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:
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:
