A good waxed canvas jacket will handle rough weather, sure—any new-age rain jacket can do that as well. But the magic of this cloth is the look. Made from heavy-duty cotton canvas treated with an oil-based waxed coating, these jackets offer a barrier against rain and snow while also blocking the wind—but they look damn good doing it.
Once you have a waxed canvas jacket, it becomes uniquely yours, developing a weathered patina with every wear. And if you give it a fresh coat of wax every year or so, these jackets will stay waterproof and last for most, if not all, of your life. Here, we’ve rounded up our favorite styles from the names you’d expect, like Barbour, Filson, and L.L.
Bean, alongside a few brands you might not know yet. Ready to brave the unexpected fall and winter weather? With one of these jackets, you will be.
An enduring icon thanks to its tenacious popularity, the Barbour Beaufort waxed jacket boasts all the classic details created by Dame Margaret Barbour, including a color-contrast corduroy collar (which you can turn up and secure when it gets cold), paneled tartan lining, flapped bellow pockets, and a two-way front zip. It’s truly an evergreen piece that will never go out of style, and Style Director Jonathan Evans argues that if you’re going to invest in a waxed canvas jacket, it should be the Beaufort. For a chic, elevated look (pretty hard to achieve in rainy weather), Tom Beckbe’s Tensaw is a great pick.
The Alabama-based brand has that hunting tradition, but it doesn’t go full upland. It’s more elevated than that. Since 1948, the Trialmaster jacket has been Belstaff's signature style, its origin going back to the Scottish Six Days Trial, a motorcycle competition that attracts riders worldwide.
Developed to keep the competitors dry in tough weather conditions, it’s built with black waxed cotton and features a legacy slanted map pocket and an adjustable belt, so you can always find the perfect fit. Made from Filson’s signature waxed cotton, this jacket has protected foresters and outdoorsmen from brambles and abrasion in the rain-soaked forests of the Pacific Northwest since the 1920s—talk about an endorsement. The hip-length cut allows for easy access to pockets or a tool belt, and this type of fit will also stop the jacket from riding up when you’re seated.
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