Oilskin and waxed canvas hats are durable and water-repellent and can take on outdoor work much better than untreated hats. The oil-finished Filson packer hat is made in the USA and has a classic design that can fit a wide range of needs. It’s made with durable 14-ounce Tin Cloth fabric and can be re-waxed as needed to maintain proper water resistance.
*This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. (info)
These are my choices for the best waxed canvas hats and oilskin caps:
- Filson Tin Cloth Oil Finish Waxed Packer Hat (click here to view)
- Filson Insulated Tin Cloth Oil Finish Waxed Packer Hat (click here to view)
- Stetson Avasun Waxed Traveler Hat (click here to view)
- Outback Trading 1497 River Guide Oilskin Hat (click here to view)
- Barmah Hats Drover Oil Skin Hat w/ Chin Cord (click here to view)
- Stormy Kromer The Waxed SK Duck Cruiser Hat (click here to view)
- *CAP* Filson Insulated Tin Cloth Waxed Cap (click here to view)
- *CAP* Walker and Hawkes Wax Cotton Baseball Cap (click here to view)
- *CAP* Stormy Kromer Waxed Cotton Cap w/ Earflaps (click here to view)
- *CAP* Drake Waterfowl 8oz Waxed Canvas Cap (click here to view)
- *CAP* Walker and Hawkes Flat Waxed Cap (click here to view)
- *CAP* DRI Duck Moorland Waxed Canvas Cap (click here to view)
Obviously, one of the first things you will need to decide is whether or not you need an insulated waxed canvas hat. Filson offers their popular Tin Cloth Packer hat in a winter version that has insulation around the crown of the hat. You can also buy waxed canvas caps that come with earflaps to protect the ears during cold weather.
Most canvas caps are made for warmer weather, and will feature breathable grommets for ventilation. Buying wax so you can re-wax your hat once a year is always a good idea. Click here to buy Filson’s wax available at Filson.com (affiliate link takes you to Filson.com).
In this article let’s take a closer look at the best waxed canvas caps and hats so you can find an option that fits your needs. Let’s also discuss several things to consider when buying these types of hats.
Best Waxed Canvas Hats & Caps
Filson Tin Cloth Oil Finish Packer Hat
Filson is a clothing company based in Seattle WA that has a deep-rooted tradition in providing heavy-duty dependable workwear and outerwear. Their founder, C.C. Filson, opened shop in 1897 and, at that time, specialized in making ultra-tough, ultra-dependable clothing for stampeders heading north for the Klondike Gold Rush.
Modern day, they’ve transitioned into a company that provides a wide range of outdoor gear (not just workwear). Their gear can be worn by fisherman, loggers, miners, engineers, explorers, and even just everyday folk looking for rugged casualwear. And they have several pieces of clothing made with oil-finished, durable Tin Cloth fabric, including this packer hat.
Here’s what this Filson Tin Cloth Oil Finish Packer Hat:
- Material – This hat is made with 14-ounce durable Tin Cloth fabric that is treated with an oil-finish wax to give it extra durability and water-resistance. This is Filson’s toughest waxed cotton fabric. It is made to resist tears, punctures, water and wind making it a great choice for a wide range of outdoor tasks.
- Oil Finish – Yes, you will need to re-wax this hat on occasion to help it maintain its peak abrasion and water resistance. Filson sells this wax so you can re-apply as needed. Click here to view the wax available at Filson.com (affiliate link takes you to Filson.com).
- Design – This brimmed canvas hat has a 2.25 inch brim and features ventilation grommets on the side so heat can escape. It is made in the USA to help ensure quality and durability. It features an interior sweatband to help prevent sweat from dripping down over your face while you work.
Click here to view this Filson waxed canvas hat available at Filson.com (affiliate link takes you to Filson.com). This hat runs a little small, so size up if needed.
Stetson Avasun Waxed Traveler Hat
If you prefer more of a fedora design, this Stetson hat will be the better option. This is a waxed hat that is water-repellent and features a 6cm brim for sun and weather protection. Here’s what you need to know about this Stetson waxed hat.
- Waxed Cotton – Yes, this hat is made with waxed cotton fabric and offers water-repellent protection and is also UV resistant and rated at UPF 40+ for sun protection. It features an interior cotton sweatband to prevent sweat in your eyes.
- Design – This brimmed canvas hat has approximately a 6 cm brim, which means it’s a bit larger that 2.25 inches. The crown of the hat measures at approximately 10.5 cm. This hat has a Fedora style and also has side ventilation holes for breathability.
Click here to view this Stetson waxed hat available at Amazon.com (affiliate link takes you to Filson.com). Like all waxed canvas hats, you will need to re-wax this hat on occasion to help maintain its water-resistance.
