Shinki vs Langlitz Horsehide

[AeroFan_07]

Wow.

In all my years, I never thought Leather could be such a "hot button" topic.

Let's just get back to appreciating leather of all types, and chill out on the Who's best, Who's not, etc...what the Fedora Lounge is supposed to be.

 

[sweetfights]

We circle back to "which is the best leather" again? The Horween we often see is a combination tanned oil leather whilst the "shiniki" we often see is a veg tanned leather. They have different characteristics. I prefer shiniki for jacket but hate shiniki or many other veg tanned leather boots. I also like Horween shell cordovan more than Japanese shell. That is my personal preference.
To me, vs can be a simple comparison without naming a winner.
Unfortunately, I don't think we have a sample of Langlitz HH here to compare with so that is why the discussion is mainly on the reasonableness of the upcharge.
Foreign imports are usually more expensive due to many factors such as import tariffs and various other import procedures. A basic cowhide Langlitz Columbia costs USD 3250 on Rakuten Japan.
https://item.rakuten.co.jp/track358/2622/
I don't know how much a Columbia costs in the States now but I would bet it is not more than USD2000.
And yes American goods have certain unexplainable appeal to a lot of Japanese.

We do have a sample.
As I posted in a photo comparing Shinki horse and Langlitz horse- visually and tactilely (imho) “the same!”

 

[Colin G]

eager to see photos Colin!!!

It is nothing special. Just a Cascade but with Speedway style padding so oval and more vintage-looking and not the more squared off padding. Will be for motorcycle use and not really for everyday wear but I am sure I'll wear it a lot at first to break it in. I have not had a dedicated riding jacket since my old Vanson Model A which was way too big, but what a great jacket that was.

 

[red devil]

It is nothing special. Just a Cascade but with Speedway style padding so oval and more vintage-looking and not the more squared off padding. Will be for motorcycle use and not really for everyday wear but I am sure I'll wear it a lot at first to break it in. I have not had a dedicated riding jacket since my old Vanson Model A which was way too big, but what a great jacket that was.

We still want to see pics

 

[sweetfights]

It is nothing special. Just a Cascade but with Speedway style padding so oval and more vintage-looking and not the more squared off padding. Will be for motorcycle use and not really for everyday wear but I am sure I'll wear it a lot at first to break it in. I have not had a dedicated riding jacket since my old Vanson Model A which was way too big, but what a great jacket that was.

The cascade is a great looking functional riders jacket that looks great as a casual jacket too. Spectacular looking with the elbow/shoulder pads.

 

[sweetfights]

It is nothing special. Just a Cascade but with Speedway style padding so oval and more vintage-looking and not the more squared off padding. Will be for motorcycle use and not really for everyday wear but I am sure I'll wear it a lot at first to break it in. I have not had a dedicated riding jacket since my old Vanson Model A which was way too big, but what a great jacket that was.

No such thing as a “nothing special’ Langlitz. They all rock.

 

[red devil]

BTW, sorry if I asked before, but for thos of you with Langlitz jackets, you ordered and sent your measurements in?

Always had in mind to go there and get measured to get mine

 

[sweetfights]

BTW, sorry if I asked before, but for thos of you with Langlitz jackets, you ordered and sent your measurements in?

Always had in mind to go there and get measured to get mine

yes- emailed measurements with careful checking and rechecking as required. The process actually works very well with Langlitz expertise in the process.

 

[Colin G]

BTW, sorry if I asked before, but for those of you with Langlitz jackets, you ordered and sent your measurements in?

Always had in mind to go there and get measured to get mine

I did as Sweetfights did. Sent in my measurements but I had my wife measure me 3-4 times just to make sure and be certain. If they notice a strange measurement they will check with you and confirm.

As Sweetfights eluded to, their fit process is quite thorough so you should have zero issues. Just don't choose the tight fit as it will be a skin tight, gimp-like fit like the "leather boys" like. Lol. Just add rubber underwear.

 

[Edward]

Funny thing, the internet. I've been around this beast for closing in on twenty-five years now; I first logged on to the WWW in July 1995. In all that time, I've noticed two things in particular - one is that on the internet, many people fail to distinguish subjective, personal opinion from objective fact. Two, it's amazing how many people desperately feel the need to validate their own opinion by convincing everyone else to share their own, subjective opinion. Fender or Gibson, Ford or Toyota, Rolex or Omega, Connery or Craig, Shinki or Horween.

One thing I've found the longer I'm around these parts is that I've moved away from having a favourite leather, towards liking different leathers for different applications and jackets. I prefer a softer-draping leather in a Highwayman, for instance, than in a slim halfbelt. In early May or on a cooler day in July, I'm much happier in a goatskin jacket than a heavy steer option.

