How do you clean these shorts?

Brush off dried dirt or wipe with a damp cloth. Do not machine wash, hand wash, or dry clean. The oil finish fabric is maintained by spot cleaning and periodic rewaxing rather than laundering.

How often do you need to rewax them?

Rewax when water stops beading on the surface. Frequency depends on use and weather exposure—could be once a season or once every few years. The fabric will show you when it needs attention by losing its water resistance.

Will these shorts be stiff when new?

Yes. Oil-finished tin cloth starts stiff and breaks in with wear. The fabric softens as it molds to your movement but retains its protective qualities. Expect a break-in period similar to heavy raw denim.

Can the oil finish stain other clothing?

In warm weather or with prolonged contact, the oils can transfer to light-colored fabrics. Avoid extended sitting on pale upholstery or wearing them against light clothing when it's hot.

What does reproofing involve?

Apply wax-based reproofing compound designed for oil-finish fabrics when water resistance fades. Work it into the cloth, let it cure, and the shorts regain their weather protection. This extends the garment's lifespan indefinitely.

Filson x Birdwell Tin Cloth Tac Short - Otter Green

Made in USA

The 3-second version

14-oz oil-finished tin cloth sheds water and resists abrasion
Adjustable side tabs fit comfortably at waist or hips
Reproofable fabric extends lifespan to decades with rewaxing
Cannot be washed or dry cleaned
Stiff when new, requires break-in period
May transfer oils to light fabrics in warm weather

Why it's on GiftsFeed

Waxed cotton walk shorts built to last decades instead of seasons

Most warm-weather shorts prioritize lightness and quick drying, which means retiring them after a season or two of hard use. Oil-finished tin cloth takes the opposite approach: heavy fabric that becomes more weather-resistant as you rewax it, seams that hold under strain, and hardware chosen for longevity instead of cost. That matters if you wear shorts in conditions that tear through nylon—around boats, on job sites, or traveling where laundering is irregular. The tradeoff is maintenance and break-in time, but the reward is a garment you repair rather than replace.

Good gift when

People who wear gear hard and prefer maintaining it to replacing it
Those working or traveling in wet conditions who need water resistance
Anyone tired of lightweight shorts that fail after minimal abrasion
Owners of other tin cloth or waxed canvas items who value the aesthetic

Skip it if The maintenance schedule—brushing clean, never washing, periodic rewaxing—conflicts with how you prefer to care for clothing

Specs

Fabric: 14-oz 100% cotton oil finish tin cloth
Construction: Double-needle topstitched, reinforced seams
Hardware: Brass zipper, military-spec buttons
Features: Adjustable side tabs, large pockets
Made in: USA
Care: Brush or wipe clean with damp rag, rewax as needed
Available sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL

What's included

One pair of shorts
Adjustable side tabs
Brass hardware

If you're giving it

You'll need their size

Ships as apparel without special packaging; size exchange policies vary by merchant.

The maker

This collaboration joins a Washington outfitter known for logger gear with a California maker that has sewn surf trunks since 1961. Both companies built reputations on refusing to cheapen materials or move production offshore, even when competitors did. The result is a walk short that combines Birdwell's fit expertise with Filson's fabric legacy—oil-finished tin cloth that has protected forest workers since the early 1900s. The shared philosophy shows in details like military-spec buttons and double-needle seams: choices that cost more but mean the garment survives what would destroy ordinary shorts.

The details

These walk shorts use oil-finished tin cloth, a water-resistant waxed canvas originally developed for forestry work. The 14-ounce cotton fabric sheds rain and resists abrasion, and you can rewax it when needed instead of replacing the garment.

The construction mirrors workwear standards: double-needle topstitching on all seams, brass zipper, and military-specification buttons that won't corrode or fail. Adjustable side tabs let you wear them at the waist or drop them to the hips depending on how you move. Large pockets sit flat enough for everyday carry without bulk.

The fabric breaks in rather than breaking down. Expect stiffness when new—the oil finish softens with wear but keeps its protective qualities. You maintain them by brushing off dirt or wiping with a damp cloth, never washing or dry cleaning. When the water resistance fades, apply fresh wax and the shorts return to full weather protection.

This collaboration combines two manufacturers known for refusing planned obsolescence. The result is a short that earns its keep through years of outdoor use, travel, and daily wear in conditions that would retire thinner fabrics in months.

Birdwell

Filson x Birdwell Tin Cloth Tac Short - Otter Green

Collaboration short combining oil-finished tin cloth with reinforced construction and adjustable fit

$250at birdwell.com

Choose an option

Quantity

Buy from Birdwell

Ships and sold by Birdwell. About this merchant

The 3-second version

14-oz oil-finished tin cloth sheds water and resists abrasion
Adjustable side tabs fit comfortably at waist or hips
Reproofable fabric extends lifespan to decades with rewaxing
Cannot be washed or dry cleaned
Stiff when new, requires break-in period
May transfer oils to light fabrics in warm weather

Cheaper alternatives

Questions

How do you clean these shorts?: Brush off dried dirt or wipe with a damp cloth. Do not machine wash, hand wash, or dry clean. The oil finish fabric is maintained by spot cleaning and periodic rewaxing rather than laundering.
How often do you need to rewax them?: Rewax when water stops beading on the surface. Frequency depends on use and weather exposure—could be once a season or once every few years. The fabric will show you when it needs attention by losing its water resistance.
Will these shorts be stiff when new?: Yes. Oil-finished tin cloth starts stiff and breaks in with wear. The fabric softens as it molds to your movement but retains its protective qualities. Expect a break-in period similar to heavy raw denim.
Can the oil finish stain other clothing?: In warm weather or with prolonged contact, the oils can transfer to light-colored fabrics. Avoid extended sitting on pale upholstery or wearing them against light clothing when it's hot.
What does reproofing involve?: Apply wax-based reproofing compound designed for oil-finish fabrics when water resistance fades. Work it into the cloth, let it cure, and the shorts regain their weather protection. This extends the garment's lifespan indefinitely.