My NEW Aero Zip Sleeve Highwayman!!

[jimmer_5]

Okay folks - I am really excited! I just scored a fantastic deal on a basically unused Aero Zip Sleeve Highwayman. I am almost at a loss for words - I am just that blown away with the quality, the workmanship, and that amzing leather!

I paid for the jacket two days ago, and now here it is! Oaky, so this one is a size 44 Highwayman in Black Steerhide with zip cuffs, bright brass Aero hardware, and black cotton drill lining.

First off - that leather! It is the most amazing leather I have ever felt, bar none! To be honest, it is so smooth, thick, and stiff, that I could swear that it was Horsehide, not Steerhide. I am pleasantly surprised because it is so smooth and stiff - a lot of the Steerhide Aero's I have seen pictures of are much more wrinkled/pebbled - they almost look like Buffalo.

This leather seems like it would feel like Aero's "vintage" horsehide. I have attached some close up pics - what do you all think? (I will admit, my only experience with Horsehide was when I handles a Schott 689 Horse jacket, but the grain of this Steerhide Aero looks a lot like it).

The stitching is top notch and the jacket is super heavy. It feels incredibly solid.

Now for the only part that I have afew issues with - the fit. My pictures actually make it look a little better than it actually does (in my humble opinion), but the body is definitely big for me. I have a 43 inch chest, a 37 inch waist, and I am about 38 inches at the navel. This jacket is 25.5" across the chest and 23 inches across the waist, so it's fairly big in the body for a size 44. The arms are 25.5" from shoulder to cuff. Interestingly enough, the arms appear to have the "high, tight" armholes that people mention around here - the arms fit very nicely, not too big like many other jackets. The arms are a little shorter than I would like, but for some reason, they don't bother me. I do find myself wishing for a smoother lining in the arms to ease taking the jacket off. The shoulders fit me perfectly.

I don't like the side adjust straps being so low - when I tighten them in, the middle of the jacket bulges terribly at the sides, and I look all puffy. I couldn't get a photo that showed it well. It does look pretty nice with the straps let out, but there is still quite a bit more material than necessary in the body. However, this is my only real complaint with the jacket, and I will definitely be keeping it.

I have attached lots of pictures - I am curious to hear you opinions on the fit of the jacket, and the look of the leather - thisis my first Aero, so perhaps their Steerhide really does look a lot like Horsehide... I don;t have enough experience to really tell.

I ahve also attached a quick picture of my 4 year old Fieldsheer Deuce Cafe Racer Jacket. The pics make it look rather cheap - it really is a nice jacket, but it is no comparison at all for the Aero. The Aero seems to weigh twice as much, and the leather is a night and day difference!! Still, for $185 new, it has served me quite well.


First, The Jacket:

Front and Back Zipped Up:

Front and Back Unzipped:

Right and Left side Views:

The excess material round the Chest and Waist - what do you think?

Now, for some close ups of the Steerhide leather - I wish I had previously handled an Aero in Horsehide, because it feels like horse to me.... but I would be surprised to see that big of a mix up come out of Aero.

And finally, here's a shot of my old jacket, so you can see where I'm coming from, and how much of a step up the Aero is!

Fieldsheer Deuce 2, Cowhide with 4 years of wear:

 

[eClairvaux]

Congratulations!

Generally the HWYMan is a little "boxy", which is something I like. I also have a cafe racer and that is much trimmer. That's nice and just right for that style, but not so much for the HWYMan, i think (and so does Aero, it seems).

I am cinching down my HWYMan a bit, but not much and the fit isn't too much slimmer than on you. I like it that way!

Enjoy your jacket and don't worry too much.

 

[Cooperson]

Very nice Highwayman Jimmer. Body and sleeve length are perfect. I see you are only wearing a tee shirt under it and the straps are let out fully, which is probably why it feels loose to you. I would cinch the straps in, to get the right fit around the waist and try it with a sweater - I think you will love it! Yes, the Highwayman style has a bit of a boxy look about it, but it's a classic design and when the leather breaks in it will look great. Enjoy!

