Which molds better, CXL FQHH or Vicenza HH?

[dan_t]

I’m not sure where you are located, but it sounds to me that you’d be well served handling a few of these first to get a real sense of what you’re asking.
Perhaps another member here might be located close & you could pop around to have a first hand look.
This is what I did & it paid dividends.
Went from never owning a jacket to buying WAY too many over a very short period of time.

 

[Lebowski]

50’s HB CXL cordovan (10lb)
View attachment 175490

Ton, its collar says more than all the words, true perfection!

 

[ribeyemediumrare]

If i go with vicenza is it possible to waterproof it somehow, so it doesn't get soaked easily in the rain? Maybe a wax or something like renapur

 

[Seb Lucas]

I got caught in rain recently in my Vincenza. Whats the issue? I wouldn't treat any new jacket for at least 10 years.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I’m not sure where you are located, but it sounds to me that you’d be well served handling a few of these first to get a real sense of what you’re asking.
Perhaps another member here might be located close & you could pop around to have a first hand look.
This is what I did & it paid dividends.
Went from never owning a jacket to buying WAY too many over a very short period of time.

That is golden advice.

 

[zebedee]

If i go with vicenza is it possible to waterproof it somehow, so it doesn't get soaked easily in the rain? Maybe a wax or something like renapur

It won't need to be treated at all for a very long time. Treating jackets can cause more colour loss (in the case of cordovan) and isn't necessary for at least 5 years (and more like 15) unless you live in a very humid climate (in which case you'd spray down your cupboard inners with a mix of vinegar and water every month or so and perhaps apply a tiny amount of Renapur every year, although the Renapur would probably be for peace of mind). I've never had an Aero sustain water damage at all, and have never seen one get mould in 18 years of living in high humidity.

 

[ribeyemediumrare]

It won't need to be treated at all for a very long time. Treating jackets can cause more colour loss (in the case of cordovan) and isn't necessary for at least 5 years (and more like 15) unless you live in a very humid climate (in which case you'd spray down your cupboard inners with a mix of vinegar and water every month or so and perhaps apply a tiny amount of Renapur every year, although the Renapur would probably be for peace of mind). I've never had an Aero sustain water damage at all, and have never seen one get mould in 18 years of living in high humidity.

I'm not concerned about the leather needing a conditioning or getting damaged from water, just curious if there is some kind of product recommended for veg tan leather so if Im caught in the rain the jacket doesn't get completely soaked. Ive used Renapur on tons of things and it seems to do a great job of letting water bead off leather. Ive also seen mentioned that Thedi coats their veg tan leather with beeswax or something which makes them a bit more resistant as well. I know its not necessary, but whats the harm unless you over do it? Ive seen tons of waterproofing sprays and products online but I figured you guys would know more about which are safe and which to avoid.

 

[ribeyemediumrare]

I’m not sure where you are located, but it sounds to me that you’d be well served handling a few of these first to get a real sense of what you’re asking.
Perhaps another member here might be located close & you could pop around to have a first hand look.
This is what I did & it paid dividends.
Went from never owning a jacket to buying WAY too many over a very short period of time.

I already have a fit jacket on the way with some leather samples. I've never seen or felt a jacket of this caliber before, I'm hoping i'll be blown away by how much nicer they are in person. Might be bad because I tend to go overboard with new hobbies/interests.

 

[zebedee]

Renapur is great stuff- I use it on boots and shoes and very infrequently on jackets. I would steer very, very clear of sprays (as in: avoid completely) and wouldn't worry about treating veg tanned leather- the quality of jackets we're talking about is very high- the hides are packed full of oils already and won't get damaged by rainfall. I've worn Aeros in really heavy Shanghai rain for hours on end for days at a time. After being hung on the back of a chair for an hour, I'd be out in it again. That jacket is now seven years old: I've never treated it and it is fine. I'm wary of all these creams and sprays, which I think make little difference unless a jacket's decades old.

I have worn Aeros in a variety of climates at extremes (I haven't worn one in a desert) and have, so far, never seen any damage to the leather from weather conditions.

 

[dan_t]

I already have a fit jacket on the way with some leather samples. I've never seen or felt a jacket of this caliber before, I'm hoping i'll be blown away by how much nicer they are in person. Might be bad because I tend to go overboard with new hobbies/interests.

