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New Aero Bootlegger v. 2.0 CXL Brown
- Thread starter ton312
- Start date
ProteinNerd
My Mail is Forwarded Here
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- Sydney
I dont know @ton312 that Bates....you expect us to believe not only were you crazy enough to sell it, but then the guy you sold it too was crazy enough to sell it back to you.
Something doesn't addd up
Something doesn't addd up
Actually, it was returned as a gift. A favor I have yet been able to repay. But one I haven’t forgotten!I dont know @ton312 that Bates....you expect us to believe not only were you crazy enough to sell it, but then the guy you sold it too was crazy enough to sell it back to you.
Something doesn't addd up
View attachment 170061
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The quid pro quo for such a gift is a non-vital organ. Quite a favor you owe.
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Mine are all full of svedka. Prob not worth the risk TBH.
AeroFan_07
I'll Lock Up
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- 5,701
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- Iowa
Booting this Bootlegger thread back up to life again. I considered building a new thread for the style - but this tread has alot of useful (and some less useful, just enjoyable) content, so no need to re-invent this wheel. I have two currently - and thought I would do a little review more of the style here and some of the crazy situations with fit I have experanced with this style. As will be observed, both these have some serious fit constraints, and either are or will shortly be up for grabs as well.
A little background first - the "Bootlegger" style which is well known around these parts, is based off the 50's Half-belt style jackets. The cross-zip front is more stylistic instead of serious function - such as a Perfecto style motorcycle jacket tends to be as all 4 lapels do not snap down on the Bootlegger. In additon, there is not a traditional belt, and the standard sleeves are "straight" or button cuffs. The theory here is a simplified motorcycle jacket, with a more traditional back. People do notice these jackets in public, yet I have rarely recieved a compliment wearing one of them. Not that I am looking for it, I just think folks are confused a bit when they see these, especially if not in black.
So I have two as I mentioned. The first is the well-know to these pages "Oddly heavy" FQHH in Cordovan, "size 44" with shorter than typical sleeves. This is just under 10 lbs of very thick, grainy horsehide, with an olive cotton drill lining. Had I been selecting this brand-new, I would have specifed 26" sleeves (straight) with zip-sleeve cuffs. It was an ebay purchase in 2017 so I do not know it's origins. Truth be told, it is so heavy it can really get in the way with daily life & movement. Plus driving a car the sleeves roll back 2-3" so you almost feel it's a short-sleeve jacket (or I do at least.) This jacket now has a #10 nickle zip that Dena installed after the #5 Talon gave up the ghost.
The second jacket shown here is from a member here who moved it along after finding the fit to be less than ideal. This Brown FQHH "size 40" is my first experance with both the "tumbled" FQHH varity, as well as the cotton plaid tartan lining instead of wool tartan. This Bootlegger has 27.5" sleeves - with zip-sleeve cuffs. Hardware is "antique brass" Talon. This jacke is a much more wearable weight of ~ 6.5 lbs. This is my first experance with "tumbled" FQHH and it is very nice. The break-in is nearly complete as it came out of the box. Especially the sleeves and the back, have a lot of grain, and the jacket feels more like a sweatshirt when worn, in terms of the softness of the leather. If you have found Horween FQHH too difficult to manage for break-in - I strongly suggest trying something out made with this tumbled FQHH leather.
Couple newer side by side fit photos for comparison:
So as can be seen here, there are a few things going on between these two jackets. Objectively, until I raise my arms, the Cordovan (which appears black in these photos) is the better fit. Oddly, the Brown (40) jacket appears to have better shoulder room, but in actual try-on it is much more difficult to put on and take off than the Cordovan (44) jacket. The Brown is actually rather tight through the ribcage, and around the "waist" area. Yet, due in part by the shape of my back, there is a lot of "extra" material showing in the lower and mid back than with the Cordovan jacket. And the sleeves on the Brown are an opposite situation, of being too long. The Brown jacket is showing the pockets slightly opened up, where the Cordovan jacket the pockets stay more closed. This would be better if i did not have a thick flannel shirt on (worn wiht both jackets). This style for me is a three season design.
Thinking about a Bootlegger? Great choice, but I would caution those looking to order or pick one up secondhand with the following:
Brown "40"
Pit to Pit - 24"
Shoulders - 18.75"
Sleeve - 27.5"
Waist - 21"
Back - 27"
Cordovan "44"
Pit to Pit - 24.5"
Shoulders - 19.5"
Sleeve - 24"
Waist - 22"
Back - 26.5"
Hope this has helped out someone...
A little background first - the "Bootlegger" style which is well known around these parts, is based off the 50's Half-belt style jackets. The cross-zip front is more stylistic instead of serious function - such as a Perfecto style motorcycle jacket tends to be as all 4 lapels do not snap down on the Bootlegger. In additon, there is not a traditional belt, and the standard sleeves are "straight" or button cuffs. The theory here is a simplified motorcycle jacket, with a more traditional back. People do notice these jackets in public, yet I have rarely recieved a compliment wearing one of them. Not that I am looking for it, I just think folks are confused a bit when they see these, especially if not in black.
