If you are shopping for Filson jackets, you might be a bit confused when you see the different types of canvas materials used in the jackets. What is the difference between Filson Tin Cloth and Shelter Cloth and Cover Cloth?
- The difference between these materials is the weight. Filson Tin Cloth is a heavyweight canvas, Filson Shelter Cloth is a midweight canvas, and Filson Cover Cloth is a lightweight canvas. All three are durable materials, but Filson Tin Cloth is the most durable.
- Filson Tin Cloth is made using a tight weave and heavyweight fabric that makes the garment both abrasion and wind-resistant. An oil-finish is also applied to make this garment as close to waterproof as a cotton canvas material possibly can be. This is the most popular type of Filson Tin Cloth Jacket and is used for rugged conditions (paid affiliate link takes you to Filson.com).
- Filson Shelter Cloth and Filson Cover Cloth are not as durable as Filson Tin Cloth (but they are still durable canvas fabrics). The benefit to these fabrics is they are more flexible off the rack and have shorter break-in periods than Filson Tin Cloth. One of my favorite Filson Jackets is the Filson Down Cruiser which combines Filson Shelter and Cover Cloth with warm down insulation. Click here to view this Filson Down Cruiser Jacket at Filson.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Filson.com).
In this article let’s discuss in more detail the difference of these Filson canvas fabrics, and what types of garments they are used in.
Filson Tin Cloth vs Shelter Cloth vs Cover Cloth
Filson Tin Cloth
Filson Tin Cloth is the most heavyweight type of canvas that Filson offers. This material is extremely durable and the tight weave provides additional weather and wind protection. If you need something for rugged conditions, this will be your best option.
There are a few important things to understand about Filson Tin Cloth:
- Oil Finish vs Dry – Filson offers two different types of Tin Cloth (oil-finished and dry). Oil-finished Tin Cloth has oil applied to the fabric to make the canvas material water-repellent. Dry tin cloth will not have this oil-finish, and therefore will not be water-repellent. However, the dry Tin Cloth is more breathable than the oil-finished Tin Cloth.
- Break-In Period – Because Filson Tin Cloth is a heavyweight cotton canvas material, it can feel a bit stiff when you first wear it. There will be a break-in period. Filson Shelter Cloth and Filson Cover Cloth will be a bit easier to break in.
- Re-waxing – If you choose to purchase oil-finished Tin Cloth, you will need to occasionally re-wax the garment to help it maintain water-repellency. Once a year is usually a good time to re-wax the garment, but adjust to more or less depending on how often you wear the garment.
This type of oil-finished Tin Cloth workwear is especially good if you are spending time in heavy, wet brush. In the video below, I test exactly how waterproof the oil-finished Tin Cloth is on the Filson Tin Cloth Jacket that I own:
Filson Shelter Cloth
Filson Shelter Cloth is a midweight canvas fabric. It strikes a balance between durability and comfort, making it suitable for everyday wear, casual outings, and moderate outdoor activities.
If you prefer a canvas jacket that is more comfortable right off the rack and requires less time to break in, Filson Shelter Cloth is a good option compared to Tin Cloth.
Filson Shelter Cloth also comes in oil-finished versions (meaning these oil-finished versions will be water-resistant). Because this material isn’t quite as thick as Tin Cloth, it makes sense for more mild temperatures in wet weather conditions (unless it is combined with a warmer insulation).
Filson Cover Cloth
Filson Cover Cloth is the most lightweight of these three canvas materials. Although Cover Cloth is occasionally used as an exterior shell on a jacket, it is most commonly used as a liner material in Filson waxed jackets.
Here is a picture of a Filson Tin Cloth jacket I own that uses Cover Cloth as the liner:
One jacket that uses Cover Cloth as the outer-shell material is the Filson Down Cruiser Jacket. This makes sense because the lightweight Cover Cloth canvas is an easier material to pair with warm down insulation than heavyweight Filson Tin Cloth.
The Filson Down Cruiser is interesting because it actually combines Filson Cover Cloth and Filson Shelter Cloth. It uses Cover Cloth on the upper part of the jacket, but for added durability on the lower half, it uses midweight Shelter Cloth. An oil finish is applied to this Filson Down Cruiser Jacket for water-resistance. Click here to learn more about Filson Cruisers.
What Filson Canvas Fabric Is Right for You?
| Material | Weight | Ounce | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filson Tin Cloth | Heavyweight | 14-ounce | Most durable with tight weave and heavyweight fabric |
| Filson Shelter Cloth | Midweight | 11-ounce | More flexible off the rack but still very durable. |
| Filson Cover Cloth | Lightweight | 8-ounce | Thinner canvas provides durability and weather-resistance but for more mild conditions. |
Filson Tin Cloth is the most popular type of canvas fabric. It is made for ultra-rugged work and can take on heavy, wet brush with ease. But there will be a break-in period. Filson Shelter Cloth and Filson Cover Cloth are durable fabrics, but will be more comfortable off the rack.
Because Filson Tin Cloth is so popular, it is offered a wider range of options than Filson Shelter Cloth and Filson Tin Cloth.