u/JordanHSUSA

Hey everyone, I wanted to follow up on the post regarding the Wool Waffle Knit Shirt and share this quick video.

After seeing the concerns about the neckline and wavy side seams, I went back and took a closer look at one of our shirts.

One thing worth mentioning is that 100% wool does require a little maintenance. Wool has a natural memory and can hold the shape it was packed in. Because of this, you may notice some wrinkles or waviness around the neckline and side seams when you first take it out of the package.

As you can see in this video, a little steam relaxes the wool fibers and allows the garment to return to its intended shape. It completely corrected the issues I was seeing.

I apologize for the inconvenience and understand that nobody wants to open a package and see something that doesn’t look quite right.

Whether you choose to steam your shirt at home or have it professionally dry cleaned, this is part of the care that comes with owning a 100% wool garment.

I wanted to share this with everyone because I think it’s important to be transparent about our products and the maintenance involved in owning them.

The Hooded Workhorse sold out in less than 24 hours last time around, so we knew we had to bring it back. This time, we’re bringing it back in a completely different fabric.

A lot of you have been asking us for an unwaxed version of the Workhorse, so for this run we had a 12 oz Japanese jungle cloth custom made specifically for this piece.

This isn’t your normal duck canvas. Jungle cloth is an extremely dense, tightly woven fabric that is incredibly durable and naturally water resistant because of how tight the weave is. It gives you a lot of the protection we love about waxed canvas without the wax.

Inside, we’re using a 14 oz 100% wool lining through the body. This time we left the sleeves uninsulated, giving you more freedom to layer underneath depending on the weather.

We also listened to your feedback from the last Hooded Workhorse run. We had a few customers tell us the sleeves ran a touch long, so we went back to the pattern and regraded the sleeve length across the entire size range for a better fit while still leaving enough room for movement and layering.

A few other details:

• 12 oz Japanese jungle cloth

• Custom made specifically for this jacket

• 14 oz 100% wool body lining

• Uninsulated sleeves for easier layering

• Regraded sleeve lengths based on customer feedback

• Two way YKK zipper

• Solid brass snaps

• Back gussets for ease of movement

• Waist adjustment tabs to accommodate different layers

• Leather hood drawstring

• Naturally water resistant due to the extremely tight weave

• Made in our shop in Passaic, New Jersey

The Hooded Workhorse has always been about building something that can actually be worked in and abused for years. We also want each version to get better, and that means actually listening to the people wearing them.

Launching this Sunday at 12:00 PM EST.

This Sunday we’re releasing the Lightweight Deck Jacket in two colors, Oak and Brush Brown.

We wanted to build a version of our Deck Jacket that kept the same feel and construction, but was easier to wear through fall, early winter, and those days when the Heavy Deck Jacket is simply too much.

The shell starts with 10 oz waxed canvas that finishes around 14 oz after waxing. The body is lined with an 18 oz 100% wool pile, while the sleeves are lined in 100% worsted wool. The entire jacket is 100% wool lined.

A few of the details:

• Waxed corduroy shawl collar

• 100% wool knit cuffs

• Solid brass YKK two way zipper

• Adjustable waist tabs

• Back shoulder gussets for better range of motion

• Shorter working length to keep your pants pockets accessible

• Made in our New Jersey workshop

This is still a substantial jacket, it’s just much more versatile than the Heavy Deck Jacket. Something you can throw on over a shirt or sweater and wear through a much wider range of temperatures.

We’ll have full measurements and additional photos available on the product pages.

Available in Oak and Brush Brown

Sunday | 12:00 PM EST

As always, if you have any questions about sizing, materials, or construction, drop them below and we’ll answer them.

Hey everyone,

Wanted to give the community a heads-up about what we have coming this Sunday at 12:00 PM EST. We have a few releases happening at once, including some pieces we’ve been working on for a long time.

Wool Waffle Knit Shirt — Black & Natural

The Wool Waffle is finally back, but this is a completely new version.

The biggest change this time around is the fabric. We developed a new 100% wool waffle knit here in the U.S., knit in New Jersey, and it is substantially heavier than the previous version.

For some perspective, the previous Wool Waffle in a Medium weighed around 1.25 lbs. This new version comes in around 1.55 lbs in a Medium. You can immediately feel the difference. It has more weight, more loft, and an overall more substantial feel.

Even with the added weight, we chose a high-quality wool that is soft enough to comfortably wear directly against bare skin. The waffle structure creates a ton of natural loft while still allowing the fabric to breathe.

We also wash the fabric before we even cut it, removing roughly 95% of the expected shrinkage. The finished shirt is machine washable, so you don’t have to baby it.

