Many years ago, when god’s dog was a puppy and I was taking my first steps on two wheels, all I wanted was a leather jacket – preferably a lancer – to go with it: the two timeless symbols of teenage rebellion at the time. And that’s perhaps why I ended up with Barbour’s nearest equivalent of the Belstaff Trailmaster jacket.
It was a practical birthday present off my dad and I really should have been grateful, but I was seventeen and it wasn’t a leather jacket.
I begrudgingly wore it in all weathers and it dutifully kept me dry if not necessarily very warm, but I still didn’t appreciate it and can’t remember what eventually happened to it after I got my first decent leather jacket: I’m guessing that mould got it in a damp garage.
And I never looked back, until Wheels and Waves,when I was offered a Roland Sands Design Truman jacket to test, and figured it was perhaps time to give waxed cotton another chance.
In the decades between, waxed cotton has changed.
No longer does it mark the Draylon furniture of your local hostelry, need reproofing, or necessarily look like you’ve just ridden a dirt bike out of a muddy hole.
The first thing that strikes you is that it is light: as light as a casual jacket – lighter than a ladies leather jacket!
The second is that it has been nicely designed, but then it is RSD and Roland Sands has got a name to live up to.
As such, it has his trademark down-for-closed zippers, the key-clasp in the right hand pocket and credit card pocket on the right sleeve.
I judge a jacket partly by its pockets because it’s a major part of the function – and because I will spend an inordinate amount of time searching through them at some point or other, especially if they are poorly placed – and the Truman doesn’t disappoint.
Externally, it has a patch pocket sealed by a studded flap on the right breast – big enough to take my indestructible phone, so it should take an iPhone Plus or Galaxy Note – and a smaller side access pocket on the left, plus a pair of handwarmer pockets at the waist. Inside, there is an easy accessed wallet pocket just inside the zipper, a bigger flat pocket in the right hand lining and a pair of hammock pockets at the waist, which are a perfect size to carry a pair of short gloves: one each side.
I
t is bomber jacket short, pulled in at the waist using buckled straps, and in its black colour scheme the leather patches at the elbows and shoulder are all-but invisible against the black waxed cotton, but in this, the Ranger, they make a statement.
And while it’s light, it is surprisingly warm – certainly warm enough for Cannes in late Autumn, and even 7,500 feet up a volcano in Tenerife in January – I know, your heart bleeds – but also for October in Crewe, riding the new Street Bob home in the pissing rain!
And yes, it is waterproof: the studded pocket is only open to remove the phone so Amanda could take a picture.
And no, not looking quite so smug now!
Still it was a good test.
There was a slight leak round the zippered vents in the sleeves, but for what feels like a casual summer jacket, I was gobsmacked.
Gobsmacked, too, when I put it on less than an hour later, without thinking, to nip to the shop.
It was dry, and looking none the worse for the experience!
No, I couldn’t have done that in a leather jacket, eh dad?
I
’ve barely had it off my back since: as much because I am trying to find something that it isn’t good at.
I’m still looking.
It helps that I like the style.
It certainly helps that the material is dry to the touch, beautifully lined and there’s nothing clammy about it – which is my underlying memory of waxed cotton of old – and that even though it has been designed expressly as a motorcycle jacket, and even has many obvious styling cues, you can wear it anywhere.
Granted, much of that will be true of a lot of modern waxed cotton, but the cut and style of the Truman adds a certain something.
And I’m delighted that there is an alternative functional fabric to rival whatever Cordura is called this year, because no fancy fabrics have impressed me more, or quicker, than this new waxed cotton.
It just goes to show that you should always listen to your father! Sorry dad.