A single fit jacket is a great idea.
It is however a completely different ball game to a tiny sample patch of hide approx 4” x 2”.
If you have anyone close who has a jacket in the ’other’ hide (the one that the test jacket isn’t made of), then it’d be well worth your time connecting with them.
The full-fat horse or steer is quite literally a whole different beast to the Vicenza.

 

[Seb Lucas]

For sure, Dan. I've found samples bloody useless and dangerously deceptive as a tiny bit of leather gives you absolutely no idea at all how the thing will actually wear or drape. It can only give you some colour and texture. I once picked a leather that seemed nice but it was for boots and so thick it would have been easier to have a jacket made out of sheet metal.

 

[jacketjunkie]

My Vicenca A-2 got wet the other day in heavy rain and it does NOT repel water the way CLX does, it does get soaked. It took hours to dry. It had no effects on the hide, though. If you plan to frequently wear in rain though, I'd recommend CLX.

 

[nick123]

For the whole break-in experience, I'd opt for CXL. But Vicenza will crease and break in nicely too. Flip a coin.

 

[handymike]

CXL definitely has a specific “feel” when worn as a jacket. I really like it when it is used on a slimmer model. You feel like a super hero wearing it. For looser fitting jackets, go with Vic... In my climate ( Southern California) I ended up not wearing CXL much, but when I went to Seattle, it was perfect. I personally prefer the way CXL steer breaks in opposed to CXL horsehide. For fast break-in (moulding) you can wear it in the hot shower. Nothing can ruin CXL!
Here is a link to mine after about 1 year and a soaking:
https://m.imgur.com/a/w7L7x

 

[miglan30]

I have had both. They vary from batch to batch. They look about the same to me, no difference in creasing or shape retention. The Vinceza feels more comfortable and is lighter. I dislike heavy leather.

It easy to overthink jackets and end up behaving like a neurotic teenager on prom night.

Yea it looks more comfortable too. For me personally, I don't think I could wear a uber stiff leather jacket long enough to break in to my liking. If it is uncomfortable from the get go, I don't want to wear it, and so it never gets broken in. That is why I sold my Vanson. I am seriously considering a board racer next, and it will certainly be Vicenza or Italiam lightweight HH. The CXL and the like look great in pictures, but I just can't get past the feel of the jacket wearing me.

 

[ribeyemediumrare]

CXL definitely has a specific “feel” when worn as a jacket. I really like it when it is used on a slimmer model. You feel like a super hero wearing it. For looser fitting jackets, go with Vic... In my climate ( Southern California) I ended up not wearing CXL much, but when I went to Seattle, it was perfect. I personally prefer the way CXL steer breaks in opposed to CXL horsehide. For fast break-in (moulding) you can wear it in the hot shower. Nothing can ruin CXL!
Here is a link to mine after about 1 year and a soaking:
https://m.imgur.com/a/w7L7x

Is that the black cxl? I'm really liking the idea of blackened brown vicenza since it will break in almost like raw denim and get lighter at wear points, but I'm finding out that black cxl will do the same thing right? I gotta say I'm curious about how cxl would be as a jacket, what got me looking into leather jackets initially was my natural cxl viberg service boots. The smell and feel of the leather is amazing, I started to wonder how a whole jacket in this leather would feel surrounding me. Before finding this forum I never considered that it would probably make a very stiff jacket. I currently in Florida so I would probably get more wear out of vicenza, it seems like a "safe" choice. CXL FQHH I could end up loving or completely hating as a jacket.

 

[handymike]

Blackened brown Vicenza with cotton drill lining would be a better choice in Fla IMHO.
(Olive stitching and lining)
The Natural CXL looks amazing as a jacket though...
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/aero-has-natural-cxl-from-horween.93628/
Post #114

 

[ribeyemediumrare]

Blackened brown Vicenza with cotton drill lining would be a better choice in Fla IMHO.
(Olive stitching and lining)
The Natural CXL looks amazing as a jacket though...
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/aero-has-natural-cxl-from-horween.93628/
Post #114

Its a really nice chestnut color as it darkens, heres my natural cxl boots