I did try on the regular Highwayman during my first visit and it didn’t work with my string bean physique, it looks far better on people with broad shoulders.
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Premier Highwayman: A Bumpy Journey
- Thread starter Mr Knight
- Start date
I did try on the regular Highwayman during my first visit and it didn’t work with my string bean physique, it looks far better on people with broad shoulders.
KissMyMuscle
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 245
Great posts! Your jacket looks awesome. I ended up to order a premier highwayman ealier this week. I got a CXL FQHH leather with hookless zipper. I am not sure what it means by not recommend hookless zipper to someone
"but if you're like me and have a First-Class Honours degree in Aeronautical Engineering but sometimes leave your house keys in the fridge, maybe avoid Hookless and get Talon instead."
"but if you're like me and have a First-Class Honours degree in Aeronautical Engineering but sometimes leave your house keys in the fridge, maybe avoid Hookless and get Talon instead."
Essentially what handymike said.
They do look really cool and are a throwback to different times but it all depends on you and your preferences. For me I know I’m too lazy and absent minded at times to warrant the risk of wrecking the zip because I paid about as much attention as I do when tying my shoe laces.
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Evening once again Men & Madams,
This is just a follow up to the initial thread opener that I posted just over 3 weeks ago with the intention of giving an update on the PHWM and how it has started to break in. I've been wearing the jacket almost every day less the time spent in work due to being a professional working in an office environment that are pretty militant on what they consider 'smart casual' and from this I've listed together some pro's, cons (yes I have found a couple) and thoughts with the aim of giving some things to consider for anyone wishing to either make their first Aero purchase or directly looking to order the PHWM.
Now please be aware that all of these notes are purely subjective and of my own opinion and in no way gospel, it's no big secret that I'm a fussy bar steward so majority of things I'll pick up on will no doubt fly under the radar for most folk.
The Good
The side adjusting straps are not the best at staying in a position you put them and thus prone to slipping through the buckle. Not a big issue but I have noticed that after adjusting them to right where you want them, they slowly slip through the buckle and before you know it the bottom of the jacket front is sticking out further than it was 20 minutes prior. Apparently this is a common niggle that people have reported on FL and I've seen two fixes for this. The first is to stitch the straps to lock them in a desired position but I find this to be somewhat defeating the purpose of the straps even being there. I like the idea of the adjustment being available so I can cinch the jacket to suit whatever layers I have underneath, I'm just not a fan of cinching them down and then finding them loosening off again. The other option I've seen is double looping the straps back through the buckles which was interesting and offers a non-permanent way of locking them, however I've found my ideal strap adjustment does not leave enough strap-length available to be looped. This is by not annoying or a deal breaker but something I've picked up on and may become an issue in the future as the leather loosens up with wear.
Food For Thought
In terms of my purchase I'm very happy with it and to me the initial issues encountered as mentioned in post 1 has equated to receiving a handmade clothing item that has been made with highly skilled precision and will probably outlast me.
The big question that I would ask myself is "If you ended up in the Aero building again, would you buy another jacket?". The day I received this jacket I would have probably said no way, this jacket will want for nothing and I'll not need any other. However, the big mistake you can make and I'm sure many an FL member can agree, is that you pay attention to threads such as the Thurston Bros Vicenza or the 'What are you wearing today' and you see the variety of custom jackets people can specify and it gets your mind wondering.
Will I look to visit Aero again in 2020? Definitely. Will I be looking to order another jacket? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. Do I know what I'd be looking at? I've taken a huge interest in A-2 flight jackets so something like that would be on the cards. Would I look to sell/part-exchange my PHWM if it came down to it? At the moment I'll say no, but worryingly I said the same about my Board Racer.
This is just a follow up to the initial thread opener that I posted just over 3 weeks ago with the intention of giving an update on the PHWM and how it has started to break in. I've been wearing the jacket almost every day less the time spent in work due to being a professional working in an office environment that are pretty militant on what they consider 'smart casual' and from this I've listed together some pro's, cons (yes I have found a couple) and thoughts with the aim of giving some things to consider for anyone wishing to either make their first Aero purchase or directly looking to order the PHWM.
