As some of you might remember, i went to the Aero factory last year and ordered a couple of jackets. I originally was going for one, but as we all know, the best laid plans go wrong, and i ended up ordering a summer and a winter jacket. Well, yesterday was the day i got both of them, and the wait was worth it!
So, the first one is a modified Bootlegger, inspired by Mysterio's D pocket.
Basically, i have always wanted a D pocket, but was never a fan of the J-24 thing as it was too busy and too biker for my taste. A bit of research made me realize that the D pocket originally started on much simpler early pilot jackets. I got my plan together, asked Denny if it could be done, and he said yes.
We took some time to get the sizing right, but after multiple trials and errors this is the final result:
Bootlegger, with an added D pocket, button cuff and yoked back. No chest pocket and an open handwarmer pocket. We also removed the epaulettes. It is made of their regular brown FQHH, and lined in cotton tartan. I did ask them to go for the darkest most red hides they had.
Fit wise i couldn't be happier! I originally tried on a 42 bootlegger with a thick tweed lining. Once i received my jacket, which was the same size with a thin cotton lining, it felt absolutely huge. Denny was great and just took it back, sending me a size 42 STF bootlegger to try. Unfortunately this was too small for me and really pinched me in the armpits. He ended up making a hybrid pattern, using a 40 Bootlegger body with some 42 STF Bootlegger arms to make them a bit slimmer.
The result is great, and i really appreciated the fact that Denny went out of his way to make sure i had a jacket that fit how i wanted.
The second jacket was a little bit of an impulse buy... I had been looking for a winter jacket, something with a warm lining that i could wear comfortably with some layers underneath, and the Original Hercules just felt perfect for the job.
They had a size 40 in store when i visited, but it was a little bit on the tight side, so i decided to order a size 42, no special modifications other than body and sleeve length.
It is made of tumbled horsehide, lined in heavy cord (and i mean HEAVY!) in the body and moleskin in the sleeves. The cuffs and collar are lined with cord.
The stitching on this one looks amazing! The triple stitching along the back panels, the front, and the sleeves really is a nice detail, it really looks special. The tumbled hide also has a really nice grain, it is much softer than the regular FQHH and looks like it won't even need a break in.
Fit wise it is also very nice. A bit larger, and a bit more room to layer, but i like it.
Having the side buckles at the bottom feels weird, but once you have the jacket on it makes a lot of sens. Because the bottom back panel isn't very wide, and there is a massive front drop, the side straps actually work really well in pulling it all together neatly and blocking out draft.
For once i feel that the usual bunching you get when using the side straps is part of the design rather than a side effect of the "one size fits all" mentality.
All in all i couldn't be happier. Visiting the factory was great, the ordering process was painless, and although there was a lot of faffing with the sizing of the Bootlegger, Denny was great at sorting it out and never made me feel like i should keep a jacket i wasn't completely happy with. Thank you Denny for your patience, and thank you Julie (Bootlegger) and Paula (Hercules) for doing such great work, both jackets are pretty much stitch perfect!
The last thing to say is, the size 42 version of this D pocket will probably be on sale this week end at the Aero factory, who will be my jacket twin?
So, the first one is a modified Bootlegger, inspired by Mysterio's D pocket.
Basically, i have always wanted a D pocket, but was never a fan of the J-24 thing as it was too busy and too biker for my taste. A bit of research made me realize that the D pocket originally started on much simpler early pilot jackets. I got my plan together, asked Denny if it could be done, and he said yes.
We took some time to get the sizing right, but after multiple trials and errors this is the final result:
Bootlegger, with an added D pocket, button cuff and yoked back. No chest pocket and an open handwarmer pocket. We also removed the epaulettes. It is made of their regular brown FQHH, and lined in cotton tartan. I did ask them to go for the darkest most red hides they had.
Fit wise i couldn't be happier! I originally tried on a 42 bootlegger with a thick tweed lining. Once i received my jacket, which was the same size with a thin cotton lining, it felt absolutely huge. Denny was great and just took it back, sending me a size 42 STF bootlegger to try. Unfortunately this was too small for me and really pinched me in the armpits. He ended up making a hybrid pattern, using a 40 Bootlegger body with some 42 STF Bootlegger arms to make them a bit slimmer.
The result is great, and i really appreciated the fact that Denny went out of his way to make sure i had a jacket that fit how i wanted.
The second jacket was a little bit of an impulse buy... I had been looking for a winter jacket, something with a warm lining that i could wear comfortably with some layers underneath, and the Original Hercules just felt perfect for the job.
They had a size 40 in store when i visited, but it was a little bit on the tight side, so i decided to order a size 42, no special modifications other than body and sleeve length.
It is made of tumbled horsehide, lined in heavy cord (and i mean HEAVY!) in the body and moleskin in the sleeves. The cuffs and collar are lined with cord.
The stitching on this one looks amazing! The triple stitching along the back panels, the front, and the sleeves really is a nice detail, it really looks special. The tumbled hide also has a really nice grain, it is much softer than the regular FQHH and looks like it won't even need a break in.
Fit wise it is also very nice. A bit larger, and a bit more room to layer, but i like it.
Having the side buckles at the bottom feels weird, but once you have the jacket on it makes a lot of sens. Because the bottom back panel isn't very wide, and there is a massive front drop, the side straps actually work really well in pulling it all together neatly and blocking out draft.
For once i feel that the usual bunching you get when using the side straps is part of the design rather than a side effect of the "one size fits all" mentality.
All in all i couldn't be happier. Visiting the factory was great, the ordering process was painless, and although there was a lot of faffing with the sizing of the Bootlegger, Denny was great at sorting it out and never made me feel like i should keep a jacket i wasn't completely happy with. Thank you Denny for your patience, and thank you Julie (Bootlegger) and Paula (Hercules) for doing such great work, both jackets are pretty much stitch perfect!
The last thing to say is, the size 42 version of this D pocket will probably be on sale this week end at the Aero factory, who will be my jacket twin?
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