7 Best Lightweight Waxed Jackets for Work [Oil Cotton Canvas]

Lightweight waxed jackets are awesome because they are versatile. They provide warm comfort without the bulkiness of a heavyweight jacket, and the wax finish adds weather and abrasion protection. I like the Filson Aberdeen Jacket which uses an 8-ounce waxed cotton shell and has large front-side storage pockets which gives it more storage space than other lightweight waxed work jackets.

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These are my choices for the best lightweight waxed jackets:

There are a couple things to consider when shopping for a lightweight waxed work jacket.

How much weather protection do you need? I like the Filson Aberdeen Jacket because not only does it have the water-resistant protection from the waxed finish, but it also has an adjustable drawcord at the waist which can be tightened to keep rain and wind from blowing up into the jacket.

You will also need to consider how much warmth you need. Some people need a lightweight waxed jacket for mild temperatures. For some other workers, they want a lightweight, non-bulky jacket, but still need it to be warm enough for cold winter conditions.

If you need something that is lightweight, but still warm enough for winter temperatures, I would suggest the Tecovas Waxed Jacket that is on our list at the top of the page. Yes, it is lightweight and non-bulky, but it uses Primaloft insulation, which is a synthetic insulation. These types of insulations are useful in workwear because they provide quality warmth without weight or bulkiness.

In this article let’s take a closer look at the best lightweight waxed jackets to use on the job. Let’s also take a deeper look at several things to consider when shopping for these types of lightweight waxed canvas jackets.

Best Lightweight Waxed Jacket for Work

Filson Aberdeen Lightweight Waxed Work Jacket

What stands out the most about this Filson Waxed Jacket is it finds a way to combine weather protection with that blue-collar style that we all like in waxed jackets.

This jacket uses an oil-finished cotton shell. It has large cargo pockets where you can easily stash work gloves and other EDC while on the job.

No, this isn’t a rain jacket, but it is built to look and function like a work jacket while still providing great weather protection. The waxed cotton is water-resistant, but the jacket also has a drawcord waist and rib-knit cuffs which keep precipitation and wind from blowing into the jacket. The zipper front has a button-storm flap that covers the zipper to provide weather protection.

Click here to view this Filson Aberdeen Jacket available at Filson.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Filson.com). Here’s what you need to know about this jacket:

• Material – This waxed jacket uses Filson’s lightest oil-finish cotton. It is an 8-ounce 100% cotton Cover Cloth. The body of this lightweight waxed jacket is lined with (unwaxed) cotton, and the sleeves are lined with polyester which makes it easy to slide your arms in and out.  

• Water-Resistant – Yes, because this work jacket uses oil-finished cotton, the material is water-resistant. This means you can expect it to protect you from light precipitation and mist.

• Drawcord Waist – This jacket has a drawcord at the waist which allows you to tighten the jacket to keep wind and precipitation from blowing up under your jacket.

• Large Cargo Pockets – One thing that makes this work jacket unique is it has two large cargo pockets on the front that give you a perfect place to stash work gloves or other EDC essentials. The pockets have a button-flap top which offers weather protection.

• Other Pockets – This jacket has hand pockets positioned behind the large cargo pockets. There is also an external zip-close chest pocket, and an internal zip-close pockets, which gives you two places to store essentials in out of the rain.

Click here to buy this Filson Aberdeen lightweight waxed work jacket available at Filson.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Filson.com). In my experience, Filson jackets fit true to size.

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Other Lightweight Waxed Jackets to Consider

Tecovas Lightweight Waxed Canvas Jacket

This Tecovas lightweight waxed canvas jacket is built like a shirt jacket. It is made with a 9 oz. waxed cotton canvas outer shell. It has a full snap front with two external chest pockets for storage (one of the chest pockets has an extra vertical zip pocket for storing essentials).

It is important to note that this jacket does have insulation, so it will provide warmth, but isn’t bulky or heavy. It uses Primaloft as the insulation (with a fleece lining).

