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The Huckberry x Flint and Tinder Jacket
Hello everyone, my name is Michael. Welcome to the Iron Snail. Hope you’ve been enjoying your day.
Today, we’re looking at the Huckberry x Flint and Tinder flannel line wax trucker Type 1 jacket.
I have it in tan (the most popular color), and I also have it in black, so we’ll be doing both.
What I’m Wearing Today
So, really quickly, I’m obviously decked out in Huckberry today. I’m a huge fan.
I’m wearing the tan Huckberry Flint and Tinder flannel line wax trucker jacket.
I have the Huckberry x Peak Designs waterproof backpack that I actually really like. I use it all the time.
I’m also wearing Huckberry’s in-house brand all-weather boots, which are fully waterproof boots, unlike L.L. Bean boots, which are, unless you get the Gore-Tex version, only waterproof up to the rubber part.
What We’re Covering Today
But that’s not important – what is important is the Huckberry waxed trucker jacket. We’ll be going over the actual wax canvas because, fascinatingly, a lot of other brands with much more expensive jackets use either the same fabric or fabric from the same mill. We’ll go over how you should rewax your jacket or at least the products that you should use. Then we’ll look at fit, and we’ll look at the lining because every review that you watch will say, “Well, the lining is cool, it’s cool that it’s lined, but…” So we’ll go over that, and then that should really wrap us up. I think this will be a short article.
Why Wax Canvas Over Gore-Tex?
So you may be thinking, “Well, I already have a Gore-Tex jacket. Why would I need a wax canvas jacket?” That’s a good question, especially one without a hood. You don’t – wax cotton or like just a wax jacket usually holds up a lot longer than Gore-Tex, which will eventually delaminate and will get you wet. And it’s cool because it ages and looks more and more beautiful over time. People likey that, Mikey likey that.
It is actually very, very water resistant. A lot of people will say if you’re out in just an absolute downpour, it will soak through, but I’ve done plenty of shower tests, and it’s been good so far. It is very water resistant, and this fabric is both made and waxed in New Jersey.
The Technical Stuff: Fabric & Manufacturing
The actual wax fabric itself is a 7 oz Martexin waxed sailcloth made with an Oxford weave. This is a two-step process, so the actual fabric is made unwaxed by Fairfield Textiles in New Jersey, which is very cool. Martexin is the company that actually waxes the jackets.
Scratch that – it’s actually not made by Martexin; it’s made by Martin Dyeing and Finishing Company, and their wax product is called Martexin. What’s very interesting is if you go on Fairfield Textiles’ “very updated” website, you can see the exact fabric that this jacket uses – the 7 oz wax sailcloth.
But you can also see what other companies use when they’re making their jackets. So they’re two different companies, but they’re in the same building, so they may be owned by the same person. I’m not entirely sure, and I don’t want to lie to you, but it seems very logical, or maybe they just had one heck of a coincidence.
And if you don’t know why you can’t wash your jacket – we’ll get into that later, but it has to do with that actual waxing process that you cannot replicate at home.
So do not wash your jacket.
So the interesting thing, though, is that you may know the term Oxford weave from an Oxford shirt – that’s exactly what this is. Oxford shirts are obviously not 7 oz. They’re usually lighter than that, but it’s the same weave. So picture an Oxford shirt that is much beefier with a bunch of wax inside of it, and that’s what this feels like.
Let’s Talk About That Lining
Now, we’re going to talk about the lining. The lining, depending on where you live and the climate that you’re in, is either very good or very bad. But with double-waxed cotton, which is waxed on both sides, it does feel a little bit gross if you don’t have a lining. Huckberry does offer one without a lining, and so does Rogue Territory, but it’s like you’re just covered in wax at the end of the day, which is the last thing you want to be covered in.
The reason why there’s quite a bit of hubbub about this lining, and every reviewer will talk about it, is because it’s made out of 100% polyester, and people in this genre of clothing or style and paying these prices usually like to go all natural fabrics or a wool-rich blend, which would be at least 50% wool.
In this case, I think they’re using polyester because it’s the closest synthetic equivalent to wool. That’s why I think they’re using it. Also, it probably lowers the price, which is why you can get a lined wax jacket for $265 as opposed to like $400 or more.
