The Flint and Tinder Bighorn Review: The Perfect Lightweight Waxed Jacket

In today’s real user review, we’re taking a look at the Flint and Tinder Bighorn Waxed Shirt Jacket, a lightweight outer layer for drizzly days and a good solution to the big problem with waxed canvas: it doesn’t breathe that well. But when the canvas is just 8 ounces per square yard and barely lined, you’ve got an excellent layer for a wide range of temperatures.

You’re in for something of a two-man review: both I and my editor Nick have worn this jacket for some time, and both our perspectives are in this piece. I’ll break down the pros, cons, construction, fit, and functionality of this “shirt jacket.”

Editors’ Note: Huckberry sent me these for review, but all the opinions in this video are mine and mine alone. I did not share this content with Huckberry prior to publication. They will see this when you do.

Pros & Cons

In a hurry? Here’s a breakdown of my thoughts on the Bighorn Waxed Jacket.

What I liked

• It’s lightweight, so it’s less stuffy than most waxed jackets but still water resistant
• Inexpensive
• Versatile aesthetic that’s a little longer and more modern than other truckers
• Larger pockets than this brand’s more popular waxed jacket
• Polyester-lined sleeves make it easy to slide on over long-sleeve shirts
• 100% cotton shell

Downsides but not deal breakers

• No waist cinches to adjust fit
• It’s still waxed canvas, so it’s not the most breathable fabric
• Not made in the US like Flint and Tinder’s bestselling waxed jacket, if that’s a concern
• If you’re looking for a lighter waxed jacket because you prefer no lining or no synthetics, this does have polyester lined sleeves

How I Tested the Bighorn

The Bighorn has been my go-to grab-and-go jacket recently. I’ve been keeping it right by the door and have been tossing it on whenever I go out to walk my dog in the afternoons. Beyond dog walks, I’ve worn it casually running errands, taking my daughter to dance class, or just out and about with family.

The temperature dipping down to the mid-50s, along with overcast and drizzly weather, created the perfect conditions for the Bighorn. The waxed canvas keeps the rain off while the fleece-lined pockets keep my hands warm.

It’s a lightweight jacket, but when you combine the admittedly stuffy nature of waxed canvas with the ability to layer underneath it, you’ve got a handy shell that can cover you in almost any temperature. It’s also a hardy shell: canvas, even at this 8-ounce weight, is very hardwearing.

With its two large chest pockets, it’s definitely a casual jacket. But it’s also pretty minimalist and it’s not bristling with zippers and patch pockets like, say, its competitors at Tom Beckbe or Barbour, so I think it can be worn with dark wash jeans and a casual button up (like chambray or oxford cloth) if you want to take it smart casual.

Product Overview

• Price: $198 USD
• Colors: Navy, Forest (as reviewed), Brown
• Material: 8 oz British Millerain waxed cotton canvas
• Lining: Body is unlined; sleeves and pocket linings are 100% polyester; chambray trim at cuffs and collar 
• Pockets: Two snap chest pockets, two fleece-lined hand warmer pockets, one interior pocket
• Closures: Snaps
• Origin: Indonesia

The Flint and Tinder Bighorn Wax Shirt Jacket comes in at $198 USD, and it’s rare for a 100-percent canvas jacket to come in at under $200. It is available in Navy, Forest, and Brown. It is made from an 8-ounce British Millerain waxed cotton canvas.

Both the sleeves and pockets are lined with 100% recycled polyester. It features two snap closure chest pockets, two hand warmer pockets, one interior pocket, and snap closure buttons.

Unlike its famous American brother, the Waxed Trucker jacket, the Bighorn is made in Indonesia.

Design and Comfort

• Uninsulated and mostly unlined shirt jacket, designed as a light outer layer
• Lined sleeves help prevent friction with long-sleeve shirts, and keeps the clammy wax off bare skin
• Chambray accents at the cuffs and collar help with comfort
• Fleece-lined pockets make for decent handwarmers

The Bighorn Waxed Shirt Jacket is an uninsulated garment that is mostly unlined. The body is not lined, but the sleeves are lined with polyester for two reasons: First, it prevents friction between the waxed canvas and long-sleeve shirts; your sleeves don’t catch as you put it on.

Second, the lining keeps the waxed canvas off of bare skin when worn over a t-shirt. You might be surprised to learn that unlined waxed jackets usually feel more clammy and stuffy than the lined ones. This is because waxed canvas feels damp against the skin, especially for the first few weeks of wear — I’m grateful for the lined sleeves, something I miss in unlined waxed jackets like Rogue Territory’s.

