What's your 'grab-and-go' jacket...?

[Edward]

I sort of moved away from the "Civilianised A2" type of jakcet when I got into TFL and 'accuracy', though in recent years I've taken a liking to them again, given how they are often much closer to what civilians were actually wearing during that immediate post WW2 period with the popularity of the "flyboys as 'knights of the sky' heroes" trope. LIke the Indy design derived from them, there is a wonderful practicality to the style.

I've spent so much of my life living in really hot temperatures that I'm almost cold in anything less than 20C. When I came back to the UK the first Christmas I'd spent here in a long time really was painful. I'd not been that cold in about 5 years, although the benefit is that I don't suffer much in 30C-32C, and can stand 35C for even quite long periods. I've grown attached to this jacket when I'm not in an Aero: View attachment 253440

It's definitely relative. My mother hads a friend many years ago before I was born who moved to the Carribean; when she used to visit Northern Ireland in the height of Summe there, she'd sit and shiver in 20 celisius while those who lived there suffered and sweated. I've spoken beofre abouytp hotos of one of my primary school teachers when she did a year on exchange, teaching in Haiwaii - middle of their "Winter", the local schoolkids sitting in the classroom in their winter coats because she couldn't cope with the heat - really funny. Did the same myself in India a few years ago - February, 22 celsius in Dehli, locals in Winter coats and me in a panama and linen suit. It's all entirely down to what you're used to or get used to, I guess. A friend of mine in his RAF days did a tour of the Falklands - out of a British Winter to Winter down there, three months later came back to a UK "Winter" which he spent walking aroundin a t-shirt... I remember being in NYC with him in 04, a few years later, and he was still able to take the wost of NYC Winter in a Schott Perfecto and a light shirt!

 

[navetsea]

I would feel cold under 20C. perhaps it has to do with body weight too, the thinner you are the less insulation to the organs, few nights ago when temp dropped to 16C I woke up in the middle of the night feeling chilled through the intestines mid dream of being chased by Iron Monger

 

[MichaelRhB]

I don't really have a grab-n-go jacket. The weather varies so much around here there's no telling what I'm liable to be wearing from one day to the next.

I guess my most commonly worn jackets would be an Eddie Bauer rain jacket, German Polizei leather jacket, Rausch loden hunting coat, and maybe my Nomex CWU-45/P flight jacket. Sometimes my Kitanica Mark IV too if I'm working the dog.

 

[Edward]

I would feel cold under 20C. perhaps it has to do with body weight too, the thinner you are the less insulation to the organs, few nights ago when temp dropped to 16C I woke up in the middle of the night feeling chilled through the intestines mid dream of being chased by Iron Monger

Definitely. About sixteen or so years ago I lost a lot of weight - probably far too much - in a short period of time. It was in the wake of a split from an ex who then proceeded to libel me far and wide (in particular, she seemed to enjoy spreading the rumour I had an eating disorder). I* wasn't especially looking after myself at the time, and I ended up about ten stone (140lbs or so). You could have lost an eye on one of my cheekbones at the time. I remember sitting shivering in the pub in Summe when they turned on the aircon, and I was definitely able to wear my leathers in slightly higher temps. I'll not get back down to that size ever again, but half wayt between that and now would seem a reasonable compromise!

 

[navetsea]

Definitely. About sixteen or so years ago I lost a lot of weight - probably far too much - in a short period of time. It was in the wake of a split from an ex who then proceeded to libel me far and wide (in particular, she seemed to enjoy spreading the rumour I had an eating disorder). I* wasn't especially looking after myself at the time, and I ended up about ten stone (140lbs or so). You could have lost an eye on one of my cheekbones at the time. I remember sitting shivering in the pub in Summe when they turned on the aircon, and I was definitely able to wear my leathers in slightly higher temps. I'll not get back down to that size ever again, but half wayt between that and now would seem a reasonable compromise!

one time I lost 8 kilos in two or three weeks of living by the bedside in hospital room, bench in waiting room, and at parking lot inside the car, when my grandma was waiting for hip replacement around christmas and newyear while the doctors had their vacation, and apparently no one else in my family willing/ able to share the the burden of the task since my grandma had slight dementia and can be both very boring and demanding, and I am the only grandchildren, I lived of creamcrackers from convenience store next to the hospital, and mung bean filled steam buns sold at the cart by the hospital parking lot, that was the time before I have any leather outerwears... so it was really depressing

after that I fell into sub 60 kilos the first time in mylife and stayed that way, before that my weight was around 64-67 kilos for a very long time and I never feel chilly enough to wear jackets other than raincoat in my climate.
now at 56-58 kilos I need to wear jacket sometime leather over denim whenever temp goes below 20C.

