What's you all's opinion of Bestaff?

[Worf]

Just curious to find out people's feelings on this brand. I've a chance to get one used but don't know anything about the brand. Not trolling, just don't know... I meant Belstaff! Obviously I can't spell either!

Worf

 

[Bunyip]

Hi mate,
I've looked into them a few times. It just isn't my style. There are plenty of blokes that love them. I believe the quality is pretty good? There are a few reasonably priced ones on Ebay, but I've also seen quite a few fakes. There is a few fans on the IH forum, and I think a few guys here have quite a bit of knowledge on this brand.

 

[Big J]

I quite liked a couple of thier jackets.

But for thier prices, I'd rather get an A-2 or something.

 

[jacketjunkie]

I don't own one of their leather jackets, but I do have one waxed cotton biking jacket and the fit is phenonmenal, the sleeves have some Kind of smartly integrated underarm gussets, movement is great! It's seen a few years of wear and still is in good shape, so it's quite wear resistant. Having to wax it every year is a con, but the only one.

 

[Seb Lucas]

Is it accurate to say that Belstaff do two types of stuff - well made, purpose built and mediocre fashion gear? The stuff I've seen looks unremarkable and is way over priced - I guess because, among other things, it's a borderline prestige brand name that's big in Hollywood. Not something you see much of down here.

 

[galopede]

I had a Belstaff Trialmaster waxed cotton biking jacket many years ago when I was a regular motor bike commuter and it was the best thing since sliced bread. Really tough, waterproof and comfortable. I used it for about ten year and then my son stole it at wore it for at least another ten years until it got too tatty even for him!

Like a lot of these old brands, they have become fashionable like Barbour who supplied waterproofs for farmers. They still do make the real stuff but most of their range now is fashion, not utility.

Gareth

 

[Big J]

Is it accurate to say that Belstaff do two types of stuff - well made, purpose built and mediocre fashion gear? The stuff I've seen looks unremarkable and is way over priced - I guess because, among other things, it's a borderline prestige brand name that's big in Hollywood. Not something you see much of down here.

Actually, I think this is the main reason I would avoid it. I don't want people to think that I'm 'aspiring' to be the kind of poseur who wears the brand as a fashion item. If I had a vintage bike, I could see myself doing it though.

 

[ProteinNerd]

Their pure motorcycle range is decent quality, the rest (while some I quite like the style and look of) is way overpriced imo.

There are a few I would like to own but I not dropping over $2000 on a mass produced fashion jacket.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I avoided Belstaff when I bought my waxed cotton jacket. I got our own wonderfully made version; Drizabone (they used to make Belstaff under license here years back). I am also put off by the idea that I would wear a jacket that Brad Pitt or what's that football guy's name... Beckham? would wear in the world of gratuitous product placement.

 

[Otter]

Always screams '70s UK biker to me. Looks like you should be on an old Norton. Have a Google search for Ogri and you will get the kind of vibe I get from it.

 

[Sloan1874]

The waxed ones seem solid to me, but I'm always shocked how flimsy the leather ones feel, but then again that may be just the fashion line I've seen. The prices are way off the scale either way, as you could get two or three jackets of equal/superior quality for one Belstaff.

 

[Carlos840]

I have a mate who recently bought a waxed cotton roadmaster, it looks great, but he said that it isn't waterproof.
Every time he got caught in a downpour he said he could feel water at the shoulder seams after a very short time.

 

[Jägernaut]

I bought a belstaff cougar used for $600. I love the look and fit of it. It is a light leather but i like having that option in me closet. But i would never pay retail for one. If the price is right, buy it.

 

[mendelboaz]

I absolutely despise Belstaff and all of the ridiculously overpriced fashion crap garments.. Pardon my negativity but the illogicality and immorality of the fashion industry always gets my blood stirring. Furthermore, I think the Belstaff jackets look awful and even more despicable than the models wearing 'em. I honestly cannot understand why any reasonable man or even men on this forum would pay the outrageous prices for a Belstaff. It's just another crap fashion garment with a name tag.

If you want an actual jacket instead of a poseur princess dress, get a Vanson jacket for 1/3 the price of a Belstaff and be done with it.

 

[l0fielectronic]

As said, the pure motorcycle range is great high quality stuff. Removable liners, pads, fantastically durable and well made. I have a short Brooklands and a Trialmaster. The Trailmaster is six years old and barely broken in despite much wear. Its also one of the most waterproof jackets I've ever worn. I had a new, much lighter Barbour International and that leaked at the seams after an hour or so of rain, the Belstaff never has.

I know ownership has changed recently, again, so don't know how quality/materials have been affected.

I have a couple of their fashion jackets, and while very over priced, more so in the last couple of years as prices seem to have doubled, they are normally 50% off at the end of a season and I like them very much.

For me I think its the fit as much as anything, I have big shoulders and long arms and so the cut feels much better than a lot of off the rack jackets.

 

[Big J]

You know what I'm thinking now? I'm thinking middle-aged guys who only wear jeans on the weekend, dragged to Starbucks by their wife and kids, standing around awkwardly waiting for a table while their wife lines up to order some kind of dessert in a plastic cup, wearing their expensive Bellend jacket and feeling masively generation-gapped by all the teenagers (getting wildly excited taking selfies of themselves with a dessert in a plastic cup).

Pass.

 

[Jägernaut]

It's just a jacket. It's not a lifestyle.

 

[Big J]

I can't help it, I got an over-active imagination/insecurity complex.

 

[navetsea]

they seem happy in their thin leather jackets... who am I to judge

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Not my style, either. Absolutely no interest for me in the mostly overly pocketed coats.
HD