A2 - flightjacket.com or Eastman - Urgent for Halloween :D

[member 16283]

Sorry for the rudeness. I have searched but I feel I need to create this thread in parallel due to the urgency of my need. I'm dressing up as a 101st Airborne officer for Halloween and wanted an A2 to complete the look as well as for a daily wear for cool weather afterwards.

I'm willing to buy either a flightjacket.com A2 or an Eastman. Apparently I'm a 48R in either one and both can get it to me before October 31. I don't care about cost. I care about value. Is the Eastman better value for an extra $300 Canadian?

 

[kojax]

eastman will take time to get one flightjacke.com always has jackets for sale they take no time to get......

 

[Justhandguns]

Sorry for the rudeness. I have searched but I feel I need to create this thread in parallel due to the urgency of my need. I'm dressing up as a 101st Airborne officer for Halloween and wanted an A2 to complete the look as well as for a daily wear for cool weather afterwards.

I'm willing to buy either a flightjacket.com A2 or an Eastman. Apparently I'm a 48R in either one and both can get it to me before October 31. I don't care about cost. I care about value. Is the Eastman better value for an extra $300 Canadian?

Provided that you need it in a hurry in N.America, then it is probably quicker for flightjacket.com. But then, if you are talking about value and quality, especially re-sale value...., Eastman beats the flightjacket.com, hands down.

 

[member 16283]

"It's most likely you will need a 48 regular,we have 7 different A-2 styles in stock today , available for immediate delivery ,usually 5-7 working days:

A-2 WERBER
A-2 MONARCH
A-2 352nd FIGHTER
A-2 CABLE
A-2 ROUGHWEAR 27752
A-2 PEARL HARBOR (IN BOTH WALNUT AND HAVANA COLOURS)
A-2 .50CAL TIME WORN

Kind regards
Rob
"

This was the email I received from Eastman. Originally all I ordered were A10 gloves. Then I received a personal email from Rob saying they were shipped. Then I asked about the jackets. I really want this for Halloween but at the moment I'm leaning towards A-2 ROUGHWEAR 27752 in WarHorse, whatever that is which would be around 1000 Canadian. $1000 vs $400 or so for the flightjacket.com is now the question.

From my time on askandy and styleforum I know shoes, so I know my leather and I like it aniline if possible so I'm thinking that I should go for the Eastman just because it will be closer to aniline. Now I'm just wondering if I should wait and Ebay something over the course of a year (reminds me of hunting down old stock shell cordovan shoes) or JUST DO IT.

I'm glad this forum exists. I'm going to search "WarHorse" now.

 

[member 16283]

Does anyone have any pictures of old US A A2s? I'm wondering most about how they age and whether they patina.

 

[Weston]

Don't go there on the US Authentics. They're decent jackets at a discount (I got one for $129), but there is nowhere near the detail and feel of any other jacket maker. Eastman for sure, Buzz Rickson if you win the lottery.

 

[Hawk_Eye]

If cost is not an issue, and you wish to continue using the jacket as a daily wearer, go for the Eastman, 100%. The detail and workmanship is astounding. I've got one of the (now discontinued) goatskin Cable A-2s and its stunning.

 

[/|\]

Here's what someone at another message board said about the G1 he bought from Flightsuits:

Just wanted to update. I called them on a Friday asking about colors and fitting (I am between two sizes) and was so impressed with the help they gave me that I went ahead and ordered one. She said she had one in stock and it would take 3-5 business days. About 20 minutes later she called back appologizing that the color was mis-labled and they would have to make me one special. It would take about an additional week for this, which she seemed really sorry about (I didn't have the heart to tell her it wouldn't get cold enough to wear for a few more months yet).

Monday of this week I came home to a box (only 6 business days later) with a gorgeous jacket on my doorstep. It looks wonderful, it feels great, and it even smells cool. Even my 15 year old daughter who thinks I am the anti-cool said it was nice and looks good.

I've always been impressed by Flightsuits' fast delivery and excellent customer service. I have a goatskin G1 that's wonderful. If their products are good enough for the pilots at Miramar, they're good enough for me. When the time comes to get another A2, I'll be going for authenticity. Virtually no one will notice or care if it isn't 'prefect'; but I think I'll get an Eastman anyway. But for a good-looking, well-made jacket at a pretty good price and that can be worn every day, Flightsuits is good.

 

[Windsock]

I thought Haloween was all about pumpkins, witches and spooks....

 

[/|\]

I thought Haloween was all about pumpkins, witches and spooks....

Who says WWII flight gear and ghoulishness can't go together?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWh4Ux_Vlq4

:icon_smil

 

[JanSolo]

A repro A2, especially one from the quality makers, shouldn't be regarded as a costume. It's a piece of classic menswear.
Forget about the cheaper, oversized American manufacturers. For a really good A2 buy from these places:

-Goodwear
-Eastman
-Aeroleather
-Lost Worlds Inc

-The Few /The Real McCoys
-Buzz Rickson's

 

[Corky]

Why not just rent a WW II movie costume?

If you need a great costume for Halloween this year,
Western Costume offers thousands of costumes from major motion pictures available to rent for Halloween.

I don't know if Western did the costumes for "Band of Brothers", but if they did, you might be able to to get one of the A-2s worn by David Schwimmer or Damian Lewis in the series.

Rent early in the month for the best selection, and they let you keep your costume for the entire month OF October.

Halloween Info Line: (818) 508-2147

Address
11041 Vanowen St.
North Hollywood, CA 91605

* * * * * * *

Also,

 

[member 16283]

Too late for that fellas. I got my flightjacket.com horsehide in seal brown. Pretty amazing. It's not aniline, but then I'm not sure I'd want it to be.

FYI for others who are concerned about sizing I'm 5' 9.5" 235 lbs and wear a 17.5/33 dress shirt. I got a standard 48R and it is a good looking, but roomy fit. I can definitely put a sweater underneath should I ever wish to. Armholes are not high, so for driving, imagine driving in a suit jacket without high armholes. Leather is thick but fairly soft. It appears the brown dye colour penetrates through the hide so I do not expect lighter patches with wear. I think that's about it. Good luck.

 

[member 16283]

Measurements for flightjacket.com 48R A2
pit to pit: 26.5"
shoulder to shoulder across back 21"
sleeve top 25" (not including wool cuff)
sleeve bottom 17" (not including wool cuff)
sleeve cuff 3"
bottom of collar to bottom of jacket: 25" ( not including wool trim)
buttom cuff 3"

 

[alfyman]

I hope you had good luck with the Jacket..show some pictures...

 

[member 16283]

I definitely did. It's breaking in nicely. After 5 wears just to the office, it's now quite comfortable to drive in.

Even though this one is goat, it looks very similiar:
http://electraforge.com/brooke/flightsims/flight_jackets/flight_jackets.html

 

[kojax]

what hide did you get horsehide

 

[member 16283]

Yup.

 

[kojax]

years ago i bought a a2 horsehide from us flightjacket.com i sent it back to heavy for me. one thing the leather is bullet prof lol.

 

[member 16283]

Funny. Doesn't feel that heavy to me. It's getting softer and softer too. I don't think I'd like it if it were thinner.

For reference I'm 5'9 230 lbs and I deadlift.