My new pair of Aeros.

[nick123]

That d-pocket detail is just the pinnacle of jacketry. Congrats on both.

 

[dan_t]

Wow, wow, wow!
Just really loving that D-pocket!
You've done really well & it's been well worth the effort & wait.
After all, isn't that one of the most enjoyable parts of the journey of owning one of these?

 

[Carlos840]

Thanks guys, i spent most of yesterday breaking in the Bootlegger, and it might be my best fitting/favourite jacket.
Almost wish i had ordered one in black too...

It is breaking in amazingly fast! All the people complaining that FQHH is cardboard and takes ages to break in aren't doing it right.
After 12hours it already looks lived in, and i am sure it won't take long to look great.

My AL feels much thicker and was a lot harder to break in.

 

[Monitor]

Carlos, I could't agree more - while all your jackets fit you literally perfectly, this BL somehow, I don't know how looks noticeably better than the rest. I didn't even think it possible but there you have it. Maybe the whole thing just works for you or something but it's insane how well it fits you. And what the hell, why don't they have a jacket with this D-pocket by default!? Compared to your BL, all those jackets you posted as an inspiration look like an amateur hour. The pocket is just so well cut and made... It is just crazy how nice that jacket looks!

And yeah, FQHH is nowhere near as bad as some folk will make you believe. You'll see on a sunny day, it's among the softest jackets you have. Just fantastic leather.

Herc is great too but I'm just floored with how nice the BL is, man. Congrats on both!

 

[plainsman]

The brown bootlegger suits you very well and i really like this FQHH brown

As some of you might remember, i went to the Aero factory last year and ordered a couple of jackets. I originally was going for one, but as we all know, the best laid plans go wrong, and i ended up ordering a summer and a winter jacket. Well, yesterday was the day i got both of them, and the wait was worth it!

So, the first one is a modified Bootlegger, inspired by Mysterio's D pocket.
Basically, i have always wanted a D pocket, but was never a fan of the J-24 thing as it was too busy and too biker for my taste. A bit of research made me realize that the D pocket originally started on much simpler early pilot jackets. I got my plan together, asked Denny if it could be done, and he said yes.

We took some time to get the sizing right, but after multiple trials and errors this is the final result:

Bootlegger, with an added D pocket, button cuff and yoked back. No chest pocket and an open handwarmer pocket. We also removed the epaulettes. It is made of their regular brown FQHH, and lined in cotton tartan. I did ask them to go for the darkest most red hides they had.

Fit wise i couldn't be happier! I originally tried on a 42 bootlegger with a thick tweed lining. Once i received my jacket, which was the same size with a thin cotton lining, it felt absolutely huge. Denny was great and just took it back, sending me a size 42 STF bootlegger to try. Unfortunately this was too small for me and really pinched me in the armpits. He ended up making a hybrid pattern, using a 40 Bootlegger body with some 42 STF Bootlegger arms to make them a bit slimmer.
The result is great, and i really appreciated the fact that Denny went out of his way to make sure i had a jacket that fit how i wanted.

The second jacket was a little bit of an impulse buy... I had been looking for a winter jacket, something with a warm lining that i could wear comfortably with some layers underneath, and the Original Hercules just felt perfect for the job.
They had a size 40 in store when i visited, but it was a little bit on the tight side, so i decided to order a size 42, no special modifications other than body and sleeve length.
It is made of tumbled horsehide, lined in heavy cord (and i mean HEAVY!) in the body and moleskin in the sleeves. The cuffs and collar are lined with cord.

The stitching on this one looks amazing! The triple stitching along the back panels, the front, and the sleeves really is a nice detail, it really looks special. The tumbled hide also has a really nice grain, it is much softer than the regular FQHH and looks like it won't even need a break in.

