Inside pockets: yes or no?

[handymike]

The leather trim / facing is the issue. On a tighter fitting jacket made from heavier hide(cxl), I'd go without based on how Aero do their pocket configuration.

 

[nightandthecity]

the inside pocket on my new Royale shows a clear outline when the jacket is worn zipped up, and the outline is starting to "print" through the leather already. This is after three weeks! It is the standard Aero vertical pocket. The funny thing is, like many of you I have (or have had) the same style pocket on numerous other jackets (though not on an Aero) with no trace of an outline. Indeed, the two most well used jackets in my collection both feature this style pocket with no problems. So I think a lot must depend on the leather and the cut of the particular jacket. My Royale is Aero's battered steerhide, which is particularly soft, supple and light. In addition, though the jacket is not at all tight - quite the opposite - the armholes are cut very wide which means they restrict backward arm movement a bit, so there is pressure on the chest area from this when walking. I'm planning a second Royale and I shall probably ask for a horizontal inside pocket behind the patch pocket this time. I believe they have done this style pocket in the past when asked, and it seems to me the safest option.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I love having an inside pocket, but it certainly does not work with all styles.

If they advise not to have one, you probably should not have it. The only jacket I've owned yet that has one is my Himel Grizzly and that is not a very slim fitting jacket so it's not an issue.

 

[navetsea]

how much freedom do you have with a custom jacket's inside pocket position, size, and detail
from the usual makers?

on my next jacket I spec-ed its inside pocket from under the armpit slanting down toward the front, so there won't be any pocket bag just double layered liner on the lower half of the body with leather trim so I can clip on some pens/ mechanical pencils/ pen shaped eraser along the edges, and an A5 thin notebook/sketchbook should fit in it.
slanting down to make it easier to slide in or out something larger like said notebook without totally unbuttoning the jacket, and even when it eventually shows a print it would look more natural like a natural crease from your arm movement... I hope ....

 

[Downunder G Man]

Both my Eastman Luftwaffe jackets have one 1 inside left zippered " Pistole p38" pocket , apparently true to the 'originals'

I find it to be a very useful pocket , and yes a Walther P38 fits right in no worries !

Over the years it has been my Ray Ban Balorama pocket most often , and on my near 25 year old version there is no sign of "pocket printing ".

Both my Schott 641 HH and Steerhide 641 café racers have 1 inside right press stud pocket , very useful , and NO "pocket printing" there neither.

My 3rd Schott , an older NOS 1990's collared 441PP , has a removeable lining with a small vertical pocket in the lining , and it's painful not to have the Eastman/Schott café racer inside pocket !

I also have a 'Hartmann" copy made in Singapore with no inside pocket , again "painful" without one once you are used to it.

 

[jbp]

Thanks, everybody, for your comments! I'm less interested in the more form-fitting jackets, so it sounds like the consensus leans towards enjoying the inside pockets and not worrying about any potential printing. I definitely would miss them if I decided to skip them.

I'm still not entirely clear on exactly what the printing we're talking about looks like, so if any of you who mentioned having examples of printing (@zebedee, @nightandthecity) are willing to post a photograph, I'd really appreciate that.

I'm interested in the options that some people have mentioned for pockets in the lining... I'd love to see any inspirational photos of those as well. @navetsea, your large liner pockets are intriguing; thanks for sharing your design! @BobJ, your poacher's pocket was also very interesting; I'd love to see a photo if possible!

But this is also likely to be a once-in-a-lifetime splurge

Yes, we all started like that.

Yeah, I hestitated to even type that, anticipating that response. But at least for now, that's what my decision-making is based on. I can definitely see the appeal, but while I can find room in my budget to justify a one-time heirloom purchase, starting a luxury collection hobby would be out of line. Maybe someday...

Thanks again, everyone, for your input! I'll probably start another thread to solicit your assistance narrowing down my final choices once I do some more research and get my thoughts together a bit more.

 

[Cyber Lip]

If you have a vertical interior pocket on the same side as an outer chest pocket, the outer pocket may block the inner pocket from showing through. Wouldn't know though, I ordered all my Aeros without interior pockets. I'd rather use my jeans pockets and ruin a pair of jeans, than an expensive jacket

 

[BobJ]

What "prints" through is not the cloth pocket bag, but the thick layers of the leather welting. You can see it bulging through the leather of the jacket. And, in time, this raised area gets more wear and the topcoat wears off around it.

EDIT: I guess I was speaking from from theory or memory of other people's photos, because I just went and looked at my jacket - it has plenty of 'patina' and worn-off topcoat, but no more over the thick leather pocket welts than anywhere else. Hmm... They are still thick, stiff, and visibly bulge through when the jacket is tight.

