Why did you sell your nearly new aero leather jacket(s)?

[NamoAmituofo]

I’m seeing so many new and near new aero jackets on sale here and on eBay - beautiful HH or SH only just started being broken in.

So I can wonder why?? If it’s a used jacket I can understand fit can be off either due to it was tailored for someone else before, or owner physique has changed.

But new jackets?! Why? I cannot imagine someone paying £1200 for a new aero jacket only to sell it for less than half price without wearing it.

If the fit is wrong, why not return it to aero to ask for a refund?

Just curious!

 

[Grayland]

Many times, when specific measurements or features are requested, the jacket is considered custom and isn't returnable.

 

[Marc mndt]

Imo a lot of Aero patterns are hard to get the sizing right, there's hardly any wiggle room. Half an inch too small and it'll feel uncomfortable, half an inch too big and it'll look like the jacket you borrowed from you older brother. It also doesn't help that their sizing system is rather complicated. A premier highwayman size 40 is really a 38. A size 40 highwayman is more like a 42. On top of that, CXL needs to be broken in: a year of regular wear before it loses some of its stiffness. Not everyone is willing to put in the work.

 

[NamoAmituofo]

Many times, when specific measurements or features are requested, the jacket is considered custom and isn't returnable.

But if aero produced the jacket per custom measurements or features, why sell it? If the measurements are wrong I believe aero would refund or at lease work something out?

 

[NamoAmituofo]

Imo a lot of Aero patterns are hard to get the sizing right, there's hardly any wiggle room. Half an inch too small and it'll feel uncomfortable, half an inch too big and it'll look like the jacket you borrowed from you older brother. It also doesn't help that their sizing system is rather complicated. A premier highwayman size 40 is really a 38. A size 40 highwayman is more like a 42. On top of that, CXL needs to be broken in: a year of regular wear before it loses some of its stiffness. Not everyone is willing to put in the work.

Last year I bought a 2nd hand black HWM in 40 that was stock and fully broken in. I sold it cos it was too light for my liking especially given it was CXL SH - at just 2.5KG or 5.5lb. I just sold it and used the funds to buy a Vanson Enfield 42 in black HH (!!) which I haven’t received but chest and sleeves measurements are close to HWM 40. I hope it will fit and if it does I will wear the hell out of it to get all the teacore showing! Oh I do hope it is significantly heavier as I just can’t do light jackets

My custom aero KoTR I do plan to keep wearing it and pass onto next gen one day! It weighs 3.2KG or just over 7lb. Aero did a cracking job making it fit me so well, they actually went 2-3 rounds to confirm the measurements I provided based on HWM model. Every time I put on this armor light jacket I just feel good.

I have a 3rd jacket, which I may decide to sell one day. I remember o this forum there was a HWM that was worn out so much - and I plan to do just that to my 2 jackets.

 

[TREEMAN]

Good thread… I’ve wondered the same thing myself. Hope we can get it figured out here .

 

[Monitor]

For me personally, as pretty as it is, the CXL is a horrible choice of leather for clothes. It is too heavy, too restrictive even though it is relatively soft (it genuinely drapes on a warm day!). It scuffs, fades, etc. pretty much instantly and as much as the idea of that cool broken in, worn out leather jacket may seem appealing, having one that at the same time looks both old and new isn't what I had in mind when I dropped few hundred dollars.

I bought a shiny, new Cafe racer that turned brown within one week! Luckily, Aero was kind enough to accept it back. . .

Anyway, that, combined with a somewhat basic pattern, so to say, made each of my Aeros the kind of jackets I would plan on wearing on special occasions and never the kind of jackets I wanted to wear outside of said occasions.

Connelly and that other type of Steer they've used in the 90's, though, was to me a polar opposite and all the jackets that I owned in this hide, I immediately liked a lot. None was neither in my size nor the style I cared for but if one was, I would've probably kept it (for a while).

 

[BloodEagle]

Any CXL Aero Ive ever tried I found very uncomfortable specifically under the arms/in the armpit area - it may just be me of course, and it probably gets better once broken in, but I could never get past that.

 

[Tom71]

Not really Aero‘s fault, IMO.

Aero is famous for its heavy CXL leathers. The only place to get it in Europe really (SB used to be ‘the other one’, but they withdrew from CXL too).
A lot of customers don’t seem to be happy with the properties of CXL leather, as evidenced in this thread as well: heavy, non-breathable, needs to be form-fitting to look good, but then turns uncomfortable, re-break-in required, every time the waxes get cold.

