First Aero, First Post, BIG Dilemma

[Popa_B.A.D.]

Then CXL!
There will be opportunities for other hides on other builds.

That's what I like to hear (GF may disagree!)

 

[Monitor]

I may well be wrong because I have not seen it in the flesh, but the Jerky seems to me quite "opaque" if that makes sense? Grainy, and in all the photos I have seen almost dull...the one thing that definitely does it for me is oily/marbly, almost shiny, that deep butterscotch intensity with lots of variations.
again I may be completely off piste and Jerky can be all of that, but that is the impression I have got, I will definitely ask for samples.
Shinki I have not seen, I will research it...much appreciated input

The way you've described the leather you like could pretty much completely apply to the Jerky HH jacket that I got - but - they do come in batches so it's best to see the samples but I definitely wouldn't give up on it right away. Give it a chance.

 

[Kuro]

I do not like CXL. The color is a paint. It is rough and ready. Ready to break you before it does! (hide weight influences this greatly)

I very much like Vicenza from Aero. Dyed through color. Good motion without all the break in effort.

Don't get hung up too much on grain versus smooth versus such and such. A good quality leather comes in many forms and the quality is more important than the look. My take on the leathers I have owned is this.

1. The style of jacket dictates your level of commitment to break in.
2. Your compromise is what leather meets your commitment to break in.

Some jacket styles wear fairly easy without too much effort. Appropriately sized jackets with action backs and large armholes or footballs under the arms are not too terrible to wear no matter the weight and how much the leather fights you.

ANY jacket with high arm holes and/or a trim profile, will be hell to wear if the leather fights you. If you like a fitted style, best to go with a more forgiving weight and type of leather. Vicenza for example, there are others too.

YMMV, my level of commitment versus enjoyment is different than others, and we all have different levels of tolerance. However I think the above two points stand on their own.

 

[Mich486]

CXL is gorgeous to look at but personally the lack of comfort never quite went away so I ended up not wearing the jackets and well... sell them on. I don’t think CXL was created with the idea of making jackets out of it and I think it shows when you wear it.

Vicenza vs Jerky I think it’s a though call. Jerky is pretty nice, I would not call it dull at all although has got a bit of sponginess that I’m not a massive fan of. The latest batches will fade to a lighter brown on the stress areas which is pretty cool. Vicenza can look dull out of the box but it creases up nicely and imho ages very well.

 

[handymike]

This was my CXL Aero after 2 Winters of wear and a soak in a hot tub.

this batch had a thinner topcoat, and the brown shows through with wear- the best.
I currently have another jacket PHWYMN in the same batch. Not as much wear, and no soak yet.

 

[MrProper]

cxl is cool and heavy. but more comfortable and pleasant to wear is Shinki or vicenza. cxl is also very cold due to the amount of wax. but everyone should have had a cxl

 

[Popa_B.A.D.]

Thanks everyone for the very valuable input.
Much food for thoughts. Samples will be ordered
I will make sure to post some photos of whatever it is that will eventually land on my shoulders....

 

[Guppy]

The idea that you have to go cxl for your first Aero is unfounded. They provide options for a reason. You should get what appeals to you. Color is easier to decide, the other characteristics are harder to know, even if you have a small sample swatch it's not easier to envision how it works as a full garment. CXL is a great leather, but Badalassi is outstanding as well. It's tough to go wrong, especially if you're likely to not stop with your first.

 

[sweetfights]

The way you've described the leather you like could pretty much completely apply to the Jerky HH jacket that I got - but - they do come in batches so it's best to see the samples but I definitely wouldn't give up on it right away. Give it a chance.

The jerky is very nice and I agree with Monitor- Get a sample of the actual batch being used for your jacket if possible. Makes a big difference. Whatever leather you choose- sample the actual batch.

 

[Sloan1874]

CXL only becomes heavy when you start looking at the longer jackets, a Barnstormer for instance. As a Half Belt or Highwayman, it's fine. Break-in is three or four months of consistent wear, it'll stop standing up by itself after a while. If I was you, I'd go with brown FQHH, it'll age beautifully and is by far the most flexible colour. I've got eight Aeros, and they all get loads of wear, but my got to is the brown Long Half-Belt that I bought nine years ago. But given the general experience on this forum, your first is unlikely to be your last, so I'd just relax about your choice, it'll turn out well no matter what you go with.

