vanson is unforgiving in it's stretch

[javajakamama]

Don’t give up hope, when I first got this one in premium comp weight I could barely move my arms enough to zip it up, it definitely requires a workout for the initial break in, but after that it just slowly keeps getting better and better, nowadays I don't find it restricting at all yet it didn’t really stretch much and still looks pretty slim fitting

View attachment 634772

And careful with those experiments, just look at what you might end up with after trying to shrink a deerskin jacket down half a size

View attachment 634774

nice....light at the end of the tunnel. just wear it and beat the crap out of it. extended hard wear is prolly the key. although i really want to turn into an oil fiend.

i like experiments. pretty sure i can't throw enough at the vanson. but once you get used to the tight fit all other jackets seem big. it will also force you maintain weight and physique. if you don't the look goes to shit

i'm sure the deerskin looks better on than in that pic.

 

[floater]

nice....light at the end of the tunnel. just wear it and beat the crap out of it. extended hard wear is prolly the key. although i really want to turn into an oil fiend.

i like experiments. pretty sure i can't throw enough at the vanson. but once you get used to the tight fit all other jackets seem big. it will also force you maintain weight and physique. if you don't the look goes to shit

i'm sure the deerskin looks better on than in that pic.

View attachment 635387 View attachment 635387

Well if you’re not afraid of using some oil, I think the thing that helped break in that comp weight the most was giving it a good rubdown with mink oil then rolling it up and sitting on it for a bit, then I’d unroll it and roll it up again in a different direction and sit on it some more

I did that for a couple evenings and it made a massive difference, mind you I only weigh around 135 lbs and was sitting on a couch or sofa, not on a hard surface, so ymmv

As far as the deerskin goes, it was that same desire for a tight fit that made me dare to dunk it in hot water, but I guess it was too hot cuz it literally shrunk in my hands while I was dunking it, took it out immediately and rinsed it in cold water but it was too late, once it got all dry it was crispy and shrunk around half its size

So now I use it as a decorative item in the tv room

 

[TREEMAN]

No Mink Oil !!
No Whale Oil
No Lard or Butter

 

[floater]

No Mink Oil !!

Forgive me but I’m still on the learning curve here, I’ve only used tandy brand mink oil which was recommended by a good friend who makes small leather goods out of HH and thick SH

And tbh it seems to work great softening stiff leather and dulling out overly shiny leather (which I’m not a fan of)

What do you, or other experts, recommend to use for those purposes?

 

[TREEMAN]

There are many.. I use Pecards .

 

[javajakamama]

Well if you’re not afraid of using some oil, I think the thing that helped break in that comp weight the most was giving it a good rubdown with mink oil then rolling it up and sitting on it for a bit, then I’d unroll it and roll it up again in a different direction and sit on it some more

I did that for a couple evenings and it made a massive difference, mind you I only weigh around 135 lbs and was sitting on a couch or sofa, not on a hard surface, so ymmv

As far as the deerskin goes, it was that same desire for a tight fit that made me dare to dunk it in hot water, but I guess it was too hot cuz it literally shrunk in my hands while I was dunking it, took it out immediately and rinsed it in cold water but it was too late, once it got all dry it was crispy and shrunk around half its size

View attachment 635454

So now I use it as a decorative item in the tv room

View attachment 635452

oh, lawd.

at least you have a story and some artwork.

maybe you can reverse it? rip out the liner and saturate it with oil. at that point begin the taffy pull back to paydirt.

i used obenauf's which worked okay. it just seems to wear off and only provide only a little give. people crack me up with their passion for leather conditioner.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Well if you’re not afraid of using some oil, I think the thing that helped break in that comp weight the most was giving it a good rubdown with mink oil then rolling it up and sitting on it for a bit, then I’d unroll it and roll it up again in a different direction and sit on it some more

I did that for a couple evenings and it made a massive difference, mind you I only weigh around 135 lbs and was sitting on a couch or sofa, not on a hard surface, so ymmv

As far as the deerskin goes, it was that same desire for a tight fit that made me dare to dunk it in hot water, but I guess it was too hot cuz it literally shrunk in my hands while I was dunking it, took it out immediately and rinsed it in cold water but it was too late, once it got all dry it was crispy and shrunk around half its size

View attachment 635454

So now I use it as a decorative item in the tv room

View attachment 635452

Wow!! That's literally crazy!

I have heard of jackets shrinking, usually if put in the clothes dryer to speed up the drying process, when I have washed jackets in the past I always use the Coldest water setting, but I have not hand-washed many. At least you found a cool use for it now, nice setup with the blue neon accent too!

 

[AeroFan_07]

never have a had a 19.6 p2p restrict so much when zipped. almost all thinner fabrics jackets have enough of a give to retain a slim fit and move easily. but the vanson says "nah....i'm not going to loosen easy for you". i'm not small but i'm not jacked buff either.

you would think that a 10 year previously own leather would be a little more broken in but this thing was only used for playing guitar on weekends from the previous owner and he obtained it from wardrobe/costuming from the movie black mass starring johnny depp but never made it in the movie.

i'm trusting that it will somehow loosen more with wear but the leather is so thick and the arms are now resembling elephant trunks in my biceps/elbow region. tons of pressure and increased grain/creasing. (i guess that's great if you like that. but it looks a little off when the rest of the jacket doesn't match) the previous owner of this coat was not as big and this jacket is really getting a new size workout with me. zipped up does not give me the articulation i need. i might need 21/22 p2p in this coat to go along with the same sharp taper.

i feel like an avenger in this thing. so in some aspects it looks the part.

Been thinking about your original question here a bit more.

Seems the key to this is --- Deadlifts. At the Gym. Lots and lots of reps. A bit of sweat and it will help immensely with the flexibility.

 

[VansonRider]

Well if you’re not afraid of using some oil, I think the thing that helped break in that comp weight the most was giving it a good rubdown with mink oil then rolling it up and sitting on it for a bit, then I’d unroll it and roll it up again in a different direction and sit on it some more

I did that for a couple evenings and it made a massive difference, mind you I only weigh around 135 lbs and was sitting on a couch or sofa, not on a hard surface, so ymmv

As far as the deerskin goes, it was that same desire for a tight fit that made me dare to dunk it in hot water, but I guess it was too hot cuz it literally shrunk in my hands while I was dunking it, took it out immediately and rinsed it in cold water but it was too late, once it got all dry it was crispy and shrunk around half its size

View attachment 635454

So now I use it as a decorative item in the tv room

View attachment 635452

This is just the most incredible post, and from a new guy who's been on here all of a month!
Welcome to the lounge!