Hi all... since suffering from a nasty bout of Covid that nearly killed me during the latter part of the pandemic, I've not been able to deal with the cold at all. Prior to that I was OK, I could wear something as light as an A2 with a jumper underneath and I'd be OK as long as it wasn't under 5c outside. However after my bout with the bug, that wasn't enough. I did get a B-6 from ELC which is great up to 5C, but being outside for any length of time in the colder temps chills me to the bone.
Using that as a plausible excuse to get a new jacket
, I've had my eye on either a B-3 or an Irvin for some time. As we live here in the UK I figured I'd be as patriotic as an Irishman could possible be for his adopted country (tongue somewhat in cheek!) and opted for an Irvin from Aero. I already have a Barnstormer from them and a few jumpers (submariner, para) - their stuff is top notch. (mind you so is ELC's - but I'm lucky enough to already have 2x ELC jackets so wanted to change things up).
I went for the Battle of Britain repro in pebbled Merino. It is a lovely jacket... looks lovely, smells lovely. I initially ordered a 44, then changed my mind to a 46 - but with all the to-and-fro something got lost in translation and the 44 was sent.
I'm glad it was, as the 46 would've been too big. It is a bulky (yet light) jacket to begin with. The fit is comfortable and not too snug. I can actually wear my RN or para jumpers underneath (which are bulky in their own rite) w/o feeling like a sausage.
It is a short jacket, as they're meant to be, so for a guy with a long torso who usually wears a 44L it is right at the limit - but it seems to be the norm with Irvins to have one's jumper extending out from underneath.
The throat strap is a bit odd, kind of hard to get used to as it comes up quite high, but I don't actually foresee any event where I'd have to utilise it as I don't often find myself in an unpressurised or open cockpit at 20000 feet.
Aero turned this around quite quickly I might add, I believe I ordered it in late November/early December.
Using that as a plausible excuse to get a new jacket
, I've had my eye on either a B-3 or an Irvin for some time. As we live here in the UK I figured I'd be as patriotic as an Irishman could possible be for his adopted country (tongue somewhat in cheek!) and opted for an Irvin from Aero. I already have a Barnstormer from them and a few jumpers (submariner, para) - their stuff is top notch. (mind you so is ELC's - but I'm lucky enough to already have 2x ELC jackets so wanted to change things up).I went for the Battle of Britain repro in pebbled Merino. It is a lovely jacket... looks lovely, smells lovely. I initially ordered a 44, then changed my mind to a 46 - but with all the to-and-fro something got lost in translation and the 44 was sent.
I'm glad it was, as the 46 would've been too big. It is a bulky (yet light) jacket to begin with. The fit is comfortable and not too snug. I can actually wear my RN or para jumpers underneath (which are bulky in their own rite) w/o feeling like a sausage.
It is a short jacket, as they're meant to be, so for a guy with a long torso who usually wears a 44L it is right at the limit - but it seems to be the norm with Irvins to have one's jumper extending out from underneath.
The throat strap is a bit odd, kind of hard to get used to as it comes up quite high, but I don't actually foresee any event where I'd have to utilise it as I don't often find myself in an unpressurised or open cockpit at 20000 feet.
Aero turned this around quite quickly I might add, I believe I ordered it in late November/early December.