So I have two as I mentioned. The first is the well-know to these pages "Oddly heavy" FQHH in Cordovan, "size 44" with shorter than typical sleeves. This is just under 10 lbs of very thick, grainy horsehide, with an olive cotton drill lining. Had I been selecting this brand-new, I would have specifed 26" sleeves (straight) with zip-sleeve cuffs. It was an ebay purchase in 2017 so I do not know it's origins. Truth be told, it is so heavy it can really get in the way with daily life & movement. Plus driving a car the sleeves roll back 2-3" so you almost feel it's a short-sleeve jacket (or I do at least.) This jacket now has a #10 nickle zip that Dena installed after the #5 Talon gave up the ghost.
The second jacket shown here is from a member here who moved it along after finding the fit to be less than ideal. This Brown FQHH "size 40" is my first experance with both the "tumbled" FQHH varity, as well as the cotton plaid tartan lining instead of wool tartan. This Bootlegger has 27.5" sleeves - with zip-sleeve cuffs. Hardware is "antique brass" Talon. This jacke is a much more wearable weight of ~ 6.5 lbs. This is my first experance with "tumbled" FQHH and it is very nice. The break-in is nearly complete as it came out of the box. Especially the sleeves and the back, have a lot of grain, and the jacket feels more like a sweatshirt when worn, in terms of the softness of the leather. If you have found Horween FQHH too difficult to manage for break-in - I strongly suggest trying something out made with this tumbled FQHH leather.
Couple newer side by side fit photos for comparison:
So as can be seen here, there are a few things going on between these two jackets. Objectively, until I raise my arms, the Cordovan (which appears black in these photos) is the better fit. Oddly, the Brown (40) jacket appears to have better shoulder room, but in actual try-on it is much more difficult to put on and take off than the Cordovan (44) jacket. The Brown is actually rather tight through the ribcage, and around the "waist" area. Yet, due in part by the shape of my back, there is a lot of "extra" material showing in the lower and mid back than with the Cordovan jacket. And the sleeves on the Brown are an opposite situation, of being too long. The Brown jacket is showing the pockets slightly opened up, where the Cordovan jacket the pockets stay more closed. This would be better if i did not have a thick flannel shirt on (worn wiht both jackets). This style for me is a three season design.
Thinking about a Bootlegger? Great choice, but I would caution those looking to order or pick one up secondhand with the following:
- Watch sleeve length and cuff style
- Torso length is sensitive on these - both these hit the "sweet spot" on this topic for me.
- Back design & Half-belt details can be a challenge
- Watch pit to pit, and waist sizing
- Overall, this style lends itself to a more relaxed fit
- Decide if a half-belt design is one you prefer or not
Brown "40"
Pit to Pit - 24"
Shoulders - 18.75"
Sleeve - 27.5"
Waist - 21"
Back - 27"
Cordovan "44"
Pit to Pit - 24.5"
Shoulders - 19.5"
Sleeve - 24"
Waist - 22"
Back - 26.5"
Hope this has helped out someone...
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Spiney
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 223
Can’t wait to get my one. Ordered from Aero 2 weeks ago. Guess I’ve got quite a wait.
Spiney
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 223
Why ?
I should’ve never sold this jacket. But like a dumb ass idiot pursuing some mythical unicorn with gold plated horn...I did. Then, I had the chance to buy it back and didn’t. In other words....much like a recently divorced Facebook relationship status...”it’s complicated”
rockandrollrabbit
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 153
- Location
- Chicago, IL
The brown one came from me. I wish it worked out better for him, but it seems to work better on Randy than it ever did for me. Going down to 40 was a mistake. I think it looks good on you Aero Fan!
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Guppy
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,333
- Location
- Cleveland, OH
On a semi-related note, someone recently bought a nice Hooch Hauler, a close relative to the Bootlegger, in Russet Badalassi, and it's got to be one of the nicest fitting jackets I've ever seen, in one of the nicest leathers I've ever seen.
IMO with your posture you should be looking for jackets with short backs and a front drop.
I think you could probably get away with a 24" back if the front was long enough to cover your belt.
That way you would not get all that extra material creasing and bunching in the back.
Sleeve length wise, i think the cordo is too short, but the brown is at least 1" if not more too long.
Have you ever had a 30's halbelt with a front drop?
Off topic but taking up your unicorn comment: I spoke to a friend the other day who maintains that Unicorns MUST exist in a world with Giraffes. He said that a horse with a horn is much more likely than a Leopard-Elk-Camel with a three meter neck...
Gave me a solid laugh and a good chuckle every time I think about Unicorns since then.
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Love the hooch but can’t abide by that center “gusset”. The video clearly illustrates why. I would def have one without that feature though. I know why it’s there and I can see it works but.....it’s just too...anatomical*
* in place of a more accurate descriptor.
Spiney
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 223
It’s one of the reasons I didn’t order one.
- Messages
- 16,810
Y'know, I keep thinking of the same thing, whenever I this sort of gusset. Figured it may be just me but... Yeah, same reason why I'd definitely... Avoid this particular... Solution for ease of movement.
rockandrollrabbit
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 153
- Location
- Chicago, IL
Add my name to those intrigued by the Hooch Hauler but turned off by the Eye of Sauron on the back. I inquired with Denny about omitting it and was told no dice.
