Waxed canvas ... how does it wear?

[Brandrea33]

I’m a fan of waxed jackets but they do take a lot of wearing in to get the typical waxed look and for the jacket to soften a little. I have an old Belstaff jacket that is now the best part of 20 years old. It’s been reproofed a couple of times and is now fully fitted to me and not really stiff. But it really does take a while.

The positives are that waxed jackets are pretty waterproof and as long as the proofing is up to date they stay waterproof. They are pretty robust, waxed cotton resists damage pretty well. They wear well, I can’t see me wearing the jacket out in fact the lining wears much quicker than the outside, that has been patched a few times...

The downsides are that as a fabric it isn’t warm, buy a waxed jacket expecting to wear something underneath it for warmth. In the cold they do get stiff until they get warmed up by body warmth, no different to leather jackets in fairness mind you. Most pictures of waxed jackets show jackets that are well worn, it takes a while to get there. The can... smell a bit when damp! Mine gets left outside when it gets like that, eventually it dries out...

All in all I like them but you have to remember you are buying a product that was made for work and delivers a 1930s solution to keeping dry!

Ah, thank you ... water repellent question answered. I am looking for a jacket I could wear on hikes etc in the warmer weather here.

 

[Brandrea33]

Agree with Edward. My wife and I have several of the Barbours apiece. We like them. They do break in and become a bit softer, but as others have said, they need to be periodically re-waxed, especially in the sleeve creases and shoulders, or they will lose their water repellency.

I have both the hip length and the over the knee length, which is good for heavy rain or long exposures to it—the thighs and knees stay dry. They are popular in England because of the frequent rain.

Thanks for this. I wasn’t counting on re-waxing but it makes sense now that it’s come up in this thread.

I’m hoping to see one of these once out lockdown is lifted. I’m interested.

 

[Bfd70]

So many different types. Wax is wax but it depends on what you put it on. My Ship John Wills has nothing in common with my Barbour international.

 

[Brandrea33]

So many different types. Wax is wax but it depends on what you put it on. My Ship John Wills has nothing in common with my Barbour international.

They sound a bit like leather in some ways

 

[Jin431]

I’m curious to know if any of you own or have experience with wearing waxed canvas jackets.

I’m looking at buying one of these (attached is an example from Freenote) View attachment 315042 I would be interested in hearing how they wear compared to other fabrics or even leather. I gather they are a bit stiff at first, but loosen up with wear? Also, how does the colour hold up?

Any other insights appreciated, thank you.

I have the same jacket albeit in the tobacco color. I use it when I go hiking, it's my go to outdoors jacket. I love mine, it was sticky at first (smelled sweet like honey so that was nice) because of the fresh wax but it gets better over time. I don't get a lot of rain where i am so I haven't needed to reapply wax. It was a little stiff (helps with the creasing too which is nice) but once the wax gets warmed up by your body heat it loosens up fast but if you leave it in the cold it gets stiff again kinda like cxl.

The body lining is nice, it's warm but not too hot. I love the Biswing back, it really works. I wished mine had an internal pocket though.

I've only had it for a year and a half or so and I wear a lot of leather jackets now but it seems to be getting darker each time I wear it but it could be the swear permeating lol. I'm sure if I use it as a real work jacket it will get darker (the guy on the TV show Yellowstone has one and it looks great with wear/stains)

It's not a leather jacket but I'd say it will work well as a beater/grab and go jacket. I will eventually get a filson waxed coat later on

 

[Jin431]

I should add if you have a dog (especially if it's a husky or any with double fur) it's a nightmare when the fur gets to the waxed jacket lol it's like fly paper

 

[Pandemic]

I’ve owned several Barbour waxed jackets.

It’s a good fabric for an outdoor rain jacket. I don’t know why you would want to wear waxed cotton if it wasn’t raining. Good for the farm, not so much the city.

