ANJ4 jacket - Aero vs LW

[NamoAmituofo]

I wonder if some of you have owned both LW and Aero ANJ4 - and if so what are your comments on build quality, thickness, weight and wearability?

Not asking about warmth as I’m sure either would be more than warm enough!

I hesitated a long time about a sheepskin jacket but in the end decided it’s not really suitable for UK mild winter - a HH jacket one size larger with a thick merino or alpaca cable weave jumper with rolled neck has been my perfect winter solution. If it gets really cold (kind of like 5 days per year in London at -10 or so), I’ll get my Canada Goose snow mantra on and within 15mins I’d be sweating!

Something about the ANJ4 mode I really like is the neatly tucked in sheepskin and the HH or goat reinforcements.

If someone can post pics side by side that’s be most appreciated!

 

[AeroFan_07]

While I've never owned anything like this, I think you will find a lot of good info in this thread...
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/pre-war-irvin-or-an-j-4-which-one-to-choose.108917/

The Lost Worlds would have a preferred pattern, and a price to match that as well. I have owned three LW jackets, one Easy Ryder and 2-J23's. They were all exactly as described or better than his website would suggest. I would see no difference for the ANJ-4 he offers. Do it once, do it right and never look back.

https://lostworldsinc.com/ANJ-4_Sheepskin_Leather_Flight_Jacket.htm

 

[MrProper]

I’ll get my Canada Goose snow mantra on and within 15mins I’d be sweating!

That's the great thing about shearling. It is warm without immediately becoming too hot. It is a pleasant, dry warmth.
I wear my shearlings from 10C-8C downwards. I haven't missed any down for my environment since then.

 

[photo2u]

Lost Worlds is vastly superior to the Aero. They are not even close to each other. Aero is light and feels strange to me. The LW is a beast of a jacket, with a nice "shaggy" feel to the mouton. But in how it appears, as well as its texture, that makes the LW a superior jacket to the aero and most other jackets out there. I also own an RMC NZ that is excellent and rivals the LW in my book. I would take an Eastman over an Aero anytime of the Antarctica day. LOL. Yes, I have owned the mentioned jackets.

 

[NamoAmituofo]

Lost Worlds is vastly superior to the Aero. They are not even close to each other. Aero is light and feels strange to me. The LW is a beast of a jacket, with a nice "shaggy" feel to the mouton. But in how it appears as well as its texture. That makes the LW a superior jacket to the aero and most other jackets out there. I also own an RMC NZ that is excellent and rivals the LW in my book. I would take an Eastman over an Aero anytime of the Antarctica day. LOL. Yes, I have owned the mentioned jackets.

thank you very much for the insight!!

now I just need to sit on my hands till a LW or Eastman ANJ4 of my size appears on Classified or eBay!

 

[NamoAmituofo]

Found this thread which seems to have contradicting views and the aero one got some good praises -https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/anj4-the-dream-lost-worlds-vs-eastman.102223/

More importantly - ANJ4 is heavier/warmer than Irvin?!

Years ago I bought an authentic (if that's the correct description) Irvin and put it on to watch New Year Eve fireworks in London when temp was particularly warm at 5 degrees. It was soooo restrictive and by the time I got into underground I got so warm in it but couldnt take it off as the train was packed - so a lot of sweat and a few days later I sold it.

 

[Al 916]

That's the great thing about shearling. It is warm without immediately becoming too hot. It is a pleasant, dry warmth.
I wear my shearlings from 10C-8C downwards. I haven't missed any down for my environment since then.

No underground in the Shires, and almost possible to doze off in the winter sunshine (I am a shearling convert)

 

[Bfd70]

The lost worlds is the closest a jacket can come to art. It’s also the equivalent of owning a 150# mastiff in a 700sq’ 5 story walk up in midtown manhattan. You might love it but it makes your life harder than it needs to be. The Aero is a marshmallow by comparison. Nice enough and very pliable but won’t survive the apocalypse like the LW. This has been hased over here and VLJ many times. The consensus is always to get a B6 or D1 with room to layer.

