Eastman A2 versus Gibson Barnes A2

[Brettafett]

I also think Steve McColgan's A-2s are underrated and should be considered in this discussion. Certainly not compared to GW, but to G&B.
The jacket I had was comfortable, but still closely resembled that WW2 look and feel. A bigger bloke should be able to wear one of these without feeling constricted. The 'workmanship' was as good as anything I have had, GW, ELC, Aero etc... The steerhide was very nice, lots of grain and creasing. Clearly not an accurate stitch for stitch repro by any means, but one could customize as necessary (lengths etc) and at a fairly decent price.
That said, Aerial Star is not bad either in this price range on the Thor scale

 

[TXFlyGuy]

Here is what a little over $200 will buy...and this jacket is the equal of my G&B in terms of construction quality. The leather is a little heavier, and the jacket has more inside pockets, plus two pen slots. It has to be rated an overall "Best Buy". Leather Coats Etc. Made in the USA. This is my "patch" jacket.



On sale for $214, free shipping, very liberal return and exchange policy. I bought two, a 38R and 40R. Kept the 38.

Fly Safe.

 

[kojax]

nice jacket for the money thanks for showing us

 

[Seb Lucas]

TX it looks like you've spent a small fortune on cheap flight jackets - you might have bought an Eastman or Goodwear with that money.

 

[galvestonokie]

Dear friends:

i smiled several times reading these. i have owned a jacket from most of the vendors mentioned here. i think that, for me at least, possibly the most critical thing is how the jacket looks on my 60+ body, and how it feels. i now own a number of vintage G-1s and WEP jackets. i have owned many of the repro makers. authenticity, not such a big deal for me, but it's nice if you have a jacket that looks good on you and feels good.
I smiled because, like many jacket forum posts, it's like listening to guys order coffee at Starbucks or eggs in a restaurant. we all have different budgets, wants, pecurliarities, and wives. let's have some fun with this.

bob

 

[nick123]

Dear friends:

i smiled several times reading these. i have owned a jacket from most of the vendors mentioned here. i think that, for me at least, possibly the most critical thing is how the jacket looks on my 60+ body, and how it feels. i now own a number of vintage G-1s and WEP jackets. i have owned many of the repro makers. authenticity, not such a big deal for me, but it's nice if you have a jacket that looks good on you and feels good.
I smiled because, like many jacket forum posts, it's like listening to guys order coffee at Starbucks or eggs in a restaurant. we all have different budgets, wants, pecurliarities, and wives. let's have some fun with this.

bob

Bob, is your username a Ventures reference??

PS, I just got back my Aerial Star A-2 with handwarmer pockets today. Like someone mentioned, that's another good mid range jacket.

 

[galvestonokie]

Nick: not a Ventures reference. oklahoma one of the places i lived growing up and chose it. at the time, i was living in galveston county, tex. an attempt at creativity. bob

 

[Marv]

There are many great points in this thread but "buy the best you can afford" and "what looks and feels good on your body shape" are probably the most true.

I have GW, ELC, BK jackets in my stable plus a Cooper and a couple of originals but my recent purchase was an issue PHAAR brand name apparel (supplier to USN) G1, whilst the workmanship is excellent, the quality of materials used are sufficient to meet Gov contract specs.

The jacket is one size larger that my usual size but fits great in the shoulders and body but is about an inch too long on the sleeves due to the size increase.

The G1 cost me $175 and is in NOS condition to which the jacket has become my daily wearer but a comfortable fit even though there are a few things that would bother me if the jacket was from a high end manufacturer do not with this jacket.

What I'm trying to say is, if you personally feel your jacket fits and looks great then would have a winner.

 

[AdeeC]

From my POV, after owning high quality jackets from Aero, and GW, I cannot see myself going back to a cheaper brand. There are many good cheaper jackets around and I thought my Schott's and Avirex were the bees knees when I owned them but now owning Aero's, GW and Norshor products I could never go back there. Just a natural progression. I would buy an Eastman, BK or Lost Worlds if I felt like trying another brand in the future. Once exposed to high quality it becomes the norm. But it took a long time before I could reach the top for affordability.

 

[thor]

Bob, is your username a Ventures reference??

PS, I just got back my Aerial Star A-2 with handwarmer pockets today. Like someone mentioned, that's another good mid range jacket.

Would love to see pics of the Aerial Star; I am particularly interested in the positioning of the hand-warmer pockets. The AS website says the pockets are "positioned up on the sides". Curious how that looks and feels.