Really, modern Teflon type fabrics are more practical and don’t need rewaxing every few years, but I like an old fashioned country jacket.

 

[Carlos840]

I own a couple Filson tin cloth jackets and I pretty much never wear them. As Dude mentioned it has a waxy oily hand to it that is kind of annoying. This does get better with time but if you want the jacket to remain water resistant you need to reapply the wax at regular intervals.
The fabric does not breathe at all which means you end up wearing a sauna if you are doing any sort of athletic movement that might cause you to sweat. It is also not terribly good repelling water in my experience. The times that I wore mine out while walking in the rain I found my shoulders were damp after a short time. My 4 oz horsehide LW is practically waterproof by comparison.

That has also been my experience.
IMO waxed canvas clothes are basically a sweat suite.
They are fine if you are standing in the rain doing nothing, but if you start getting warm hell begins, you end up stewing in your juice in no time.
I also find them less waterproof in the long run than good quality leather.

IMO waxed canvas made sens as a cheap way to get people in somewhat waterproof gear back in the days, soldiers, cowboys, fishermen...
If you want comfort there are much better solutions.

 

[bn1966]

I’ve just purchased a used Drizabone knee length drovers coat. Wore it out once in the rain and got soaked, spent a few hours as a consequence last week re-proofing it with Barbour dressing and a sponge. Going to use it for getting about in downpours especially when walking the dog. Had the same coat back in the early 90’s and when looked after they serve you well. Considering wearing it on the scooter too (well armoured underneath) for adverse weather, could really do with the riding straps some models come with, might try and get some retrofitted.

 

[Brandrea33]

I have the same jacket albeit in the tobacco color. I use it when I go hiking, it's my go to outdoors jacket. I love mine, it was sticky at first (smelled sweet like honey so that was nice) because of the fresh wax but it gets better over time. I don't get a lot of rain where i am so I haven't needed to reapply wax. It was a little stiff (helps with the creasing too which is nice) but once the wax gets warmed up by your body heat it loosens up fast but if you leave it in the cold it gets stiff again kinda like cxl.

The body lining is nice, it's warm but not too hot. I love the Biswing back, it really works. I wished mine had an internal pocket though.

I've only had it for a year and a half or so and I wear a lot of leather jackets now but it seems to be getting darker each time I wear it but it could be the swear permeating lol. I'm sure if I use it as a real work jacket it will get darker (the guy on the TV show Yellowstone has one and it looks great with wear/stains)

It's not a leather jacket but I'd say it will work well as a beater/grab and go jacket. I will eventually get a filson waxed coat later on

View attachment 315113


View attachment 315114

Thanks for this, much appreciated! Your pictures on this thread and others here on TFL are always so outstanding. You’ve also given me a sense of what it might be like to own this specific piece. Again,thank you!

 

[Edward]

The downsides are that as a fabric it isn’t warm, buy a waxed jacket expecting to wear something underneath it for warmth. In the cold they do get stiff until they get warmed up by body warmth, no different to leather jackets in fairness mind you. Most pictures of waxed jackets show jackets that are well worn, it takes a while to get there. The can... smell a bit when damp! Mine gets left outside when it gets like that, eventually it dries out...

All in all I like them but you have to remember you are buying a product that was made for work and delivers a 1930s solution to keeping dry!

These are both fair points. A good, chrome-tanned leather (as Carlos has noted) will also be great in rain, but it won't require reproofing quite as often. One reason I'm probably going to buy a leather trench coat eventually is the convenience, and the slightly more traditional look compared to most of the longer, waxed jackets around now.

The waxed cotton, depending on how often it's worn, will need occasional rewaxing. It's not difficult by any means, though it can be a little messy and really needs a bit of outside space. (I once bought a Spanish civil war era Stahlhelm to spray silver and use for Rocky Horror purposes. Did it in the front room of my flat with the balcony door open, but still the cats and I all ended up briefly a little high...).

