Aero Plainsman -- Seal Vincenza Horsehide

[Superfluous]

First and foremost, huge thanks to Carrie at Thurston Bros. She is an absolute pleasure to deal with.

I am not a fan of Horween FQHH and, therefore, I did not previously patronize Aero. However, Thurston’s introduction of the Vincenza HH changed the playing field. The Vincenza has far more grain and character than the Horween FQHH, and is also considerably more pliable. That said, the Vincenza still has the hearty/sturdy feel of HH. It is a wonderful leather.

Given my preference for slender, minimalist cuts, I went with the Plainsman. The fit is fantastic! After much contemplation, I went with a 26.5 in back (I am 6’0’’) and I am really pleased with the length.

IMHO, the workmanship is good, but not great. Don't get me wrong . . . I love the jacket. On the other hand, I have jackets – admittedly more expensive – that have better workmanship (e.g., more precise edge work and stitching).

 

[mowgli222]

Nice jacket.. Love the color.. ordered the same color and leather in the Sheene..

 

[handymike]

That's some beautiful leather!
The style reminds me of one of my favorite jackets- a40's Hercules surcoat that comes in at 27" long.
Nicely done Superfluous!

 

[schitzo]

IMHO, the workmanship is good, but not great. Don't get me wrong . . . I love the jacket. On the other hand, I have jackets – admittedly more expensive – that have better workmanship (e.g., more precise edge work and stitching).

For you to actually critique the edges and stitching of a jacket you're pleased with is out of the ordinary round here and to be applauded. I for one appreciate these insights, but what I'd find even more useful if you were to reveal where the more expensive jackets with superior workmanship came from. After all, lord knows this one was not cheap. As I see it, you've paid your money to each company and are entitled to make these comparisons, comparisons which are no more than one man's perception. After all, this is still primarily a jacket enthusiast's forum is it not; not just a place for vendors to shift units.

What's more, I think such insights from the likes of you and I, to name just two of us, are especially useful for the guy who comes here wanting to buy one great jacket, as opposed to a wardrobes's worth.

The comment highlighted has left me wondering to whom you have referred. Are we talking about a Japanese brand, or some brothers, or a Greek outfit or somebody else altogether?

 

[handymike]

I think he might be referring to a Canadian.

 

[schitzo]

I forgot to say, I like this leather too, and agree that this model is a good choice to show it off with

 

[schitzo]

I think he might be referring to a Canadian.

Wouldn't surprise me either.. but it'd be good to know for sure. I've never seen any of their stuff close up. Typically round here anyone who gets a jacket they like says the workmanship is great..

 

[kyboots]

A very nice jacket and fit. My opinion is you did very well. Thanks for showing it.

 

[nick123]

Looks very nice. Likewise for your yard!

 

[Monitor]

Beautiful jacket. Looks great on you.

IMHO, the workmanship is good, but not great. Don't get me wrong . . . I love the jacket. On the other hand, I have jackets – admittedly more expensive – that have better workmanship (e.g., more precise edge work and stitching).

That is true. Perhaps it's the thickness of the leather that has something to do with it, but Aero's workmanship isn't as precise, let's call it, as that of some of the other brands out there. Belstaff, for example, is literally perfect in that regard. But then again, for that kind of money I wouldn't settle for anything short of perfection. LW and even Schott jackets that I've seen all had really great stitching while with Aero and Vanson I could always find some parts where there was some struggling involved.

 

[Cooperson]

Very nice indeed and a great fit! Good to see this hide finally being modelled out in the wild, so to speak. It's a nice dark rich colour and looks as if it will start showing it's grain very quickly. Could I ask how it compares to Aero's heavy front quarter and medium weight horse hides, both weight wise and stiffness?

 

[mendelboaz]

Jacket looks smashing, it seems to suit your posture very well! The Vicenza horsehide looks very rich, I really wonder how it'll age. I'm planning on ordering a 38-1711-p in that leather.

