A2 Jacket Advice

[CBI]

In re the OP.............Eastman, very authentic particularly these past few years as they have revamped and intro'd new patterns.

Since you are on the GW waiting list, have you considered a much cheaper A-2 just to get you by? Perhaps a used something on eBay....Cooper, Willis and Geiger, etc. These are not high end brands but if you are waiting on a GW, paying about the same for another jacket might not be needed. Its your call of course. I would have to say that these days I get as much enjoyment wearing a beater, cheaper jacket than my high-end ones.

 

[Sloan1874]

Just to answer the OP's question about ELC and Aero's leather. Aero Vicenza is top-notch A-2 leather. Beyond that, I would consider Aero's jerky mid-weight if you want something that looks period authentic.

 

[srahimian24]

Thanks for the replies. I have a beater HH US Authentic A2 that I have been wearing awhile and have been wanting a jacket from on of the better brands (Eastman or Goodwear) so I think I will likely go with Eastman before they raise their prices again.

Does anyone have experience with their newer HH leather?

 

[ton312]

Bk makes an outstanding, well built and beautiful jacket in a myriad of styles. There’s no argument that one could possibly form to the contrary. But the sheer audacity of their social media presence absolutely washes all of that away imho. I’ve seen numerous personal attacks on members here posted publicly via multiple avenues. It’s just childish and unnecessary in every way imaginable. As much as I love the Duke I just can’t support a company which proudly proclaims such morally bankrupt, socially inept beliefs. No thanks.
I would also add any patron would be held harmless in my opinion. If you don’t care then high five and let’s see the skin. I’ll likely enjoy the pics of the jacket as much as any other. And patrons should enjoy the same freedoms for posting, reviewing and raving as any other member, reviewing any other brand. But when you draw a hard line in the sand, as BK has, you must be prepared to be told to go pound it. They lost my interest a long time ago but they won’t starve b/c of it.

 

[srahimian24]

So this may be an inappropriate place to ask this, if so I'll ask in the classifieds. Is anyone willing to part with an A2 from Goodwear or Eastman that has a NOS zipper?

 

[Boyo]

So this may be an inappropriate place to ask this, if so I'll ask in the classifieds. Is anyone willing to part with an A2 from Goodwear or Eastman that has a NOS zipper?

What size?

 

[srahimian24]

@Boyo chest size is 40-42, shoulder 17.5-18

 

[Boyo]

hows about this one from the Eastman website Classified section:

 

[srahimian24]

I saw that one but I'm trying to grab a russet one. Thanks!

 

[Boyo]

From Aero Sales Page under quartermasters section ( there are others 38 to 42 that may fit your desired measurements better)

 

[srahimian24]

I did not see that, has Aero improved the accuracy of their patterns? I know that was a criticism of them befoe

 

[ProteinNerd]

Without being an expert in the military stuff, if accuracy is a concern I'd assume Eastman would be a better option. They make a damn fine jacket.

 

[srahimian24]

I was actually going to grab an Eastman and then they told me that they cannot put NOS sliders on the jacket (after previously saying they could, but they said that was an error so I'm not holding that against them. However, Eastman have grown in price since I last looked at them a couple years back. And I am probably being way to anal about this, but if I am going to pay as high a price as Eastman wants then I want to have NOS hardware. I would just stick with the Goodwear I ordered but I have no idea how long the wait time is now and I have been wanting an accurate original maker contract awhile now

 

[ProteinNerd]

I think GW is your best choice then for accuracy and NOS zips....just understand the queue is at 4years and running currently (well thats how long Ive been waiting since paying my deposit).

Honestly, buy the Eastman, wear it for 4 years or longer while you wait for your GW, then sell it imo

 

[srahimian24]

That's actually what I am strongly considering now, but before I do that I wanted to try my chances at seeing if anyone had a jacket for sale first that is about what I was looking for, keeps my costs slightly lower. Thanks for the input! Have you heard from John at all btw? I haven't heard from him since I first placed my order a year and a half ago

 

[ProteinNerd]

Last I heard from him was sept 2017.

Honestly, at this stage it’s pretty much lost money and that’s why I bought the ELMC Californian to effectively replace the Modoc I wanted from John.

 

[srahimian24]

That's funny because that is about when I ordered mine. I don't necessarily mind the wait and I am sure he is busy, I just wanted something saying the wait will be longer.

I was looking at BK or Eastman before, but was super turned off to BK after what happened earlier in this thread.

 

[ProteinNerd]

Yeah regarding BK, I had just received samples and was ready to order their version of the Californian Surrogates Half Belt jacket when it all “kicked off” so switched to GW.

I should have just gone Eastman from the start lol, great jacket and I think they had 2 price rises between then and when I actually bought....I would have saved quite a bit [emoji30]

 

[srahimian24]

And that is my turn off from Eastman, there is just no winning lol

Trade offs right?

 

[ProteinNerd]

If you think their A2s are expensive have a look at the prices on the ELMC website!

I was “lucky” and got a Californian and their J-100 just before the latest price rise and my third was off the classifieds so much more “reasonable”.

They aren’t cheap by any means but they are great quality and I really like their leather...I somehow have 5 damn Eastman jackets in my wardrobe now.....still not quite sure how that happened lol