Guppy
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,338
- Location
- Cleveland, OH
I've had my eye on the Freewheelers Switchyard coat for quite a while now, probably over a year. I almost picked one up last year in a Yahoo Japan auction, but someone hit Buy It Now at $1800, and I missed my chance.
Memory is fuzzy, but I think that one was a size 44 in Dead Leaf Brown color, which I don't see near as much as I've seen Rude Black since. I don't know, but I wonder if the first year they offered the jacket, it was done in brown, and subsequently they've only produced in black. It looked like this year the only option was for black.
Since that auction I missed, I'd seen a few come up, but mostly in size 40 or smaller, and mostly for far too much money for my budget. Last month or so ago, I saw this one hit TFL Classifieds, but I passed on it due to, of all things, the chipped button. But when it came up again, I jumped on it.
I wasn't sure whether I'd be better in a 42 or 44 -- I go between both sizes, depending on the maker, the style, and the cut of the jacket. Sometimes I even wear a 40 or 46. But everything I've heard about Japanese clothing is that it tends to be cut smaller, befitting the stature of the average Japanese person. FW publish pretty specific measurements of their jacket in different sizes, and I still couldn't decide, but I thought probably a 44 would be better.
But this one is a 42, and boy does it fit me just about perfectly. I'll try to get some fit pics soon, but for now here's a few detail shots showing the labels, the grain of the Shinki leather.
I don't know how much it might have been worn before it came into my possession, but it doesn't appear to have been much, and it doesn't seem to have needed any break-in. It's super comfortable right out of the box. I note that the weight of the leather isn't terribly heavy, but despite my usual preference for heavy and super-heavy jackets, I really, really, really like this one. I think the main thing is just how perfect the fit is. Partly it's that I've been lusting after it for so long. And partly is that I got it for around 1/2 what they're selling for new. Which is still more than I've spent on any other jacket I've owned.
I still wouldn't mind finding another in Dead Leaf Brown, but it'll be a while before I can think about dropping that kind of cash on something.
Memory is fuzzy, but I think that one was a size 44 in Dead Leaf Brown color, which I don't see near as much as I've seen Rude Black since. I don't know, but I wonder if the first year they offered the jacket, it was done in brown, and subsequently they've only produced in black. It looked like this year the only option was for black.
Since that auction I missed, I'd seen a few come up, but mostly in size 40 or smaller, and mostly for far too much money for my budget. Last month or so ago, I saw this one hit TFL Classifieds, but I passed on it due to, of all things, the chipped button. But when it came up again, I jumped on it.
I wasn't sure whether I'd be better in a 42 or 44 -- I go between both sizes, depending on the maker, the style, and the cut of the jacket. Sometimes I even wear a 40 or 46. But everything I've heard about Japanese clothing is that it tends to be cut smaller, befitting the stature of the average Japanese person. FW publish pretty specific measurements of their jacket in different sizes, and I still couldn't decide, but I thought probably a 44 would be better.
But this one is a 42, and boy does it fit me just about perfectly. I'll try to get some fit pics soon, but for now here's a few detail shots showing the labels, the grain of the Shinki leather.
I don't know how much it might have been worn before it came into my possession, but it doesn't appear to have been much, and it doesn't seem to have needed any break-in. It's super comfortable right out of the box. I note that the weight of the leather isn't terribly heavy, but despite my usual preference for heavy and super-heavy jackets, I really, really, really like this one. I think the main thing is just how perfect the fit is. Partly it's that I've been lusting after it for so long. And partly is that I got it for around 1/2 what they're selling for new. Which is still more than I've spent on any other jacket I've owned.
I still wouldn't mind finding another in Dead Leaf Brown, but it'll be a while before I can think about dropping that kind of cash on something.
Last edited:
it’s a really nice jacket.