Available in Black and Natural, cut and sewn right here in Passaic, New Jersey.

Wool Waffle Knit Shirts will begin shipping within 1–2 weeks of the launch.

Heavyweight Sashiko Field Pants

We’re also releasing our Field Pants for the first time in our heavyweight Sashiko. This is an extremely substantial, heavily textured fabric that should develop a ton of character as it gets worn and broken in.

Jungle Cloth Field Pants

The other new Field Pant is our Jungle Cloth version. Dense, heavyweight and built around that traditional workwear feel. It starts with a lot of structure and should only get better with wear. This fabric is incredible. Imported from Japan.

VIP EARLY ACCESS

If you’re planning on grabbing anything Sunday, make sure you sign up for VIP access.

VIP members get access 15 minutes before the public launch, meaning you’ll be able to shop at 11:45 AM EST instead of 12:00 PM EST.

We expect a lot of these pieces, especially certain sizes, to sell out immediately. Quantities are limited, so if there’s something you know you want, make sure you’re signed up for VIP and ready when early access opens.

We always want to give the people in this community who follow what we’re doing and support us the best shot at getting what they want.

As always, thank you guys for the support. We put a lot into these releases and can’t wait for you guys to finally get your hands on them.

Hey guys, here is the Waxed Lumberjack sample we just made incorporating the 36 oz wool.

To me, a shirt jacket just makes sense for this fabric. It’s way easier to wear and layer, while still taking advantage of how substantial this wool is.

This is a very hefty fabric, so this is definitely not your ordinary shirt jacket. It’s a burly beast, with waxed canvas reinforcement and functional pockets built for actually using it.

Now that you’ve seen both the Outfitter and the Waxed Lumberjack, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Which direction do you prefer?

Hey guys, here’s an updated version of the 36 oz Wool Quarter Zip Outfitter.

For this version, we incorporated waxed canvas on the elbows and added side zips to make it easier to get on and off, while also giving you the option to open it up and vent some heat.

We’ve actually been sitting on this 36 oz wool fabric for almost three years now. We love the fabric, but we still haven’t found the product that felt right enough to finally use it.

Right now, I’ve been debating between this piece and a waxed canvas/wool combo shirt jacket, similar to the piece we collaborated with Carl on that was posted here in the community a couple days ago.

A lot of you have been asking about the Outfitter for the past couple of years, ever since we first showed it. Before we move forward, though, I want to make sure you guys are still interested.

Which would you rather see us make: the 36 oz Wool Quarter Zip Outfitter or the waxed canvas/wool shirt jacket?

Would love to hear what you guys think.

*Sorry had to reload because red was completely blown out. *

First off, thank you guys again for all the well wishes. Everyone is doing great, and we’re incredibly blessed.

We’re getting ready for what is probably our biggest season of the year at Heat Straps, and honestly, this time of year is always a little nerve-racking.

We start building up a lot of inventory, trying to figure out exactly what you guys are looking for. We put a lot on the line every year and trust that you guys will continue to believe in what we’re doing.

I still walk into the shop some days and think, “What the hell am I doing here?”

Tyler and I had zero background in garment manufacturing. We’re full-time firefighters. Somehow this thing we started has turned into something we’re incredibly passionate about and a huge part of our lives.

And we’re not sitting at home behind a computer letting somebody else design and produce our clothing for us. We’re in the shop every day putting in the work.

You hear people say all the time, “They just don’t make things like they used to.”

Our shop is about as old-school as you can get.

We design it. We cut it. We sew it. We obsess over the details. All under one roof.

Our goal is simple: make the best possible product we can.

Can things be expensive? Absolutely. But American labor and the best raw materials we can get our hands on aren’t cheap. We’re not trying to make the cheapest jacket. We want you to open that box for the first time and say, “Wow. I understand where my money went.”

Today we had a few customers come into the shop to try things on. Getting to talk to you guys face-to-face and see your reaction to the clothing in person—those interactions really do keep us going.

We’ve built this brand on trust and repeat customers. Our repeat customer rate is over 60%, and we’re incredibly proud of that. Every time somebody comes back, it tells us we’re doing something right.

If you’ve been following along but haven’t tried anything from us yet, give us a shot. I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

And if you’ve already taken that chance on us—thank you. You guys are the reason we get to keep doing this.

Now for what’s coming.

The Shop Jacket launches this weekend, followed by the Field Pant restock and the introduction of our new Jungle Cloth and Sashiko Field Pants.

Then comes the Lightweight Deck Jacket, followed by the Heavyweight Deck Jackets, with a few other drops mixed in between.

