Trucker suggestions

[Guppy]

This is crucial. I can understand and even respect Aero's insistence on the historical accuracy but the truth is that the end result is a piece of cosplay that nullifies what could potentially be the ultimate leather trucker options on the market.

What makes Type-3 the most versatile choice for a daily jacket are the hand-warmer x inside pocket combo which never left me wanting more carrying space. The inside pockets can be so spacious that the jacket can replace a smaller backpack. Of course, I'm not expecting that from a leather Type-3 but take away the double pockets setup entirely and you're left with a jacket with essentially ZERO pockets as the two chest pockets are basically useless for anything thicker than a folded bill.

Besides, if Levi's did it, what's there to even talk about?

I agree completely. One quibble, Aero's reason for refusing to do handwarmer pockets isn't exactly historical accuracy. It's historical *period*. Aero decided to not reproduce any styles past 1960. The Levi's Type III with handwarmer pockets and inside pockets is historically accurate... to the 80s period. So Aero won't do them. Which is sad for me, but I guess it is what it is.

Leather Type III jackets are typically lined, which means that the handwarmer pocket bags are unable to double as inside pockets due to the clever way the pocket bags are sewn to the unlined shell, the way they are on unlined denim jackets. Which is a brilliant innovation and very practical.

They also wouldn't make a leather M-65 field jacket, but I am more understanding about that.

Maybe someday, when the torch is passed to a new generation of owners.

 

[Guppy]

All this talk of leather jean jackets convinced me to hit BIN on this HD.

Where did you find that?!

 

[Monitor]

I agree completely. One quibble, Aero's reason for refusing to do handwarmer pockets isn't exactly historical accuracy. It's historical *period*. Aero decided to not reproduce any styles past 1960. The Levi's Type III with handwarmer pockets and inside pockets is historically accurate... to the 80s period. So Aero won't do them. Which is sad for me, but I guess it is what it is.

Leather Type III jackets are typically lined, which means that the handwarmer pocket bags are unable to double as inside pockets due to the clever way the pocket bags are sewn to the unlined shell, the way they are on unlined denim jackets. Which is a brilliant innovation and very practical.

They also wouldn't make a leather M-65 field jacket, but I am more understanding about that.

Maybe someday, when the torch is passed to a new generation of owners.

Yep, double pocket setup can't work on leather but Vanson nearly pulled it off on that Cheyenne I had, as they positioned the lining pockets lower & made them the size of the entire bottom part of the jacket which was amazing and super useful.

But you know, two or so years ago I've seen a leather M-65 but I cannot remember who made it for the life of me. Japan & a deranged price tag are the only two things that come to mind when I think about it but that's as far as I can recall. It was really cool, though...

 

[JMax]

Lost Worlds costs 4x as much and doesn't do a single thing better & many things worse. It's boxy with baggy sleeves. And strictly aesthetically speaking, it's crude. Pockets should slightly taper toward the bottom, among many things, something Vanson respects with their version.

LW is the best when it comes to motorcycle jackets but their Type-3 has been in a need of a revision since 1996.

Yeah. The fit of the Vanson (I’ve only owned a Cheyenne) is in line with how a trucker imo should fit. Nice taper, shorter and neat around the shoulders. The only similarity, and what I was thinking during an earlier post, is the wonderful thickness of the hides. Now, I would be most happy with a Vanson jacket in LW HH. That would be cool. But the CW on the Cheyenne’s was amazing too.

 

[Mandarin]

All this talk of leather jean jackets convinced me to hit BIN on this HD.

I just sold it

 

[Mandarin]

I just sold it

I posted it on Vinted for a quick sell, but didn't realize right away that Monitor was the buyer. Glad it stays in the family.

 

[Will Zach]

^^
Lol. Awesome.

For illustration, Vanson Maverick in (rare) Octagon and with a camo lining. I pushed BIN on that one so hard I almost broke my finger...

 

[Liveinstyle33]

I can't speak for Lost Worlds, I have heard almost nothing but good things about LW, but I do have some Aeros and I am very happy with them. Aero jackets just keep getting more and more appealing the more I wear them. I like these jackets so much that I wear them at work and in the house all day long, if the temperature permits it, which is often. I also have a Vanson, which I like greatly, it is however not as comfortable as the Aeros, but it is very, very tough and has a great pattern. Maybe it is because I have still not fully broken in the Vanson, I should wear it more.

Aero has mixed reviews, which lean on the positive side, although I have seen some serious complaints about them, but in my experience, which is regular wear for about a year and a half now, I would say Aeros are under appreciated in general.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Perfect example of the Fedora Lounge Effect right here.....

All this talk of leather jean jackets convinced me to hit BIN on this HD.

 

[vntg60s]

Yeah. The fit of the Vanson (I’ve only owned a Cheyenne) is in line with how a trucker imo should fit. Nice taper, shorter and neat around the shoulders. The only similarity, and what I was thinking during an earlier post, is the wonderful thickness of the hides. Now, I would be most happy with a Vanson jacket in LW HH. That would be cool. But the CW on the Cheyenne’s was amazing too.

I’ve hedged between the Maverick and LW trucker, thinking that they’re very close in style and maybe fit, being made from a similar pattern. They look so similar in pictures. But I want this in horsehide. Have you tried on the Maverick?

