Side Laces on Motorcycle Jacket?

[user290389023]

What do they do? And do they noticeably let air in?

 

[Guppy]

This is a fit adjustment.

It doesn't really have anything to do with airflow, other than that a jacket that is loose will tend to flow more air. But the air has to get into the jacket somehow (eg, through the collar, cuffs, or vents) and the side adjustment has nothing to do directly with venting. They tend to be a bit more "comprehensive" of a fitment adjuster than a simple waist tab.

I like them. I can adjust fit so that the jacket will still fit snug through the torso whether I'm wearing a t-shirt or layering, which is important for comfort when riding. I like riding jackets to fit snugly, and conform to the body.

 

[Monitor]

This is a fit adjustment.

It doesn't really have anything to do with airflow, other than that a jacket that is loose will tend to flow more air. But the air has to get into the jacket somehow (eg, through the collar, cuffs, or vents) and the side adjustment has nothing to do directly with venting. They tend to be a bit more "comprehensive" of a fitment adjuster than a simple waist tab.

I like them. I can adjust fit so that the jacket will still fit snug through the torso whether I'm wearing a t-shirt or layering, which is important for comfort when riding. I like riding jackets to fit snugly, and conform to the body.

/thread

 

[Bfd70]

Purpose being already coverd I’ll add that while i believe they are useful I sure don’t like the look.

 

[sweetfights]

I prefer the side zippers instead of laces.

 

[Monitor]

I prefer the side zippers instead of laces.

I do too but side zippers don't really do anything. You can't wear the jacket with the side zippers unzipped and zipped up, it's as if they aren't even there.

Waist laces are really practical.

 

[sweetfights]

I do too but side zippers don't really do anything. You can't wear the jacket with the side zippers unzipped and zipped up, it's as if they aren't even there.

Waist laces are really practical.

True- But zippers look bad ass cool!!!

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I have buckled side straps on my two Cafe MC jackets and even on my other three cross zip riding jackts. They look cleaner and easily tighten if necessary ti keep the air out. Side laces always appear like a trying too hard hardcore design to me.

 

[ton312]

I like the laces because they allow the waist and torso to be adjusted variably around the waist and hip (depending on the length). They are very functional at the expense of aesthetics. I absolutely loved them on my model E’s and other CHP type jackets.

 

[El Marro]

When I first started down the jacket rabbit hole I did not like the look of side laces at all. I don’t own a motorcycle and I felt that this detail looked like a bit too much on a jacket that I just wear for walking around. Fast forward several years and I think they look great on cross zip and CHP style jackets. I agree with what some others have said that they allow for much more control in dialing in the fit through the ribs and down to the waist.

 

[Psant25]

I love them on my langlitz. I think they look bad ass and are also functional. I was also just thinking of sending in my johnson leather custom to see about adding side laces or a side cinch to make the waist a tad more snug.

 

[navetsea]

Must be useful for off the rack jackets, but if you custom order it shouldnt be that roomy around the torso, i prefer side zip, snug when fully zipped, but releasing the zip a little would accomodate bulkier belt, or more leaning riding posture.

 

[Guppy]

Must be useful for off the rack jackets, but if you custom order it shouldnt be that roomy around the torso, i prefer side zip, snug when fully zipped, but releasing the zip a little would accomodate bulkier belt, or more leaning riding posture.

You'd think so, but Langlitz includes them on their Columbia model, and those are made to measure. The Columbia is a CHP design, so maybe it's just part of the spec.

But even if you're going made to order, you still can have need to adjust fit, depending on a variety of factors. For a jacket you could well own for a lifetime, you're not going to remain the same weight or shape during all of those years. You can wear different amounts of clothing under it depending on weather/temperature. Etc.

Some people don't like the way they look, but I do. Not on every jacket design, but on the crosszip MC jackets that incorporate them into the design, they are cool.

 

[navetsea]

make sense if you factor weight gain indeed, but on that columbia design it is so narrow it is basically can be replaced by a pair of straps , on a longer side laces I can see that it can follow the shape of one back better like lacing on a pair of boots, but still personally 2 pairs or 3 pairs of straps would look even more badass for me and simpler.

 

[user290389023]

is it possible to remove the side laces so you just have the holes? The only leather jacket in sweden i like has the side laces.

 

[Peter Mackin]

I have to say I’ve never really liked the look of them.But,having just bought a vanson model E from the lounge I adjusted the laces to the required width then snipped them short.Jacket now fits as I want & thankfully I don’t look like one of the village people,,which is how I always always thought they looked

 

[feltfan]

I've often thought of either replacing the laces with something like a spring or another hardware fitting. I am also contemplating tying the laces with a metal or stone (think donut-shaped turquoise) so there is a sort of buckle. Anyone try anything like this?

 

[ton312]

I've often thought of either replacing the laces with something like a spring or another hardware fitting. I am also contemplating tying the laces with a metal or stone (think donut-shaped turquoise) so there is a sort of buckle. Anyone try anything like this?

I used wooden beads on one of my model E's...I thought it looked cool and added a bit of personality.

 

[Guppy]

is it possible to remove the side laces so you just have the holes? The only leather jacket in sweden i like has the side laces.

Yes, although I can't imagine anyone wanting to do this. It'd be a bit like wearing shoes with no laces. If you're wide enough that the jacket fits best this way, you might as well run laces through the eyelets and tie them loosely so that the jacket retains its structure as intended.

 

[Edward]

I'm not as a rule a fan of the look. At full price, it's a deal breaker for me, though that said there have been other, similar things over time that I've ended up giving a go at a good deal price and ended up loving. The only thing I own with laced sides is a cheap black drill cotton with leather trim kutte. Picked it up on eBay a few weeks ago for about twenty quid new, to wear as an alternative to a jacket when travelling to and from Beijing this season. At this point in the year, it can be far too hot for a jacket both ends, but then there's the pain of airport security - emptying all the pockets - or keeping everything in a bag, more to carry less to hand. This kutte was bought as a way of experimenting with a light, sleeveless jacket as an answer to that: mp3 player, phone, passport, tickets, all the rest in the pockets, then when I come to security I only have to put it in the tray, easy. It's a sort of a dummy run for my eventual Aero Shackleton, so I can figure out what I need in terms of pockets and such. Because it was cheap (and also I'm between sizes currently) I accepted that this one has lace-up sides. Came with leather thongs in the sides which looked awful, so I switched that out for some decent corset laces, and it looks okay. At the minute still wearing it with a bit of a gap in the laced areas; as I lose weight I'll tighten it. Going forward, the question will be how much 'room in the body I decide I need, whether I ant to ear it fitted more like a waistcoat or a jerkin.

Image seller's generic, not mine. Next time I'd be tempted to go with either a full collar or no collar. This one looks okay, but some shirt collars sit funny over it. Two deep inside pockets, one zip-closure, are a big plus for intended purpose.