Aero? Simmons Bilt? Looking for my "Forever Leather Jacket"

[navetsea]

27" length seems too long for your height, perhaps as you would slim down the length would also impacted as the jacket would hang straighter

 

[Monitor]

This is actually a standard back length for what shopping at a mall would get you, which is why so many people believe it's how their custom jackets should fit (something TB figured would be lucrative to play-along with) but it's not what you should want if you're not 2 meters tall, especially not from an asymmetrical zipper motorcycle leather jacket. . .

Listen, piece of advice; If you're dead set on a biker jacket, as much as I'd love to recommend Aero & seeing how your measurements seem to be perfectly OTR-compatible, I definitely believe you should look into either Schott or Vanson. Schott ought to be in the same price range in Canada I believe Bison Trading sells jackets by both makers...
https://www.bisontrading.ca/fashion/vintage-stylish/motorcycle-jackets.html?p=1

Vanson is the best jacket maker currently in the business and I personally find Schott to have a slight edge over Aero so there you have it...

 

[newtojackets]

From everything I’ve seen on this forum, if I were to buy my forever jacket, it would definitely be field leathers

 

[Aloysius]

From everything I’ve seen on this forum, if I were to buy my forever jacket, it would definitely be field leathers

I really like Greg Field but I would sincerely recommend that you tune out the guys telling you to go for him or other much more expensive makers.

I would go so far as to say makes like Schott and Vanson are better for most people (not just “good for the price”) than the 2000+ stuff that guy is going on about. Not sure why he’s on a crusade about it.

 

[Marc mndt]

From everything I’ve seen on this forum, if I were to buy my forever jacket, it would definitely be field leathers

If you get the fit right then yes why not Field Leathers.

But getting the fit right is not a given with FL. They're still tweaking their stock patterns and they don't have a lot of experience customizing their patterns to fit the individual wearer. They're only in business since 2020.

I'm an experienced buyer, handled hundreds of jackets from almost every maker you could think of, both vintage and repro, otr and custom. Still, I felt like it would be a hit or miss when I specd my latest FL. The mock-up jacket was not a good fit at all.

I'm not saying one shouldn't buy a FL as a first time buyer. Their jackets are amazing value. But if you don't know exactly how you want a jacket to fit and what measurements that fit dictates, it's safer to go for either a maker that offers OTR sizing and great patterns (think of Schott, Vanson, Lewis Leathers) or a custom maker with a lot of experience in doing custom patterns (think of Johnson Leathers, Thedi Leathers, Lewis leathers).

 

[Monitor]

I would go so far as to say makes like Schott and Vanson are better for most people (not just “good for the price”) than the 2000+ stuff that guy is going on about. Not sure why he’s on a crusade about it.

Signed but I won't even go there.

*Schott exist (& have existed for over a century)
"Schott sucks! They aren't 100% fully be-spoke and the leather they use is bad!"

*Schott updates their patterns that now fit perfectly OTR while introducing CXL and Shinki jackets
"How dare they charge so much money for jackets that are literally made with the same material my favorite exclusive, overpriced brand that I've paid three times as much for, is using!"

*Every other maker doubles the price
"All is fine."

*Schott keeps adding brand new styles & leather options every year, further updates all of their flagship models while raising the prices by only 20% at most, still keeping the Perfecto as the best and the most affordable option out there, all the while collaborating with a highest-fashion brand names & selling out in Japan faster than it takes for the Rakuten page to load
"Outrageous!!! At this price range, I would rather save up an additional two thousand dollars and buy a shitty direct OTR rip-off by Fine Creek!"

 

[The Big Kahuna]

Late to the piece and missed all the fun ?

To the OP , I have both Aero and Simmons Bilt jackets. I like both.

BUT the Aero Highwayman in steerhide , made in the blue label by trainee/apprentice for stock , smells lovely but fits "loose" as is the style of that jacket from Aero. Piddly/fiddly size 5 small Talon brass zipper. Normal apparently.
Bought by me "young/used" from the 'net , indeed like new at the time.

