Merlin Merlin Wax Jacket

Waxed cotton makes up the whole of the Merlin jacket's shell, closed with YKK zippers under a storm flap and finished with a corduroy collar that nods to café-racer heritage styling. CE Level 1 armour pockets sit at the shoulders and elbows, with a further pocket for a back protector sold separately, and a removable quilted thermal liner adapts the jacket across seasons. At roughly 1.8 kg in size medium it carries genuine weight, and our bench score puts protection at 62, a strong figure for a jacket built around vintage styling rather than a purely technical silhouette. Multiple external and internal pockets add practical storage for a phone, wallet, or documents without disturbing the jacket's clean retro profile at rest.

On the road the wax coating sheds light rain and road spray effectively, backing up a weather score of 37, though airflow is limited at 30 since the heavy cotton doesn't vent the way a technical textile shell would. Comfort scores a solid 60, and the jacket breaks in over time to mould more closely to the rider's shape. Adjustable cuffs and a waist-cinching system help reduce wind intrusion at speed, and the corduroy collar adds a comfortable point of contact that avoids chafing on longer rides. The relaxed, classic cut also leaves enough room to layer underneath during colder months, extending the jacket's usefulness well beyond a single season of riding.

This jacket suits riders after retro café-racer or scrambler styling who still want CE-rated protection built into the design rather than treated as an afterthought. Value scores 53, a fair rather than exceptional figure once the cost of separate armour and back protector is factored in. Owners will need to budget time for occasional re-waxing to keep water resistance up, and the jacket's weight tells against it versus lighter technical alternatives. For daily commuting and weekend rides where character matters as much as function, it remains a dependable pick. Riders who want retro charm alongside genuine armour pockets, rather than styling alone, will find this jacket does the job convincingly for both daily commuting and weekend rides.