The Best Waxed Canvas Jacket Is Rugged and Royal-Approved

There aren’t many jackets that can carry you through three seasons, but a waxed canvas jacket makes it look easy. In the fall and spring, the heavy-duty cotton is just light enough for transitional strolls, but as soon as the gnarly winds and rain pick up, that wax coating springs into action, creating a barrier that helps keep you dry and warm. (Pleasingly, the typically large armholes on the sleeve also leave room for a chunky knit or light down puffer underneath, on truly frigid days.) . It’s this versatility—alongside the jacket’s rugged good looks, and the fact you can always re-wax it—that almost immediately earns them hand-me-down status.

It’s been this way for a while. Waxed cotton was developed in the early 1800s in Scotland, when one manufacturer messed around with adding some oil to their strongest cotton, discovering it created a waterproof yet still breathable material. Sailors and fishermen loved them, then the Royals caught on, then the rest of the world did—including James Bond. Cut forward to last year, and when the President met with the British Prime Minister, he was given one specific gift: a personalized waxed cotton jacket.

If that feels like a lot to keep track of, fear not. Below, you’ll find the best examples of waxed canvas jackets available today, from Barbour to Valstar. See you out there, slick.

Let's keep it a buck—when you’re talking waxed jackets, almost all roads lead back to Barbour. This British brand has helped people dodging raindrops in style for over 130 years, and the crown jewel of their lineup is the waxed Bedale. Shorter than the Beaufort and Border varieties, it’s that much easier to chase around the city in (and drive, and cycle in.) Made from medium-weight 6oz waxed cotton, it’s fully interactive—meaning you can zip in a thermal liner, or snap on a hood when things get wetter.

But people really love the permanent details: The corduroy collar, a brass two-way ring-pull zip (easy to use, even with gloves on) , a studded Stormfly front (for added wind-and-rain protection), plus two giant pockets for stuff and two cozy, moleskin-lined smaller pockets for chilly fingers. If you’re in a rush to choose, this is the jacket with the Royal seal of approval—and one you’ll wear for so many seasons, people will recognize you by it in the street. Plus, you can always ship it back to Barbour HQ to be re-waxed.

Waxed cotton isn’t always as shiny as Barbour makes theirs out to be. Just look at J.Crew’s barn coat, back on the scene this fall after debuting in 1983 as part of the brand’s first ever collection. (It’s not often that our best budget pick is also a design classic.) Every J.Crew barn jacket has a lovely mid-thigh length and more pockets than you’d expect, but this

handsome, limited-edition Blackwatch plaid version subtly stands out a little from the classic beige and grey barn coats. Beyond the handsome finish, it’s also fully lined, with ample pockets, button closures, and adjustable wrist tabs to keep you dry. And that Blackwatch outer? Straight from Scotland’s legendary Halley Stevensons factory

After Barbour, the next name in waxed jackets is always Belstaff. And the Trailmaster—worn by everyone from Steve McQueen to Che Guevara since arriving in 1948—is the star in their line-up. Designed for fending off the elements even as your motorbike straight towards them, the Trailmaster features Belstaff’s signature four-pocket design—two on the chest, two on the hips—each with snap closures to keep your stuff safe and sound.

The waist belt helps you dial in the fit, offering comfort and shaping that can handle whatever the road throws at you. And that belted collar? It's got a snap latch to shield you from the wind. This jacket is tough, durable, and looks killer with boots and a pair of slim jeans. Honestly, meet your winter second skin.

The label that remixed the lookbook game, made suits fun again, and happens to be one of our favorite tie-makers—also cranks out some seriously sturdy waxed jackets. Built to withstand the famously drizzly British weather, this thing is practically overqualified for anywhere else. It comes in a stunning emerald-green colorway, complete with three exterior pockets, a two-way zipper, and a signature corduroy collar—because why mess with a classic?

The real beauty of this jacket, though? Its versatility. Throw it over a suit for a refined look, pair it with white jeans for an eye-catching contrast, or lean all the way into the workwear vibe with a chambray shirt. Sure, you may not star in the brand’s next viral lookbook, but slipping into this jacket is a step in the right direction—one well-placed raindrop dodge at a time.

It’s no secret MAN-TLE has a penchant for unique fabrics, but they’re also known for sticking with styles that worked, and just changing the materials on them. Here, they’ve. taken the usual spring-weight blouson and leveled it up into a winter-ready heavy hitter. The fit? Oversized with dropped shoulders, with elastic at the cuffs and hems for a bomber-like vibe.