My Simmons Bilt Nebraska in black goat fits much better , again an "off the rack" jacket NOT custom made for me.
Bigger RIRI M8 nickel zipper. Bought brand new by me from an authorised Simmons Bilt stockist/retailer.

So both good choices. I have had no direct personal dealings with Aero , had no need to.

All my email/website contacts with Simmons Bilt have been very helpful and cordial

 

[Chilliwack]

Height: 5'7.5"
Chest: 49" relaxed, 50" expanded.
Stomach: 53" (Ughhhh...)
Waist: 49"
Sleeve: 24.5"
Desired jacket length: 27"

Ok, may feel like a whack on the chin but it's anything but!

Where you're intended weight loss comes from is something you can't decide. When it comes to fat loss your body decides which bit goes first, not you.

I reckon you'd be better off getting to your desired weight/shape first and only then have a serious look at jackets and what style would suit your 'new' shape keeping in mind that shape may change more than you were expecting.

Good luck with it all, you'll get there.

Oh don't worry, I'm not so delusional as to think I'll lose pounds from one specific area first. But the more I lose, the more likely the "gross" parts will shrink, right?

But yeah. WOuld be nice to have a sexy jacket to wear in the meantime, though. Hopefully the shape I end up in will be less... perfectly cylindrical.

 

[Chilliwack]

This is actually a standard back length for what shopping at a mall would get you, which is why so many people believe it's how their custom jackets should fit (something TB figured would be lucrative to play-along with) but it's not what you should want if you're not 2 meters tall, especially not from an asymmetrical zipper motorcycle leather jacket. . .

Listen, piece of advice; If you're dead set on a biker jacket, as much as I'd love to recommend Aero & seeing how your measurements seem to be perfectly OTR-compatible, I definitely believe you should look into either Schott or Vanson. Schott ought to be in the same price range in Canada I believe Bison Trading sells jackets by both makers...
https://www.bisontrading.ca/fashion/vintage-stylish/motorcycle-jackets.html?p=1

Vanson is the best jacket maker currently in the business and I personally find Schott to have a slight edge over Aero so there you have it...

Hmmm.... I will consider your input seriously. Schott WAS my first choice when I started my research into all this. But then I fell down a rabbit hole of "This one is even BETTERER looking!"

I just don't want a "full biker" jacket with tons of hardware and a belt.

I actually rather like this one, except for the massive D-pocket.

(Hehehehe.... Massive D...)

 

[Marc mndt]

Schott WAS my first choice when I started my research into all this.

I just don't want a "full biker" jacket with tons of hardware and a belt.

What about this Schott? It's a great looking biker inspired jacket without tons of hardware. Available in otr sizing, which means if it doesn't fit like you want it to fit you can return it.

 

[TartuWolf]

Welcome to the forum!

Very useful thread for me as well.
Funny that we are in such a similar situation:
- looking for a "forever jacket" / first proper jacket
- can't find anything decent locally
- looking mainly at Aero and SB
- being particularly interested in the Hooch Hauler and Pacific/Oakland/Detroit.

I'm also in communication with both companies at the same time, ordered leather samples from both too.
I would prefer to order from Aero in general, but will see how it turns out.
Currently seems like SB is more flexible with adjusting the jacket fit / measurements and letting you choose a heftier / more reliable / more modern zipper. Even altering / combining patterns!

If I were in Canada I would definitely go through the Thurston bros route with the fit jacket if possible.

I also think it's possible to find a used jacket for a great price, but depending on the size / measurements you want that might be a very long shot or a very long search.
For example I'm very slim and need a very small sized jacket. Haven't seen many of those being available at all.

I was also considering Thedi, but ruled them out pretty quickly - just not a fan of how the jackets look from all the photos I've seen. And I've seen a lot

I also considered Bill Kelso, but the attitude expressed on the website really put me off and they don't really have models that I would REALLY like.

In terms of "high end" jackets I'm also mostly avoiding all of those that Kenan mentioned because they seem rather overpriced for luxury reasons rather than durability-quality related reasons. And the "Japanese made" hype.

