Waterfowl season is well underway, and so far this season, I’ve been using one piece of new gear again and again: the Chêne Founders’ Waxed Jac-Shirt. The product is part of the company’s new Founders’ Reserve line, which utilizes waxed fabric for modern takes on old-school waterfowling gear.
While I have been testing a couple of different products from the line, the Jac-Shirt is my favorite so far—and I’ve been wearing it both during hunts and around town. I can already tell it’s a piece of hunting apparel I’ll use for years to come.
Founders’ Waxed Jac-Shirt
Specs:
- 11-ounce British Millerain waxed cotton canvas shell
- 5.25 oz brushed cotton twill lining
- YKK antique brass snaps
- Brushed tricot-lined handwarmer pockets
- Magnetic chest pocket
Pros:
- Lightweight but warm
- Wind-, water-, and brush-resistant
- Quiet fabric
- Classic style
- Durable
Cons:
- Not ideal for stormy or very cold days
- Heavier than synthetic options
- Wax must eventually be re-applied
Field Testing the Founders’ Reserve Jac-Shirt
During a time when many waterfowlers, myself included, often wear synthetic, GORE-TEX jackets, opting for a waxed cotton alternative is a decided throwback. Before getting my hands on the Chêne Jac-Shirt, I liked the idea in principle but wasn’t sure how it would perform in the field. Would I notice a lack of features in the field? Would I feel out of place with such a throwback?
For the most part, though, the Jac-Shirt has exceeded my expectations. For one, I was reminded that there’s a reason that waxed cotton was long the fabric of choice for waterfowlers: it’s puncture- and weather-resistant—and it is warm but not overly hot. It’s also a quiet fabric that allows you to maneuver in the blind without being noisy. And it’s durable. The Founders’ Reserve Jac-Shirt takes advantage of all of these benefits by using waxed cotton canvas imported from British Millerain, a premium manufacturer based in the United Kingdom.
In the field, I’ve comfortably worn the jacket on hunts in the 40s and 50s, but with the right layers, you could certainly use it for hunts in the 30s, though you’d be undergunned for colder mornings than that. Additionally, while the fabric is great at cutting wind and shedding light precipitation, I would opt for a GORE-TEX product for the hunts when it’s raining hard, as waxed canvas cotton is water-resistant but not fully waterproof. On really stormy days, it will become waterlogged.
Beyond the high-quality fabric, the jacket has features that make it ideal for waterfowl hunting, starting with lined handwarmer pockets that have plenty of room to warm your hands and hold shells. The snap pockets are great for securely storing things like your license, duck stamp, ear pro, etc. I also appreciate that the jacket doesn’t have a hood—a common feature in duck hunting apparel, but one that I don’t like except for on the coldest and nastiest waterfowl hunts. Because this product is better suited for milder early-season hunts, it’s a good choice to nix the hood and instead go with a classic shirt collar instead.
And this is also a reason why I like to wear this shirt around town, too, and because I have been testing the solid brown color pattern. That said, the jacket also comes in two camo options—Mossy Oak Bottomland and Mossy Oak Original Shadow Grass (although not in the Founders’ Reserve line). This versatility is nice early in the season, as I can easily transition from short morning hunts to day-to-day life without fully changing my wardrobe. Plus, the throwback vibe is cool, and I’ve had plenty of non-hunters ask who made the jacket and then give me a quizzical look because they didn’t know the brand Chêne.
In terms of potential drawbacks, it’s worth noting that while waxed cotton is weatherproof, that quality lessens over time as the wax fades; you should expect to have to re-wax it every so often, depending on how you use the jacket. Additionally, buttons are generally poor choices for icy conditions, which is another reason I’ll stop using it in the field once it gets cold out.
The Final Word on the Chêne Founders’ Reserve Waxed Jac-Shirt
The Founders’ Reserve Waxed Jac-Shirt is reminiscent of old-school waterfowl jackets—but made with quality modern construction and touches that make it ideal for duck hunting. I love it for mild mornings with light weather and precipitation, and I wouldn’t hesitate to wear it to social functions either.