Worth noting also that Horween and Shinki are both brands who produce a range of different leathers, not single products. And even then, the organic component of leather being such a significant element in all of this, no two batches of any leather are ever going to be quite identical. At the high end level where the hides under discussion here will be used, as a rule quality isn't in question. There, it's all subjective and about which an individual prefers, which has no 'right' or 'wrong' beyond that. What I always like to remember, if in doubt, is that we're all damned lucky to be in a position to be able to afford, buy and enjoy these luxury goods. In the current world, we're very much in a minority.

 

[Blackadder]

We do have a sample.
As I posted in a photo comparing Shinki horse and Langlitz horse- visually and tactilely (imho) “the same!”

Oh yes. I forgot. Sorry. Although the surface finish is quite similar but I can't tell from photo if Langlitz is veg tanned or chrome tanned. Thank you for the comparison too.

 

[El Marro]

BTW, sorry if I asked before, but for thos of you with Langlitz jackets, you ordered and sent your measurements in?

Always had in mind to go there and get measured to get mine

red devil,
I sent my measurements in with my order for both my Columbia and my Cascade. In both cases the jackets were made too tight the first time around and had to be remade.
At the time I lamented the fact that I had not gone in to be measured in person because I figured that would’ve led to a better fit. This is not necessarily true though, as we saw with a gentleman here last year who had been measured in person at Langlitz and ended up with a sloppy loose fit on his Cascade.
The bottom line though is that they absolutely do stand behind their satisfaction guarantee and in my case they remade both jackets perfectly the second time.

 

[KissMyMuscle]

Langlitz is much cheaper in N America. Standard Langlitz cowhide jacket with some basic extra options ( extra pocket, pinstripes on back or padding) will run about $1300 US give or take. You can buy two cowhide Langlitz jackets for the price of one Langlitz in horsehide. Both of my Langlitz in medium weight cow were around $1200 US ea plus shipping to Canada. Both purchased within the last year (my 2nd should be landing in the next few weeks) so my prices are current.

Hi Colin, I am planning to make my Langlitz purchase this year. I am also living in Canada. Do you mind if I ask how much duties and tax did you pay? If extras are too high, I would take a road trip to Portland instead.

 

[Colin G]

Hi Colin, I am planning to make my Langlitz purchase this year. I am also living in Canada. Do you mind if I ask how much duties and tax did you pay? If extras are too high, I would take a road trip to Portland instead.

Tax here in Saskatchewan is %12 including GST & PST plus about a $10 broker fee from Canada Post. There will be no duty.

 

[Colin G]

red devil,
I sent my measurements in with my order for both my Columbia and my Cascade. In both cases the jackets were made too tight the first time around and had to be remade.
At the time I lamented the fact that I had not gone in to be measured in person because I figured that would’ve led to a better fit. This is not necessarily true though, as we saw with a gentleman here last year who had been measured in person at Langlitz and ended up with a sloppy loose fit on his Cascade.
The bottom line though is that they absolutely do stand behind their satisfaction guarantee and in my case they remade both jackets perfectly the second time.

Similar experience here also.

My Timberline was way too tight. The remake was absolutely perfect and I based my Cascade off of the measurements of the remade Timberline so the Cascade should fit perfectly also.

 

[sweetfights]

Hi Colin, I am planning to make my Langlitz purchase this year. I am also living in Canada. Do you mind if I ask how much duties and tax did you pay? If extras are too high, I would take a road trip to Portland instead.

Since I am 1 hour from the Niagara Falls border I used an American mailbox service. I crossed the border, paid a five dollar fee then drove home wearing it.
Picked up another package I ordered as cover. If not close to the border there are mail forwarding services.

 

[Blackadder]

Since I am 1 hour from the Niagara Falls border I used an American mailbox service. I crossed the border, paid a five dollar fee then drove home wearing it.
Picked up another package I ordered as cover. If not close to the border there are mail forwarding services.

In that case, I guess you can only purchase shearling and other winter jackets in winter or it will be highly suspicious when you drive back up in a B-3 in July.

 

[sweetfights]

True!! LOL

 

[Guppy]

In that case, I guess you can only purchase shearling and other winter jackets in winter or it will be highly suspicious when you drive back up in a B-3 in July.

"Officer, I heard it gets very cold up north, so I thought I'd come prepared."

 

[Blackadder]

"Officer, I heard it gets very cold up north, so I thought I'd come prepared."

Doesn't help if record shows you are "returning" to Canada on the same day, does it?
Sweet, Guppy may be offering to be your partner in your little operation in summer.