56 | JUNE 2026 SPECIAL SECTION

Photos by Kevin Wing

By GREG DREVENSTEDT

THE CORTECH Rambler Wax Cotton Jacket is a mix of old school and new. Waxed cotton has been around, at least in rudimentary form, since the 15th century, when mariners applied fish oil to sailcloth. In dry weather, the sails worked more efficiently; in wet weather, they didn’ t become soaked and heavy with water. This early form of waterproofing was also used in capes and jackets.

In the 1920s, several U. K.-based companies developed a process for impregnating cotton with paraffin, which was water resistant but also breathable( way before Gore-Tex came along). Around this time, Barbour and Belstaff started making waxed cotton motorcycle apparel, which was popular in Britain’ s rainy climate.

Fast forward to present day. Cortech’ s Rambler jacket looks like a cross between a Western-style button-front shirt and a canvas work jacket. The front closes with a heavy-duty YKK zipper covered

by a placket with antiqued brass snap buttons. The same buttons are used for the two front pockets and the wrist cuffs, and smaller buttons secure the fold-down collar. Both the placket and the collar are lined with leather.

Inside the jacket are two chest pockets with leather edging and snap closures, and inside the soft-lined pockets are concealed-carry muzzle holders. The torso and arms of the jacket are lined with soft flannel with a classic plaid pattern.

The new school part of the jacket begins with Dyneema, the world’ s strongest fabric. It’ s woven into the shell, which is 64 % cotton, 32 % polyester, and 4 % Dyneema, adding abrasion resistance. The jacket is also fully lined with Sycromesh, a highly abrasion-resistant mesh. Additional crash protection comes in the form of removable, low-profile CE Level 1 armor at the shoulders and elbows. There’ s a pocket for an optional back protector insert.

The Rambler, which comes in black or brown, looks great on classically styled bikes like Triumph Bonnevilles or on cruisers like the Harley-Davidson Street Glide Limited tested in this issue( see page 30). On the brown version I tested, the jacket has a weathered look where there are variations in the wax treatment. On hot days the wax gets soft, and you might notice a greasy feel to the jacket or even a little residue on the seat of your motorcycle.

From the first time I put the Rambler on, it felt comfortable. It has a high-quality feel, especially all the brass hardware. But it’ s a heavy jacket; my men’ s large weighs 6.4 lb. And with the thick waxed cotton / poly shell and full flannel lining, it’ s a warm jacket – perfect for cold or mild days, but it traps in too much heat on hot days.

If you’ re looking for a classic riding jacket that offers protection from the elements and in the event of a mishap, then the Cortech Rambler Wax Cotton Jacket is a solid choice. It’ s priced at a reasonable $ 199.99 and is backed by a four-year warranty.

Cortech. net