Waxing my hunting coat this afternoon

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Does anybody still use waxed coats and if so do y'all re-wax every so often?
I've got this old coat that I bought at least 25 years ago. has a game pocket with a vented back and mesh lining. I can layer when needed and ...well it just works. I wax it every couple of years or so (or as they say in the industry "re-proof it")It is starting to show its age and in looking for a new one, it seems that none are made for hunting unless you want to pay through the nose for an ...ahem.....Barbour and even those seem to be made for the landed gentry that wants to walk through the rain looking like they just came off the moor. Mine used to look like that until after the first season-now it has crud stains, a few holes and has a bit of a funk smell to it but it is easy to swing a gun while wearing it and it DO keep one dry. Another plus is that it is NOT camo.
Does anyone make a waxed reasonably priced coat made for shooting with a game pocket for cryin' out loud. At my age I just need one to last for another 15 or so years.

 

[squidsix]

I ride between 15-20k miles a year on a naked motorcycle.
I wear waxed canvas riding gear. I re-wax in January normally every year. 90mph in the rain take a lot of the wax off my jacket and pants, and I found that if I wait till the 14 month mark, I get a little water in at the seams.
If you are in the market for a good jacket made from waxed canvas, and dont want to shell out the absurd coin for Filson stuff, check out Beretta. Their clothing line is actually reasonably priced, and they have nice hunting jackets.

 

[Onomea]

You like the current jacket. Why not see if one of your local cleaners can do something about the crud stains and fix the few holes, add a wax job and be good to go?

Or, maybe somebody on ebay is selling the same jacket in better condition. (My wife finds me replacement shoes I know and like that way.)

 

[pharmer]

Dang it, I clicked on this thread thinking "The punchline has gotta be good." Joe

 

[jrm53]

For the bike rider above Belstaff used to make the waxed black biker jackets and pants I never had any but the old die hard riders liked them, note i said "old die hard riders" I will be 80 next month but I always wore leathers. Jeff

 

[Maddog 521]

FILSON
Is where you should look. Their motto is "might as well have the best". They have waxed jackets and pants plus other stuff and still made in the USA too.

 

[Bugkiller99]

I ride between 15-20k miles a year on a naked motorcycle.

Phew! Glad I read that twice. I was reaching for the eye bleach.

 

[Marshwheeling]

I used a lot of waxed canvas riding gear over the years. The classic English brands were Belstaff and Barbour. Later on there was a brand called Bohn, which had some protective armor.

The stuff sheds water pretty well, but it doesn't breathe, so if you are working hard enough to work up a sweat, usually the case off-road, you are going to get wet anyway. It is reasonably protective, but thorns and rocks tend to rip it up.

The Filson tin cloth is pretty durable, but comes in a tan color. Moto wear of course needs to be black.

Belstaff and Barbour both got bought up by Italian fashion marketers, so jackets that used to sell for a hundred bucks were going for six and seven hundred bucks. That was twenty- five years ago. I don't know if the English riding jackets have since gone out of fashion, but they will never be out of style.

 

[SteveA]

I have a pair of Filson bib overalls for pheasant hunting on frosty or wet mornings. Keep them waxed and they will last generations. Unfortunately it may be generations before they are used again due to lack of birds.

 

[kraynky]

I only have a couple of waxed hats, I call them my "Rain hats". One is a Browning ball cap, and the other is a wide brimmed hat that I can't recall the name of right now. They do hold in the heat for sure, but they keep my noggin dry. Just re-waxed them this past weekend. They probably get it every 2-3 years. Wax them and then put them in the oven on about 150° for 15 minutes to blend it into the cloth.

Almost forgot, I have a waxed cloth vest as well. I need to dig it out, as it's way overdue for a "refresh". Guess I might as well break down and start looking for a waxed coat. (wonder if you could wax a Carhart jacket?) hmmmmm.......

 

[ParadiseRoad]

..."Waxing my hunting coat this afternoon"...

...do you do your surfboard while you're at it?... ;-)

 

[Faulkner]

The only waxed canvas gear I still use is my orange hunting cap. I've been wearing this one for at least 20 years, but I believe McAlister was bought out by Drake. Drake does retain some waxed gear from the McAlister line you may want to take a look at.

Wax Field Jacket – Drake Waterfowl

My waxed canvas cap is both warm and dry which is fortunate as I've hunted in the rain for at least three days this season. I always used mink oil on my canvas gear to keep it soft and waterproof.

 

[Rule3]

You like the current jacket. Why not see if one of your local cleaners can do something about the crud stains and fix the few holes, add a wax job and be good to go?

Or, maybe somebody on ebay is selling the same jacket in better condition. (My wife finds me replacement shoes I know and like that way.)

What? and ruin the "patina"??

 

[CH4]

I ride between 15-20k miles a year on a naked motorcycle. I wear waxed canvas riding gear. 90mph in the rain take a lot of the wax off my jacket and pants...

Others booby trap their homes.

 

[Jack Flash]

It might be worth checking the NRA's website to see if they have anything in their clothing line that interests you. Couldn't hurt and if you do buy, you're helping out the NRA.

I haven't bought any outdoor gear from L.L. Bean in a long time, but they used to have some quality merchandise.

I have had some good luck recently buying old hunting clothes and gear at yard sales. Seems a lot of guys are getting too old (or passing away) and their stuff gets sold super cheap. Good Will and so forth often gets this kind of thing donated to them. Or maybe check E-Bay?

 

[jkmo]

What wax do you use. I have my old Filson bird vest that desperately needs a waxing. What's the process

 

[Mule Packer]

I bought a Filson packer's coat over 20 years ago....probably closer to 30. This was when they came complete with the heavy blanket wool liner. Now I see that you have to buy the liner separately.

It's been used hard and looks it. I wore it exclusively on pack trips in Northern California where annual rainfall averaged around 46 inches. I've had to stitch it up in a few places using an old "Speedy Stitcher." You know, the kind with the heavy string they use to stitch canvas or leather. (Ms. Judy refers to my efforts as "man sewing.") I've had to re-wax it probably about four times, maybe five. I dunno. It definitely keeps me warm and dry, that's for sure.

Anyway, a few months ago I was wearing it while the farrier was over to trim the mules' feet. He looked at that old coat and said, "I don't mean to be insensitive, but when you die, can I have that coat?"

Bottom line, Gary, hang on to that coat of yours. It's not old...it's a classic!

 

[Onomea]

What wax do you use. I have my old Filson bird vest that desperately needs a waxing. What's the process

I was curious about that, too, seeing this thread. Look up Otter Wax (brand name) on Amazon, and read how people use it. One guy, who suggested ignoring the manufacturer's instructions, writes that first he heats the material, with a hair dryer I think, then applies the wax, also heated, to the material in long strokes that do not overlap, then uses his fingers to blend the applied swaths of wax together, lets it dry thoroughly for a coupla days, then buffs it with a shoe brush.

That may be overkill for most.

Only waxed item of clothing I have is a cap with flannel lining. Great for cold, rainy weather.

 

[Onomea]

...Anyway, a few months ago I was wearing it while the farrier was over to trim the mules' feet. He looked at that old coat and said, "I don't mean to be insensitive, but when you die, can I have that coat?"....

So, what'd ya say?

 

[Mule Packer]

So, what'd ya say?

It may seem hard to believe, but I've got some sons and grandsons who also have their eyes on the old coat when I cash in.

Like I said, it seems hard to believe. I mean, that coat has traveled more miles on horseback or muleback than I can count...and it looks it, too. I'm really not sure why anyone would want it, but I do know that I'm in no real hurry to give it up.