 

[nick123]

Would love to see pics of the Aerial Star; I am particularly interested in the positioning of the hand-warmer pockets. The AS website says the pockets are "positioned up on the sides". Curious how that looks and feels.

I did a review a while back of it, but I'll do a revised one. Funny what a year does. I was so convinced it was too short when I initially received it, but although it is still a short jacket, it feels right. Also, my self photography has significantly improved. So sure I'll try to put a new one up. I'm not sure what they mean about the positioning of the pockets.

 

[TXFlyGuy]

TX it looks like you've spent a small fortune on cheap flight jackets - you might have bought an Eastman or Goodwear with that money.

Why do I have so many jackets? Because I can. My wife thinks it is a disease! None of these are cheap, but did buy some of them on sale at a large discount off the regular price. Doing so made them highly affordable, and a good value.

To the average guy on the street, $325 to $550 would not be considered inexpensive for an item that will only be worn a few times a year.

Pilots are odd...they'll spend $200,000 or more on an airplane, yet recoil at spending $1,000 (+) on an item of clothing.

For those of you with unlimited wardrobe budgets, go for it. My money is spent on those things that will take me high and fast...very fast!

Fly Safe!

 

[Fanch]

Why do I have so many jackets? Because I can. My wife thinks it is a disease! None of these are cheap ...

TXFlyGuy welcome to the club as a full fledged member. I am nuts, you is nuts, we is all nuts. lol The only cure for this psychoneurotic obsession of jacketology is to drop TFL Outerwear Forum from the Favorites Bar and to develop an obsession on another forum, say Timezone or Watchuseek.

 

[TXFlyGuy]

TXFlyGuy welcome to the club as a full fledged member. I am nuts, you is nuts, we is all nuts. lol The only cure for this psychoneurotic obsession of jacketology is to drop TFL Outerwear Forum from the Favorites Bar and to develop an obsession on another forum, say Timezone or Watchuseek.

You got that right, Fanch!

The other forums which help me get thru the day (in more ways than one) are the P-51 Mustang builders forum and the one for aircraft builders.

Jackets and airplanes keep me pretty busy. They go together hand in hand...arm in sleeve?

Fly Safe.

 

[bn1966]

TXFlyGuy welcome to the club as a full fledged member. I am nuts, you is nuts, we is all nuts. lol The only cure for this psychoneurotic obsession of jacketology is to drop TFL Outerwear Forum from the Favorites Bar and to develop an obsession on another forum, say Timezone or Watchuseek.

I've just started on watches

 

[Fanch]

I've just started on watches

Much deeper rabbit hole than this one. :eeek:

 

[nick123]

Here is

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I think thor was talking about the Aerial civi jacket with the higher than normal positioned handwarmer pockets.

 

[thor]

I think thor was talking about the Aerial civi jacket with the higher than normal positioned handwarmer pockets.

Yes HD is exactly right; I am tempted to get the civilian model with the "slash" hand warmer pockets but not sure about the positioning/height of the pocket openings (looks a bit high in their online photos).
@Nick 123 Thanks anyway for re-posting

 

[Fanch]

On this thread regarding comparison Eastman A-2 and G&B A-2 IMO in reality there can be really no comparison at all other than a superficial one, particularly between the G&B A-2 with chrome tanned goatskin, polyester lining & knits, and Eastman's markedly different A-2. The former is a contemporary, current military issue design and the latter is based on WW II contracts. The primary reason I mentioned my G&B Model 43 A-2 is that mine is more or less based on an A-2 from WW II with a really nice veg tanned mahogany (seal brown?) mid-weight horsehide, cotton lining, wool knits, high grade nickel zipper, and I think an inch and a half or so added to accommodate my 6’2” height and long arms.

However, the G&B Model 43 A-2 that I have appears not based on a specific WW II contract, although the spirit of what could have been a “G&B Contract” is present. To be truly accurate, I suppose that nothing should be added or subtracted from a contract pattern for a specific size, including sleeve and/or body length. Hence, at 6'2" I would be unable to wear an Eastman A-2, as detailed on their website. At any rate, A-2 hyper-accuracy is less important to me than some others on TFL, although there are certainly critical aspects of a particular A-2 that I might own that I would not want missing. I would certainly take nothing away from anyone wanting critical accuracy - to each his own.

So, I really think this thread is much ado about nothing, essentially comparing apples and oranges, even between the Eastman A-2 and G&B "historical" A-2, much less G&B's "Air Force" A-2. Perhaps a better arc would be a comparison between contracts of GW, Eastman, Aero, and BK, and which of those might be preferred over another. [huh]