Filson Mackinaw Cruiser

[abone]

I find that the sleeves on older thrifted jackets are short. However, all my grandfathers' sports jackets and Pendletons fit me well, but those were tailored, I believe. If you have the
cash, I would recommend it. The Iron Heart Cruiser, Iron Heart, always had longer sleeves than other brands. I got the Filson in hand before returning it. The Filson was not excellent quality wool, not bad, but also not better than something from L.L.Bean. I would get something used or go with Iron Heart. I went through a used jacket phase, and I have to say, I think I prefer buying a new one—you never know what interesting smells a used jacket will come with; it's the one thing you can’t see in an eBay picture.

What is the Iron Heart cruiser model? I tried searching and didn’t come up with anything that looked like a Mackinaw cruiser.

 

[Eagledog]

Wool Buffalo check hunting jacket $700

 

[WolfofStateSt]

What is the Iron Heart cruiser model? I tried searching and didn’t come up with anything that looked like a Mackinaw cruiser.

They refer to it as a hunting jacket. It's quite expensive for a wool jacket; however, if you’re planning to spend $500 on a Filson, you might as well invest in an Iron Heart instead—it will likely last longer. Of course, if you can find a used jacket that fits well and doesn’t have any odor, that would be the best option. One piece of advice: avoid buying a used jacket from sellers who don’t accept returns.

 

[El Marro]

They refer to it as a hunting jacket. It's quite expensive for a wool jacket; however, if you’re planning to spend $500 on a Filson, you might as well invest in an Iron Heart instead—it will likely last longer. Of course, if you can find a used jacket that fits well and doesn’t have any odor, that would be the best option. One piece of advice: avoid buying a used jacket from sellers who don’t accept returns.

I strongly disagree.
I have a Filson double mackinaw that I purchased in 1992, 10 years before Iron Heart opended their doors, and it is as good as new almost 33 years later.
I love Iron Heart gear, and I own a lot of it, but $775 for wannabe mackinaw with a two way zipper is preposterous.

 

[Eagledog]

Used is the best if you can find sleeves long enough. One of the best qualities of wool is that it doesn't stink. LLBean, Filson, Woolric, and others made tons of them in the 1950's,1960s and 1970's.
All the ice fisherman and hunters had them.
If you're set on a zipper rather than buttons or snaps, you may have to go with ironheart.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

I strongly disagree.
I have a Filson double mackinaw that I purchased in 1992, 10 years before Iron Heart opended their doors, and it is as good as new almost 33 years later.
I love Iron Heart gear, and I own a lot of it, but $775 for wannabe mackinaw with a two way zipper is preposterous.

1992 Filsons are different story than what Filson sells today. I would take a vintage coat over a current one.

 

[El Marro]

1992 Filsons are different story than what Filson sells today. I would take a vintage coat over a current one.

Agreed that the old ones were better, but the new ones are still great. And yes I own two of them as well.

 

[abone]

I don’t want a zipper, I’d prefer buttons. I’ve been doing a deep dive on EBay and I can find dimensions of Woolrich 503’s that work except for the sleeve length. 24” seems to be the longest for 42 and 44’s. Hard to believe arm length was that short 50 - 60 years ago!

 

[Al 916]

I don’t want a zipper, I’d prefer buttons. I’ve been doing a deep dive on EBay and I can find dimensions of Woolrich 503’s that work except for the sleeve length. 24” seems to be the longest for 42 and 44’s. Hard to believe arm length was that short 50 - 60 years ago!

I am a proud (short armed) Rex (that will start looking at Woolwich 503s.......)

Thanks

 

[WolfofStateSt]

I don’t want a zipper, I’d prefer buttons. I’ve been doing a deep dive on EBay and I can find dimensions of Woolrich 503’s that work except for the sleeve length. 24” seems to be the longest for 42 and 44’s. Hard to believe arm length was that short 50 - 60 years ago!

Try old Pendleton. Mine is an old peand it has long arms.

