Questions about Aero’s Battered Tan Horsehide

[technovox]

I have some questions about the Aero’s Battered Tan horsehide for anyone who has experience with it. I’m in the process of selecting a horsehide for my next Aero Sheene- something in brown this time. (Yes, this will be the fifth Sheene that I’ve owned over the years, if I’m being honest…but who’s counting. Only the Blackened Vic has been a keeper.)

Anyway, while I like the shade and depth of Natural CXL hide, I’m afraid it would be too heavy for this temperate climate. So I’m leaning towards a mid-weight horsehide like their Battered Tan. However, it’s really hard to get a sense of this leather looking at photos. My hesitation is that the Battered is a bit over the top in marbling…it almost looks unnatural and forced. But that’s based on small pics. (I do have a leather sample on the way.) So for anyone who has had a jacket in the battered tan horsehide:

How does it look in real life? Too much battering or is it toned down a bit from the photos?
Has it changed much since you’ve worn it and in what way?
Does the Battered Tan feel substantially more supple, lighter, or more wearable than the standard CXL?
Are you happy with it? Anything you don't like about it?

Any help or observations would be greatly appreciated.
Many Thanks!

 

[Guppy]

The batch of natural cxl fqhh they were using last year for Thurston wasn't particularly heavy. I had to ask for a remake on mine due to the sleeves being an inch too long, and asked if I they could use heavier natural cxl if they had any, and they did. I ended up completely satisfied. But if you want lighter, just ask for what weight you're going for and see what they say.

From what I have always heard the battered stuff is the exact same weight as the standard cxl, just beaten in a drum to make it pre-broken in. So you won't get thinner leather necessarily, if that is indeed true, but you would get a pre-broken leather with more character and grain out of the box. I've seen some battered hides that looked very artificially treated and some that looked fantastic and natural. So that's something to consider as well.

 

[technovox]

The batch of natural cxl fqhh they were using last year for Thurston wasn't particularly heavy. I had to ask for a remake on mine due to the sleeves being an inch too long, and asked if I they could use heavier natural cxl if they had any, and they did. I ended up completely satisfied. But if you want lighter, just ask for what weight you're going for and see what they say.

From what I have always heard the battered stuff is the exact same weight as the standard cxl, just beaten in a drum to make it pre-broken in. So you won't get thinner leather necessarily, if that is indeed true, but you would get a pre-broken leather with more character and grain out of the box. I've seen some battered hides that looked very artificially treated and some that looked fantastic and natural. So that's something to consider as well.

Thanks for the info.
I'd love to have the natural CXL, but according to Carrie, the last batches have all been very thick and heavy. And the battered tan is listed under Aero's mid-weight hide category, so I'm assuming it's a bit more pliable.
Maybe I should make a request "less batter, more tan..."

 

[HoosierDaddy]

My battered tan Teamster is indeed mid weight. Nothing like CXL and much more wearable. However it is not a soft leather. These pics are pretty true and shows how BT can look in different lighting....

 

[technovox]

View attachment 328763 My battered tan Teamster is indeed mid weight. Nothing like CXL and much more wearable. However it is not a soft leather. These pics are pretty true and shows how BT can look in different lighting....

View attachment 328759 View attachment 328760 View attachment 328761 View attachment 328762

Thanks for the photos. Good to see this leather in different light- it gives me more of an idea what this leather is all about. Looks great on you!

 

[Jin431]

@technovox Aero has a new midweight HH in the kelpie (comes in dark green/seal brown/black), it is specifically tanned for Aero by a British Tannery. According to Holly at Aero "The seal and black will have teacore effect showing lighter brown undertones with wear (but it may be similar to your blackened brown Vic already). The green is very dark but with deeper green pull up effect, the green will be more noticeable under natural light."

I requested for samples to be sent to me so I can inspect it and play around with it.

 

[Jin431]

@HoosierDaddy you wear that battered tan teamster so well, nice how the leather shows different shades of color under different lighting

 

[technovox]

@technovox Aero has a new midweight HH in the kelpie (comes in dark green/seal brown/black), it is specifically tanned for Aero by a British Tannery. According to Holly at Aero "The seal and black will have teacore effect showing lighter brown undertones with wear (but it may be similar to your blackened brown Vic already). The green is very dark but with deeper green pull up effect, the green will be more noticeable under natural light."

I requested for samples to be sent to me so I can inspect it and play around with it.

Thanks for the heads up on the Kelpie. I'm definitely interested. Not much info about it on their website. The only example I see is a 50's Half Belt on their Stock page. Not nearly enough to get a sense of the hide.
I'm also looking at Tumbled Cordovan as another possibility- although it's not mid-weight, I understand it's a bit more supple than the standard CXL.
Let me know what you think of the Kelpie.

