The much-anticipated adaptation of The Last of Us has finally landed. Arriving with a gut-punch premiere episode, the new series is based on the 2013 video game of the same name, and drops us into a post-apocalyptic world ravaged as much by humans as the zombie-like Infected. The narrative focuses on Joel Miller, played by Pedro Pascal. A onetime carpenter who lived in Austin in 2003 when people first started turning into bloodthirsty fungus monsters—yes, really; they're legitimately terrifying—Joel washed up at some point in the next 20 years in a quarantine zone (QZ) in Boston, where he does odd jobs and the occasional bit of smuggling.
He was already a tough guy pre-apocalypse, and he's even tougher in the narrative's version of 2023: a world populated by grotesque creatures, an authoritarian military government, and hordes of raiders and slavers lying beyond the walls of the QZ. Naturally, he dresses the part. In jeans and denim shirts, henleys and boots, he's outfitted for hard-wearing utility. And though there is very little about Joel's world that seems particularly desirable to those of us living in this version of 2023, we've gotta say—his wardrobe is the exception.
Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket
Flint and Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket
One standout is the jacket he throws on near the end of the premiere. A burly trucker in a fatigue-adjacent green, it looks, if not bulletproof, at least tough enough for the Joel Miller seal of approval. And here's the best part about it: It's not a work of fiction. Not a one-off creation from a costume department that clearly thought hard and delivered a considered and well-constructed wardrobe for our protagonist. Nope. It's a real jacket that's available right now, sans apocalypse, from Huckberry's in-house brand Flint and Tinder.
We've actually sung the praises of this jacket before, even giving it the official Esquire Endorsement. But to summarise: This thing is hardy, warm, and built to last. It's made in the USA from 7-ounce, waxed Martexin sailcloth that's weather resistant and develops a rich patina as it breaks in over the months and years. It's got a blanket lining to keep you toasty. And as that patina gets better and better, you can keep rewaxing it so that it blocks wind and water throughout its life. It's the perfect jacket for Joel. And maybe you, too.
