Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Fall 2018.
Certain things stand the test of time. They endure the passage of fads and generations to become a classic. Beyond what may make them fashionable is often true functionality, that thoughtful blend of form and usefulness. With those considerations in mind, the designers from TAD embraced the Talisman, sewing it in the USA from genuine Halley Stevenson’s waxed cotton fabric imported from Dundee, Scotland. I found that the jacket, tightly woven in the doek (duck) fashion with a stowable Ventile hood and snap-down pockets, easily endured extended downpours along the coast of Tasmania. It is styled like the early motorcycle jackets with a relaxed fit, a YKK metal zipper, and a drop-tail hem that makes for comfort in the saddle.
One of the challenges with waxed canvas is breathability, which in the Talisman is addressed with a comfortable cotton liner and four oversized mesh grommets in the armpits. The Ventile hood relies on the densely-woven long staple fiber to provide waterproofing and effective breathability while sweating. I typically grab this jacket for mixed travel in wet and cold conditions, as it works well during short forays into the outdoors, but also appropriately serves when walking the grounds of Avebury Henge or on a trek into Australia’s temperate rainforest. I have enjoyed it for a few years now and even grab for it during local motorcycle trips on the Moto Guzzi. It can be augmented with under-jacket D3O panels for increased protection. $375 | TRIPLEAUGHTDESIGN.COM
Photograph above by Jessica Michael, Tasmania, Australia