 

[Aloysius]

If you want a really bulletproof over-the-top shearling, you might want to consider a B-2. As Chapman explained to me, making one requires that you make a horsehide jacket as the shell, and a shearling jacket to stitch into it.

 

[photo2u]

thank you very much for the insight!!

now I just need to sit on my hands till a LW or Eastman ANJ4 of my size appears on Classified or eBay!

I do hope you find one. LW, ANJ4 are hard to find. In my view, the ANJ4 is more labor-intensive than similar jackets. Just be patient, they do show up.

 

[Peter Mackin]

Just my personal opinion here,i got rid of my eastman b3 and anj4 here in Scotland asThey just weren't practical. Although it occasionally gets cold enough to wear them,for short periods, it's too wet and rainy here, they are useless in those conditions. When it's dry and cold they are great, as long as your not walking any distance. The most use i got was wearing them when driving the car with the top down.i really tried with them but they just didn't work in the winter conditions here in Scotland, and I'm in one of the coldest area's of the country.i also ditched the Buzz rickson B2,it copes better with rain,isn't as warm as the other 2 jackets, and your arse gets freezing, and soaked if it's raining

 

[Bfd70]

Lw anj is impossible to drive in. It’s too stiff and so warm that you need to drive with the windows down. That’s fine if you’re solo but if anyone else is in the car not so much. Also, if you try to hold the phone to your ear you need to be a champion arm wrestler. Great though if you’re taking a Huskie for a walk when it’s 10 f

 

[Hide'n'seek]

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/aero-anj4.80939/post-1902720

 

[MrProper]

Lw anj is impossible to drive in. It’s too stiff and so warm that you need to drive with the windows down. That’s fine if you’re solo but if anyone else is in the car not so much. Also, if you try to hold the phone to your ear you need to be a champion arm wrestler. Great though if you’re taking a Huskie for a walk when it’s 10 f

There is certainly a reason why the shearlings for working are softer and lighter
Not everyone needs armour lol

I can move very well in my D1, B6 and Irvin.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Here's a Lost Worlds B3; Size ~44 for $1300 starting bid...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/116403627907?

 

[NamoAmituofo]

Just my personal opinion here,i got rid of my eastman b3 and anj4 here in Scotland asThey just weren't practical. Although it occasionally gets cold enough to wear them,for short periods, it's too wet and rainy here, they are useless in those conditions. When it's dry and cold they are great, as long as your not walking any distance. The most use i got was wearing them when driving the car with the top down.i really tried with them but they just didn't work in the winter conditions here in Scotland, and I'm in one of the coldest area's of the country.i also ditched the Buzz rickson B2,it copes better with rain,isn't as warm as the other 2 jackets, and your arse gets freezing, and soaked if it's raining

Well if it doesn’t for you in Scotland what chances do I have in London!!

 

[Peter Mackin]

Well if it doesn’t for you in Scotland what chances do I have in London!!

London is like the tropics compared to up here,,

 

[NamoAmituofo]

@Peter Mackin you look magnificent in that jacket sir!

 

[NamoAmituofo]

Today I wore a high loft fleece inside a Rab alpine down jacket to work, with hat on etc, and still felt a bit cold. Yes when I was on the train I felt like inside an oven and had to take off the down jacket, but once off the train and the cold wind blew, I felt I needed something heavier over the chest.

Hence renewed interest in a shearling jacket.

I personally like the near look of ANJ4 as don’t need to worry about getting the shearing dirty over cuff/hem as in B3. Think M445 is also an option? Is M445 significantly lighter weight VS ANJ4?

And who makes B2 @Aloysius ? I couldn’t find much info online

 

[NamoAmituofo]

On eBay, there’s an Eastman ANJ4 44 for £995 - just way too big for me. I actually plan to get 38 for my 40 chest, as can’t think of layering anything under that shearling - a thin long sleeve hemp top would be my preference to regulate temp and sweat