 

[nattevagten]

CXL only becomes heavy when you start looking at the longer jackets, a Barnstormer for instance. As a Half Belt or Highwayman, it's fine. Break-in is three or four months of consistent wear, it'll stop standing up by itself after a while. If I was you, I'd go with brown FQHH, it'll age beautifully and is by far the most flexible colour. I've got eight Aeros, and they all get loads of wear, but my got to is the brown Long Half-Belt that I bought nine years ago. But given the general experience on this forum, your first is unlikely to be your last, so I'd just relax about your choice, it'll turn out well no matter what you go with.

+1 Agreed. I have a half belt in Cordovan CXL steerhide and the jacket isn't actually that heavy at all. Of course, the leather is thick, but that does not make the jacket uncomfortable in the least. If I wanted a lighter jacket, I'd probably go for goathide instead of jerky.

 

[Sloan1874]

The trick is to get the right fit. If you find yourself swamped by your jacket then it will feel heavy and unwieldy. It doesn't have to be 't-shirt fit', though some people like that, but it should sit squarely across the shoulders and follow the shape of your torso reasonably closely. If it fits like a leather bell tent that's sliding off your shoulders, you're going to feel like you're carrying the horse or steer that donated it's hide to you.

 

[breezer]

step 1: obsess over the detail
step 2: accept that the jacket you order will not live up to your expectations
step 3: offer up the jacket for sale here
step 4: start again
step 5: repeat steps 1-3

welcome to the forum!

 

[sweetfights]

TRUE ^

 

[jonbuilder]

Aero currently have a limited trial run of black badalassi at present that you might want to check out - I think that would be perfect for this style....

This is my suggestion full disclosure I have never handled babalassi knowing what I know good selection for a first and or only jacket

 

[dudewuttheheck]

If you wear boots, I would choose whichever color matches your boots/footwear the best. Another way to put it: Choose whichever color is most versatile for you and you will get the most wear out of.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

If you wear boots, I would choose whichever color matches your boots/footwear the best. Another way to put it: Choose whichever color is most versatile for you and you will get the most wear out of.

 

[nickv]

Dedication is not an issue, traditionally I have always preferred black, in fact, that was never even a question, I was never too keen on the brown leather and never owned much of anything in brown except maybe for my Oro Tan Red Wings

......this has changed somehow in recent years and now suddenly I find myself staring at those brown/amber/tan marbly shades and I just drool...then a photo of a well seasoned black CXL comes up and I 'm back to square one....

That's why I am contemplating a second order in black...but it is pure financial madness

Yes mate, i agree with your sentiments. I started like you, lurking around here a few yrs ago ,55 yrs of age just looking for that "one" jacket to see out my lifetime , now i have 4 and am eyeing out my 5th. Good luck with that.

 

[MrProper]

Yes mate, i agree with your sentiments. I started like you, lurking around here a few yrs ago ,55 yrs of age just looking for that "one" jacket to see out my lifetime , now i have 4 and am eyeing out my 5th. Good luck with that.

Over 50 wearing leather jackets
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/over-50-wearing-leather-jackets.101020/

 

[TheDonEffect]

If you want cxl, get cxl. Short if shinki, nothing will live up to the hype per se. I love looking at my cxl jacket, there's just so much character to it and just feels different. And the smell, it just smells right.

But it is not the most comfortable. It will never drape or hug you like a lambskin jacket. It's unwieldy, requires patience and break in. I'm glad I got mine, it'll probably be my last. There's no instant or delayed gratification, just the hope that one day in the far future you'll be wearing it and realize oh hey it's comfortable now.

I'm the 1930s when these were work wear, truly blue collar bring your lunch pale work, you'd break it in and couldn't afford to wear another one until this one wore out. People these days aren't cartoon characters wearing the same thing every day for years.

If I ever get another jacket, it won't be cxl, it'll be a more "off the rack" type of leather just because I want something I can comfortably wear that'll compete for wear time against my hoodies.