Fit wise it is also very nice. A bit larger, and a bit more room to layer, but i like it.
Having the side buckles at the bottom feels weird, but once you have the jacket on it makes a lot of sens. Because the bottom back panel isn't very wide, and there is a massive front drop, the side straps actually work really well in pulling it all together neatly and blocking out draft.
For once i feel that the usual bunching you get when using the side straps is part of the design rather than a side effect of the "one size fits all" mentality. I originally wanted them to taper the jacket down to a size 40 at the waist, so i wouldn't need to tighten the straps at all. I am actually glad i didn't, as it feels like it should be that way, it just feels right.

All in all i couldn't be happier. Visiting the factory was great, the ordering process was painless, and although there was a lot of faffing with the sizing of the Bootlegger, Denny was great at sorting it out and never made me feel like i should keep a jacket i wasn't completely happy with. Thank you Denny for your patience, and thank you Julie (Bootlegger) and Paula (Hercules) for doing such great work.

The last thing to say is, the size 42 version of this D pocket will probably be on sale this week end at the Aero factory, who will be my jacket twin?

 

[Benny Holiday]

Not much I can add to what's already been said, except how much the Bootlegger makes me flip! Both amazing-looking jackets.

 

[navetsea]

great looking pair! congratz!

 

[Edward]

Lovely. I saw a Bootlegger with a D-pocket at Aero today and was overcome with the desire to own one...

Funnily enough, back in the 'anything and everything goes!' days of the old management, I had specc'ed out an idea for a Bootlegger with the pockets off a King of the Road on it... Could be pretty cool. I'd love to try one in goat, with a cotton lining.

 

[Peter Bowden]

Gorgeous jackets.Love the coin pocket on the D and how the angle of the zipped pocket and the hand-warmer pocket are the same.The tumbled hide on the Hercules is fabulous.Nice to have a jacket with "formal" classic style and another with a personally designed "attitude"

 

[Guppy]

That bootlegger, man... That's pinnacle. Aero should really consider making that a regular design.

 

[Monitor]

That bootlegger, man... That's pinnacle. Aero should really consider making that a regular design.

I'm sure they're already getting inquiries.

 

[lina]

Curious how you like the cotton tartan lining. My understanding is that it is very thin indeed; but does it seem substantial enough for your jacket?

 

[Carlos840]

Curious how you like the cotton tartan lining. My understanding is that it is very thin indeed; but does it seem substantial enough for your jacket?

Well, i haven't owned the jacket long enough to say yet, but i have to say it does feel good.
It is thin, but has a nice feel to it, and it does feel strong, it's still a twill type fabric, but with a brushed like finish, so it feels much softer than your standard cotton twill.
Like you i was worried about ordering the cotton tartan, but after seeing it in a jacket i feel much better about my decision, i don't see it being a problem, and it feels great when worn with a T-shirt.

 

[Pdxgeo]

that D pocket is ridiculous on you! Damn that is how a leather jacket should fit. Congrats and thanks for sharing!

 

[Carlos840]

Julie Leitch strikes again!

I never really got on with the Original Hercules. As much as i initially tried to convince myself i was ok with it, i never liked the fit.
It was just too baggy for my taste and i didn't feel comfortable wearing it.
Also, although i ordered Tumbled FQHH i ended up regretting it and wishing i had gone for regular CXL. Lastly, i really disliked the cord in the cuffs, it constantly pulled my jumper sleeves up.
The Bootlegger on the other hand quickly climbed to my no 1 spot, and is easily my favourite jacket.

There was only one logical thing to do... (well, in my mind at least!)
Goodbye Hercules, Hello Bootlegger Mk2

Excuse the crappy pictures, there isn't any light right now.

This is a copy of my original one, with 0.5" added to sleeves and body, black CXL and Strome weight wool tartan.

My pair of Aeros is now complete, I couldn't be happier!

 

[Pdxgeo]

Stunning again! Congrats Carlos!

 

[Superfluous]

Ka-ching!

 

[AeroFan_07]

Very nice! I need to do a review of the BL that has made it onto my back...great stuff!

 

[ton312]

Awesome Carlos! Those d pockets are works of art!!!

 

[El Marro]

That jacket is simply stunning. I recall you saying a little while ago that you only regret with your first Bootlegger was that it wasn't black. Problem solved!