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Indiana Jones we've been waiting for

Doctor Strange

I'll Lock Up
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5,252
Location
Hudson Valley, NY
"Now"? Wested's made these jackets in horsehide for many years. They've been discussed here lots of times, try searching old threads in the Outerwear forum.

I haven't handled them myself - although I do have a 20-year-old Wested lambskin Raiders that's still going strong. (I wear it way more than most of my more expensive jackets.) The general feeling of folks here seems to be that Wested's horse is far from top-grade horsehide. But what do you expect? Wested's $300 jackets aren't claiming that they're competing with the $1000-plus premium jacket makers.

As I've said all along, Wested's jackets are GREAT FOR THE PRICE, especially if you need custom sizing. Just don't expect the horsehide (or other materials, or construction) to be comparable to top-end offerings from Good Wear, Eastman, Aero, etc. I mean, they're a movie costume shop, not a specialist motorcycle jacket or spec military jacket maker.
 

Edward

Bartender
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25,081
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London, UK
@Stormlord , @Doctor Strange puts it very fairly. They're nice for the money. I bought a Raiders in goat some years ago. I wanted an Indy jacket, but I knew I wouldn't get the same level of wear out of it as I would one of my Aeros, so a cheaper option was the thing - Wested being relatively local (though the retail store onsite has, alas, closed in the last couple of years - online purchase only now), it was quick and cheap to order, and suited what I wanted. I went for the goat, as I wanted a leather I could wear in warmer weather: actually, when I bought it I wasn't specifically looking for an Indy at that point in time, but for a cheaper leather I could take travelling and not worry about too much. The lack of knits and lighter leather were a plus in the heat too. It's been worn in Indian and China both in temperatures up to 22 celsius without too much discomfort. The goat wears and drapes not too dissimilarly from the lamb, but just that bit more robust.

Some of Wested's other jackets are really nice too; I've toyed with the idea of one of their Doctor Who / Das Boot peacoats for some time. Others miss the mark a bit - their Captain America doesn't quite work for me (the original on-screen was a customised Aero Bootlegger). Their Indy jackets are particularly nice for the obvious reason! Do note that the Hero range are the very screen-accurate options, but the regular options have been designed to create an Indy jacket that is more practical and better suited to most people who aren't a young Harrison Ford.

Of the Wested hides I've seen, if you want light but robust, and one that will stay 'tidy' looking when well broken in, the goat is a good option. The Novapelle looks great for one that will show more patina. I have half an eye on, eventually, a Raiders in Novapelle and a ToD in the goat. For me, those are the two best variants of the Indy jacket across all the films - though I'm curious to see their Dial of Destiny jacket. They've got this out already as an "exclusive", which does rather make me wonder if they were involved in making the screen-worn jackets for this film.
 

marker2037

Practically Family
Messages
834
Location
Curacao/NJ, USA
Yea, they've had horse options available for years, but not too many people opt for that one as most Indy fans are looking for a screen accurate (or close) type of leather, which usually puts everyone in the lamb or goat categories.

I myself have exclusively bought lamb from Wested (and Bill Kelso) for all of my Indy jackets (3 plus the Wested Destiny jacket on order), but I can see why someone would want a heavier duty option. Novapelle and obviously goat are both great options that fit that purpose. Goat just takes forever to show wear so I have opted against that so far for what I want, but the novapelle is an option I have considered prior to them releasing the Legacy jackets, which are now their most accurate Indy jackets to date with the correct undertones.
 

Edward

Bartender
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25,081
Location
London, UK
Yea, they've had horse options available for years, but not too many people opt for that one as most Indy fans are looking for a screen accurate (or close) type of leather, which usually puts everyone in the lamb or goat categories.

I myself have exclusively bought lamb from Wested (and Bill Kelso) for all of my Indy jackets (3 plus the Wested Destiny jacket on order), but I can see why someone would want a heavier duty option. Novapelle and obviously goat are both great options that fit that purpose. Goat just takes forever to show wear so I have opted against that so far for what I want, but the novapelle is an option I have considered prior to them releasing the Legacy jackets, which are now their most accurate Indy jackets to date with the correct undertones.

For a clutz like me, a durable hide is a must! Are the Legacy jackets cut like the Hero, or is it the hide is the thing for them? Couldn't quite tell from the website. I debated the hero jacket for some time before deciding to stick with the standard production models on the basis that they are adapted to be a bit more practical (I like the facings and such). One thing I will spec with my next jacket is cotton sleeve lining. The satin is all very well, but rapidly limited the heat I could wear the jacket in before it got.... sticky.

