Is my Thedi leather jacket too tight?

[warthog]

Hi,

I got a new Thedi leather jacket last year and wear it for like 20 days during this Spring. However, it is restricting my movements, I cannot lift my arms over my head. I have large biceps (17 inches), and I feel really tight around the armpits. So should I sell the jacket or wait to see if it can be stretched a little bit? Thank you for your advice.

 

[Will Zach]

Zipped up looks too tight. The pic of your back shows folds, as if the jacket were under tension (which it is).

 

[warthog]

Zipped up looks too tight. The pic of your back shows folds, as if the jacket were under tension (which it is).

Thank you for your reply. If I continue to wear it, will I break the threads and the leather?

 

[Will Zach]

I don't think you will break either threads or the leather, unless you gain significantly more muscle.

If you wear it in the rain and then let it dry on your body while zipped, it may loosen up a bit.

 

[warthog]

I don't think you will break either threads or the leather, unless you gain significantly more muscle.

If you wear it in the rain and then let it dry on your body while zipped, it may loosen up a bit.

That would be great because I really don't want to sell it, I purchased it at a pretty reasonable price. I think I need to wear it under a shower due to there is almost no rain in my area.

 

[Will Zach]

Some people did it with some success. Others will say it is risky because the jacket, depending on the leather, may actually shrink or do nothing. Or the stretch may be temporary.

So be warned.

I, personally, would do exactly what you just said - put the jacket on, zip it up, stand under shower until soaked, and then wear it, zipped up, until dry.

Again, many here will disagree with this method, but I would do it to a jacket I got cheaply and which is marginally tight.

 

[jonesy86]

I picked up a Thedi horse hide cafe racer that felt pretty tight on me as well. I got it a little damp but only a little, and wore it to stretch it and fit it to my body and it worked somewhat. I had no problems with stitching after working it pretty hard.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

It does look a little too tight IMO. If you're saying it's restricting your movements, then it's definitely too tight.

 

[trainspotter]

Personally, I would never intentionally wet an expensive leather jacket. If it was going to stretch by getting wet, it will do so by constant wear as well, albeit slowly. But its a much better way since you don't risk ruining the leather, or the finish, or oils/waxes, dye, lining, resale value etc.

 

[Monitor]

^ Agreed! Don't get the jacket intentionally wet. Might help but it might actually shrink the jacket and make things worse. Wearing the heck out of it will eventually slowly stretch the areas of leather under most stress or at least soften it enough that it appears more comfortable but might take a while. But it does look skintight when zipped up so maybe a bigger jacket would be a better option. Maybe not. Fits you very much like a proper modern bike jacket so maybe it's okay and just needs to be broken in.

 

[Bfd70]

2 options:
1. Sell and move up a size
2. More cardio less weights.

 

[jglf]

It’s too tight. I would go up one size.

 

[navetsea]

Zipped up back looks too tight, sleeve too. Ideally you need snug but not tight on racer jacket imo. if you keep on wearing it often it might settle, but if you have other jacket then subconsciously you will wear the less tight jacket everytime and in the end it doesnt get enough wear to stretch it.

 

[warthog]

Thank you guys for your reply. Unfortunately, one size larger is not an option due to it only had this size when I purchased it. And that makes me so struggle on deciding to keep it or sell it, because if I decide to let it go, there is no chance for me to get another one at this price (new for around $600). Especially my budget is tight this year for a quality leather jacket.

 

[El Marro]

I have used water to break jackets in and soften them up a time to time, either from a spray bottle or sometimes just holding them under the shower head until soaking wet. That has worked pretty well for me but I don’t think it is going to work in this case. If you can’t raise your arms over your head the jacket is just too damn tight and you need a larger size.

 

[dubpynchon]

It'll stretch slightly from wearing. If you do wet it make sure you don't leave it somewhere warm to dry, it's heat when drying that shrinks the jacket.

 

[jonbuilder]

In my experience, CXL horsehide like what Aero uses will mold and stretch to my body with enough wear especially if I am active while wearing like digging up tree stumps or other physical work. I had a Thedi CF like yours I purchased here, the was different leather than CXL, softer out of the box and I did keep it look enough to break-in. It was tight around the shoulder and armpits. I sold lt after one outing because I was not fond of the leather or that I perceived as Thedi introducing fashion into a classic style.

 

[red devil]

My Thedi jackets stretched and accomodated my body shape with normal use.

 

[ksozay]

Sell it to me and get a larger size. Win win!

 

[jglf]

I can pretty much guarantee that you will eventually sell the jacket. Though, it might take you a year of trying to convince yourself that the jacket fits and is comfortable. I’ve been there on more than one occasion. I believe slim guys can pull off tight fitting clothing a lot better than bigger/muscular guys, unless you have 7% body fat. There is just something visually off when a big guy wears tight outfits. This is just my opinion and isn’t intended to offend.