Now, don’t let its breezy look fool you—this jacket is actually warm AF, because it’s also a down jacket. The sustainably sourced down filling comes from European silver geese, and thanks to the transparent nylon micro-ripstop, you can even get a glimpse of it. The outer shell? A hefty, wind-beating chambray with a wax coating that gives it serious character from day one, with only more to come over time.

NN07 had a banger with the outerwear sported by Carmy Berzatto in The Bear, and they’re proving they’re no one-jacket wonder. Their latest waxed jacket is a standout, blending rugged durability with a minimal design. It boasts a substantial waxed coating for weather resistance, raglan sleeves for a comfortable, unrestricted fit, and a minimalist silhouette that prioritizes function over frills.

As a mid-weight piece, it’s ideal for layering—pair it with a sweater vest for a touch of texture, a classic crewneck for casual ease, or a flannel for that cool, workwear-inspired look. Style it up, stay warm, and channel your inner Carmy (minus the kitchen meltdowns).

Because they have such a reputation for quality, plenty of shysters are out here claiming their waxed jackets are the real deal to make a buck. When shopping for one, there are a few key steps to take. First off, know thy waxes—traditional wax offers a more rugged look and heavy weather resistance, while lightweight waxes can be more flexible and comfortable for everyday wear. Sealed seams are non negotiable; they prevent moisture from seeping in. And what’s on the inside matters too. A quilted lining adds insulation, while tartan adds some of that warmth, as well as a lick of Scottish style. And don’t forget about those corduroy-lined collars—they add comfort and durability where the jacket gets the most wear.

What Is the Best Brand for Waxed Jackets?

For any clothing category, you can reliably look to the stalwarts and inventors of the genre. In this case, Barbour, Belstaff, and Filson are some of the best to do it. But don’t mistake these brands as the best waxed canvas jacket for you. Each jacket has its own unique characteristics and what works for a lot of people doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right option for everyone.

You can also lean on storied waxed fabric makers as a good indicator of quality. Though many of the high priests of waxed jackets don’t necessarily call out their fabric suppliers, a good deal of them use waxed fabrics from British Millerain and Halley Stevensons, both mills with generations of expertise with the unique material.

Step 1: Clean your jacket by using a damp cloth to wipe away dust and debris.

Step 2: Prepare the wax. Waxes can come in different forms. Some come in a tin which you then place in warm water in order to melt the wax. Other waxes are sold as a bar which must be softened with heat, often with a heat gun or hair dryer.

Step 3: Apply the wax. For tinned wax, dip a sponge or a clean rag into the wax and wipe the jacket evenly. For bar wax, rub the bar all over the jacket, applying the wax evenly. Then use a heat gun to melt the wax into the fibers of the jacket.

Step 4: Allow the jacket to dry. Hang your jacket to dry for about 24-48 hours, keeping it away from other clothes or objects to avoid staining anything with the still-wet wax. And voilà! Good as new.

Style is subjective, we know—that’s the fun of it. But we’re serious about helping our audience get dressed. Whether it’s the best white sneakers, the flyest affordable suits, or the need-to-know menswear drops of the week, GQ Recommends’ perspective is built on years of hands-on experience, an insider awareness of what’s in and what’s next, and a mission to find the best version of everything out there, at every price point.

Our staffers aren’t able to try on every single piece of clothing you read about on GQ.com (fashion moves fast these days), but we have an intimate knowledge of each brand’s strengths and know the hallmarks of quality clothing—from materials and sourcing, to craftsmanship, to sustainability efforts that aren’t just greenwashing. GQ Recommends heavily emphasizes our own editorial experience with those brands, how they make their clothes, and how those clothes have been reviewed by customers. Bottom line: GQ wouldn’t tell you to wear it if we wouldn’t.

We make every effort to cast as wide of a net as possible, with an eye on identifying the best options across three key categories: quality, fit, and price.

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We lean on that collective experience to guide our search, culling a mix of household names, indie favorites, and the artisanal imprints on the bleeding-edge of the genre. Then we narrow down the assortment to the picks that scored the highest across quality, fit, and price.

Across the majority of our buying guides, our team boasts firsthand experience with the bulk of our selects, but a handful are totally new to us. So after several months of intense debate, we tally the votes, collate the anecdotal evidence, and emerge with a list of what we believe to be the absolute best of the category right now, from the tried-and-true stalwarts to the modern disruptors, the affordable beaters to the wildly expensive (but wildly worth-it) designer riffs.

Whatever your preferences, whatever your style, there's bound to be a superlative version on this list for you. (Read more about GQ's testing process here.)