Is the Bighorn Functional?

• Great for casual walks, errands, and light yard work
• The waxed canvas effectively sheds light rain and drizzle
• Waxed canvas is not breathable, so this jacket isn’t great for doing hard work
• Best suited for cooler temperatures (~45°F to ~65°F). Above that, my arms got sweaty.

The short answer is yes — the Bighorn has been great in the recent drizzly weather, which is perfect for walking my dog in: 50 degrees and light rain. It kept me warm enough without causing me to sweat, while keeping the rain off.

Obviously, there’s no hood here, so it’s not the best for a torrential downpour unless you’ve got a waxed canvas hat to match. But if you’re going out sans umbrella, this jacket and a baseball cap have worked just fine.

Due to its excellent abrasian resistance and longevity, canvas is a go-to material for manual labor and the Bighorn has been perfectly suitable for light work around my backyard.

But it’s essential to note that the wax is essentially an impermeable layer and not a high-tech one, so it’s not breathable. If you’re really working up a sweat, this jacket (like any other waxed jacket) will have you, well, working up a sweat.

While it may not be great for endurance hikes, the Bighorn worked great for a three-mile walk on a cool day with family.

Fit & Style

• Casual but minimalist, so it’s relatively versatile
• A little longer than other trucker jackets; designed to have a more “youthful” look
• Size large fits well over a long-sleeved button-down while retaining full range of motion

The Bighorn falls into the workwear category due to its classic style and its traditional, hardwearing materials. As such, it looks great with jeans (they’re workwear!) and flannel, a pairing I regularly wore with it.

I could probably fit a hoodie underneath and still have enough room and a full range of motion. I loved the cut and the style.

When asked for some product details, Huckberry told me that the longer cut, larger chest pockets and snap buttons were meant to make this more accessible “to a younger audience.” I just liked that I finally had a waxed jacket with chest pockets that could fit my phone!

What to Know Before You BUy

• It’s the brand’s lightest waxed jacket, but it’s still not great for hot weather the way unwaxed cotton is
• There are no cinches to adjust the fit at the waist; it’s a bit long for those anyway
• For the first few weeks of wear, you might transfer wax onto surfaces

A polyester lining on the sleeves may be a drawback for some individuals. I understand its purpose, but plenty of guys like heritage-style clothes like this because they don’t love synthetic materials.

Personally, I don’t mind the polyester lining, but I’d note that the Flint and Tinder Flannel Lined Waxed Trucker, while more expensive, also has polyester lining on the sleeves but it’s polyester flannel, so it feels a bit cozier than the slick polyester on the Bighorn. Then again, that flannel lining wouldn’t be quite as ideal on warm days, and the Bighorn is meant to be just a little more suitable for just slightly higher temperatures.

British Millerain TekWax fabric is great. I have had this in other jackets and garments, and I really like it. After the one- to two-week break-in period, it feels much more comfortable to wear. While the Bighorn is not made in the United States, Flint and Tinder have nonetheless used British Millerain to supply the fabric, which is among the world’s oldest and most respected manufacturers of the stuff.

It’s very durable and I expect to wear this for at least a year or two before it needs re-waxing to keep its weatherproofing. Additionally, the high-quality fabric will age well with continued wear.

Is the Bighorn Worth It?

• This is actually a great price for a cotton canvas jacket, even one made in Asia
• Worthy of investment due to its comfort, durability, and style

Yes, at $198, I find it worth the investment due to its comfort, durability, and style. That’s even with the polyester sleeve linings, which I hope I’ve conveyed have more pros than cons.

In essence, the Bighorn meets expectations as a durable, comfortable, and reliable garment, and I found the longer cut and larger pockets to be a welcome reprieve from the shorter and boxier waxed jackets that are more widespread.

Conclusion

When they discuss Flint and Tinder’s staggering line of waxed canvas jackets, you hardly ever hear people talk about The Bighorn. But as the lightest and most minimalist of the lot, I put it in my top two. (Hey, there’s no beating the waxed trucker!)

If you’ve read this review and taken into account all of the potential drawbacks, I can certainly say this piece will meet or exceed your expectations.

Thanks for checking out my review. Please follow me on my YouTube channel to catch up on my previous reviews and stay tuned for many more to come.