 

[El Marro]

This is crucial. I can understand and even respect Aero's insistence on the historical accuracy but the truth is that the end result is a piece of cosplay that nullifies what could potentially be the ultimate leather trucker options on the market.

What makes Type-3 the most versatile choice for a daily jacket are the hand-warmer x inside pocket combo which never left me wanting more carrying space

I hear what you guys are saying and I remember my own jean jacket with those massive inside pockets that held everything I needed to get in trouble (or have a good time) during my junior high years.
There is something so clean and perfect about the lines of the classic Type 3 or Lee 101J though that I now see handwarmers as wrong and out of place on these jackets.

 

[JMax]

I’ve hedged between the Maverick and LW trucker, thinking that they’re very close in style and maybe fit, being made from a similar pattern. They look so similar in pictures. But I want this in horsehide. Have you tried on the Maverick?

I have not. I think the Vanson and LW have similar design cues based on either Levi and Lee truckers, but the patterns are different, hence the different fit and feel when worn. Basing that off my other Vanson and LW. As to truckers, I’ve only worn the Cheyenne. No idea if the Vanson patterns are different across the styles or if the pattern has changed. The Cheyenne was discontinued some time ago.

 

[3.14nche]

This one is on sale on the European Schott store

Veste Storm Rider LEE X SCHOTT

Découvrez Veste Storm Rider LEE X SCHOTT de Schott NYC. Taille disponible du S au XXXL. Un savoir-faire français depuis 1968 Indispensable du vestiaire Schott NYC®, optez pour ce blouson iconique qui reprend les codes du style universitaire américain ✓ Livraison gratuite ✓ Payez que ce que vous...

www.schott-store.com

Looks quite long though, at least on the model.

 

[Guppy]

There is something so clean and perfect about the lines of the classic Type 3 or Lee 101J though that I now see handwarmers as wrong and out of place on these jackets.

Considering that it was the originator of the jacket (Levi's) themselves who updated the design to incorporate the handwarmers, I don't think there's any (valid) "purist" argument against them. It's only a matter of personal preference, or perhaps being period-accurate, to whether you want it 60s style without the pockets, or 80s style with them.

 

[Aloysius]

That’s gorgeous. Any idea of the year? Do they still make them that heavy?

Yes, the 121 is made of naked cowhide, which is a substantial but extremely pliable hide. I'm wearing mine today.

The current model is different (not in a bad way) in that it has unbranded buttons and no brand labeling; you can tell they had those there to sort of 'emulate' a denim jacket, as the Aero with gold stitching does.

Vanson's Maverick is one of the best fitting leather truckers you can buy. It's a best buy, really.

Incredible. I nearly bought it multiple times because it was (at the time) half the price of the Schott or Aero, but it looked like a garbage sack on their website so I held back. Of course, I ended up getting the Schott for 70% off at the factory so I ended up with a good one for cheap in the end anyway.

This one is on sale on the European Schott store

I would not buy this. It's an in-house "LC Schott", which is always to be avoided.

 

[Craig from Craigslist]

The one thing I’ll add about hand warmers is that it’s very annoying when companies “update the style” which means longer so they nearly reach/ touch your front jeans pockets but don’t have handwarmers. This causes a problem where putting your hands in jean pockets means you have to hike up the jacket and can make an awkward looking side profile with the bulging fabric. The no-handwarmer thing has always worked better on more true-to-original styles for me because when the jacket’s only long enough to cover or touch your belt, it wouldn’t be comfortable to put your hands up that high anyway. If you’ve ever owned a vintage Wrangler 124mj you’d know what I’m talking about. Those lower pockets only work well for storage and that’s okay. This is a long way of saying I think handwarmers are fine, but if you’re thinking about a jacket that doesn’t have any just pay careful attention to the length.

 

[Will Zach]

The one thing I’ll add about hand warmers is that it’s very annoying when companies “update the style” which means longer so they nearly reach/ touch your front jeans pockets but don’t have handwarmers. This causes a problem where putting your hands in jean pockets means you have to hike up the jacket and can make an awkward looking side profile with the bulging fabric. The no-handwarmer thing has always worked better on more true-to-original styles for me because when the jacket’s only long enough to cover or touch your belt, it wouldn’t be comfortable to put your hands up that high anyway. If you’ve ever owned a vintage Wrangler 124mj you’d know what I’m talking about. Those lower pockets only work well for storage and that’s okay. This is a long way of saying I think handwarmers are fine, but if you’re thinking about a jacket that doesn’t have any just pay careful attention to the length.

Bingo. I was about to write the same thing. With these longer Type III forget about sticking hands in your jeans pockets.

 

[MrProper]

Long enough for low rise jeans, but short enough to use the pants pockets. This jacket does not have handwarmer pockets.

 

[Will Zach]

Long enough for low rise jeans, but short enough to use the pants pockets. This jacket does not have handwarmer pockets.
View attachment 483799

That is the perfect length for a trucker.

 

[El Marro]

Considering that it was the originator of the jacket (Levi's) themselves who updated the design to incorporate the handwarmers, I don't think there's any (valid) "purist" argument against them. It's only a matter of personal preference, or perhaps being period-accurate, to whether you want it 60s style without the pockets, or 80s style with them.

No argument on this point, purely an aesthetic thing for me.