There is no 'best' waxed jacket for 2026, and that's rather the point

I find myself growing rather weary of the internet at times. Every few months, and now with the end of 2025 in sight, fresh listicles emerge proclaiming 'The this or that is the best for [insert year here]'. When it comes to waxed jackets, the truth is really rather simple, and considerably more interesting: there is no best waxed jacket for 2026, or any year. And let me explain you why.

The wisest course of action isn't to chase after the latest release or limited edition. It's to own a waxed jacket at all, in my opinion preferably one that has already weathered someone else's autumns before finding its way to you. A well-constructed jacket of waxed cotton doesn't compete with trends. It outlasts them. It's got nothing to do with the nonsense of trends. And that ought to be precisely the reason to acquire one. Forget trends, forget the latest and greatest.

The beauty of longevity

Unlike the carousel of brightly coloured synthetic outdoor wear that you can purchase on every street corner, where new membranes, graphs, and coatings promise marginally better breathability each year, waxed cotton represents an older, and dare I say cleverer, design principle. With modern technical gear, it seems you're presented with an excellent excuse to keep purchasing year after year. With waxed jackets, that's simply a non-issue.

The quality of the cotton, when properly maintained, doesn't deteriorate; it evolves. The fabric develops a patina, a cartography of your hikes and forest walks embedded within the textile itself. Each crease and scuff tells a story that only time can compose. Moreover, those creases and scuffs can be repaired. This is clothing built upon the foundation of an adult long-term relationship rather than a flaky Tinder-like romance where the grass is always greener some place else. And as with any worthwhile relationship, the more care and attention you invest, the more it rewards you in return in ways you didn't see coming

The environmental case against disposable waterproofing

Modern waterproof jackets, regardless of how advanced or new their "tech" may be, arrive with considerable environmental baggage. Gore-Tex, eVent, and most polyester-based 'shells' rely upon petroleum-derived fibres and chemical treatments that prove difficult, often impossible, to recycle. Once delaminated or torn, they frequently end up directly in landfill, where incineration becomes the only viable option in most cases. Perhaps you've recently seen images of those enormous mountains of discarded clothing in the Chilean desert or along the west coast of Africa? Fast fashion, manufactured from cheap, unsustainable materials, is simply no longer appropriate for our times. End of discussion.

Waxed cotton, by contrast, is renewable, repairable, and fundamentally recyclable. Even for the waxing process itself, you can use wax made purely from natural ingredients such as beeswax blends, and mineral or plant-based oils that are considerably kind to the planet instead of synthetic coatings. These synthetic alternatives often release various forever chemicals into the water during washing, which has by now created an enormous health hazard for everything living on this planet.

Consider this: you purchase a waxed jacket with the intention that it shall hang in your wardrobe for the remainder of your life. The ecological footprint per year of use thereby becomes almost negligible and decreases with every year you add.

Buying second-hand: that might be the best waxed jacket for 2026

Furthermore, I'm personally rather devoted to pre-owned waxed jackets. Not only does one save a tremendous amount of money, but you're acquiring a quality product that has lost nothing in terms of functionality. Buying second-hand isn't merely nostalgic romanticism; it's sound economics.

I own a second-hand waxed jacket from a brand I can't even remember, which is at least 20 years old. It's not about status, but about functionality.

A used waxed jacket has already completed the arduous work of breaking in. The fabric has softened, the creases have formed — it arrives already imbued with character that fast fashion simply cannot replicate. Choosing pre-owned over new reduces the energy, water, and emissions associated with fresh textile production, and keeps durable garments in circulation where they belong. I've been thinking about this rather a lot in recent years. Everything we as humans require already exists. It's already been produced.

Beyond fashion: a return to value

The nasty paradox of contemporary fashion is that 'sustainability' is marketed through constant newness. A waxed jacket rejects this logic entirely. It's not about aesthetic seasons or 'heritage-core' pinterest boards; it's about long-term value, for your wallet, your wardrobe, and the planet you're 'sitting' on while reading this little piece of text.

So no, there is no 'best waxed jacket' for 2026. Nonsense. The best waxed jacket there is, is the one you consider most likely to own, wear, and maintain over the next twenty years. For that, you don't need some blog article telling you what to purchase.