The year-end travel season is coming in hot, and it’s time to either pull out the thicker layers from the store rooms or buy new outerwear. In the first instalment of our new lifestyle column Actually Worth It, Men’s Folio introduces the UNIQLO’s FW26 collection, edited in collaboration with local multi-hyphenate Benjamin Kheng. Read for more about the clothes that Men’s Folio and Ben thinks are worth the buy for more than just an overseas trip; these are keepsakes that will weather you through seasons of all kinds.
PUFFTECH Parka
“Not my first choice for a kopitiam date, but absolutely coming with me on every fall or winter holiday. Ridiculously lightweight, surprisingly warm, and now packable into a separate pouch. Love a good pouch.”
The PUFFTECH Parka — the PUFFTECH Jacket with a hood — is a down-alternative outerwear that is made of ultra-fine hollow fibre that are only 1/5 the width of human hair. These fibres are coiled to create more air layers that prevent heat from escaping the body.
“If I’m going to be freezing on a mountain, I might as well look like the most fashionable emergency flare up there. Love the 3D cut for unrestricted arm movement, and the orange is just the right amount of loud.”
After many requests for a means to carry this puffer around, UNIQLO is taking heed and introducing exactly a pouch (that you can also purchase separately) to pack your puffer in — making this the perfect outerwear candidate for in-between season temperatures (0 degrees and above). It also comes in a total of six colours that are all versatile to pair with both the palette of professional hiking clothes, as it is with daily street wear.
Windproof Fleece
“Soft, comfy, windproof. Great for winter holidays, or offices where the aircon is cranking.”
Fun fact: UNIQLO first launched its fleece products in 1994, meeting the “fleece boom” in 1998 with high-quality fleece that still remained highly accessible with its affordable prices. Fast track to today, and they’ve added the Windproof Fleece zip-up jacket to the line-up. It’s also made using recycled materials as part of the brand’s effort to support the reduction of waste and use of new materials.
“Love this olive colour. Easy to pair with practically anything, and there’s even a flap behind the zip to keep cold air out. UNIQLO have a “neck” for this.”
Warm Lined Pants
“Every Singaporean man dreams of pants that do it all. I’m no better. Warm, water-repellent, plenty of pockets.”
The Warm Lined Pants are double layered: the outer a smooth, modern stretch fabric that is water repellant, and the inner a fleece lining that is equipped with heat retention technology. It’s got that cargo style that works if you don’t particularly want to think about styling too much when you are out there trying to experience a new part of the world, so it’s a nifty addition to a wardrobe that wants to stay effortlessly comfortable, presentable and actually be useful at the same time. The waistband has a belt and the hem at the bottom is adjustable — making it possible to change the shape of the leg pant to suit the footwear you have on.
Here’s proof of the pants’ water repellant properties, which makes this the best companion for treks or hikes through cloud forests. Or other more humid climates.
HEATTECH Extra Warm Cashmere Blend
“My personal favourite of the lot! 1.5 times warmer than regular HEATTECH, incredibly soft, and thin enough to layer without looking like I’ve been inflated. Fashion Made Possible.”
HEATTECH has been around for more than 20 years at UNIQLO, becoming the staple it is today after going through over 10,000 fabric prototypes. Over the years, there have been 3 types of HEATTECH developed for different needs — Basic, Extra Warm and Ultra Warm. For FW26, UNIQLO introduces its HEATTECH Extra Warm Cashmere Blend top, which is 1.5x warmer than normal HEATTECH. Since it uses yarn that is approximately half as thin as the yarn used in cashmere sweaters, it is also 30% lighter than HEATTECH Extra Warm Cotton. This 9% cashmere blend top is thus not only really good at its job, it’s also affordable while feeling extra luxurious and soft on the skin.
Comes in a total of 9 cool tone colours.
The cashmere-blend material is also ultra-stretch, washer-friendly and moderately sheer, so it’s both good for layering and wearing on it’s own.
Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our September 2026 issue.