Should I wax this jacket?

[MotoMetalPunkNY]

I picked up this light weight Barbour motorcycle jacket off of Vinted. I’m not sure if it came waxed originally (probably) but I think it looks pretty cool as is. What do you guys think? Obviously, i understand the benefits of waxing it but I'm wondering if you think it will look better.

 

[barnabus]

Does it matter if anybody thinks it will look better? It's your jacket.

I mean, of course it will look better, because a freshly-waxed jacket will patina beautifully as you wear it.

You can identify which Barbour it is from the small square white label in the inside pocket. That will tell you the model code and name of the jacket. Then you can check if it was originally waxed.

Not all Barbours were. Some of their cotton jackets weren't waxed, they tend to be called "casual" jackets.

But it's entirely up to you whether you wax it. It won't look vastly different anyway, just probably a darker colour. If it's correctly done it won't be shiny or greasy.

 

[Pandemic]

I’ve waxed a Barbour Covert, which was never intended to be waxed. I also had a Barbour Sapper that I removed the wax from to wear it ‘natural’.

You can wax pretty much wax anything- though some weaves and fabrics hold the wax better than others. If you don’t like it you can hot soak it to get the wax out (washing machine will work well, but makes a mess unless you get most of the wax out first).

And if you just care about water proofing rather than appearance, there are also silicone sprays that do a decent job and don’t change the appearance.

 

[RDS]

Apart from the obvious reason for re-waxing a waxed cotton jacket i.e. waterproofing, another important one, which is often overlooked, is that the wax also helps with resistance to wear through abrasion.

Waxed jackets which have ‘dry’ or unwaxed areas can soon start wearing and fraying, particularly where the cotton material either rubs on itself or there are creases or folds.

 

[MotoMetalPunkNY]

I’ve waxed a Barbour Covert, which was never intended to be waxed. I also had a Barbour Sapper that I removed the wax from to wear it ‘natural’.

You can wax pretty much anything- though some weaves and fabrics hold the wax better than others. If you don’t like it you can hot soak it to get the wax out (washing machine will work well, but makes a mess unless you get most of the wax out first).

And if you just care about water proofing rather than appearance, there are also silicone sprays that do a decent job and don’t change the appearance.

Good to know. I might as well just try it out and see which I like better, if it’s reversible, as you say. Thanks!

 

[Chevalier]

The other caution that I have often heard is that trying to rewax a jacket that has had its original wax removed can lead to the wax going through the outer fabric and getting into the lining. I cannot tell if your jacket is lined from the photos, so I’m not sure if this could be a concern for you or not.

 

[Bennarion]

If you won't be wearing this jacket in the rain, it's better to leave it as it is.

 

[MotoMetalPunkNY]

Thanks everyone. Turns out I should not wax it. It wasn’t one that came waxed and might get ruined if it do