 

[Robbie79]

For some reason my grab and go jacket is one of my first leather jackets - SB Roadster Goatskin jacket which I like a lot - I purchased it a couple of years ago in new condition for 200€:

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I have definitely noticed the body weight difference. I am not skinny, but while I was losing weight during fall/winter, I started to notice how much colder I was. I thought for a while that we were having a particularly cold winter, but then I realized that it was just because I had so much less insulation on my body.

This is yet another benefit of losing weight. Not only do I fit in the jackets better, it means I need to wear jackets more

 

[Robbie79]

I have definitely noticed the body weight difference. I am not skinny, but while I was losing weight during fall/winter, I started to notice how much colder I was. I thought for a while that we were having a particularly cold winter, but then I realized that it was just because I had so much less insulation on my body.

This is yet another benefit of losing weight. Not only do I fit in the jackets better, it means I need to wear jackets more

I know this very well as I lost about 10kg (20lbs) over the last 10 years and do have my ideal weight now and am freezing more during Winter

 

[dudewuttheheck]

I know this very well as I lost about 10kg (20lbs) over the last 10 years and do have my ideal weight now and am freezing more during Winter

It was weird getting colder as winter went on. I was so confused for a while. It's great, though. More jacket weather is a good thing!

 

[handymike]

For some reason my grab and go jacket is one of my first leather jackets - SB Roadster Goatskin jacket which I like a lot - I purchased it a couple of years ago in new condition for 200€:
View attachment 253728

This is what I was hoping for when I bought my Premier Highwayman, but while I love the CXL It isn't a grab-n-go for me. Something in goat or Vicenza could be if anyone wants to trade.

 

[Seb Lucas]

So I picked up my old Brooks a few days ago and have been using it as a grab and go again. No other jacket of the dozens I have bought has ever pleased me as much. Brooks are a light leather, easy on, not all that well made, but authentically gorgeous to my eye.

Bad photo angle. Size 46 - I am six two; 185.

 

[Monitor]

I've spent so much of my life living in really hot temperatures that I'm almost cold in anything less than 20C. When I came back to the UK the first Christmas I'd spent here in a long time really was painful. I'd not been that cold in about 5 years, although the benefit is that I don't suffer much in 30C-32C, and can stand 35C for even quite long periods. I've grown attached to this jacket when I'm not in an Aero: View attachment 253440

See, that's something I don't understand - or rather, maybe I do but it's the other way for me. When you say how staying in the UK's winter for the first time was painful, I just can't relate to that. I will get cold but I would never describe the feeling as uncomfortable, let alone painful. I just feel it as... Being cold, which is a feeling that's ranging from nice to mild annoyance I'll forget about after 5 minutes of simply walking.

Anything over 28C I definitely can only describe as very unpleasant, perhaps even as far as painful. Summers are just something I'm surviving through. I realized just how many things I put on hold during summer because I can't bring myself to take care of anything if it's not absolutely necessary, like going to work.

I have definitely noticed the body weight difference. I am not skinny, but while I was losing weight during fall/winter, I started to notice how much colder I was. I thought for a while that we were having a particularly cold winter, but then I realized that it was just because I had so much less insulation on my body.

This is yet another benefit of losing weight. Not only do I fit in the jackets better, it means I need to wear jackets more

I'm skinniest I've ever been right now and still don't notice any difference in how I feel about heat. Days still seem as hot as ever though maybe a tiny bit less uncomfortable so but then again, I'm not working right now so maybe it's simply that but... I don't know, still have to decide on that.

 

[zebedee]

See, that's something I don't understand - or rather, maybe I do but it's the other way for me. When you say how staying in the UK's winter for the first time was painful, I just can't relate to that. I will get cold but I would never describe the feeling as uncomfortable, let alone painful. I just feel it as... Being cold, which is a feeling that's ranging from nice to mild annoyance I'll forget about after 5 minutes of simply walking.

Anything over 28C I definitely can only describe as very unpleasant, perhaps even as far as painful. Summers are just something I'm surviving through. I realized just how many things I put on hold during summer because I can't bring myself to take care of anything if it's not absolutely necessary, like going to work.



I'm skinniest I've ever been right now and still don't notice any difference in how I feel about heat. Days still seem as hot as ever though maybe a tiny bit less uncomfortable so but then again, I'm not working right now so maybe it's simply that but... I don't know, still have to decide on that.

The cold and humidity made my joints ache - but it hadn't in previous years of living in the UK. I used to get slight headaches, but it was a jolt to the system. I think it was because the coldest it got in Guangzhou was maybe 12 C. Summers were very long and about 35 C. Flying from GZ to London in late October, the drop was huge!