 

[Jin431]

Thanks for the heads up on the Kelpie. I'm definitely interested. Not much info about it on their website. The only example I see is a 50's Half Belt on their Stock page. Not nearly enough to get a sense of the hide.
I'm also looking at Tumbled Cordovan as another possibility- although it's not mid-weight, I understand it's a bit more supple than the standard CXL.
Let me know what you think of the Kelpie.

You bet. It is fairly new according to Holly, only a few test jackets have been made out of it.

I have tumbled cordovan myself, it is very nice but i feel it is not the best choice for us here in the Bay. The hide I received is much heavier/stiffer than the standard black CXL 50s half belt I used to have and same thing with my current brown 3.5oz cxl jacket from JL.

I was told the swatch sample was mailed out Monday, hopefully I get it soon. I'll give you a heads up about it and post photos here.

 

[Robbie79]

The battered tan HH used on my Boardracer is definitely as heavy as the CXLFQHH used on my other jackets I've owned so far. I'm sure the batches differ. I really like the colour variations. It's rather stiff and needs break-in like CXL. The surface is not smooth like CXL, it has a more waxy touch. I would definitely order a jacket made of this leather again.

 

[jonbuilder]

I am no familiar with Aero's battered horsehide or what Aero does to achieve the end product, but their tumbled horsehide is standard CXL horsehide that is run through a tumbler leaving the hide partly broken in less stiff and more grainy. I like the sunburst jacket I had in black tumbled horsehide. I remember reading a thread ton TFL that discussed battered and tumbled horsehide.

 

[Robbie79]

I am no familiar with Aero's battered horsehide or what Aero does to achieve the end product, but their tumbled horsehide is standard CXL horsehide that is run through a tumbler leaving the hide partly broken in less stiff and more grainy. I like the sunburst jacket I had in black tumbled horsehide. I remember reading a thread ton TFL that discussed battered and tumbled horsehide.

I agree with Jon. I used to have an Aero Sunburst made of tumbled CXFQHH and leather was less stiff. Jacket itself was not as heavy as my battered tan Board Racer if I rembember correctly but for sure there is a batch to batch variation:

 

[Jin431]

@Robbie79 that board racer really looks fantastic on you. The added body length works well too.

 

[Salmosalar]

The battered tan HH used on my Boardracer is definitely as heavy as the CXLFQHH used on my other jackets I've owned so far. I'm sure the batches differ. I really like the colour variations. It's rather stiff and needs break-in like CXL. The surface is not smooth like CXL, it has a more waxy touch. I would definitely order a jacket made of this leather again.

View attachment 328828

View attachment 328829

View attachment 328830

I have an almost carbon copy of Robbie's BR in this hide and I second his comments - mine is also pretty much the same thickness, weight, stiffness as my CXL FQHH Wayfarer, at least to my eye - the waxy finish sets it apart though - it is a lovely leather and feels more heavyweight in hand than my Vicenza, Badalassi or Aero's goatskin jackets - far closer to the CXL than these other “midweights” in my view.

 

[Robbie79]

I have an almost carbon copy of Robbie's BR in this hide and I second his comments - mine is also pretty much the same thickness, weight, stiffness as my CXL FQHH Wayfarer, at least to my eye - the waxy finish sets it apart though - it is a lovely leather and feels more heavyweight in hand than my Vicenza, Badalassi or Aero's goatskin jackets - far closer to the CXL than these other “midweights” in my view.

I agree also to your comment regarding Vicenza as battered HH is heavier. Newer Badalassi batches obviously are less heavy than my old batch I ordered back in 2018 (remaining batch before they decided to order Badalassi on a regular basis).

 

[handymike]

You might also look into the Battered Steerhide.
@Jin431 please post pics of the green Kelpie! The jacket on Aero’s site looks like it could be a great color option.

 

[technovox]

The battered tan HH used on my Boardracer is definitely as heavy as the CXLFQHH used on my other jackets I've owned so far. I'm sure the batches differ. I really like the colour variations. It's rather stiff and needs break-in like CXL. The surface is not smooth like CXL, it has a more waxy touch. I would definitely order a jacket made of this leather again.

View attachment 328828

View attachment 328829

View attachment 328830

Your Battered Board Racer is beautiful! Looks like a perfect fit too!
Has the color or the look of the battering changed since you've owned it?

 

[Robbie79]

Your Battered Board Racer is beautiful! Looks like a perfect fit too!
Has the color or the look of the battering changed since you've owned it?

Thanks! Not really as it hasn't seen any rain as I only wear CXL jackets in rain. I've worn it maybe 8-9 times, so not so often till now. I'm sure @HoosierDaddy has worn his Teamster more often and can give you the information you need.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Thanks for the compliment Jin.
Are you sure that is battered tan HH, Robbie? Yours looks quite different than mine in your close up photos. My BT jacket isn't waxy at all.
HD

 

[Jin431]

@handymike you bet the dark green kelpie is calling out to me too lol maybe in a trucker. I think that will be a cool piece.

@HoosierDaddy much obliged good sir.