I do find it nice, though, as an alternative to leather. @Carlos840 makes a fair point about breathability... the wax effectively seals up the air passing through the cotton and it can be sweaty. I used to find the same thing wearing nylon waterproofs out in the hills in my hiking days. That said, though, I always found it preferable to be warm and wet with a bit of sweat than cold and wet from rain - YMMV. Leather granted can be less sweaty, though obviously also a more expensive solution.

It never bothered me wearing a leather trench coat out in public, but I know it's not for everyone. TBH, I got fewer 'Nazi' lines than I expected: a few over 40s made gags about Herr Flick Of The Gestapo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'Allo_'Allo! for those outside the UK, or too young to remember that one...), but mostly it was "Oi, Matrix!". In Clacton on Sea I got a few "Oi, Freak!", but to be fair that was during my Phillip Sallon phase, and it may have been about the dog collar and the eyeliner rather than the coat. Waxed cotton is a bit less "stand out" that way, which might appeal to some.

Warmth-wise, it's much like leather in that it gives nothing in the way of heat, though I find it does block the wind a bit. Very definitely dress for warmth below it on a cold day - there's a good reason any of the jackets designed for a bike are not only armoured but also offer a removable, Winter lining. My first experience of being out on the back of my dad's motorcycle was on a warm July day, and I remember being quite shocked at just how quickly the temperature dropped when we rode off. Certainly taught me how all those biker guys seemed to be able to take wearing leather in all heats!

Biggest difference with leather is probably the price; a very nice wax cotton jacket can be had for under a ton (if you don't need armouring for mc wear). Hard to beat that in leather. I like both. Leather will always have more of an appeal for me, but the belted waxed jackets really have something of the 'interwar, gentleman motorcyclist' buzz to them which I like. I find they excel on a drizzly day in Summer, when one of my leathers might just be a bit 'too' much. Beyond that it's the same old saw - sometimes it's just nice to wear something other than leather.

Agree with Edward. My wife and I have several of the Barbours apiece. We like them. They do break in and become a bit softer, but as others have said, they need to be periodically re-waxed, especially in the sleeve creases and shoulders, or they will lose their water repellency.

I have both the hip length and the over the knee length, which is good for heavy rain or long exposures to it—the thighs and knees stay dry. They are popular in England because of the frequent rain.

Perception's a funny thing; I gather it rains a lot more here in the South of England than what many people are used to (@Carlos840 can doubtless compare it with Belgium for us? I fear my experience there is limited to Brussels, and most Commission-Town at that). It seems to rain very little to me, but I grew up in Northern Ireland where rain is the default from September to about end of August... I do tend to find the wax great for those sot of mizzly days where you barely feel rain, but you'll be soaked if you stand outside for an hour all the same.

Ah, thank you ... water repellent question answered. I am looking for a jacket I could wear on hikes etc in the warmer weather here.

I think it depends what you want, really. It's ideal for that imo, especially if you want a more vintaqe vibe, though undoubtedly Gortex type stuff while less aesthetically appealing will do the same job in a lower maintenance way.

Thanks for this. I wasn’t counting on re-waxing but it makes sense now that it’s come up in this thread.

I’m hoping to see one of these once out lockdown is lifted. I’m interested.

Roadskin in the UK do this jacket - https://roadskin.co.uk/product/classic-jacket-non-ce/ - they can't sell it as motorcycle wear PPE now because of a change in the law. Not sure if they're going to go for certification or just drop the model, but it's well cheap currently, and a nice balance between a classic look and a modern fabric that wouldn't need rewaxing. A few careful minutes with a stitch ripper should see to that awful patch... (I'm not a logos guy, ymmv.) Could be worth considering for general wear if you like this style.

