Campbell Cooper Waxed Cotton Motorcycle Jacket

I was lusting after a waxed cotton motorcycle jacket. I scoured eBay for second-hand Barbours and Belstaffs, but I couldn’t find anything less than $250. But when I expanded my search terms, I found a British company called Campbell Cooper. They make waxed cotton jackets, tweed caps, and quilted jackets, among other traditional British clothing. Their prices are quite low, and the jackets are made in the UK. I took a chance on their Vincent jacket for $105 shipped (from their eBay store, which has better prices).

It arrived today. The jacket is very nice. The fabric is heavy and durable, and the construction seems solid (besides a few details—more on that later). But the fit is outrageously off.

I’m 6’-even, 160-170lbs, and I take a size 38 jacket and size 30 pants. According to the Campbell Cooper sizing chart, I should be an XS (equivalent to a size 38). And yet, even though I’m wearing a thick sweater today, the jacket is much too big.

Sizing

I feel like I’m wearing a pup tent.

Fastening the belt helps, but the belt is too long. I can’t buckle it tight enough for my waist. So the jacket is billowy and the belt dangles. The shoulders and sleeves fit alright, but the body is much too generous.
Here are the measurements for a size XS:
chest 24”
waist 22”
shoulder 20”
length 28.5”
sleeve 24”

24” for a size "XS" is pretty absurd.

Details
There isn’t a lot of information online about this jacket. So I’ll run down some of the details. The buttons are brass and quite bright. Other reviewers have complained about their placement, but it seems fine to me. There’s a double-ended zipper, corduroy collar with storm latch, and the jacket is lined with a simple black cotton twill. The left-hand breast pocket has a hidden zipper underneath the pocket flap.

A close-up of the collar and lining.

The belt loops are awkwardly large. Why are they so big? I don’t know.

Here’s the sleeve detail. Single button, with an articulated cuff.




There’s a large single inside pocket.

The buckle on the belt is fabric covered, and the one I received has some tearing already. Maybe Campbell Cooper will send me a replacement.
Also, there was a very very slight chemical smell to the jacket. Like a solvent. It's hardly noticeable, and I assume it'll fade with time.

How does it compare with a Barbour?
I have a black Barbour Bedale that I bought new in February. I sized down to a 34 to get the correct fit in the body (and I really should get the sleeves lengthened). Anyhow, I think I like the material on the Campbell Cooper better. It’s certainly heavier, and feels more waxy. That could just be that the wax has worn off the Bedale after 9 months, but I was very impressed with the Campbell Cooper’s materials.

Here’s a photo of them side by side.

And a close-up of the color. The Bedale has faded to charcoal, while the Campbell Cooper is jet black.

I know comparing to a Bedale isn’t as good as comparing to an International, so I’ll pop in the Barbour store on Newbury Street sometime soon to see a more direct comparison.

The Campbell Cooper is much cheaper than a Barbour, but you don’t get Barbour’s warranty and customer service. At the end of summer I sent in my Bedale to get a tear replaced, and Barbour did it without charge because it was within a year of my buying it.

Can I recommend it?
I don’t know. The materials used are high-quality, but the fit is so oversized that I really have no idea how the jacket would match up with real world sizes. This jacket might fit someone with a size 42 chest? Maybe even a 44? I haven’t contacted Campbell Cooper by email, but I would definitely recommend getting measurements before buying any of their jackets. I wish I had done so before ordering. I’ll probably see if my tailor can bring in the body (though I hear altering waxed cotton jackets can be dicey). But if you’re bigger than me (or want to layer a motorcycle jacket over an overcoat), this jacket could be a great deal.