I'd also recommend looking into Vanson like Monitor said. That is on top of my list behind Aero and SB, but I don't think I could find a model that would fit my body.

Personally I would avoid Schott.

Damn, a lot of great comments and tips from the other forum members, I'm glad I joined this lounge!

 

[Chilliwack]

What about this Schott? It's a great looking biker inspired jacket without tons of hardware. Available in otr sizing, which means if it doesn't fit like you want it to fit you can return it.

View attachment 474483

... Huh. That actually is quite nice. I'd prefer it with the yoke (See, I'm learning terminology!), but that really is a pleasant, subtle look. I'll add that to my list of jackets to consider.

 

[Chilliwack]

Welcome to the forum!

Very useful thread for me as well.
Funny that we are in such a similar situation:
- looking for a "forever jacket" / first proper jacket
- can't find anything decent locally
- looking mainly at Aero and SB
- being particularly interested in the Hooch Hauler and Pacific/Oakland/Detroit.

I'm also in communication with both companies at the same time, ordered leather samples from both too.
I would prefer to order from Aero in general, but will see how it turns out.
Currently seems like SB is more flexible with adjusting the jacket fit / measurements and letting you choose a heftier / more reliable / more modern zipper. Even altering / combining patterns!

If I were in Canada I would definitely go through the Thurston bros route with the fit jacket if possible.

I also think it's possible to find a used jacket for a great price, but depending on the size / measurements you want that might be a very long shot or a very long search.
For example I'm very slim and need a very small sized jacket. Haven't seen many of those being available at all.

I was also considering Thedi, but ruled them out pretty quickly - just not a fan of how the jackets look from all the photos I've seen. And I've seen a lot

I also considered Bill Kelso, but the attitude expressed on the website really put me off and they don't really have models that I would REALLY like.

In terms of "high end" jackets I'm also mostly avoiding all of those that Kenan mentioned because they seem rather overpriced for luxury reasons rather than durability-quality related reasons. And the "Japanese made" hype.

I'd also recommend looking into Vanson like Monitor said. That is on top of my list behind Aero and SB, but I don't think I could find a model that would fit my body.

Personally I would avoid Schott.

Damn, a lot of great comments and tips from the other forum members, I'm glad I joined this lounge!

Yeah but unlike you, I'm a fatty trying to lose weight. ;v;

But yeah. Hello, fellow leather noob!

I think it might be best to go through Bison trading, as a Canadian. Lately I've been getting seriously screwed by import fees whenever I order anything from the US. God help you if you have to get it shipped via FedEx or DHL. They're basically the "Thurston Bros" of Canada, it seems.

Yeah, I kinda agree with you about the Thedi stuff. They LOOK like great jackets, but I think we might just be a bit thrown off by that white-haired old man in all the pictures. No offense to him, he looks damn good for his age. But people under 60 might not look at those photos and think "I want to look like that."

Bill Kelso though... I might not be seeing what you're seeing, but it does seem a bit "soldier-centered" based on the visuals.

I'll definitely look into Vanson as well!

Though just out of curiosity, why are you avoiding Schott? From what I hear they're a decent enough brand, just wondering if you've had any experience with them, or heard anything.

 

[TartuWolf]

Try the Bison trading route if they also offer fit jackets and general help with ordering from Aero.

As I would be ordering from Scotland directly to Estonia I am also preparing to get heavily screwed by VAT and customs fees. Even considering going there to pick the jacket up in person, might turn out cheaper!

I'm not so much put of by the owner wearing the photos. Like you said, he looks badass for his age. Mostly because of the leather and style/patterns of the models. His leather has the famous "washed" treatment which makes them look kind of crumbled to me, which is definitely not what I'm after. Very pricy too.

Read the FAQ on the Bill Kelso page And yeah it's very military oriented, even though they do have their civilian reproductions.