 

[jpk_NJ]

The hide looks really nice. I'm also not a huge fan of the regular horween FQHH and prefer their Steer for the graining but this is another alternative. Question on the zipper....why does it stop so high up? I get the reason on longer jacket but 26 or so isn't a 3/4 length coat. Any concern how this will look as the jacket ages (will the bottom part start to gap etc)?

 

[Superfluous]

Thank you for the kind words!

Aero's workmanship isn't as precise, let's call it, as that of some of the other brands out there.

“Precise” is a good choice of words.

For you to actually critique the edges and stitching of a jacket you're pleased with is out of the ordinary round here and to be applauded.

In terms of the database of information aggregated here (as distinct from the community and comradery), the value of this forum is dependant on the accuracy of the information posted. For various reasons, people are sometimes reluctant to criticize the products or businesses they patronize. I have seen this countless times on many different internet forums. For example, many car forms are characterized by an endless array of positive reviews of aftermarket products and tuner services, but few negative reviews. I know many people who had tuner experiences ranging from mediocre to outright disastrous that bit their tongue and remained silent. Thus, subsequent consumers perusing the forum for accurate information were denied the benefit of the less than stellar experiences. Therefore, I endeavor to be honest, fair and accurate with my reviews, even at the risk of upsetting manufacturers and/or retailers. To Thurston's credit, they graciously offered to remedy one particular lack of precision, but I declined. As I said in my original post, Thurston's customer service is exemplary!

I for one appreciate these insights, but what I'd find even more useful if you were to reveal where the more expensive jackets with superior workmanship came from. . . . The comment highlighted has left me wondering to whom you have referred.

I intentionally omitted reference to the brand(s) I was referring to. I did not want to turn this into a “who is better” thread. That said, I was contemplating two manufacturers in particular – one from Japan and one from Canada.

After all, lord knows this one was not cheap.

No, it was not cheap. On the other hand, the brands that, IMHO, have more precise details and stitching cost more. All of these jackets are wayyyyy beyond the point of diminishing returns. No normal person would ever notice the subtle differences to which I refer. That said, I notice. Is the increased precision worth the additional charge? That is an entirely personal and subjective decision. For the vast majority of people, the answer is absolutely not. On the other hand, if one desires the additional precision, it is nice to have the option.

Are we talking about . . . a Greek outfit

I have not yet handled any jackets from the “Greek outfit.” I hope to change that soon. Their photos depict high quality leather and workmanship (whether its great workmanship or merely good is difficult to discern from photos), and their price point is lower than the Japanese/Canadian brands. Therefore, I am intrigued.

Could I ask how it compares to Aero's heavy front quarter and medium weight horse hides, both weight wise and stiffness?

Thurston sent me an Aero regular weight FQHH fit jacket (I am not sure about the difference between a “heavy” weight and a “medium” weight – the fit jacket was not the Jerky HH, if that is the medium weight). The different between the Horween FQHH and the Vincenza HH is dramatic. The Vincenza is much more pliable. That does not mean it is flimsy or thin. To the contrary, the Vincenza is a robust and hearty leather, with some rigidity. However, it is meaningfully less rigid than the FQHH. The Vincenza also has much more grain. I find many of Horween’s non-tumbled, non-Jerky FQHHs rather flat (they admittedly develop wonderful textures over time – I am merely referring to the leather in its new condition). In contrast, the Vincenza HH has wonderful grain and character right out of the box

Question on the zipper....why does it stop so high up? I get the reason on longer jacket but 26 or so isn't a 3/4 length coat. Any concern how this will look as the jacket ages (will the bottom part start to gap etc)?

I think the zipper is modeled after the Buco J-100 and Beck moto jackets. I love this design. The “gap” is presently non-existent, so some gapping over time will give it the Buco/Beck look I desire.

Thanks again for the kind words!

 

[Plumbline]

Great jacket and a hide very reminisent of A2 HH used by JC and others.

So good to see other high quality hides on jackets especially of a more pliable nature ..... I love Horween hide in M/C or "utility" jackets which I am going to throw around and treat like utility wear ... but these hides like goatskin and the more pliable steer and horse hides make superb and very classy jackets.