I should add if you have a dog (especially if it's a husky or any with double fur) it's a nightmare when the fur gets to the waxed jacket lol it's like fly paper

This is the bonus of our dog being a poodle mix - no shedding! The cat, on the other hand.... Well, you live with cats long enough, you just accept their hair on everything. I stopped lint-rollering my trousers in the morning when Greta was a kitten, because she delighted in watching me do it, and then as soon as I'd finished, she'd run over my legs and.... bad as ever.

I’ve owned several Barbour waxed jackets.

It’s a good fabric for an outdoor rain jacket. I don’t know why you would want to wear waxed cotton if it wasn’t raining. Good for the farm, not so much the city.

Really, modern Teflon type fabrics are more practical and don’t need rewaxing every few years, but I like an old fashioned country jacket.

I hear you on the style / practicality balance.... So far I always come out on the style side, but if someone could replicate the look of waxed cotton with a goretex or similar.... It'll happen eventually; we just need the 'right' style of jacket to suddenly become uber-fashionable in the right place. (Quick, somebody call the Hipster Hotline! ).

I’ve just purchased a used Drizabone knee length drovers coat. Wore it out once in the rain and got soaked, spent a few hours as a consequence last week re-proofing it with Barbour dressing and a sponge. Going to use it for getting about in downpours especially when walking the dog. Had the same coat back in the early 90’s and when looked after they serve you well. Considering wearing it on the scooter too (well armoured underneath) for adverse weather, could really do with the riding straps some models come with, might try and get some retrofitted.

I always loved the look of really old-school motorcyclists in long coats.... Saw one go past my flat a couple of years ago in what looked like aWW2 despatch rider's coat. I kick myself I didn't buy one of *those* back in the nineties for fifty quid, but on the other hand I'd never fit in it now if it had been my size then.... I've seen a couple of repops, including RMC did a beautiful one, but well North of a grand, too rich for my blood. I'll spend that money instead on the very anti-thesis of rainwear - a teddy bear coat!

 

[Carlos840]

These are both fair points. A good, chrome-tanned leather (as Carlos has noted) will also be great in rain, but it won't require reproofing quite as often. One reason I'm probably going to buy a leather trench coat eventually is the convenience, and the slightly more traditional look compared to most of the longer, waxed jackets around now.

The waxed cotton, depending on how often it's worn, will need occasional rewaxing. It's not difficult by any means, though it can be a little messy and really needs a bit of outside space. (I once bought a Spanish civil war era Stahlhelm to spray silver and use for Rocky Horror purposes. Did it in the front room of my flat with the balcony door open, but still the cats and I all ended up briefly a little high...).

I do find it nice, though, as an alternative to leather. @Carlos840 makes a fair point about breathability... the wax effectively seals up the air passing through the cotton and it can be sweaty. I used to find the same thing wearing nylon waterproofs out in the hills in my hiking days. That said, though, I always found it preferable to be warm and wet with a bit of sweat than cold and wet from rain - YMMV. Leather granted can be less sweaty, though obviously also a more expensive solution.

It never bothered me wearing a leather trench coat out in public, but I know it's not for everyone. TBH, I got fewer 'Nazi' lines than I expected: a few over 40s made gags about Herr Flick Of The Gestapo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'Allo_'Allo! for those outside the UK, or too young to remember that one...), but mostly it was "Oi, Matrix!". In Clacton on Sea I got a few "Oi, Freak!", but to be fair that was during my Phillip Sallon phase, and it may have been about the dog collar and the eyeliner rather than the coat. Waxed cotton is a bit less "stand out" that way, which might appeal to some.

Warmth-wise, it's much like leather in that it gives nothing in the way of heat, though I find it does block the wind a bit. Very definitely dress for warmth below it on a cold day - there's a good reason any of the jackets designed for a bike are not only armoured but also offer a removable, Winter lining. My first experience of being out on the back of my dad's motorcycle was on a warm July day, and I remember being quite shocked at just how quickly the temperature dropped when we rode off. Certainly taught me how all those biker guys seemed to be able to take wearing leather in all heats!

