shearling.
Think of it as the lighter, more formal flight jacket. Warmer than a plain bomber, far lighter than a B3.
Which Leather for Each
Aviator. Sheepskin or shearling, where the wool is part of the hide. That is what makes it warm. Nothing else in the category comes close.
Bomber. Lambskin for softness and light weight, goatskin for the traditional flight jacket feel with more durability, cowhide if you want real weight and structure.
Our comparison of lambskin, cowhide and goatskin goes through the differences properly.
Styling Each One
Aviator. It is a large jacket, so keep the volume below it moderate. Straight jeans or chinos, boots, a plain jumper or hoodie. Avoid anything else bulky.
Bomber. Far easier. Works over a t-shirt, a hoodie or a shirt, with jeans, chinos or even tailored trousers. It is the more adaptable of the two by some distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an aviator and a bomber jacket?
An aviator jacket has a shearling or fur collar with a wool lined interior, built for extreme cold. A bomber has knitted rib at the collar, cuffs and hem with a lighter build, made for movement in milder conditions.
Which is warmer, aviator or bomber?
The aviator, by a wide margin. Shearling lining insulates far better than the quilted or smooth linings used in most bomber jackets.
Is a B3 an aviator or a bomber jacket?
The B3 is an aviator jacket, though it is often called a shearling bomber. It is sheepskin with the wool left on the inside, and it is the warmest style in the category.
Which is more versatile?
The bomber. It is lighter, cleaner in silhouette and wearable across three seasons, while an aviator is really a winter jacket.
Should I size up in an aviator jacket?
Yes if you are between sizes. The shearling lining takes up genuine space inside and you need room for a layer underneath in cold weather.
What is an A2 jacket?
A leather flight jacket with a folded shirt style collar, knit cuffs and hem and a light lining. It sits between the two: warmer than a plain bomber, much lighter than a B3.
Can you wear an aviator jacket in mild weather?
It will be too warm. Shearling is built for genuine cold. For milder conditions a bomber or a plain leather jacket is the better choice.
Choosing Yours
Decide on warmth first. If you want a winter jacket, take an aviator. If you want something for most of the year, take a bomber. Browse Aviator Jackets and Bomber Leather Jackets at Leather Outlet, and check the Size Guide before ordering. Made to order in real leather, XS to 5XL, free worldwide shipping.
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