Fitting:
Filson coats and jackets are generously sized. Your suit size would normally be your correct size. If you intend to layer heavily underneath your Filson coat, we recommend that you order one size larger than your suit size.
Do I need to order a one size up to allow for shrinkage?
Any cotton garment is susceptible to shrinkage, which varies with use. For example, if your garment gets wet and then hot (drying out by a hot stove or in a car trunk, or when you work up a sweat wearing it on a hot day) shrinkage can occur. You'll notice shrinkage primarily in the length of a sleeve or pant leg, less often in the chest or waist.
While a small percentage of users experience shrinkage in their Oil Finish Shelter Cloth garments (usually due to getting them repeatedly wet and dry) most users do not experience enough shrinkage to create a problem with the fit. We recommend that you order your normal size unless you have previous experience with unusual shrinkage in our garments.
Product Care:
Wipe or brush away surface soil or buildup with a damp cloth or scrub brush. If necessary, use cold water to loosen up any caked mud or dirt. (Some customers just hose 'em down at the end of the day.)
Filson advises against spot cleaning with soap and water, as it may result in a loss of water repellency or color in that spot. If it is absolutely necessary to spot clean an Oil Finish garment, you may need to re-wax that spot to restore the water repellency after it dries.
DO NOT professionally dry clean Oil Finish garments. Dry cleaning solutions destroy the Oil Finish, effectively turning Oil Finish fabrics into Dry Finish fabrics. If an Oil Finish garment is dry cleaned, it will need to be re-waxed to restore its water repellency. DO NOT machine wash Oil Finish garments. Machine washing breaks down the Oil Finish, and sometimes causes the fabric to shrink. Most importantly, machine washing will not soften Oil Finish Shelter Cloth. In fact, it may make the fabric stiffer than before.
Do I need to re-wax my Oil Finish Shelter Cloth garment right away?
You shouldn't need to re-wax your Oil Finish Shelter Cloth garment right away. It is ready to wear. However, over time, and with regular use, the Oil Finish water repellency may weaken, especially in areas of high wear or repeated flexing (such as the knees of a pant, or the elbows or cuffs on a jacket).
One can of our Filson Original Oil Finish Wax is enough to touch up isolated areas of high wear or flexing, but re-waxing an entire garment usually requires several cans of wax. See detailed instructions on product.
What should I do if my Oil Finish Shelter Cloth garment gets wet?
Cotton can shrink if it gets wet, especially when it's exposed to any kind of heat. Allow your Oil Finish Shelter Cloth garment to dry naturally, away from any source of heat, to minimize shrinkage.
Oil Finish Shelter Cloth is made of 100% cotton that has not been preshrunk, so shrinkage can occur, even if care is taken to avoid prolonged exposure to heat when wet. Most customers do not experience enough shrinkage to have a problem with the fit.
Why does Filson call it Shelter Cloth?
Filson introduced Oil Finish Shelter Cloth in 1994 as a very water repellent and tough, yet comfortable alternative to Oil Finish Tin Cloth. It is named Shelter Cloth after military shelter tents.
Why is my new Shelter Cloth jacket a different shade of green than my older jacket?
Each dye lot accepts dyes to a different degree, depending on fiber variations, harvest time, and processing. Filson feels that the difference you are seeing is an acceptable color range for our Shelter Cloth.
My new Oil Finish Shelter Cloth garment feels very wet to the touch. Should I worry about the Oil Finish coming off and staining my clothes?
Oil Finish Shelter Cloth often does feel more wet to the touch than Oil Finish Tin Cloth, especially when brand new. Being a lighter weight fabric than Tin Cloth, Shelter Cloth cannot absorb as much Oil Finish during the treatment process. This leaves some of the Oil Finish sitting on the surface, giving it a wet feel.
Over time, Shelter Cloth will lose the wet feel, as some of the Oil Finish evaporates. If the Oil Finish stains your clothes, you can easily remove it by machine washing or dry cleaning.
Is Filson Oil Finish Shelter Cloth waterproof?
Filson Oil Finish Shelter Cloth is not totally waterproof, but it is very water repellent, especially for a natural fabric, like cotton. In a sustained downpour, the fabric will begin to absorb water, but you can expect to stay dry and comfortable for hours in the rain.
Which Filson Oil Finish fabrics is the most water repellent?
Of the three, Oil Finish Cover Cloth and Oil Finish Shelter Cloth are the most water repellent, because they are both more tightly woven than Oil Finish Tin Cloth. The tight weave contributes to the water repellency.
How breathable is Oil Finish Shelter Cloth is breathable. How does it compare to Gore-Tex?
Rubber and plastic raingear do not breathe at all, which means as you work or play in the rain, your body heat stays trapped inside the garment, eventually building up condensation that leaves you soggy and uncomfortable.
Filson describes Oil Finish Shelter Cloth as breathable, when compared to rubber or plastic raingear, because it offers superior water repellency, but at the same time will allow air to push through. However, Oil Finish Shelter Cloth is generally not as breathable as high-tech synthetic fabrics, such as those that use Gore-Tex breathable membranes.
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Otter-Green
Dark-Tan
