Rewaxing a Barbour Winter Force Parka

It was a Saturday, I was home alone and it was bitterly cold - outside, that is. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to apply a new layer of wax to a Barbour Winter Force Parka. It showed to be rather dried out and matte in appearance, which are two indicators that the jacket needs a fresh coat of wax. 

Firstly, a small but important correction

The Barbour Winter Force Parka is a classic parka jacket with a hood, drawstring waist cinch, and an overall military aesthetic. A common misconception is that the parka is a product of military development. In fact, it was the Inuit who first wore these coats, crafting them from materials including seal pelts to withstand the extreme cold of the polar regions. It's no coincidence that the word 'anorak' is derived from 'annuraaq', which means something like 'garment' or 'garment to keep warm' in the Inuktitut language. Now that I've set that straight, let's return to discussing the Barbour Winter Force Parka.

The Barbour Winter Force Parka

As the name suggests, this is a winter coat (for women) sold about a decade ago. The interior is lined with a teddy bear-like fabric that keeps you wonderfully warm. The double closure ensures that the areas around the zip are completely windproof. As mentioned earlier, the design draws inspiration from military aesthetics and all the magnificent design heritage stored in Barbour's archives.

The Barbour Winter Force Parka in need of a fresh coat of wax

On the chest, you'll find several beautiful pockets that appear to reference ammunition holders. A Union Jack is stitched onto the arm. The inside of the sleeves is beautifully finished with a tartan-like fabric that becomes visible when the cuff is turned back. It's a splendid coat for seasonal transitions. However, for the very coldest days (last year it was minus 27 degrees here in Asker, Norway), the coat won't be entirely sufficient.

The Maintenance

As I mentioned earlier, it was time to apply a new layer of wax. The coat was no longer particularly waterproof and had become rather matte in colour and finish - a clear sign that the cotton needed a fresh wax coating. I often use my own wax mixture, but in this case, I fancied using Barbour Thornproof wax. The reason being that I wanted to give the coat a lovely sheen while keeping the cotton nicely supple. Due to the teddy bear lining making the coat somewhat thicker, it's desirable to keep the fabric flexible to enhance wearability.

Waxing the Barbour Winter Force Parka

Waxing the Barbour Winter Force Parka was a straightforward task, and due to the size of the coat (XS), I only needed half a container of wax. Nevertheless, I'd like to explain the steps for rewaxing your Barbour Winter Force Parka point by point.

1. Melting the Wax

   This is done using the au-bain-marie method. Open the wax container with a flat-head screwdriver and place it in a small saucepan with a bit of water. Bring the water slowly to a boil. Once the wax becomes transparent and liquid, you can begin. NEVER heat the wax over direct heat. The wax is a blend of wax and oil, which can ignite at high temperatures.

2. Applying the Wax
   

   Ensure you do this in a reasonably warm and well-ventilated room. You don't want the wax to harden too quickly. I often use an unfolded cardboard box to lay the coat on, so any excess wax is absorbed by the cardboard rather than remaining on the cotton.

   For applying the wax, I always use a painter's brush. Some use a sponge, but I find too much wax gets trapped in the sponge.

   
   

   Ensure you apply a thin layer of wax to one side of the coat. Then use a heat gun or hairdryer to melt the wax into the cotton. Use the paint brush to distribute and brush away any excess wax. Then turn the coat over and repeat the entire process. Make sure you pay extra attention to the hems and edges. These are precisely the spots where water has a greater chance of penetrating.

   
   

   

   Halfway through the rewaxing process

3. Aftercare
   

   Once the wax has melted nicely into the cotton, it's important to hang the coat in a reasonably warm room. It takes quite a while for the wax to cool properly and settle. Therefore, it's important not to wear your coat straight away. Ideally, you should wait 24 hours before wearing your coat. Regarding maintenance, it's important to keep your coat clean. Always do this with a sponge and cold water. Never use hot water, as this will remove the wax layer.

A Shopping List

You'll likely have most of what you need at home. If not, I've made a small shopping list for you:

• A container of wax. You can choose from several different ones, but in this case, I used Barbour's Thornproof.

• A paint brush. Preferably one NOT made with synthetic bristles, as these can melt when you use your hairdryer or heat gun.

• A heat gun. I prefer this as you can better regulate the heat and work more effectively while spreading the wax over the coat.