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Protect yourself with one of these water-repellent options. Polyester Fleece Fabric
Waxed canvas jackets are readily associated with rugged outdoorsmen and skilled tradesmen. It makes sense. The fabric used in modern-day versions of this style draws inspiration from hard-wearing jackets made by early sailors, who originally crafted jackets from oiled sailcloth. In the early 20th century, textile mills developed a process for finishing cotton with paraffin wax, creating fabric that was flexible, warm, durable and weatherproof.
Though many brands have adopted lightweight waterproofing technologies like Gore-Tex, countless companies still produce hard-wearing waxed canvas outerwear. It's tough, water-resistant and has gone largely unchanged over the past century. Although it's occasionally been adapted to suit newer silhouettes, the trusty treatment still works well to this day, in spite of new, synthetic materials and membranes. Because long before there were synthetic fabrics, before Gore-Tex and “weatherproof breathability," there was thick cotton and a can of wax. Early sailors realized that wet sails caught the wind better than dry sails, but wet sails were too heavy and slowed the ships down. The solution was rubbing oil into the sailcloths, making them more efficient and also water repellent, so they stayed light in the rain. The sailors started cutting jackets out of the oiled sailcloth for themselves, wearing early editions of the rain jacket, but these primitive designs, made with linseed oil, became stiff in the cold and faded in color. "Waxed cotton is one of the oldest natural functional fabrics, dating back to the 15th century," says Nick Kemp, design manager at Huckberry (one of our favorite brands for waxed jackets). The material was ideal to help keep people dry with minimal weight added, Kemp tells Gear Patrol. In the early 20th century, manufacturers developed a process for combining cotton with paraffin wax. The new material made for flexible, warm, durable and waterproof clothing that was quickly adopted by soldiers, outdoorsmen and sailors. Since then, a slew of synthetic, breathable and waterproof fabrics have been developed — and used in those lightweight Arc'teryx jackets everybody wears. But a few companies have stuck with waxed cotton, which remains much more suited to workwear and carries the look and history of a real outdoorsman. "A great waxed jacket is more relevant than ever, especially for guys looking for a natural-fiber, functional fabric that gets better and ages with every wear," Kemp says.
Although waxed canvas is super water resistant, it is not technically waterproof. In order to be waterproof, something must have a seal or be virtually impervious. Waxed canvas is not. While the waxy layer creates a membrane that repels water, when fully submerged or exposed for a prolonged period, these jackets will soak through, leaving you wet underneath. They're good for steady, even heavy, rain, but no more.
This depends on whether your waxed canvas jacket is lined. While a standard waxed canvas jacket is pretty warm on its own, it won't do you any good in a snowstorm or on a windy winter day. That is unless it's lined with flannel or another insulating fabric. Flint and Tinder's waxed canvas jacket, which is our top pick, comes flannel-lined for year-round wear.
"A guy should look for a waxed jacket that they feel that they can wear as often as possible and fits seamlessly into their wardrobe," Huckberry’s Kemp says. "The true draw of waxed jackets come out as they are worn, age and mold to the wearer."
Waxed canvas jackets are water resistant because the wax layer creates a membrane that blocks out water. As such, a waxed canvas jacket is nowhere near as breathable as an unwaxed cotton canvas jacket. Truthfully, the difference is incredibly obvious. If it's a little warm out, you'll certainly sweat in a waxed canvas jacket, but most folks wear this style in fall and winter when it isn't especially hot.
The best part about a waxed jacket is that it isn't a finite finish. You can re-wax it whenever it needs touched up, and, if you do, ideally own it forever. For first-timers, you can tell a jacket needs to be re-waxed by its appearance. The areas where the wax has been worn out will appear lighter than the oily, dark patches around seams and indentations.
Unlike a selvedge denim jacket, with unique, deep fades suited to each wearer’s body — the more faded a denim jacket is, the cooler, some might say — a waxed jacket needs more TLC to maintain its functionality.
You can re-wax a jacket in four easy steps.
For easy-to-follow instructions, read our guide to re-waxing waxed canvas jackets.
Our tester spent months with our top two options, the Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket and Filson's Tin Cloth Short Lined Cruiser Jacket. They wore them in the rain, during a snowstorm, out on a busy city sidewalk and to dinners, too, where the waxed black look of Filson's option could pass for leather from afar.
They surveyed how both fit — our tester is a true large — and whether one really needs a fuzzy liner like flannel. Below, they offered insights on both, but also a dozen more worthwhile picks.
To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.
For the money, this is one of our favorite options. A soft flannel liner offsets the rugged, waxed sailcloth exterior. Flint and Tinder opts for the original fabric used for waxed jackets, and the OG textile ages like leather or selvedge denim. That means this jacket is built to last, but it'll fit like a glove from the first wear.