 

[abone]

Thanks. I checked out the Pendletons. As you say some have longer sleeves, some don’t. Nice designs. I really like the design of the Woolrich 503 for my purposes however. Camping, winter hiking with the hound, all around use in British Columbia in the winter. I like lots of pockets.
Do they fit true to size or large? Any advise?
The difference in dimensions between 42 and 44, as per EBay sellers, don’t seem to vary much other than perhaps sleeve length it being a bit longer on a 44. Don’t want to be swimming in one though.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Thanks. I checked out the Pendletons. As you say some have longer sleeves, some don’t. Nice designs. I really like the design of the Woolrich 503 for my purposes however. Camping, winter hiking with the hound, all around use in British Columbia in the winter. I like lots of pockets.
Do they fit true to size or large? Any advise?
The difference in dimensions between 42 and 44, as per EBay sellers, don’t seem to vary much other than perhaps sleeve length it being a bit longer on a 44. Don’t want to be swimming in one though.

I have a Pendleton from my grandpa, so I can’t comment on the size. I tried on a modern Filson before I returned it. Filson’s sizing is not straightforward, and definitely a bit boxer and baggier than other brands. The nice thing about my Pendleton Mackinaw is that it has snaps instead of buttons. Buttons might look fancier but snaps are easier to open and close, especially handed and they are less likely to break than buttons or zippers. My Pendleton has four snap dump pockets, and four handwarmer pockets on the front, the extra two are behind the breast pockets. No internal pockets and a map pocket in the back. I’m not certain but I don’t remember the Filson having any handwarmer pockets, but it did have at least one internal pocket.

 

[abone]

Dropped into the Vancouver BC Filson store today to nail down my size. Wasn’t too serious about buying one but they had the brown, this year only colour, on sale for 40% off. I says to myself, my wife hates a coward, so I now own a Filson Cruiser.
I’m still looking for a Woolrich 503 but everything I look at has 24” sleeves, or the seller doesn’t know how to measure.
I’ll find one eventually.
This Filson is size medium. I am 5’10, 190lbs, 43” chest, longish arms.

 

[El Marro]

Dropped into the Vancouver BC Filson store today to nail down my size. Wasn’t too serious about buying one but they had the brown, this year only colour, on sale for 40% off. I says to myself, my wife hates a coward, so I now own a Filson Cruiser.
I’m still looking for a Woolrich 503 but everything I look at has 24” sleeves, or the seller doesn’t know how to measure.
I’ll find one eventually.
This Filson is size medium. I am 5’10, 190lbs, 43” chest, longish arms.

I like this seasonal color a lot. By the time I caught onto the sale, they were sold out of my size or else I would probably own one too!

 

[abone]

I like this seasonal color a lot. By the time I caught onto the sale, they were sold out of my size or else I would probably own one too!

They had a Large. I know because I tried it on.
Not sure about XL. With the strength of your greenback right now, it would be a screaming deal. $320 or thereabouts?

 

[TLW '90]

as a Canadian, have you looked into vibtage Codet on Ebay?

For other American brands to look into, check out Chippewa woolen mills, Sioux woolen mills, Melton, White stag, Johnson woolen mills ( their current wool is kind of mediocre), Bemidji woolen mills, and drybak.

You may have to try and guesstimate on the age to assess the potential wool quality ( Ie earlier is the safer bet ) and gamble at the best price you can get because theres less info on many of these brands like woolrich Pendleton and Filson, but you just may be able to get an excellent piece at a great price from an overlooked make that possibly sized their stuff better for you.

A number of these companies made general 503 copies, so you just might find what you're looking for.

 

[WolfofStateSt]

Dropped into the Vancouver BC Filson store today to nail down my size. Wasn’t too serious about buying one but they had the brown, this year only colour, on sale for 40% off. I says to myself, my wife hates a coward, so I now own a Filson Cruiser.
I’m still looking for a Woolrich 503 but everything I look at has 24” sleeves, or the seller doesn’t know how to measure.
I’ll find one eventually.
This Filson is size medium. I am 5’10, 190lbs, 43” chest, longish arms.

Jacket looks good

 

[abone]

Thank-you!
No, I hadn’t heard of Vibtage Codet, sounds like it’s an old Quebecois brand. I’ll have a look for the others you mention, some of which I’m aware of.
My sweet spot is 25-26” in sleeve length. If the shoulder is 20” I might get there.