This Iconic British Motorcycle Jacket Picks Up Where Waxed Canvas Leaves Off

Thanks to a specially treated lightweight fabric, this reimagined Belstaff jacket can take the heat.

Published February 13, 2025

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Updated February 13, 2025

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Belstaff makes a wide range of outerwear and apparel but the brand will always be known for one particular jacket. The Fieldmaster is the quintessential English motorcycle racing jacket.

a black Belstaff moto jacket — This linen version of the legendary British moto jacket looks the same as its waxed cotton predecessor.

British motorcycle jackets have a rich sartorial history. Just as American motorcycle jackets are associated with leather, the British variety is invariably linked to waxed canvas. That makes incredibly practical whether the wearer is on the back of a bike or not, as they provide ample weather resistance and usually a ton of pocket space to spare.

The only drawback to jackets like the Belstaff Fieldmaster is that heavy waxed canvas doesn’t wear well in the heat. Fortunately, the Uniform Coated Line Fieldmaster provides the same swagger with wearability through the warmer seasons.

An iconic jacket

After centuries of British sailcloth manufacturers enhancing cotton canvas with various oils, a handful of UK manufactures started using paraffin wax in the 1920s. This advancement coincided with the rise of motorcycle racing, and the new fabric was utilized for racing jumpsuits.

Fieldmaster-Jacket-Belstaff-gear-patrol — A waxed cotton version of the Belstaff Fieldmaster.

In the 1950s, companies like Barbour and Belstaff started producing waxed canvas jackets based on those racing jumpsuits. Definitive features included four patch pockets on the front with double snap closure flaps, a waist belt, a throat latch and adjustable cuffs.

the collar and throat latch of a black moto jacket — The Uniform Coated Line Fieldmaster has all the same details, including a metal throat latch buckle.

Thanks to the durability of waxed canvas, the functionality of the design and the cool factor associated with a motorcycle racing heritage, these jackets became fashionable in the 1970s and have remained so ever since.

Lighten up

The Belstaff Uniform Coated Linen Fieldmaster is made from a cotton-line blend fabric produced in Italy. Every other detail is a mirror image of its legendary waxed canvas predecessor, with enhanced breathability and a few less pounds on your shoulders.

The shoulder of a Belstaff jacket — The polyurethane-treated linen-cotton fabric has the same waxy finish as standard Fieldmaster.

Since linen fabric can’t handle the wax application process, a more delicate Polyurethane coating is applied. This provides the same moisture resistance as waxed canvas and even gives the fabric a similar waxy appearance.

a khaki Belstaff moto jacket — This lightened-up Fieldmaster also comes in a grayish-khaki color.

Long-term durability may be an issue with this breezy Trailmaster. For starters, the Polyurethane finish cannot be reapplied like wax; when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Secondly, part of the impressive reputation behind Belstaff’s jackets is the ability to take a beating and only get better with age. Linen fabrics, even when blended with cotton, just can’t hold up to that standard.

the cuff and pocket of a black moto jacket — Four front pockets provide ample cargo space.

Less durability is a reasonable tradeoff for being able to wear a legendary jacket through the spring and summer heat. If you live in a tropical climate where a waxed canvas Trailmaster is impractical, this is your chance to finally rock one.

Availability and pricing

The Belstaff Uniform Coated Linen Fieldmaster is available now for $695. It is available in Belstaff’s classic all-black and dark pumice, a grayish-khaki shade.