This jacket also has legions of fans and tends to restock in new and exclusive colors every season, and those are two solid reasons to consider this jacket. As to the hardware, performance and design? There’s a reason it sits at the top of our list.
Even the fit just works, which is crucial with any waxed jacket that you’re going to put through the ringer. Our tester has long arms, which makes standard large jackets a little small, but the Flint and Tinder Trucker fit perfectly. Our tester felt the jacket was warm and comfortable and easy to button, but not with much more than a sweater underneath. Our tester said they rarely needed one, though, considering how warm the jacket kept them.
In the early fall, our tester noted they were sweating. By peak fall, comfort was never better for our tester, but when winter hit, this was a little too light. There are two fit options available, a Classic and Tall option, which should work well for bigger guys or taller, lankier guys, too.
Read our review of the Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker.
The Filson Tin Cloth Short Lined Cruiser looks like your regular trucker, albeit with a few tweaks. It comes with a signature oil finish exterior, dry finish cover cloth liner and silk sleeves for easy layering. Filson hangs its hat on this sort of jacket, and it’s not a stretch to think that Pacific Northwest explorers and miners a century ago might have trusted a (somewhat) similar Filson jacket.
Keep in mind that this isn't the easiest jacket to wear over much more than a shirt, though, which is why you don't see Yellowstone's Rip Wheeler layered up too much in it. (This is the style he wears on screen.) Finding the right fit for you may require sizing up, our tester found.
It is water- and abrasion-resistant, though, and it has plenty of pockets. Plus, it's durable, as evidenced by Wheeler's uniform-like habit of wearing it. He wears the black one, though, and it's almost always sold out, although more sizes are available now for the fall and winter seasons. Filson also offers a rich Dark Brown version for a change of pace. When in doubt, go with what fits your personal style — either way, tan isn't a step down.
In fact, it's the original, which Filson called "waterproof khaki." It will keep you dry, but be warned that it feels damp on exposed skin, even when it's not. Otherwise, this option takes a second to break in, but when it does, you'll find it's fit for just about any job.
Read our review of Filson's Tin Cloth Short Lined Cruiser.
Best Made Co. was founded at just about the right time — 2009 — to grab the attention of scores of stylish guys interested in the heritage, style and functionality of tried-and-true workwear. The brand was eventually acquired by Duluth Trading Co., but you can still find some highly affordable, highly rugged pieces from the Best Made brand here and there.
This cotton canvas barn coat very much fits the bill, but here’s the thing: A jacket this affordable isn’t quite a true waxed canvas option, but it’s treated with a similar finish.
Our advice? Take advantage of the excellent price and the useful touches (like plenty of EDC pockets), then amp up this jacket with your own waxing process via our guide on re-waxing waxed canvas jackets.
Handmade in LA, Rogue Territory's Supply Jacket references Lee's original Stormrider jacket, but it was also worn by James Bond in No Time To Die. That gives it an air of modern cool, particularly since all things Bond remain a hot commodity.
And unlike trying to scour the Web for a sweater style worn by Steve McQueen, well, wearing this jacket now is a small piece of history. Except, it’s one that’s actually functional in your own wardrobe, and fairly priced. These run a little small, but will stretch at the shoulders and elbows. As such, the brand recommends folks order a full size up.
Made in California, this pleated riders jacket is lined with Southwestern-inspired fabric from Japan. Prioritizing mobility, the heavy-weight design includes shoulder gussets in the back secured with hidden elastic bands. It includes metal trims from Kentucky and a leather patch from Minnesota.
It's a beautiful hybrid between a vintage ranch jacket and trucker jacket and was worn by Luke Grimes' character Kayce Dutton on the hit show Yellowstone.
In an interview with Gear Patrol, Grimes said, "I think the first time I put that jacket on, I was like, 'Oh, this feels right.' This kind of starts to paint a picture of what this guy might look like and who he is, you know? This jacket looks like he's had it his whole life. He probably grew into it a little bit — he’s a ‘if it ain't broke, don't fix it’ kind of a guy."
Learn more about other jackets from Yellowstone.
For as stellar a job as Flint and Tinder does with its waxed jackets — and specifically, with material like Martexin waxed sailcloth — even the greats need a little change of pace from time to time. Enter Britain’s Millerain, a famed textile producer. Its lightweight, modern Tekwax Evolution 6 material should do just the trick, especially when pre-washed for softness out of the box.
It’s supple yet strong, lightweight yet weather-resistant. And as a nice bonus, it’s cut like a shirt jacket for mobility and style points on the go, no matter the weather.
This versatile jacket features a dry wax finished organic cotton shell that is appropriate for shoulder season wear. With a lightweight chambray lining, it provides protection and subtle warmth on cool evenings and rainy days.
