Lesli Larson, Filson Mackinaw Cruiser – Item Number One

Name, Age, and Occupation?

Lesli Larson, 49, Content Strategist.

What is the thing you have owned the longest?

A Women’s Filson Wool Mackinaw Cruiser.

How long have you had it?

23 years.

How did you come to possess it?

Purchased it as a deadstock item from the Portland Outdoor Store (famous for its deep inventory of northwest outfitter brands and second hand riding tack).

Why have you kept it so long?

This jacket is a total oddball. It’s marked as a women’s size 8 but fits me like a tight cardigan. Given Filson’s reputation for creating burly, bulky, woolens, it’s rare to find a jacket that exhibits such a slim fit outside of Japan. I’ve collected Filson catalogs over the years but I’ve never seen this model on offer.

I keep this jacket as evidence of heritage garb I would like to see on the market today: no feminizing shaping panels, no promises of itch free wool, no compromised colorways.

When was the last time you used it?

Last March (the last time Eugene temperatures dropped below freezing). Honestly, I wear this one about three times a year; the snug fit makes it a little tough to wear during my daily bike commute. In the end, I’ve also always thought that Filson Cruisers looked best as patent drawings or when worn by gents in illustrated 1950s catalogs.

Have you made any customizations, modifications, or repairs?

No modification. But due to the tight fit, I only wear it over a single light layer (undermining my three layer rule when it comes to daily ensembles).

If someone were to offer you a brand new version of your item to trade for your old one, would you take it?

If you had the power to shop from the past, I’d swap you for one of two Filsons:  a 2010 Cruiser in the Japan-only Blue x Black colorway or the Gold Digger iteration from Filson Italy.


The Mackinaw Cruiser is no longer available in women’s sizing (the men’s is available here), but Filson’s most recent women’s collection includes the Lined Seattle Cruiser, which appears to be similarly detailed. It is available for $450 at Filson.

You can find Lesli’s work on this site and on her own at Archival Blog.