Devium’s Overdrive Waxed Canvas Trucker Jacket
For the past few years, I’ve been on the search for The Perfect Jacket. And now I’ve found it. It’s The Overdrive Waxed Trucker Jacket made by Devium, a 100% made-in-America apparel brand from California.
My search for The Perfect Jacket began when I needed to replace an old black Levi’s denim trucker jacket. I wanted something with a similar cool look, but a bit warmer. I needed a jacket for the fall and spring, between 45 and 60 degrees. I also wanted material that could handle a little weather, since denim isn’t great in the rain.
I first tried the Line Up Bomber jacket from Iron and Resin, in charcoal. It was immediately disappointing, because the color was a bluish gray. The duck canvas didn’t hold up well in more than a drizzle. I learned that the hard way when getting stuck in the rain while traveling. Though it was designed in California, it was actually made in Pakistan. The quality showed it.
I next splurged on a waxed canvas jacket from Barbour, in dark olive. I bought it after hearing of the company’s high quality. The jacket was warm and handled water better than my previous jackets. But the sleeves were lined with nylon, so they’d uncomfortably stick to my arms over a T-shirt. The pockets weren’t lined, making them chilly and scratchy. It was a big letdown, especially considering the price.
I was about to give up my search, but then I found Devium’s Overdrive Waxed Canvas Trucker Jacket in black. I soon knew my search was over. It’s The Perfect Jacket.
First, it looks awesome. When I first tried on the Overdrive jacket and looked in the mirror, I was thrilled. My immediate thought was, “That’s a damn cool jacket!” Rather than the usual buttons of a trucker jacket, the Overdrive has a solid brass zipper. This makes it much easier to put on and take off. Buttoning up is tedious and difficult with numb fingers in colder weather. Unlike typical button-clasped dual chest pockets, the Overdrive has a single zippered chest pocket. Together, the zippers give the jacket more of a rockin’ leather jacket look. It still retains the classic cut of a trucker jacket. It also has a cool inner pocket. That pocket is perfect for carrying your phone.
Second, it feels awesome. Perhaps my favorite thing about the Overdrive is that it’s fully lined with flannel. That means you can wear it with a T-shirt and it feels soft on your arms. The hand pockets are fully lined with flannel too. They make a cozy place for your hands on chillier days. I’ve worn the Overdrive over a T-shirt in mid 50-degree temperatures and felt great. Layered with a flannel or a thin cashmere sweater, it’s good down to about 40 degrees. It’s thick but not heavy, so you can wear it all day. You won’t feel any jacket fatigue.
Third, and perhaps most significantly, it’s 100% made in the USA. For years, I’ve bought clothes from American brands promoting a surfer-skater-outdoor dude lifestyle. I’ve long lived that lifestyle myself. After a while I noticed their clothes weren’t actually made in America. I found this hypocritical and also frustrating. I suspected their profit margins were wide due to low labor costs and high retail prices. In contrast, Devium charges a similar price but sources all material from the US. That includes the canvas, buttons, and zippers. They find materials from factories all over the US. For the Overdrive, the canvas comes from a New Jersey factory operating since 1838! They then cut, sew, and assemble their clothes in California.
The result is an incredibly well-made, true masterpiece of apparel. Devium offers a lifetime guarantee. You can feel the superb quality of this jacket as soon as you hold it.
The Devium Waxed Canvas Overdrive is truly The Perfect Jacket. Go ahead and get one for yourself or your favorite dude—anyone will be thrilled to have it, as I am.
