Goatskin

[jon11]

Who supplies the best goatskin in their jackets? Would be interested to hear a few thoughts?

 

[Seb Lucas]

As you must know - these sorts of questions entirely depend on your view of best. Are you looking for a goat jacket? Do you want heavy or light - thick or thin - veg tanned or chrome tanned, vintage look or pristine and your budget is a consideration too.

 

[jon11]

I am after a useable Goatskin jacket in say a 50- 60 style, easy to break in but of substance, as to veg or chrome tanned not bothered but something that can take a bit of Rain. I am not after the worn out look.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Well, Aero, Alexanders, Langlitz, Goodwear all do premium goat skin. What you prefer will depend on personal tatse and budget. My Alexanders goat half-belt is taking ages to break in but the leather is fading and looking worn despite it not softening. It's pretty nice. All leather can take rain. In fact I wash my leathers in the washing machine with soap. No problems.

 

[pak]

I too prefer goat. Primarily due to its lighter overall weight, resistance to scuffing, scratching and retaining a good look. I have 2: 1) a JL N-200 and 2) a Wings Signature A2. Both are very well constructed with fine materials and craftmanship. The N-200 is heavier due to the biswing back and more pockets. For comparision, I've had a Wings Signature A2 in HH which was a very fine piece but too heavy for my liking. I recently received a Hillside USA jean jacket in their lighter cowhide. This jacket is also very well made but is heavier due to Hillside's signature interior pockets, construction style is for riding and a long warranty. As to your original question 'Who has the best goat?' I cannot answer this however most quality manufactures will happily send a sample.

 

[morrison2951]

I like my twenty year old Cooper A-2.

 

[Worf]

Also it depends on your size. Can't get many or any "one skin backs" on goat hide jackets over size 48 or so. After that you'll need a two piece.

Worf

 

[Fanch]

The veg tanned russet goatskin used on the G&B historic Model 43 A-2 is very nice.

 

[jon11]

Thank you for your help, can anyone tell me do Gibson and Barnes re size, run big, small or accurate?

 

[Sloan1874]

Also it depends on your size. Can't get many or any "one skin backs" on goat hide jackets over size 48 or so. After that you'll need a two piece.

Worf

A size-48 goat would be one scary-assed beast, no?

 

[Worf]

A size-48 goat would be one scary-assed beast, no?

Thanks... now I'll have nightmares!!!!

Worf

 

[schitzo]

I'm curious about this topic too, since it has been decided that my next acquisition is defo gonna be sth in goatskin. My thoughts so far, based on personal experiences:

Whenever I see pictures of aero seal goatskin it always looks immense but from what I read on these pages - Jan Solo's Cheyenne being a case in point -the difference weight wise between it and their FQHH is negligible. If so, that would be a big negative in my book since a major part of the appeal for me is the promise of a lighter weight leather. But I've not seen it in the flesh. I did see their russet speedway up close in the showroom and tbh the colour of that one looked totally bland to my eye. Which was not what I expected having seen pics on here (i think of paulaways selkirk) with it looking pretty tasty.

As for AL, I haven't seen their russet in the flesh since they didn't have any when I visited. But I have handled their seal and again, tbh I found the colour underwhelming. On this topic, If Seb Lucas and Paulaway wouldn't mind posting a few pics of their jackets in AL seal and russet goat respectively, that would be hugely appreciated. What i am sure about though is that The AL black goatskin that I saw and handled looked really good, and at this point that is my front runner. I'm thinking probably a halfbelt, but maybe a jean jacket or Simmons Bilt

 

[thor]

Bill Kelso uses some nice goatskin too. Another possible choice.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I'm curious about this topic too, since it has been decided that my next acquisition is defo gonna be sth in goatskin. My thoughts so far, based on personal experiences:

Whenever I see pictures of aero seal goatskin it always looks immense but from what I read on these pages - Jan Solo's Cheyenne being a case in point -the difference weight wise between it and their FQHH is negligible. If so, that would be a big negative in my book since a major part of the appeal for me is the promise of a lighter weight leather. But I've not seen it in the flesh. I did see their russet speedway up close in the showroom and tbh the colour of that one looked totally bland to my eye. Which was not what I expected having seen pics on here (i think of paulaways selkirk) with it looking pretty tasty.

As for AL, I haven't seen their russet in the flesh since they didn't have any when I visited. But I have handled their seal and again, tbh I found the colour underwhelming. On this topic, If Seb Lucas and Paulaway wouldn't mind posting a few pics of their jackets in AL seal and russet goat respectively, that would be hugely appreciated. What i am sure about though is that The AL black goatskin that I saw and handled looked really good, and at this point that is my front runner. I'm thinking probably a halfbelt, but maybe a jean jacket or Simmons Bilt

My Al half-belt goat is much lighter than the Aero half-belt FQHH I had. But this 2.5 goat is very thick and stiff and is not softening up easily, despite it fading nicely in various wear points. In fact my 3oz cowhide by Johnson is much softer. Maybe my experience is unique. All goat I have had before became very soft, very soon. The color is a nice rich brown.

Here's the sleeve end which shows the color and fading.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Here's the jacket as per poor light and bad phone camera. It's a deep brown.

 

[schitzo]

Thanks for those Seb yours looks better than I remembered their seal goat, and I think that kind of wear is desirable. That's not the standard AL HB it's an Arkansas, right?

 

[Seb Lucas]

Yes, an Arkansas, almost forgot.

 

[samo]

My next jacket will be lighter so I have to decide between AL goat or Aero Kangaroo. From the leather samples I got from AL seal, russet and black, the black leather is just superior. It is dyed through - suede side is black to, and it also feels more abrasive resistant. Nevertheless the kangaroo is also very tempting, due to some talk about its properties, but I have to admit that I have not any experiences with it?

 

[Seb Lucas]

My next jacket will be lighter so I have to decide between AL goat or Aero Kangaroo. From the leather samples I got from AL seal, russet and black, the black leather is just superior. It is dyed through - suede side is black to, and it also feels more abrasive resistant. Nevertheless the kangaroo is also very tempting, due to some talk about its properties, but I have to admit that I have not any experiences with it?

I like the look of the wear in the goat and would not like the dye to be right through. Classic era jackets when worn for a while lost their surface dye spray showing a lighter hide underneath. It's part of the golden era jacket look for me. Kangaroo is very dense leather and the jacket I had in it didn't break in after a decade. Stiff and bloody uncomfortable. You'd want to carefully check what the tanning process was like for the roo.en

 

[Bunyip]

Thanks... now I'll have nightmares!!!!

Worf

I believe you can still find a one goat back Worf...