 

[navetsea]

i prefer cool than warm, but if I have to choose I rather choose hot over cold/ freezing, I can sleep in warm/ hot days, but when cold I always have trouble sleeping, shivering, and need to go to the bathroom, etc. I can not sleep with blanket always kicked them off mid sleep maybe that's why.

 

[Monitor]

The cold and humidity made my joints ache - but it hadn't in previous years of living in the UK. I used to get slight headaches, but it was a jolt to the system. I think it was because the coldest it got in Guangzhou was maybe 12 C. Summers were very long and about 35 C. Flying from GZ to London in late October, the drop was huge!

It's not that much different where I live. Winters can get cold but summers are usually around 30-32 C and you have to get adjusted pretty quick, otherwise it's a world of hurt. I never quite manage and find summers to be unbearably hot and I just wait them out to resume doing whatever I had planned. Truth be told, I do have more migraines during the winter but it's an acceptable trade off. But yeah, I can imagine the difference'd be huge, suddenly moving to London from GZ. I'm not surprised you'd need a few years to adjust...

Definitely. About sixteen or so years ago I lost a lot of weight - probably far too much - in a short period of time. It was in the wake of a split from an ex who then proceeded to libel me far and wide (in particular, she seemed to enjoy spreading the rumour I had an eating disorder). I* wasn't especially looking after myself at the time, and I ended up about ten stone (140lbs or so). You could have lost an eye on one of my cheekbones at the time. I remember sitting shivering in the pub in Summe when they turned on the aircon, and I was definitely able to wear my leathers in slightly higher temps. I'll not get back down to that size ever again, but half wayt between that and now would seem a reasonable compromise!

Sucks you had to go thru that, Edward. I wonder why people get like that... Maybe I really should consider myself lucky that I can't really say, perhaps even recall a single truly negative thing about any of the people I've parted ways with.

i prefer cool than warm, but if I have to choose I rather choose hot over cold/ freezing, I can sleep in warm/ hot days, but when cold I always have trouble sleeping, shivering, and need to go to the bathroom, etc. I can not sleep with blanket always kicked them off mid sleep maybe that's why.

I can't sleep when it's too hot. I mean, I can but at some point during the night, it'll become unbearable and I always have to turn on a fan for a while or I won't be able to fall asleep again. I know this might kill me as the fan sucks away ones life if left running during the night but so far so good.

 

[navetsea]

I can't sleep when it's too hot. I mean, I can but at some point during the night, it'll become unbearable and I always have to turn on a fan for a while or I won't be able to fall asleep again. I know this might kill me as the fan sucks away ones life if left running during the night but so far so good.

wait...what? OMG I dunno how many years I got left
not only I have the fan on for white noise, but I also have unused mirror I slide under the bed, bad fengshuei to the max

 

[Monitor]

wait...what? OMG I dunno how many years I got left
not only I have the fan on for white noise, but I also have unused mirror I slide under the bed, bad fengshuei to the max

I'm honestly surprised you're still alive and typing this. RIP.

 

[Edward]

The cold and humidity made my joints ache - but it hadn't in previous years of living in the UK. I used to get slight headaches, but it was a jolt to the system. I think it was because the coldest it got in Guangzhou was maybe 12 C. Summers were very long and about 35 C. Flying from GZ to London in late October, the drop was huge!

It's easy to forget just how big China is, and how much the climate varies across it. I've been in Beijing in December when it was cold enough to take your head off even with a B3 and lots of thermals on!

Sucks you had to go thru that, Edward. I wonder why people get like that... Maybe I really should consider myself lucky that I can't really say, perhaps even recall a single truly negative thing about any of the people I've parted ways with.

Wasn't fun at the time, but it sure helped to get over it. I mean, if somebody can be that unpleasant when it was them called it off and they got what they wanted, it's a pretty good sign it was a narrow escape!

I can't sleep when it's too hot. I mean, I can but at some point during the night, it'll become unbearable and I always have to turn on a fan for a while or I won't be able to fall asleep again. I know this might kill me as the fan sucks away ones life if left running during the night but so far so good.

Same here. We've just come out of a six day heatwave where the temperature in London was over 34 every day, the longest and hottest since 1961. The last two days have been 18 celsius and rain, and it has been sheer bliss - proper Summer weather.

 

[tropicalbob]

So I picked up my old Brooks a few days ago and have been using it as a grab and go again. No other jacket of the dozens I have bought has ever pleased me as much. Brooks are a light leather, easy on, not all that well made, but authentically gorgeous to my eye.

Bad photo angle. Size 46 - I am six two; 185.

View attachment 253965

That's exactly how I feel about the Lesco I picked up a few months back. I love this thing! Nice, thick leather and the fit couldn't have been better if I'd gotten it through Thurston. I'm wondering why I don't see more of them on the FL.

 

[bn1966]

Enjoying my ELC A-2 Monarch when the mercury drops below 30