Filson Insulated Tin Cloth Waxed Cap
As I mentioned earlier, Filson got their start making ultra-tough, ultra-dependable clothing for stampeders heading north for the Klondike Gold Rush. So it should come as no surprise that they make an insulated waxed canvas cap for colder weather.
Here’s what you need to know about this Filson waxed canvas cap:
- Tin Cloth – This front-billed waxed canvas hat is made with durable 14-ounce Tin Cloth fabric that, yes, has been treated with oil-finish wax to improve abrasion resistance and water resistance. This is Filson’s toughest waxed cotton fabric. It is made to resist tears, punctures, water and wind making it a great choice for a wide range of winter outdoor tasks.
- Insulated – This is a winter waxed canvas cap. It has a polyester lining around the crown to help keep the top of your head warm, but it also has wool earflaps that come down and cover the ears in cold weather. The earflaps can be tucked back into the hat when you don’t need them.
- Made in USA – This Filson waxed canvas cap is made in the USA, and uses wool (for earflaps) that is also sourced in the USA. It has a traditional cap style, with a 3-inch front bill to keep weather off your face. You will need to re-wax on occasion to help it keep peak performance. Click here to view the wax available at Filson.com (affiliate link takes you to Filson.com).
Click here to buy this Filson waxed canvas cap available at Filson.com (affiliate link takes you to Filson.com). This is a fitted hat, meaning it does not have an adjustable strap in the back.
Other Waxed Canvas Caps & Hats to Consider
- Barmah Hats Drover Oil Skin Hat w/ Chin Cord – One thing that makes this oilskin hat unique compared to some of the other options on this list is it comes with a chin cord. This hat is water-repellent, rated as UPF 50+ for sun protection, and features a wide 2.7 inch brim. The adjustable chin cord allows you to secure this hat to your head on those windier days. Click here to view this Barmah oilskin hat available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Walker and Hawkes Flat Waxed Cap – Looking for a cabbie/newsboy style waxed hat? If so, this will be a nice option. It is made with 100% cotton and, yes, has a waxed finish to make the cap water-repellent. It also has an internal cotton lining. Front cabbie-style brim provide sun and weather protection. Click here to view this Walker and Hawkes waxed cabbie hat available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
- Stormy Kromer Waxed Cotton Cap w/ Earflaps – This Stormy Kromer waxed cap has earflaps that tie across the brim of the hat, and can be lowered down over the ears on cool fall and spring days. This isn’t a heavily insulated hat, meaning even with the earflaps, it won’t make sense for brutally cold weather, but the earflaps help adds wind and weather protection on cold, wet spring and fall days. Click here to view this Stormy Kromer waxed cap available at Amazon (affiliate link takes you to Amazon.com).
4 Things to Consider When Buying Waxed Canvas Hats
Design
If you are shopping for a waxed canvas cap or hat, you have several different design styles. Here is what you need to consider:
- Bucket Style – Bucket style hats do not have a firm top and feature a wide brim that circles the entire hat. There are several other names used for this style, such as fishing hat, country hat, packet hat, etc. The Filson Packet Hat on our list at the top of the page is a good example of this style.
- Fedora Style – Fedora style hats usually have a firm top, and can have more of a casual, traveler vibe. They features a wide brim that circles the entire hat. The Stetson Avasun Waxed Traveler Hat on our list is a good example of this style.
- Baseball Cap Style – We are all familiar with a standard baseball cap. These caps are often adjustable in the back, and feature a long front bill that offer sun and weather protection to the face. The Walker and Hawkes waxed baseball cap on our list is a good example of this style.
- Cabbie Style – Cabbie style caps have a rounded design with a smaller, discrete brim tucked under the fabric on the front side of the cap. This type of cap is also often called a newsboy cap and flat cap. The Walker and Hawkes waxed flat cap on our list is a good example of this style.
Insulation
Do you need an insulated waxed canvas hat for winter? Many waxed and oilskin hats are made for warmer weather, and will feature side ventilation grommets.
If you need something warmer and insulated for winter, Filson does offer their popular waxed Tin Cloth Packer hat in an insulated version. This hat features an insulated crown and has wool ear flaps. Click here to view this insulated Filson waxed canvas hat available at Filson.com (affiliate link takes you to Filson.com).
Other Hats to Consider
If you are shopping for hats, there are other options to consider besides waxed cotton. Obviously, canvas is the most abrasion resistant. But here are some other options to consider:
Also, if you love waxed canvas and want to explore other options, visit our article that discusses lightweight waxed jackets.
Re-Waxing
Waxed canvas caps and hats will need to be re-waxed on occasion to help keep them at peak performance. Not only does the wax add moisture protection, but it also makes the fabric more abrasion resistant.
Usually, re-waxing your waxed canvas hat once a year will be fine, but if you wear your hat a lot, twice a year may be best. You can buy Filson’s Oil-Finish Wax by clicking here (affiliate link takes you to Filson.com).