Barbour’s Hidden-Gem Waxed Jacket Is Way More Affordable Right Now

Turn up the tartan!

Close-up of a dark gray plaid jacket collar with snap buttons against a light blue background.

Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

Published 3 hours ago

·

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

Ok, let’s just come out and say it. Barbour makes a bunch of jackets that look the same. They’re all great and, and they all have interesting, British-sounding names, but the variations are minuscule.

One of those obscure, slightly-altered models is the Ambleside. It’s an iteration of what I like to call Barbour’s primary form, best represented by the Bedale and Ashby. In other words, a classic British farm jacket.

Dark blue and black checkered jacket with snap button front and four front pockets worn by a person. — The Tartan Ambleside Wax Jacket is a member of the Ashby family tree.

Welcome to Shop Smarter: A series dedicated to highlighting not just what’s on sale, but why it’s worth owning. Discover more here.

Right now, during its big summer sale, Barbour is offering 30 percent off a particularly interesting Ambleside. It stands out from the waxed cotton crowd with a subtle tartan body.

It has all of the details that distinguish Barbour’s primary form: a raglan shoulder, a snap storm flap over a two-way brass zipper, dual welted hand pockets, dual bellows flap pockets and a black fine wale “needlecord” collar lining.

Back view of a person wearing a dark gray and black checkered jacket with a black collar. — The body is made from 6-ounce waxed cotton with a printed tartan pattern.

The shell of the jacket is made from Barbour’s 6-ounce dry-waxed cotton with a printed tartan texture. Tartan waxed jackets aren’t unheard of from Barbour, but good ones are few and far between.

With black hash lines, featuring a subtle faux-woven texture, over a deep grayish-blue, the tartan is understated and just as versatile as a solid black or navy.

Spot the difference

So what distinguishes an Ambleside from an Ashby? There are a few nuanced differences to point out.

Close-up of a dark plaid jacket with a black corduroy collar and a brass zipper pull ring. — The Ambleside has a smaller throat latch than an Ashby or Bedale.

First is the fabric itself. Ashby jackets are made with Barbour’s Sylkoil waxed cotton, which has the same 6-ounce weight but an oily consistency that creates a sheen and slick feel, compared to the matte dry waxed cotton seen here.

Next up is the throat latch, which is significantly smaller than the one found on the Ashby, Bedale and other models. It is simply a small snap tab to keep the collar up in bad weather.

Close-up of a dark blue and black checkered Barbour jacket with snap buttons and flap pockets. — The Ambleside is four centimeters shorter in the body than an Ashby.

Finally, there is the cropped length of the jacket. An Ashby is 79cm, measured from the collar to the waist along the back panel, and the Ambleside is 75cm.

Four centimeters doesn’t sound like much, but it is noticeable when it means a jacket sits below your waistline, like the Ashby, or at it, like the Ambleside.

Availability and pricing

To the untrained eye, the Ambleside is just a nice Barbour jacket, and this one is particularly cool because of the tartan waxed cotton shell.

Even cooler is the 30 percent discount Barbour is currently offering, which drops the price from $490 to $343. Best of all, as of publication, every size is still in stock.

Navy blue plaid jacket with black corduroy collar and front button pockets.

Barbour Tartan Ambleside Wax Jacket

$343 at Barbour

$490 (30% off)

About the Author: Brad Lanphear is an associate editor at Gear Patrol covering watches and style. Before joining the publication, he previously wrote for Heddels and Men’s Health. Now, he’s on a never-ending quest to find the perfect pair of Japanese denim.

Want to stay up to date on the latest product news and releases? Add Gear Patrol as a preferred source to ensure our independent journalism makes it to the top of your Google search results.