Now please be aware that all of these notes are purely subjective and of my own opinion and in no way gospel, it's no big secret that I'm a fussy bar steward so majority of things I'll pick up on will no doubt fly under the radar for most folk.
The Good
- Vicenza leather is so much more usable for every day wear straight out of the box compared to FQHH which I found to be very sturdy and fighting against your movements when new, obviously this is subject to change with break in but from the start line Vicenza is a much friendlier option. Another note that Vicenza has more pronounced grain the FQHH which itself has a uniform 'glass' surface to it and shows up any mark or crease very easily/quickly, Vicenza doesn't do this and avoids any unwanted scrapes or creases.
- The custom option of switching to Café Racer style zip-sleeves was a no brainer for me, for the simple reason that it gives the jacket a subtle motorcycle style cue which to me is a much sturdier choice than the standard option of a button-cuff, I have no doubt that the button construction is sound but there hasn't been a single button jacket I've owned that hasn't needed repair work due to me catching the button on something and breaking it off.
- Overall fit of the sleeves and shoulders fit me like a glove, I can say that I'm safe in the knowledge that Aero size 38 may as well be based on my physique as this is the second jacket I've had where the fit has been spot on.
- The chest pocket is actually quite shallow, I did not realise until the other day when I opened it to use it revealed that my fingers hit the bottom of the pocket bag a lot easier than I thought which was a nice surprise, there's nothing more irritating than trying to fish coins etc out of a jacket pocket because the opening blocks your hand.
- Overall the jacket is a very nice 'day to day' style and has received plenty of compliments, the handwarmer pockets have come in useful from time to time and the fit is not too slim and allows you to move without limiting your motions.
The side adjusting straps are not the best at staying in a position you put them and thus prone to slipping through the buckle. Not a big issue but I have noticed that after adjusting them to right where you want them, they slowly slip through the buckle and before you know it the bottom of the jacket front is sticking out further than it was 20 minutes prior. Apparently this is a common niggle that people have reported on FL and I've seen two fixes for this. The first is to stitch the straps to lock them in a desired position but I find this to be somewhat defeating the purpose of the straps even being there. I like the idea of the adjustment being available so I can cinch the jacket to suit whatever layers I have underneath, I'm just not a fan of cinching them down and then finding them loosening off again. The other option I've seen is double looping the straps back through the buckles which was interesting and offers a non-permanent way of locking them, however I've found my ideal strap adjustment does not leave enough strap-length available to be looped. This is by not annoying or a deal breaker but something I've picked up on and may become an issue in the future as the leather loosens up with wear.
Food For Thought
In terms of my purchase I'm very happy with it and to me the initial issues encountered as mentioned in post 1 has equated to receiving a handmade clothing item that has been made with highly skilled precision and will probably outlast me.
The big question that I would ask myself is "If you ended up in the Aero building again, would you buy another jacket?". The day I received this jacket I would have probably said no way, this jacket will want for nothing and I'll not need any other. However, the big mistake you can make and I'm sure many an FL member can agree, is that you pay attention to threads such as the Thurston Bros Vicenza or the 'What are you wearing today' and you see the variety of custom jackets people can specify and it gets your mind wondering.
Will I look to visit Aero again in 2020? Definitely. Will I be looking to order another jacket? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. Do I know what I'd be looking at? I've taken a huge interest in A-2 flight jackets so something like that would be on the cards. Would I look to sell/part-exchange my PHWM if it came down to it? At the moment I'll say no, but worryingly I said the same about my Board Racer.
Both fair comments but I'll stick to my guns, this is only a small niggle and isn't ruining the experience of owning the jacket for me but may prove useful to anyone looking to order it from Aero.
If it does become an issue in the future then I'll look at potential modifications such as having snaps added to the straps to prevent them from slipping.
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