Wear it well .. it suits you

 

[Worf]

Superfluous... thanks for the information and your "informed" opinion. It is appreciated.

Worf

 

[Fanch]

Great looking jacket and great fit. I gather the HH is the new Italian HH exclusive to Insurrection that has gotten rave reviews. I read that you have jackets "that have better workmanship (e.g., more precise edge work and stitching)." I have several pairs of cowboy boots made by on old bootmaker by the name of Felipe Ramirez who died not too long ago. One of the things that make his boots special is that no two pair are exactly alike, and all have just a bit of a different fit. He hammered and bent each forty penny bridge nail individually. In all of his boots made by hand there were minimal "irregularities" in his edge work and stitching. All of these factors make each pair I own special and unique. SO, enjoy your new Plainsman since there is not another exactly like it, and you can be proud to have a very functional and beautiful work of art that you can wear.

 

[mendelboaz]

^ +1. I'd love to see those boots!

 

[Navin323i]

In terms of the database of information aggregated here (as distinct from the community and comradery), the value of this forum is dependant on the accuracy of the information posted. For various reasons, people are sometimes reluctant to criticize the products or businesses they patronize. I have seen this countless times on many different internet forums. For example, many car forms are characterized by an endless array of positive reviews of aftermarket products and tuner services, but few negative reviews. I know many people who had tuner experiences ranging from mediocre to outright disastrous that bit their tongue and remained silent. Thus, subsequent consumers perusing the forum for accurate information were denied the benefit of the less than stellar experiences. Therefore, I endeavor to be honest, fair and accurate with my reviews, even at the risk of upsetting manufacturers and/or retailers. To Thurston's credit, they graciously offered to remedy one particular lack of precision, but I declined. As I said in my original post, Thurston's customer service is exemplary!

Beautiful jacket first of all and I love your choice of leather too. I just picked up my Aero Route 66 and I'll admit I love the Horween FQHH leather too, but it's nice to have other options and to be aware that there are other options out there, so for that I thank you.

I also really appreciate your analogy to the car tuning and aftermarket scene. I can totally relate since I have several companies that sponsor my BMW due to the story behind my car (I have a carbon fiber mechanical heart that inspired the carbon fiber work throughout my car so that my car could tell my "heart story" and hopefully inspire others to a lifetime of good heart health). From my own experiences on the car forum though, I have found that people post up both positive and negative reviews but there are less negative reviews than positive reviews, I assume to avoid forum drama and hassle, though I've found that many people choose to get around this by responding in the positive review posts and share their negative experiences, so in the end there is a good mix of positive and negative, though it takes a little more "digging" to find the negative stuff.

 

[Superfluous]

Great looking jacket and great fit. I gather the HH is the new Italian HH exclusive to Insurrection that has gotten rave reviews. I read that you have jackets "that have better workmanship (e.g., more precise edge work and stitching)." I have several pairs of cowboy boots made by on old bootmaker by the name of Felipe Ramirez who died not too long ago. One of the things that make his boots special is that no two pair are exactly alike, and all have just a bit of a different fit. He hammered and bent each forty penny bridge nail individually. In all of his boots made by hand there were minimal "irregularities" in his edge work and stitching. All of these factors make each pair I own special and unique. SO, enjoy your new Plainsman since there is not another exactly like it, and you can be proud to have a very functional and beautiful work of art that you can wear.

Sage observation Fanch! MTM is a different world and a certain amount of imprecision is likely inherent in the uniqueness of a MTM product. When a product is being cut in 3 or 4 standardized sizes, using firm patterns, precision is more easily achieved. That said, both the Japanese and the Canadian companies that I was using as a frame of reference bench make all of their jackets. Moreover, while all companies employ quality control measures and acceptable tolerances, certain companies apply stricter controls and accept less deviation from accepted tolerances.

As you wisely note, I will savor the uniqueness of my MTM Plainsman.