Biggest difference with leather is probably the price; a very nice wax cotton jacket can be had for under a ton (if you don't need armouring for mc wear). Hard to beat that in leather. I like both. Leather will always have more of an appeal for me, but the belted waxed jackets really have something of the 'interwar, gentleman motorcyclist' buzz to them which I like. I find they excel on a drizzly day in Summer, when one of my leathers might just be a bit 'too' much. Beyond that it's the same old saw - sometimes it's just nice to wear something other than leather.



Perception's a funny thing; I gather it rains a lot more here in the South of England than what many people are used to (@Carlos840 can doubtless compare it with Belgium for us? I fear my experience there is limited to Brussels, and most Commission-Town at that). It seems to rain very little to me, but I grew up in Northern Ireland where rain is the default from September to about end of August... I do tend to find the wax great for those sot of mizzly days where you barely feel rain, but you'll be soaked if you stand outside for an hour all the same.



I think it depends what you want, really. It's ideal for that imo, especially if you want a more vintaqe vibe, though undoubtedly Gortex type stuff while less aesthetically appealing will do the same job in a lower maintenance way.



Roadskin in the UK do this jacket - https://roadskin.co.uk/product/classic-jacket-non-ce/ - they can't sell it as motorcycle wear PPE now because of a change in the law. Not sure if they're going to go for certification or just drop the model, but it's well cheap currently, and a nice balance between a classic look and a modern fabric that wouldn't need rewaxing. A few careful minutes with a stitch ripper should see to that awful patch... (I'm not a logos guy, ymmv.) Could be worth considering for general wear if you like this style.



This is the bonus of our dog being a poodle mix - no shedding! The cat, on the other hand.... Well, you live with cats long enough, you just accept their hair on everything. I stopped lint-rollering my trousers in the morning when Greta was a kitten, because she delighted in watching me do it, and then as soon as I'd finished, she'd run over my legs and.... bad as ever.



I hear you on the style / practicality balance.... So far I always come out on the style side, but if someone could replicate the look of waxed cotton with a goretex or similar.... It'll happen eventually; we just need the 'right' style of jacket to suddenly become uber-fashionable in the right place. (Quick, somebody call the Hipster Hotline! ).



I always loved the look of really old-school motorcyclists in long coats.... Saw one go past my flat a couple of years ago in what looked like aWW2 despatch rider's coat. I kick myself I didn't buy one of *those* back in the nineties for fifty quid, but on the other hand I'd never fit in it now if it had been my size then.... I've seen a couple of repops, including RMC did a beautiful one, but well North of a grand, too rich for my blood. I'll spend that money instead on the very anti-thesis of rainwear - a teddy bear coat!

Quick google, annual precipitation in Brussels is 820mm, Dublin is 750mm, London 580mm... (average in Wales is 840)
I guess we Belgians are pretty used to the rain.
Personally i have tried waxed canvas, cotton gabardine and more modern solutions (K-way, Gore-tex), and i pick good quality chrome tanned leather above all else.
My second favourite would be cotton gabardine, the kind used in the classic Trench coat, it breathes much better than waxed canvas and is as waterproof. Neither will keep you dry as long as good leather in my experience.

 

[Brandrea33]

...
Roadskin in the UK do this jacket - https://roadskin.co.uk/product/classic-jacket-non-ce/ - they can't sell it as motorcycle wear PPE now because of a change in the law. Not sure if they're going to go for certification or just drop the model, but it's well cheap currently, and a nice balance between a classic look and a modern fabric that wouldn't need rewaxing. A few careful minutes with a stitch ripper should see to that awful patch... (I'm not a logos guy, ymmv.) Could be worth considering for general wear if you like this style.
...!