Blending the styles of traditional waxed canvas jackets with a field coat, it can be worn in many different settings — dress it up for a casual night out or wear it with jeans and boots when the weather turns.
The Upland Coat is another classic waxed jacket, this time courtesy of L.L. Bean. Consider it a perfect complementary piece alongside a cozy flannel or a thick fisherman sweater in terms of style points. And of course, it’ll more than tide you over in terms of outerwear until it’s time to lace up your “Bean Boots” in a major snowstorm.
L.L. Bean got the heritage details right in this case, but the tech innovation isn’t half-bad, either. Namely, there's a big twist hidden in this one: the jacket's entirely machine washable. Weird, right? The brand worked with its supplier to forge a signature process that'd provide the durability needed to survive a wash cycle.
We'd be remiss not to mention Barbour, an icon of British luxury since 1894, in a roundup of waxed jackets. The brand definitely didn't invent the waxed jacket, but it certainly helped broaden its reach.
Barbour is now as at home at your favorite brewery as it is during a day in the field, but the classics are the classics for a reason. Dependability and performance win out, but heritage style doesn’t hurt, either. The waxed finish gives this one some shine (quite literally) and a pleasing, modern edge for the open road. It also features a contrasting corduroy collar, a plaid liner, and plenty of moto references.
Originally just a family-owned manufacturer, Peregrine — owned by the UK-based Glover family — turned its focus toward clothing, but UK-made, vintage-inspired clothing at that. The Bexley shares some DNA with the waxed jackets you know and love, with a richer, more distinctive color and other notable features, like a stand-up collar.
This is The Bexley, a military-referencing jacket cut from a Millerain-made waxed cotton fabric. It has a soft hand feel and all of the features you'd expect from something weatherproofed.
Without a doubt, the right waxed canvas jacket can take a beating and stand up to plenty of pursuits. Some are best for the open road though, some are well-suited for a streamlined city commute and some are really, truly ready for the field. Whether your passion is big game or something more elusive, Tom Beckbe designed its Tensaw Jacket for the great outdoors — and that’s no joke.
Antique brass hardware is built to last, as is the waxed shelter cloth exterior (the most important part of the jacket, after all). The Tensaw features an easy-wearing bi-swing back and gusseted underarms, plus a corduroy-lined collar for a classic finish.
If your line of work or your daily adventures call for a waxed jacket that can take a beating — perhaps at a lower price than the coveted Flint and Tinder Waxed Trucker — Kuhl’s Outlaw Jacket is a fine substitute. It’s waxed for toughness, yet the jacket itself also incorporates 3 percent spandex for helpful stretch.
Our tester found that it also features a slightly roomier cut through the front and chest, so layering is easier. You’ll also find reinforced shoulder and sleeve stitching for mobility.
Waxed jackets traditionally follow along the lines of workwear or trucker jacket styles, since those have the most utility. But can a waxed jacket really be more of a shirt jacket? Footwear giant Cole Haan thinks so, and its waxed cotton shirt jacket is as sleek and streamlined as its hybrid dress sneakers and boots.
For the city dweller looking for a quick, sharp waxed jacket from day to night and from a commute to a day at the office, this is a solid move.
Stio, a brand born (and based) in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, specializes in hard-wearing outerwear. The Turnbolt Waxed Canvas Jacket is no exception. Stio worked with 158-year-old waxed canvas experts Halley Stevensons, a manufacturer in Scotland, for this design, trusting their water-resistant but breathable dry-finish fabric to keep the wearer but regulated in terms of temperature, too.
This jacket boasts a modern yet roomier fit, which is a plus in terms of layering for especially frigid mornings, yet the fit might not prove streamlined enough for other pursuits aside from workwear situations (you be the judge there).
There are plenty of pockets all over for things both big and small and the collar buttons all the way up, which is nice when it's raining, snowing or simply windy.
UK-based Burrows & Hare embraces the best thing about a waxed cotton jacket: its ability to brave rain, sleet, and snow. Sure, all waxed jackets are able to withstand precipitation to some degree, but this one is built with features like storm cuffs and a storm neck button closure for added coverage. The crisp navy color is a nice addition to your wardrobe in terms of style, too.
Think of this option as the ultimate raincoat: it's sleek, waxed, water-repellent, and finished with a parka tail.
Outdoor Research, as tends to be the case with the USA-made brand, threw in everything but the kitchen sink with this innovative take on the waxed jacket. The design closely resembles a shirt jacket, with a button front and a point collar, although the hem isn’t rounded like a typical shirt jacket. The sustainable cotton (and nylon) exterior is waxed for toughness, but it’s the soft sherpa fleece lining that separates this waxed jacket from the pack.
Absorbent Fabric Explore the following guides to find more of our top jacket recommendations.