The other Wested bits are really nice too, fwiw. I've had a pair of their version of the Indy boots since they came out. I'm sure not as good as the Aldens (which are now scary money to get over here - not least thanks to the historically low value of the pound since 2016), but for the money, they're a damn good pair of boots. I can see the qualitative differences between them and the likes of my RedWing Iron Rangers, but it's not quite as big a difference as you'd think the price gap might warrant... I also have one of the Indy bags, the newer Wested repop of the Mark IV. Really lovely - cracking quality, and compared up close to an original, impressively accurate - with none of the worry. I was wary at first of the size and the back-to-front mid-divider in the main compartment, but using it as a daybag in Paris last July I was amazed by how much it could take; as long as I didn't want to carry a book bigger than a novel or a laptop, it's excellent. I'm now eying up the leather versions (which are the same exterior appearance, the obvious excepted, but more practical inside), and I may well succumb to one of each in due course.
 

marker2037

Practically Family
Messages
834
Location
Curacao/NJ, USA
For a clutz like me, a durable hide is a must! Are the Legacy jackets cut like the Hero, or is it the hide is the thing for them? Couldn't quite tell from the website. I debated the hero jacket for some time before deciding to stick with the standard production models on the basis that they are adapted to be a bit more practical (I like the facings and such). One thing I will spec with my next jacket is cotton sleeve lining. The satin is all very well, but rapidly limited the heat I could wear the jacket in before it got.... sticky.

The other Wested bits are really nice too, fwiw. I've had a pair of their version of the Indy boots since they came out. I'm sure not as good as the Aldens (which are now scary money to get over here - not least thanks to the historically low value of the pound since 2016), but for the money, they're a damn good pair of boots. I can see the qualitative differences between them and the likes of my RedWing Iron Rangers, but it's not quite as big a difference as you'd think the price gap might warrant... I also have one of the Indy bags, the newer Wested repop of the Mark IV. Really lovely - cracking quality, and compared up close to an original, impressively accurate - with none of the worry. I was wary at first of the size and the back-to-front mid-divider in the main compartment, but using it as a daybag in Paris last July I was amazed by how much it could take; as long as I didn't want to carry a book bigger than a novel or a laptop, it's excellent. I'm now eying up the leather versions (which are the same exterior appearance, the obvious excepted, but more practical inside), and I may well succumb to one of each in due course.
The Legacy jackets are all the same Hero cuts per each movie spec, but with the more accurate leather and hardware for each. I would say the Legacy Last Crusade is about as normal a jacket as you can get. It's pretty standard and an easy fit for most any body type.

Yea, a lot of their gear is also very good and good value. The Indy trousers they sell are the best in the market and are very accurate.
 

Edward

Bartender
Messages
25,081
Location
London, UK
The Legacy jackets are all the same Hero cuts per each movie spec, but with the more accurate leather and hardware for each. I would say the Legacy Last Crusade is about as normal a jacket as you can get. It's pretty standard and an easy fit for most any body type.

Yea, a lot of their gear is also very good and good value. The Indy trousers they sell are the best in the market and are very accurate.

Thanks. How's the rise on the trousers these days? I had a couple of pairs back in 2008 and wore them to death, but the rise was lower than felt /looked right to me. I think I remember reading they'd reworked the pattern since, though?
 

marker2037

Practically Family
Messages
834
Location
Curacao/NJ, USA
Thanks. How's the rise on the trousers these days? I had a couple of pairs back in 2008 and wore them to death, but the rise was lower than felt /looked right to me. I think I remember reading they'd reworked the pattern since, though?
I personally feel the rise is great. Kind of that mid-high rise area of perfection. Looks the business and just how Ford wore them.
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,944
Location
London
The dream:

my85eWQ.jpg


Real life:

upgJRtn.jpg


To me this jacket is the equivalent of a Neo trench coat, the fact that one dude pulled it off on screen doesn't mean everybody else can...
 

Aloysius

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,973
The dream:

my85eWQ.jpg


Real life:

upgJRtn.jpg


To me this jacket is the equivalent of a Neo trench coat, the fact that one dude pulled it off on screen doesn't mean everybody else can...

I get what you mean and it's true for countless jackets, but I'd say the Indy jacket isn't one of them–because fundamentally it's just a lightweight, leather-collared G-1 with some changes. Extremely neutral/generic looking, which I don't mean as a criticism.
 

Manolito

One of the Regulars
Messages
105
i have just received my second hand wested leather Indy Jacket found on vinted. 38, which is just my size, and the sizing is very good. It looks a bit clumsy in its cut, I guess it must be a "raiders" kind of jacket which has this kind of look, with the strange collar and the rather short back.

I have no idea of the sort of leather it is, and it is not written on the tags which only says "genuine leather". It is a lightweight jacket, i was surprised by how light it is compared to my other jackets. Even my suede Levi's type 3 jacket by made and crafted feels heavy in comparison.

It is made in a pre-distressed leather which is quite nice, subdued, zero shine, looks almost like a slightly sueded jacket. It super supple, it feels like lamb to me. The construction is clean and well made. Especialy the two ways pocket i was a bit worried about, but the side pockets are almost unnoticeable and still easy to access.

It is a modest jacket, cool looking, well made, a light one for the spring or maybe even the summer.

Of course, if you wear it with the complete accurate Indiane Jones outfit anywhere outside of a costumed party, you will look like an idiot ! But as a light unpretentious jacket, I think it is pretty good, better and more interesting than the made in asia mail lamb jackets I've owned and worn.

150 € in an excellent condition, i am pleased with my buy.
 
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