Type B-10 Jacket - recommendations?

[MeachamLake]

I'm liking the look of the B-10 jacket quite a bit...kind of a cotton version of the G1. Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations as to who to go for? There seems to be quite a few out there.

It seems that Aero sell a Pike Bros variant on their site - interestingly, they state on this page that they make their own historically accurate variant which sounds ideal, but the link they provide is dead. Does Aero not make their own version anymore?

 

[Worf]

I'm not sure Aero still sells the Pike Bros offering, but I bought mine directly from Pike Bros. Aero no longer makes their own. John Chapman at GoodWear just trotted out a prototype that I REALLY like and will likely buy. The Pike Bros. version is "alright" but I find it a bit "over stuffed". I bought an XL but it's so full of liner that I feel like "The Michelin Man" when I wear it. I don't know of any other quality makes.

Worf

 

[MeachamLake]

I'm not sure Aero still sells the Pike Bros offering, but I bought mine directly from Pike Bros. Aero no longer makes their own. John Chapman at GoodWear just trotted out a prototype that I REALLY like and will likely buy. The Pike Bros. version is "alright" but I find it a bit "over stuffed". I bought an XL but it's so full of liner that I feel like "The Michelin Man" when I wear it. I don't know of any other quality makes.

Worf

That's a shame that Aero no longer does their own...the one for sale in the classifieds at the moment looks really nice. I wonder why they stopped doing it?

You're right about the Pike Bros offering - a puffy, Michelin Man-esque silhouette is quite the opposite of what I want.

 

[Edward]

If memory serves, Aero stopped doing their B10 around 2012. There was talk of them stopping all cloth jackets as the machinist who made them was retiring, but they have kept up the Waterfront. I suspect the B10 just isn't popular enough for it to be worth their machinists' time, compared to the demand for their leather jackets, especially the A2. Aero do still sell the Pike one. Compared to the super-accurate ones from Eastman or the Japanese labels, the Pike is, as Aero say, somewhat 'over-engineered', so it depends if you see that as a bad thing. Having handled the Pike, it doesn't stand out as 'looking wrong' at all. The quality is certainly there. I am planning to buy the B15 version Pike also do in the future. If being as accurate as is humanly possible will bug you, then you might want to save the GBP500 that an ELC will cost, or whatever Goodwear charge. For myself, I think the GBP280 Pike option is the best value out there - hits the sweet spot by being a high quality jacket you can kick around in without worrying overly about. It's also appreciably better than the SoF option at GBP125 ( http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk/b10-flying-jacket-product,15285 ) and similar budget jackets which will have man-made pile liners and artificial fur collars rather than the appropriate wool and mouton as on the Pike and others. If you can live with manmade, hough, and want a cheap, perfectly serviceable jacket, the SoF is surpsingly nice also.

As ever, you pays your money.....

 

[Otter]

I have 2 Aero B10's, a very early one with the scratchy grey lining and one of the last ones made when they were using up left over materials and has a wool gaberdine officer's tunic on the outer rather than the normal cotton. Both great jackets, served me well through rain and cold. My current favourite is my Eastman Roughwear B-15, just great. When it came out the bag both my wife and daughter went "Ooh, nice jacket!" Instead of their usual not another bleeping jacket, what do you need that for.

 

[s4rmark]

Yes , I agree on the b-15 . I have an eastman b-10 and it is a very warm and easy wearing jacket.

 

[MeachamLake]

Thanks for all the replies guys, much appreciated. Always amazed by how helpful and knowledgable everyone is around here!

The Eastman jackets do indeed look terrific, but the quoted 10 week wait time and non returnable nature of long sizes makes it more trouble than it's worth for me.

On that note does anyone have any experience of the Pike Bros B-15? It actually looks pretty nice to my eyes - dare I say more accurate than the B-10? A size large could be a good fit for me looking at the size charts.

 

[Edward]

Thanks for all the replies guys, much appreciated. Always amazed by how helpful and knowledgable everyone is around here!

The Eastman jackets do indeed look terrific, but the quoted 10 week wait time and non returnable nature of long sizes makes it more trouble than it's worth for me.

On that note does anyone have any experience of the Pike Bros B-15? It actually looks pretty nice to my eyes - dare I say more accurate than the B-10? A size large could be a good fit for me looking at the size charts.