Primaloft is a synthetic insulation. These types of insulations are useful in workwear because they provide quality warmth without weight or bulkiness. This insulation is also used in many types of winter work boots.

Another cool thing about this jacket is the hand-warming pockets are actually fleece lined to provide the needed warmth to your hands. This jacket has a versatile design that looks good both on and off the clock.

Click here to view this lightweight waxed canvas jacket available at Tecovas.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Tecovas.com). This jacket might be a perfect option for those of you who want warmth, but not bulkiness.

Flint and Tinder Quilted Waxed Shirt Jacket

This Flint and Tinder lightweight waxed jacket is another good option if you need something that has extra insulation for warmth. It too uses the lightweight, non-bulky PrimaLoft insulation that we discussed above. This allows the jacket to be both warm and lightweight.

This lightweight waxed canvas jacket has a diamond-quilted design on both the inside and outside of the jacket. It has a full snap-button front, with two snap-close external chest pockets for storage. It has two side hand pockets, an internal zip pocket for storing essentials, and an internal phone pocket.

This jacket runs a little bit bigger compared to other Flint and Tinder jackets. Sizing down may be needed if you prefer a slimmer fit.

Click here to view this lightweight waxed canvas jacket available at Huckberry.com (paid affiliate link takes you to Huckberry.com).

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What to Consider When Buying Lightweight Waxed Jackets

Weather Protection

Canvas is not waterproof, and when it is untreated, it does not do well with precipitation. But a wax finish helps protect the material, and makes it water-resistant.

One of the main reasons I like the Filson Aberdeen Jacket is because it has several features that provide weather protection:

1. Yes, the waxed cotton provides water-resistant protection against light precipitation.
2. The waist has an adjustable drawcord which can be tightened to prevent wind and rain from blowing up into the jacket.
3. The cuffs are rib-knit cuffs that help keep weather and wind from getting inside the sleeves.
4. The zip-front also has a button storm flap that covers the zipper to protect it from wind and moisture.

If you like waxed canvas for weather protection, and want more options, visit our article about waxed canvas hats.

Insulation

There are actually two different types of lightweight work jackets. The first type is lightweight in that it is best used for mild temperatures. But the second type is lightweight (non-bulky), but still warm. To read more about warmth, visit my article that discusses the warmth of wax jackets.

If you need warmth, but prefer lightweight, the Tecovas jacket on our list at the top of the page uses PrimaLoft to provide warmth. PrimaLoft is a synthetic insulation that is very lightweight and non-bulky, but very good at trapping heat. This gives you warmth without bulk.

Durability

One huge benefit of a wax finish is it helps add extra durability to the jacket. This may be very beneficial for those who plan to use this jacket as a work jacket (can you machine wash a waxed jacket?).

If you are concerned about durability, one other thing you may want to consider is the thickness of the outer shell fabric. You will also want to purchase additional wax so you can treat the fabric as needed to maintain the fabrics durability and water-resistance.

Usually, re-waxing your waxed jacket once a year will be fine, but if you wear your jacket a lot, twice a year may be best. You can buy Filson’s Oil-Finish Wax by clicking here (paid affiliate link takes you to Filson.com).

Can You Dry Clean a Wax Jacket?

Other Canvas Work Jackets to Consider

If you prefer canvas jackets, and want to explore more options, visit our articles linked below:

• Hooded Canvas Work Jackets
• Canvas Jackets with Corduroy Collars
• Lightweight Canvas Shirt Jackets

Coverage

How much coverage do you want from your lightweight waxed jacket? Many waxed jackets finish near the waist, which might be ideal for more mild temperatures. It also makes them easier to wear while sitting and driving or operating machinery.

If you prefer coverage past the waist, perhaps a chore coat makes more sense. The Railcar Fine Goods Waxed Chore Coat on the list at the top of the page might be the best option if you prefer a lightweight waxed jacket that finishes past the waist.