Cheers

 

[deanglen]

Beautiful Highwayman that looks great on you, (and its just 2 steps away from a Luftwaffe jacketlol )






dean

 

[Deckburner]

LOVE that new jacket! Looks dynamite on you. Enjoy it!

 

[Edward]

Fit looks spot on to me. Bear in mind that the HWM is a 50s-style design, and thus will inevitably be somewhat boxier than an equivalent casual-style leather jacket based on 30s or 40s designs. Also, as far as I understand it, the originals on which the HWM is based were not, by design, motorcycle jackets and were therefore less trim also. As far as I understand it, jackets purpose-designed for motorcycle riding have always been cut neat for arodynamics, non-bike jackets less so.

 

[jimmer_5]

THanks for allof your comments everybody! I really appreciate it, and just experiencing an Aero for the first time is a pretty amazing experience. It definitely lives up to the sterling reputation that their products have.

I guess my concern about the fit is coming from a few things -first off, I am used to a closer fitting Motorcycle jacket.

Second, if you do the math, the chest and waist are respectively 8 and 9 inches larger than my actual measurements. I realize that jackets are meant to be significantly larger than your actual measurements so that they fit over extra layers, but 8-9 inches seems a bit excessive to me. I don't necessarily want it as tight as Aero's cafe racer appears to be, but perhaps somewhere in between?

I don't want to sound like I am bashing the jacket - I truly love it. But I will also say that the pictures strangely seem to make the fit look somewhat better than it is. Or at least they seem to look better than what I see in the mirror!

 

[Edward]

the pictures strangely seem to make the fit look somewhat better than it is. Or at least they seem to look better than what I see in the mirror!

What other people see is rarely what we see ourselves - for good or ill!

 

[deanglen]

Actually Luftwaffe jackets were much closer fitting. You'll find the perceived extra room you have in that jacket as a plus, so to speak, as years pass.










dean

 

[JanSolo]

Hi,

that's a neat looking jacket you got. The fit seems to be ok considering that you are only wearing a T-shirt (?) underneath. Use the side adjuster buckles to make the jacket narrower in the waist. Otherwise the fit is really good.
BTW: Aero's heavy steer and FQHH almost look identical. Especially in black.

 

[jimmer_5]

Hi,

that's a neat looking jacket you got. The fit seems to be ok considering that you are only wearing a T-shirt (?) underneath. Use the side adjuster buckles to make the jacket narrower in the waist. Otherwise the fit is really good.
BTW: Aero's heavy steer and FQHH almost look identical. Especially in black.

I am wearing it with the adjustment straps almost all the way out because when I cinched them in, the midle of the jacket bulged out at the sides to the point that I almost appeared to be circular in the middle. However, I am okay with the fit with the straps loosened.

And I forgot to mention, I am wearing a long sleeve T-shirt underneath it in the pics.


The biggest reason I am asking about the fit is that I currently have an Aero Ace cafe (essentially a Halfbelt with zip sleeves) on order with Aero right now, and I think I may need to ask for a trimmer fit in the body. What I really want to know is this: When you order an Aero, and they tell you you need a particular size, is the body actually still cut to your measurements, or are they using a standardized body pattern? The jacket that I just bought was made for somebody else, not specifically for me, so I'm wondering if that also has an impact on the fit...

 

[Papa M]

Man that jacket looks ridiculous on you. I'll take it off your hands!lol

Seriously: If you are happy with it then don't worry too much what anyone else thinks. As suggested - cinch it in a bit and stick a sweatshirt underneath and it'll be great.

Are you going to reveal exactly how great the deal was that you got on this jacket?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I am wearing it with the adjustment straps almost all the way out because when I cinched them in, the midle of the jacket bulged out at the sides to the point that I almost appeared to be circular in the middle. However, I am okay with the fit with the straps loosened.

And I forgot to mention, I am wearing a long sleeve T-shirt underneath it in the pics.


The biggest reason I am asking about the fit is that I currently have an Aero Ace cafe (essentially a Halfbelt with zip sleeves) on order with Aero right now, and I think I may need to ask for a trimmer fit in the body. What I really want to know is this: When you order an Aero, and they tell you you need a particular size, is the body actually still cut to your measurements, or are they using a standardized body pattern? The jacket that I just bought was made for somebody else, not specifically for me, so I'm wondering if that also has an impact on the fit...