Oh, and, @jbp - I don't own a camera, so I'm sorry, but you'll have to use your imagination to see my poachers pocket - It's a twelve inch square, same dark olive cotton drill as the lining, open across the top, with a little reinforcing stitching at the top corners - like A-2 pockets.

 

[Chris7273]

I have a boardracer. It is a very slim fitting jacket. I made the mistake to order it with two inside pockets. They are not visible but they add a few extra layers and it is less comfortable because of the really snug Fitting. The problem is accentuated with the two chest pockets ( outside)
I hadded these pockets for extra storage in case of as there are no hand warmers
Without the chest pockets it would be ok and not a problem with a more lose jacket
I hope it helps

On my bootlegger (stf ), the inside pockets is not visible and as the jacket is a bit roomier, it has no impact on the wearability

Both jackets are in vicenza

 

[Bushman]

I love inside pockets and never turn down the chance to use the ones in my jackets. Keeps the outer pockets free for my hands to rest inside them.

 

[SpeedRcrX]

I love to have an inside pocket on my jackets, I generally use it for my phone. My purse is already full...

Even my Kensington came with a patch pocket (it's standard) and you can't see the form of the phone in the pocket even with a slim fit jacket like this one.

 

[HanauMan]

I have a 50 year old G1 which has an inner map pocket with a snap closure. It hasn't imprinted on the front leather during that time. However, the pocket goes sideways, not down, so the leather welting runs parallel with the zipper panels.

 

[TREEMAN]

Depends on the jacket.......My Schott 641 steerhide has an inside pocket in the liner only, not in the jacket itself.

 

[TREEMAN]

I have at least 15 leather jackets, most of them custom made and all with inside pockets. Never have seen the "printing" described by Aero. Not saying it doesn't happen because obviously it does or Aero wouldn't warn against it, but it hasn't been a problem for me. Personally, I will not have a a jacket that doesn't have an interior pocket on the left side.

John Chapman, the purist he is, made my A-2 with an interior pocket, and didn't' even squawk about it (he knew my personal situation).

So, if you need an interior pocket, get one. They are most useful.

BTW, welcome to the Lounge. PC

If you ride you want the inside pocket on the right side where Vanson puts it. If you have to use the inside pocket while riding you don't have to take your hand off the throttle !!

 

[JMax]

If you ride you want the inside pocket on the right side where Vanson puts it. If you have to use the inside pocket while riding you don't have to take your hand off the throttle !!

Yep, for my phone or Ipod. Definitely an important consideration.

Then since I am right-handed, the leather-lined gun pocket on the left side. If I need both the phone and pistol at the same time, I place my feet on the handlebars and channel Neo .

 

[HoosierDaddy]

My two Aero CXL FQHH leather jackets custom ordered in 2012 ( Bootlegger & Stuart ) both have two inside snap gun pockets with no print showing through after all these years. Even my first Aero..a Highwayman purchased in 2001 has one snap gun pocket that has never printed or shown through the outer leather.
HD

 

[Tiki Tom]

I tend to be utilitarian and like and use inside pockets. I also like to buy my jackets a little large with a roomier fit. That said, if you are going for a snug and sleek look, I can understand the argument against.

 

[jbp]

Oh, and, @jbp - I don't own a camera, so I'm sorry, but you'll have to use your imagination to see my poachers pocket - It's a twelve inch square, same dark olive cotton drill as the lining, open across the top, with a little reinforcing stitching at the top corners - like A-2 pockets.

That seems to more or less match what I was visualizing. Thanks for the details!

 

[nightandthecity]

OK picture as requested.....It's actually more noticeable than the camera captures, but you can still see it. If you look on my right side (i.e. left side as facing) a couple of inches above the pocket at the two lower slash creases, you'll see a horizontal ridge joining the creases which looks like another crease. You can follow this at a right angle down between the pocket and the zip to another (vertical) lump about halfway down . This is the outline of the pocket trim. At the moment it is mostly just a raised area, but the top ridge is already starting to become a permanent "print" as the top coat starts to stretch and wear over the ridge and I expect it to get worse over the years ( the jacket is only three weeks old!). The show-through is worst when zipped right up to the top, also when walking and swinging arm back, as the armhole is very wide and deep which restricts backward movement a bit and increases pressure on the chest area. I don't actually mind the outline showing too much as such, but i am a bit worried that the very thin and supple leather will distort. However, I'm wearing this over a wool pullover with a wallet in the pocket - over a shirt and with pocket empty it's not as bad. As I got the jacket for mainly summer wear it will be mostly worn over just a shirt or tee with a lot less pressure, though the walllet will live in the pocket....or maybe I'll put the phone in there, it's less bulky.

 

[jbp]

OK picture as requested...

Thanks for the photo! That helps me to understand the problem much better.