Pioneer Duffle production should also be starting shortly.

I’ll be showing a lot more of the Lightweight Deck Jacket over the next couple of weeks. I know you guys were pumped about the prototype we showed last spring, and we’re excited to finally get the production version into your hands.

Official launch dates will be announced as everything falls into place.

We have a hell of a fall coming.

Thank you guys for continuing to trust us and support what we’re doing.

We’ll keep showing up, putting in the work, and making the best damn products we possibly can.

No corners cut.

We are beyond blessed. Mom and baby are doing great and we couldn’t be happier.

Thank you guys so much for all the well wishes and messages. We really appreciate every one of you.

Any wisdom from those who have gone from one to two, or from a boy to a girl, is always welcome. I’m all ears! Love to hear it.

Hey guys, just got a quick clip of our Wool Waffle Knit fabric being knit here in New Jersey.

This shirt sold out almost instantly this past spring, and instead of simply bringing it back, we decided to build a better version from the ground up.

This was a huge undertaking for us. For the first time, we sourced the yarn ourselves and took on the fabric development process from start to finish. Seeing it finally come together is pretty damn cool.

The new 100% wool fabric is seriously substantial. A Medium went from about 1.25 lbs to 1.55 lbs, roughly 25% heavier, while still being incredibly soft against bare skin.

It’s a true thermal waffle knit, not just a fabric made to look like one. The waffle structure traps warm air while still breathing, and wool manages moisture and insulates even when damp. This is why we believe wool belongs directly against your skin.

This isn’t your ordinary waffle knit or just another base layer. It’s a piece of equipment.

It’s also easier to care for this time around. Wash cold and air dry.

Knit in New Jersey and cut and sewn by us in Passaic.

Still working on the launch date. As soon as it hits our production queue, you guys will be the first to know.

We stumbled across something pretty special.

12+ oz. 100% linen slub fabric. Knit in the USA. Deadstock. Just sitting in a warehouse waiting to be found.

I’ve handled a lot of linen over the years, and I’ve never felt linen this heavy before. This stuff is HEFTY.

It’s completely different from the linens we’ve used in the past. Those have a much softer hand, which is definitely nicer directly against the skin. This starts out much more rugged and structured, but being 100% linen, it’s only going to get better as it’s worn, washed, broken in and beat up.

We made this chore coat as a test and I’ve been wearing it a ton. It feels like the perfect late summer, fall and spring jacket. Breathable like linen, but with enough weight and structure to actually feel like a piece of workwear.

And the chore coat is really just the beginning. There are a bunch of other products we could make out of this fabric if you guys are into it.

I think this could be a really cool addition to the Heat Straps lineup.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

Over the last few months, we’ve shared the development of the Shop Jacket and taken in a lot of your feedback. We wanted to create a jacket that still has the durability you expect from us, but in a lighter, more versatile package built for everyday wear.

The Shop Jacket features a 7 oz waxed sailcloth from Fairfield Textiles in New Jersey, lined through the body and sleeves with an 8 oz Japanese yarn-dyed flannel.

We kept the details functional and straightforward: a zipper and snap-front closure, chest pocket, and hand-warmer pockets.

We take a lot of pride in making heavy-duty garments, and this jacket is no different. It gives you that same durability at a fraction of the weight.

This is meant to be the jacket hanging by your door. Leave it in the truck. Throw it on to do chores. Wear it around town or out with your family. The kind of jacket you reach for without thinking about it.

Available in Olive and Tan, two classic colorways designed to look better with age and last for years.

Launching early September.

Thank you to everyone who has followed the development, shared feedback, and continued to support what we’re making. We’re excited to finally get this one out there.

Apparently my video is too long to post here so here’s a short preview of fall 2026.

The Anorak is back this Sunday at 12:00 PM EST, now available in Brush Brown along with the original Olive. Made from 10 oz waxed canvas from Fairfield Textiles in New Jersey. Lightweight, easy to layer, and easy to open up as temperatures fluctuate this time of year.

Coming in the next few weeks is the new Shop Jacket, available in Olive and Tan. Built from 7 oz Fairfield Textiles waxed canvas and fully lined through the body and sleeves with Japanese yarn-dyed flannel. Finished with a solid brass zipper, snap storm flap, and solid brass snaps. An easy everyday jacket to keep in the truck, hang by the door, and grab whenever you need it.

The Field Pants are also coming back in Tan and Slate, along with the return of our Heavyweight Sashiko and all of the Jungle Cloth versions.

A lot more coming for Fall 2026. All made in our small shop in Passaic, New Jersey.