IMO...since your Hwymn was made for someone else..I do think that the body has added inches in width evidentally made custom for other measurements...when comparing that fit to my trimmer Hwymn. Although I don't think that it is a noticably bad fit...a new Aero made to your measurements will fit much better. In fact an Ace cafe does have a smoother body taper more like a Half Belt than a Hwymn.
HD

 

[PENSACOLA]

"I am curious to hear you opinions on the fit of the jacket, and the look of the leather"​

Awesome texture on that Steer...

Fit...not too bad.

I know the guy you bought that Highwayman from--Pete--great stand-up-guy...I just bought three of his Aero MC jackets off Ebay.

 

[Jerekson]

Now that's a beautiful jacket.

Indeed, the extra stuff around the waist is a bit bothersome, but what jacket nowadays doesn't have that? I don't think it subtracts from the look until you point it out.

 

[jimmer_5]

Man that jacket looks ridiculous on you. I'll take it off your hands!lol

Seriously: If you are happy with it then don't worry too much what anyone else thinks. As suggested - cinch it in a bit and stick a sweatshirt underneath and it'll be great.

Are you going to reveal exactly how great the deal was that you got on this jacket?

I bought it on eBay from a fantastic seller that lives about an hour from me. He actually has a few others up on eBay right now, going for terrific prices.

 

[johnnyjohnny]

couLda wouLda shouLdnota

congrats on the jacket!

i'll admit now that i had scheduled a bid on this jacket considerably higher than your winning bid, but after measuring all my other best fitting similar style jackets, i concluded i needed a 26" armpit to armpit rather than the 25.5" on this one, so i cancelled the scheduled bid

as for your concerns that this is not a stock size, but custom for someone else, i must say that all the measurements are stock for this size...you did not give the waist measurement, but from what you said it sounded as if it was 45", which is 6" less than the chest measurement (armpit to armpit doubled), which is fairly standard dropoff from chest to waist for all these style jackets (vanson mercury, schott 135 and it's predecessor with 1-piece back 681, etc) so it sounds as if it very well can be a stock size 44 highwayman...however, you can always take all the measurements and send them to amanda at aero and ask her if they are in fact the stock measurements

nevertheless, a very nice jacket that looks nice on you...

as for me, not getting this jacket, and a good week at work, led me to get a new eastman luftwaffe horsehide size 46, which has my needed 26" armpit to armpit, as well as all other sizes appropriate to me...and i started another thread on that jacket because i'm so excited about the order...should be here within the week

so it turned out well for both of us

 

[bobjones]

IMO...since your Hwymn was made for someone else..I do think that the body has added inches in width evidentally made custom for other measurements...when comparing that fit to my trimmer Hwymn. Although I don't think that it is a noticably bad fit...a new Aero made to your measurements will fit much better. In fact an Ace cafe does have a smoother body taper more like a Half Belt than a Hwymn.
HD

I was waiting for one poster in particular to weigh in, and he did, with the response I kind of knew was coming

I agree HD, I think the fit is too big. Your Hwyman and mine fit alot more snugly, and that is the look I think we prefer in this style.

While it is a boxier fit than a tapered, tight-fitting cafe racer style, it still should not have the amount of excess material/room as seen in the pic with jimmer-5 pulling the jacket sideways. Just MHO.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Looks fine. Many people get them too trim. Needs to break in however so it looks more relaxed.

 

[jimmer_5]

Well, I've been meaning to update this thread for a while, but I keep forgetting to.

I have been wearing the jacket around the house, and playing with the straps (it's my Christmas present, so I'm not really supposed to be wearing it, but my wife is a patient one....) Anyhow, I have noticed that the sides seem to bulge out less as the leather breaks in a bit. Maybe I'm crazy, but I'm liking the fit better than I did before. I still think it's a bit large in the body, but I'm pretty much ok with it at this point.

It's also made me very curious to receive my 50's half belt (ordered last month) and see how the fit compares.