But who really knows? I can’t read Huckberry’s mind, especially because it’s a company, so it doesn’t have a brain, and if it did, all it would say is, “Did we sell more things today?”
All in all, I think the best of both worlds would be if Huckberry just did a premium line and the lining was wool or cotton for different reasons. That could be pretty cool, but that’s the lining.
Fit & Sizing Details
Okay, so the basic form factor of the Huckberry waxed trucker jacket is based on Levi’s Type One, but really, not much else is. I think everybody says that just because of the one booby pocket on the left and none on the right.
But it has hand pockets, and it’s a little longer, so it’s like a general jacket is what I would say it’s based off of, and then the pocket is inspired by the Levi’s booby pocket.
In terms of sizing, I’m 5’9″, 135-140 lb – I have no idea – and it fits me, but I wish it was a little bit shorter. But it fits me generally well. I would say go true to size, and you’ll be totally fine. It’s also made so that way you can toss something under it and be fine.
I wore it with a hoodie yesterday, and let me tell you, the looks I got – amazing. People were rubbing my jacket, and they were like, “Wow, that’s… it’s very stiff.” I was like, “I know, it’s because it’s actually coated in wax.” But so yeah, it fits me fine.
People like Stridewise, one of my favorite creators, who are – they look like Popeye after he just had the spinach – it fits them a little bit better. That was a compliment, by the way, Stridewise. I don’t want to put my foot in my mouth ’cause I haven’t washed my feet in a while.
Value Proposition
Before we get into why you can’t wash this jacket, the value of this jacket obviously is the price, especially with lining, but it’s also if it matters to you (it matters to some people, not to others) – everything is made and sourced in the US, which is crazy for this price point.
There are many, many ways Huckberry can do it, from how their company is structured to how many jackets they order. Who knows? It’s probably a mix of both. But getting something made in the US with all US-made materials for $265 and having it lined is wild.
So that’s the value prop – it is still very much there. It’s not built like a $400 or $500 jacket, but you’re also basically paying for two jackets at that point, so you can get two different colors, and I don’t think you’d ever have a problem with this. I think it would last you for a very, very, very long time. So, all in all, a good jacket, great jacket, great job, Huckberry.
How to Maintain Your Wax Jacket
So, you know the saying, “There are a few ways to skin a cat?” There are a few ways to wax a canvas, but for the most part, what happens is Fairfield Mills will actually make the fabric, and then when they send it over to Martin, Martin will take the fabric and have wax between two hot rollers, and they’ll run the fabric through those rollers.
And what that’s doing is effectively putting wax on the top side, the bottom side, but those rollers squeeze it so tight that they also put wax inside the fabric, and that is the part that you can’t really replicate by yourself.
Eventually, after you wear your jacket for a season, maybe two, maybe three, depending on how often you wear it, you’ll need to rewax it because your jacket will slowly lose water resistance efficiency (water resistancy?) So you need to get some wax and reapply it, which is sometimes a huge pain in the butt.
99% of the time, it’s a pain in the butt. But if you’re looking for where to get wax and you want a discount, check out Otter Wax. I’ve worked with Otter Wax many times – they’re my favorite wax, and I actually reached out to them to get a code, they didn’t reach out to me. So if you want a discount, get your wax there and use the code theironsnail.
The reason that you can’t actually wash your jacket is because those rollers, when they’re initially putting wax in the jacket, put it places that you can never go – crevices that you’ll never see in your entire life. So, when you’re rewaxing the surface of your jacket, the wax will only go so far before it dries. So that’s why you can never, never, never ever wash your jacket, and that’s also why wax jackets get such a beautiful patina.
Watch This Review
See You Next Time!
Anyway, that’s it on the Huckberry waxed trucker jacket. I’ll see you soon, hope you’re doing well, and I hope you’re enjoying life!
This article was adapted from Michael Kristy’s video on The Iron Snail, with edits from FashionBeans, and was reviewed by Michael to ensure the integrity of his original content. Watch the full video here.
The Iron Snail is a men’s fashion vlog (and now article series!) starring a young man named Michael and featuring a snail no bigger than a quarter. The two are set on taking over the world of fashion by creating a clothing line to end all clothing lines. Until then, we’re here to tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about the best clothing out there, from the highest quality raw denim jeans to the warmest jackets to the sturdiest boots…the Iron Snail has got you covered.
Read the original article here