Thank you Edward for such a detailed reply. I had a look at roadskin, and it’s a nice looking jacket thank you for suggesting it.
That bit about your Greta literally made me laugh out loud

 

[Brandrea33]

Quick google, annual precipitation in Brussels is 820mm, Dublin is 750mm, London 580mm... (average in Wales is 840)
I guess we Belgians are pretty used to the rain.
Personally i have tried waxed canvas, cotton gabardine and more modern solutions (K-way, Gore-tex), and i pick good quality chrome tanned leather above all else.
My second favourite would be cotton gabardine, the kind used in the classic Trench coat, it breathes much better than waxed canvas and is as waterproof. Neither will keep you dry as long as good leather in my experience.

At least it’s not snow ...

 

[Edward]

Quick google, annual precipitation in Brussels is 820mm, Dublin is 750mm, London 580mm... (average in Wales is 840)
I guess we Belgians are pretty used to the rain.

Jings, that sounds wet! I must have hit Brussels on the dry days... (Lovely, warm but not too much so days when I was last there in 2017.)

Personally i have tried waxed canvas, cotton gabardine and more modern solutions (K-way, Gore-tex), and i pick good quality chrome tanned leather above all else.
My second favourite would be cotton gabardine, the kind used in the classic Trench coat, it breathes much better than waxed canvas and is as waterproof. Neither will keep you dry as long as good leather in my experience.

Chrome-tanning definitely seems to be good for rain. I found my wax cotton good (great for when leather isn't appropriate), though nothing kept rain off me like a knee-length leather trenchcoat I believe to be French and possibly quite 'vintage'. Either a long coat, or a shorter jacket and leather trews... Leather's biggest advantage is, of course, not needing treated to maintain that.

 

[Jin431]

@Brandrea33 no problem at all. i love denim/leather jackets but it's nice to wear something else. I think the freenote jacket will look better down the road when it looks less new and shows wear. If you ever get one, we'd love to see yours.

@Edward cats are funny, devilish little fiends lol but yep pet hair is a foregone conclusion if you ever have them.

 

[Cornelius]

{While we're on about chrome-tanned leather's water resistance: Does Thedi offer any chrome-tanned leather options, or does he work exclusively with veg-tan?}

 

[Marc mndt]

it does feel a bit waxy and/or oily and I really hate that.

Personally, I hate the waxed feeling too. If it's sleeve creases on cloth garments you're after, there are other options:

AliExpress type II

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...and-waxed-canvas-leather.103060/#post-2765001

Thedi cossack

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...-jacket-photos-here.99138/page-5#post-2780096

The Thedi has been treated with beeswax (Thedi's trademark) yet it feels completely dry to the touch.

According to the listing, the Aliexpress jacket was also treated with beeswax. However, I cant see it ant I certainly can't feel it.

 

[Brandrea33]

Personally, I hate the waxed feeling too. If it's sleeve creases on cloth garments you're after, there are other options:

AliExpress type II

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...and-waxed-canvas-leather.103060/#post-2765001

Thedi cossack

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...-jacket-photos-here.99138/page-5#post-2780096

The Thedi has been treated with beeswax (Thedi's trademark) yet it feels completely dry to the touch.

According to the listing, the Aliexpress jacket was also treated with beeswax. However, I cant see it ant I certainly can't feel it.

Thank you Marc, those are some great photos in the link. Maybe I’m starting to think denim instead of this waxed canvas ... That looks really good on you, well done.

 

[Davy Crockett]

I'm going to disagree with a number of people on this, I live in an extremely high rainfall area (over 300mm in one day last year), I think waxed cotton/canvas is the best for an extremely wet climate but it is workwear, far better than Goretex (none of the farmers near me would ever consider Goretex after trying it, myself included), it can be sticky initially but soon loses that, it does need reeproofed occasionally but you can get that done for you if you can't manage it yourself, I personnally don't find it difficult or messy, and it does look good when aged, I would never consider wearing any of my leathers in the rain I am used to at least not for any length of time, remember waxed cotton /canvas is what fishermen used to call oilskins and believe me there is nothing more wetting than being out on the sea for days at a time in winter!

D