Kakadu Trailmaster Clone

[Sharpe]

Why ARE the belstaff jackets so much cheaper on the holden.co.uk site? I've read that there's the 'fashion' belstaff and then the other belstaff jackets. Are these ones not cut as nicely? Still, seems like a good deal.

 

[Kt Templar]

Don't know, the prices are slightly distorted because they don't include VAT so you need to add 15% to get the real UK price. In theory US buyers don't have to pay the VAT, but.... who knows.

I've found another cheapo copy if it's just a wax jacket you are looking for, retroretrostyle on ebay has a wax jacket with a BIN of £59.99.

 

[Edward]

Those Holden site jackets look to be the same price as the wax cotton ones are most places - is that perhaps it, i.e. are you comparing the price on the leather version elsewhere to the wax cotton there?

Does anyone have any photos of a Kakadu Nelson of their own? I've found a website in the UK that sells them currently for GBP99 plus a few quid postage. I was holding out for a Barbour a while back ,but with those being half the price, for my purposes if the reviews on here are anything to go by, it's a serious consideration.

 

[jeep44]

Well, I do have one. Aside from the photo at the start of the thread, what do you want to see on it? The neckband looks like some sort of smooth leather, although it is probably something artificial (The Barbour has a corduroy neckband). The cotton lining is black, printed with a big map of Australia overlaid with the Kakadu Traders logf course, the Barbour lining is the customary tartan.

edit: I went out to take a pic of it on my BSA-black jackets don't show up real well,do they?

 

[Edward]

looks good, thanks - how does the leatherette in the collar compare the the Barbour? Overall, the jacket does look fairly substantial, how are you finding it in use?

 

[jeep44]

That collar has an interesting feel to it-rather like the grips you find on some ballpoint pens. I've only worn the coat a few times so far-a fairly lengthy ride in suprisingly cool weather,and in pouring rain around the yard today. I like this coat.

 

[Kt Templar]

Well, I didn't get a Kakadu, instead I ended up with a Belstaff clone from an ebay seller in the UK, who makes them in Pakistan. £139, made to measure, arrived in 3 weeks.

Really very impressed.

 

[Edward]

Interesting look to it - cowhide? I've seen some very nice leather out of Pakistan before now, though never anything as relatively specialist as this before.

I was right about to pull the trigger on a Nelson when an International cropped up on eBay at the same price - waiting for that to arrive now.

 

[Kt Templar]

I'm slightly embarrassed to say I'm not sure. It could be a thick lamb or a light cow... Actually with the weight I'm 90% sure it is cow.

Slightly distressed, it has the sort of finish that looks like it will break down easily, like a wax glaze.

 

[Edward]

I had a Made in Pakistan jacket years ago - a boxy, modern fit, but otherwise not wholly unlike a Highwayman in general style. It was cow, and proved to be fairly durable - I sold it after some years' wear when it needed a new lining and a new pocket zip, the cost of which together would have ended up being probably more than the jacket was worth. Still, it as a pretty good jacket quality wise, fairly durable hide. Comparable to the average hundred-quid cowhide biker jacket you'd pick up here in London, which for day to day wear is, in my experience, perfectly adequate.

My Barbour arrived this morning. No photos yet - just picked it up at the post office on the way in to the office - but I've had a chance to try it on and am very pleased. It appears to be the Trials model, going by their website:

As has been noted elsewhere, the buckle on the belt and the smaller one on the collar do feel on the cheap side for what is otherwise a very superior feeling garment. My experience with other models is limited so I can't really coment on how the wax cotton cloth used in tis jacket feels compared to others (I believe this to be one of the lighter, 6oz models), but it certainly feels plenty substantial to me. I don't think I'd be wanting to wear it out on a bike as I doubt it would shield you much in the event of a spill, but for what I wanted it for - a stylish, waterproof jacket for damp Spring / Autumn wear - it is ideal and I should expect many years of service. The buckles, maybe I'll repalce those eventually, but not until they need it. I'm also looking forward to the black finish on the stud fasteners wearing a bit to reveal the brass tone underneath.

I would love to compare it to a Kakadu Nelson in the flesh. The only place where the Nelson loses out, design-wise, in my opinion is the lining being rather 'modern' in style with that big print, but being as that isn't visible when worn, that's hardly a big deal. Just so happened I got a deal on this Barbour, or I was going to take a punt on the Nelson...

FWIW, someone mentioned the zips above. While it does appear from the website that the regular International has only a single zip, this Trials model (which is a slimmer, more fitted cut - though again i have no real point of comparison not having another model to hand) has a double - and a very chunky, solid feeling one at that. The other key difference with this and the regular model is that this one doesn'tg have the option of adding a lining for winter warmth - I presume something that had to be sacrificed to allow for the slimmer cut. Doesn't bother me as I didn't intend it for Winter wear, but worth bearing in mind if you are thinknig that way.

 

[Charlie Noodles]

is there a better deal available?

If you go here and enter the coupon code "BIG4MEMB" it should cost you around 103 pounds in the UK and $149US in the US, assuming Australia Post rates and that they ship internationally.

I just ordered one myself, I hope they don't ask me to confirm my BIG4 membership! Found the code via search engine.

They also sell that Gunner Coat there, if anyone is interested.

 

[Edward]

If you go here and enter the coupon code "BIG4MEMB" it should cost you around 103 pounds in the UK and $149US in the US, assuming Australia Post rates and that they ship internationally.

I just ordered one myself, I hope they don't ask me to confirm my BIG4 membership! Found the code via search engine.

They also sell that Gunner Coat there, if anyone is interested.

I do still fancy one of those gunner coats... hmmnn....