Regarding Schott.. It's a huge enterprise. Massive production quantities. They produce everything from crappy mall jackets to pieces that cost over 1500+. The used marked is flooded with crazy numbers of Schott jackets all the time. I hang out in "Vinted" a lot and see so many Schott jackets coming in all sizes all the time that it's unbelievable. And 95% of the time they are just super generic biker jackets. Not even gonna mention all the non-leather crap they produce. I could talk about it a lot more, but you get the point. I really don't want to spend my money on that kind of maker. Manufacturers like Aero and SB are on a completely different scale, business model, quality, etc.. Would much rather deal with them than ever have to have any communication with Schott.

 

[Marc mndt]

I kinda agree with you about the Thedi stuff. They LOOK like great jackets, but I think we might just be a bit thrown off by that white-haired old man in all the pictures. No offense to him, he looks damn good for his age. But people under 60 might not look at those photos and think "I want to look like that."

That white haired old man is the leather jacket master himself, Theodoros. He turned 65 last week. I'd be happy if I look half as cool as he does when I reach that age. The man has charisma!

 

[Harris HTM]

Regarding Schott.. It's a huge enterprise. Massive production quantities

crappy mall jackets

super generic biker jackets

non-leather crap they produce

than ever have to have any communication with Schott.

Maybe it'd be wise to check the history of Schott and the difference between Schott and the outsourced European "Schott"?
Since you're new in this hobby why not learn this the way we all did: by being open-minded, keeping our eyes and ears open and avoiding biased opinions and prejudice?

 

[Chilliwack]

Try the Bison trading route if they also offer fit jackets and general help with ordering from Aero.

As I would be ordering from Scotland directly to Estonia I am also preparing to get heavily screwed by VAT and customs fees. Even considering going there to pick the jacket up in person, might turn out cheaper!

I'm not so much put of by the owner wearing the photos. Like you said, he looks badass for his age. Mostly because of the leather and style/patterns of the models. His leather has the famous "washed" treatment which makes them look kind of crumbled to me, which is definitely not what I'm after. Very pricy too.

Read the FAQ on the Bill Kelso page And yeah it's very military oriented, even though they do have their civilian reproductions.

Regarding Schott.. It's a huge enterprise. Massive production quantities. They produce everything from crappy mall jackets to pieces that cost over 1500+. The used marked is flooded with crazy numbers of Schott jackets all the time. I hang out in "Vinted" a lot and see so many Schott jackets coming in all sizes all the time that it's unbelievable. And 95% of the time they are just super generic biker jackets. Not even gonna mention all the non-leather crap they produce. I could talk about it a lot more, but you get the point. I really don't want to spend my money on that kind of maker. Manufacturers like Aero and SB are on a completely different scale, business model, quality, etc.. Would much rather deal with them than ever have to have any communication with Schott.

Hmmm....... Yeah that all makes sense, I can definitely understand where you're coming from in regards to Schott.
Still, I guess that means there would be LOTS more choice in the second-hand market, if you just don't want to support them!

And yeah I'm not a fan of "crumpled" looking leather either. But maybe it looks better in person than it does in photos?

 

[Chilliwack]

That white haired old man is the leather jacket master himself, Theodoros. He turned 65 last week. I'd be happy if I look half as cool as he does when I reach that age. The man has charisma!

View attachment 474492

Oh yeah, totally. He looks great! I wasn't disparaging him in any way.
I just don't really see "me" when I look at him in those photos, you know?

 

[Marc mndt]

The used marked is flooded with crazy numbers of Schott jackets all the time. I hang out in "Vinted" a lot and see so many Schott jackets coming in all sizes all the time that it's unbelievable. And 95% of the time they are just super generic biker jackets. Not even gonna mention all the non-leather crap they produce.

Those jackets are really crappy, they're made under license for the European market. Indeed best to steer away from those.

When buying Schott look for the 'made in USA' tag

 

[Chilliwack]

Those jackets are really crappy, they're made under license for the European market. Indeed best to steer away from those.

When buying Schott look for the 'made in USA' tag

That's a hot tip. I'm writing that down.