Not yet an owner, but I have handled it side by side with their B10. Both lovely jackets. The only difference - as per the real thing - is the patch pockets on the B10 vs slash handwarmers on the B15. Time was (unfortunatley when Aero were getting out of the B15 game and clearing out their own version silly cheap, damn my poor choices!) I much preferred the B10, but in recent years I'm much more a B15 man. I don't think you can really go wrong with the Pike in either option. FWIW, in temrs of textile jackets, I'm comparing this with also owning a BuzzRickson B15C Mod, an Alpha B15C Reproduction Series, and an Alpha L2A Vintage Series. The Buzz is, like the ELC, a notch up from the Pikes - though I don't know that I'd pay tice the price of the Pike for one new - while the Pikes just feel that little bit more solid than the Alphas. I'd certainly pay heed if Pike started doing nylon jackets; idf they kept it to the same standard and price, they'd be a logical option for a later series B15 or an MA1.

 

[Cooper A-2]

Not yet an owner, but I have handled it side by side with their B10. Both lovely jackets. The only difference - as per the real thing - is the patch pockets on the B10 vs slash handwarmers on the B15. Time was (unfortunatley when Aero were getting out of the B15 game and clearing out their own version silly cheap, damn my poor choices!) I much preferred the B10, but in recent years I'm much more a B15 man. I don't think you can really go wrong with the Pike in either option. FWIW, in temrs of textile jackets, I'm comparing this with also owning a BuzzRickson B15C Mod, an Alpha B15C Reproduction Series, and an Alpha L2A Vintage Series. The Buzz is, like the ELC, a notch up from the Pikes - though I don't know that I'd pay tice the price of the Pike for one new - while the Pikes just feel that little bit more solid than the Alphas. I'd certainly pay heed if Pike started doing nylon jackets; idf they kept it to the same standard and price, they'd be a logical option for a later series B15 or an MA1.

I have a Buzz Rickson's RoughWear B-10 ( not the Eastman B-10), its a great intermediate jacket and absolutely perfect in all details regarding authenticity, especially the collar , zip, stud and Alpaga liner, much more like the WW2 originals than all other repros I have seen.
Can only highly recommend this BR B-10 and its easy to come by via Rakuten or other Web shops.

 

[MeachamLake]

Update on this: I have ordered a Pike Brothers B15 via Aero and it is arriving tomorrow. Will share photos and details with everyone once it's here!

 

[nkang]

Having bought or tried both Eastman Rough Wear B-10 and Buzz Rickson B-10 Superior Togs (with rust-colored knits), I think both are great choices for a high-end B-10 repro. I love my Eastman B-10 (second hand) a lot and its dye is more appealing than the BR olive dye; the light gold-ish alpaca liner also looks nicer than BR's gray alpaca/wool liner (anyone knows why BR says alpaca/wool instead of alpaca?). But BR's cotton shell seems somewhat sturdier to me (maybe because I tried one in new condition). Unfortunately I've never tried a Pike Brothers, Aero B-10, HOUSTON, or BRONSON. I don't know if Pike Brothers will still produce B-10 at all as they only have the 1945 B-15 on their website?

Anyways, you can't go wrong with either Eastman or BR.

 

[Marv]

I own an Eastman B-10 and in my personal opinion, is the best repro version on the market at present.

 

[Toto1234]

Bronson B10s are pretty good repro!
i can try to post pics later if people are interested

 

[Skanstull]

Bronson B10s are pretty good repro!
i can try to post pics later if people are interested

I am bit late to respond but I would!

Any other B-10's would be welcome as well.

 

[ongaku]

Skanstull, I just sent you a DM

 

[Toto1234]

what about the cockpit B10?

 

[KentH]

Update on this: I have ordered a Pike Brothers B15 via Aero and it is arriving tomorrow. Will share photos and details with everyone once it's here!

Meacham... I know I am a few years late here on the Pike Bros B-15, but if you don't mind me asking how was it..?? I was looking at the Pike B-15 from Aero, but all they have is a few XL's and according to the size chart the XL would have a 55 inch chest versus 48 for a US size XL... I have about a 46" chest which is normally a XL, but if the Pike is that huge I would not want to pull the trigger on that... I also may have read that people said they seemed extra puffy also..

Thanks.. Kent

 

[Worf]

UPDATE!!!!

Both Aero and Pike are selling B-10's again. Pike has re-engineered theirs and it looks a tad less overstuffed now. I'm not sure about the Aero version maybe they're selling the same thing. I almost ordered an Aero months ago but got sucked into a TeaCore A2.

Worf