Flint & Tinder Flannel-Lined Wax Trucker Jacket – $268
About the Author: Ryan N. is a professional web developer for (and alum from) the University of Delaware, who keeps a close shave as to not be confused with his strongly-bearded twin brother. He plays guitar and drums, loves going to concerts with his wife, and loves being a dad.
First Impressions
Pulling it out of the box, my first thought was, this thing is rugged. The tags note it’s completely made in the good ol’ US-of-A: the fabric is sourced from NJ, and the jacket itself is cut and sewn in LA.
2022 Update: Stocked in six colors in the original fit…
and three colors in the new relaxed fit.
Sliding it on, the arms hug pretty tight, and the hem hits right at the waist. The fit is just a touch on the “standard fit” side, but that’s understandable, as it’s meant to have the ability to layer underneath it when it gets really icy. Sleeves are slightly long, but again, the ability to fully cover your gloved hands is the reason. It’s a trucker. It skims but doesn’t cling, yet it’s not billowy and bulky.
Made in the USA. Fabric is from New Jersey.
Warmth
Summer is still hanging on in a big way up here in parts of the Northeast (high of 84 today at the time of this writing), so I wasn’t really looking forward to donning a flannel jacket. I figured I had seen “flannel-lined” jackets before, and that I’d be fine to wear it around the house a bit to test it out. Well, it turns out, the Flint & Tinder is not other flannel-lined jackets; I didn’t last more than 5 minutes in our home before breaking a sweat! I don’t really plan to find a walk-in freezer to do a real test, but I have no doubts that this thing will keep you toasty warm by itself in a fall chill, and you probably wouldn’t need more than a light layer to stave off a snowy day. And speaking of snow…
It’s warm. Surprisingly warm.
Water Resistance
I’d be confident going out in the elements with this protecting me. During an in-person test (inside, with a faucet running), water would hit and glide right off the waxed shell. It’s not just a light wax application for looks or a bit of texture. It has purpose, and it does the job.
A size small on 5’9″ / 155 lbs. Shown here in the “Moss” Shade
Features (Pockets, Side Tabs, Collar)
One of my favorite things about this jacket is the attention to detail. The side pockets are perfectly placed where your hands expect them to be – something surprisingly rare in jackets such as these. As mentioned before, when you have a jacket that claims to be weather-resistant, that collar better stand up straight and stay there. Bingo. There are also side tabs present to fine-tune the fit on the waist. The matte pewter buttons are thick and solid, and with a tall clearance, always close super securely.
Nice hardware.
There’s a single inside pocket on the left side, which matches the single outside chest pocket. Plenty big enough to fit my Pixel 2 XL phone with a case on, but two things of note here. Given the pocket locations are on the left side, you lefties may need to become ambidextrous. Secondly, it was a confusing decision to me to not line the inner pocket with flannel. The canvas pocket looks sharp from a design standpoint, but having the waxy, rigid stuff comprise half the inner surface of the pocket makes me hesitant to have my phone live there.
Fabric & Finish
The muted colors of the inner flannel lining are colorful, but without being peacockish – the perfect complement for the more muted backdrops of fall and winter. It gives off a workwear vibe, and to the touch, the wax has that nice, smooth, almost slightly-sticky feel that lets you know that it’s not just using “waxed” as a buzzword.
Handy pocket, but would have loved to have seen it lined with that flannel.
It’s worth noting there’s no stretch to this, but you probably already knew that. The real wax finish means a stiff overall structure. You can actually stand the arm of the jacket straight up by itself – whoa.
Waxed. For real. But somehow doesn’t inhibit movement either.
But thankfully, that’s not at the expense of movement. This thing has no issues reaching, bending, and moving, and will likely acquire some super-sweet battle-scar creases with long-term wear. Like the canvas inside of a suit jacket or blazer, it should mold to your frame with a bit of wear and some time, becoming uniquely yours the more you wear it.
Bottom line – this is a quality investment piece, and it’s no wonder it’s a flagship product for Huckberry.
For reference: Another guy and another size.
Shown here in “coal,” on Jason, who’s wearing a size medium and is 5’7″/175.