The Rambler Jacket: A Modern Classic at the Heart of Iron & Resin

The durability and weather-resistance of waxed canvas meets the ubiquity of the Trucker Jacket silhouette with Iron & Resin's Rambler Jacket.

James Smith

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The phrase “jack of all trades” is often cynically followed by “master of none”. This is often true, but let me tell you, when it comes to outerwear, the Iron & Resin Rambler Jacket is a jack of all trades and a master of, well, quite a few.

Made in Los Angeles since 2013, the Rambler Jacket was Iron & Resin’s first cut-and-sew garment, and it remains a cornerstone of the brand’s output today. It’s remained relatively unchanged since its inception, and that’s because it’s just so darn good.

This article takes a closer look at the Iron & Resin Rambler Jacket, its materials, design, and even a beautifully battered original from 2013.

Design

When formulating the Rambler, Iron & Resin wanted something that hit style, function, and longevity head-on. The iconic Lee Stormrider was a foundational inspiration, with its cropped fit making it super practical for jumping on a motorbike or into a pickup by leaving the hips free to move. But as much as denim rules, it’s not the most versatile material in the land when it comes to wind, rain, and mud splashes from the track. Iron & Resin looked to materials championed by outdoorsmen and motorcycling legends to merge the beloved cropped trucker jacket with something even more practical: waxed cotton.

Water-resistant, rugged, and only improving with age and wear, waxed cotton was a shoo-in for the Rambler. Its heritage is steeped in the same spirit of adventure that defines the brand, too. After being picked up by hunting and outdoors outfitters at the turn of the 19th century, waxed cotton was eventually adopted by motorcyclists through brands like Barbour, which used it to produce weather-resistant jackets for riders facing harsh road and weather conditions. The imortally-stylish Steve McQueen was famously flicked up in a Barbour A7 when he rode for the US team in the 1964 International Six Days Trial in East Germany.

Armed with the perfect fabric, Iron & Resin designed their own trucker jacket silhouette, borrowing details from a range of iconic pieces. They kept the fit cropped, giving the hips freedom to move, and tuned up the proportions on the body and arms to allow room for layering without looking sloppy or overly boxy.

Materials

10.5 oz. Waxed Cotton

Underpinning the Rambler is 10.5 oz. waxed cotton canvas from Carr Textile, a Missouri-based manufacturer that has been making waxed canvas in the USA for over 50 years. Tightly woven and treated with paraffin wax, this is a hardy fabric built for getting up and at ’em. The wax coating provides water resistance and patina potential. With wear, the wax crinkles up and develops a crease pattern with the wearer’s body, not too dissimilar to raw denim.

Pictured below is a Waxed Cotton Rambler Jacket that’s been absolutely thrashed by an Iron & Resin customer.  Worn for motorcycling thousands of miles, rain or shine, this Rambler has seen trails from the Pacific Northwest all the way down to the Gulf of California. The best part, though? It’s completely intact and probably ready for another thousand miles or more. A launder and re-wax would revitalize it nicely, but I’m pretty sure Iron & Resin has this one framed at their California HQ.

14 Wale Corduroy

Reinforcing areas of high use— button placket, cuffs, and the collar—is chocolate-brown corduroy. Measuring at 14 wales, it’s rugged enough to fortify the Rambler whilst remaining soft on the skin. The raised wales help deal with friction in those high-traffic areas,  whilst also adding a nice hit of contrast.

This corduroy will join the patina party, too. Wales in the high-touch areas will flatten, causing the fibers to reflect light differently and subtly emphasize stress points.

UCAN®  Zipper & Custom Tack Buttons

Keeping the Rambler secured is a heavyweight zipper by LA-based manufacturer, UCAN, one of the last full-service zipper factories left in the USA, in addition to custom-branded tack buttons. A double closure keeps the wind out when things get blustery, keeping you warmer and adding to the jacket’s resistance to water ingress.

Versatility

The Iron & Resin crew is typically kicking up mud on the trails or chasing a break, but you don’t have to pretend to be the outdoor type to enjoy their Rambler Jacket. Far from it—it’s just as timeless styles that inspire it. Anything you’d pair with a classic denim trucker, the Rambler slips right into that rotation. And having a trucker in a non-denim fabric means you can pair it effortlessly with your favorite raws — without committing to a full Canadian tuxedo every day.

If you want to get ramblin’, head over to Iron & Resin and pick up a Waxed Cotton Rambler for $325.

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