I get it. I am not really grabbing my old Aeros so much any more too. A pity, because nothing looks like well-worn CXL. When I started at TFL you would have lost your membership over a harsh word on CXL and rightfully so. Alas, the times are changing and so are the demands of people. Stu will have his opinion on that.

Other than compromise on usability, I can’t see any reason not to be happy with Aero. Really none.

Primo HWM in heavy CXL horse. Zipper broken so many times that I had it replaced locally by an ugly but sturdy variant. Other than that still one of the few I would never sell.

 

[MrProper]

It's a dream that there are so many used ones. It's just stupid that they're all too short and have sleeves that are too short. But maybe that's a good thing. lol

I've sold three Aeros so far. Two old ones (CXFQHH) were too short for me because the trousers only ever sit on my hips and I had one configured too small. Stupid when you want to turn a regular into a slim fit. It didn't work.
Apart from that, I'm quite happy with my Aeros (CXSH, Badalassi, Vicenza) and don't plan to sell them for the time being. But if I don't wear them any more at some point, then it may well be possible to sell them.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Aero has at least four different pattern blocks (that I’ve experienced) which they build their jackets from, I didn’t know which is which until I actually bought one and tried them on. The numbers will vary in results depending on the different pattern blocks.

My best advise for an Aero jacket is to buy a used one first, wear it for a month, then decide if you want to do some custom versions of it. This would also be the case for all jackets really. I never know how the jacket is cut until I actually have the jacket and wearing it. Numbers can be misleading on different cuts.

My best guess of why there’s so many Aero jackets on the resale market is that, there’s a lot of Aero jackets out there, more so than any other niche brands mentioned in the forum, other than maybe Vanson and Schott, they’re a lot of jackets out there too. These guys been around for a long time and they make a lot of jackets.

 

[Craig from Craigslist]

I also think Aero is a go-to recommendation (at least on this site) for a first “nice” leather jacket. I imagine as folks develop their sense of style and figure out their measurements, they’re more likely to sell off their early jackets. My experience with Aero has been really good, but I mostly buy used except for one exception, the rockafella, which I intentionally got in pinnacle because I didn’t want a heavy jacket.

 

[bigmanbigtruck]

I personally haven't dealt with Aero. But like @Canuck Panda mentioned, there's so many used ones around by virtue of their popularity - not just TFL. And they're appealing because you can get the jackets custom.

But when getting a custom jacket, you generally assume the risks if you request something that doesn't jive with the pattern, and it ends up not fitting so great. Can always ask Aero about it and see if anything can be done, but usually in these cases, you cannot return and your only recourse is to sell it off.

There are of course exceptions when there is a blatant error on the maker's part such as being outside their measurement tolerance. But they're called exceptions for a reason.

 

[onstar]

Last year I bought a 2nd hand black HWM in 40 that was stock and fully broken in. I sold it cos it was too light for my liking especially given it was CXL SH - at just 2.5KG or 5.5lb. I just sold it and used the funds to buy a Vanson Enfield 42 in black HH (!!) which I haven’t received but chest and sleeves measurements are close to HWM 40. I hope it will fit and if it does I will wear the hell out of it to get all the teacore showing! Oh I do hope it is significantly heavier as I just can’t do light jackets

My custom aero KoTR I do plan to keep wearing it and pass onto next gen one day! It weighs 3.2KG or just over 7lb. Aero did a cracking job making it fit me so well, they actually went 2-3 rounds to confirm the measurements I provided based on HWM model. Every time I put on this armor light jacket I just feel good.

I have a 3rd jacket, which I may decide to sell one day. I remember o this forum there was a HWM that was worn out so much - and I plan to do just that to my 2 jackets.

Vanson uses HH? Where did you get it from?

 

[onstar]

Any CXL Aero Ive ever tried I found very uncomfortable specifically under the arms/in the armpit area - it may just be me of course, and it probably gets better once broken in, but I could never get past that.

Are you referring to CXL HH or steer? I read their steer is softer than HH, and steer squeaks alot

 

[MrProper]

Are you referring to CXL HH or steer? I read their steer is softer than HH but squeaks alot

My CXSH is relatively soft and doesn't squeak. Badalassi Steerhide squeaks/screaks.

 

[Edward]

I've never sold any of mine off quickly - apart from an ANJ3 I bought used, and it was simply too small. I've sold one or two others, and will reluctantly sell a couple I still have because I've changed shape over the years. I'm now the same waist size as I was when I last regularly wore my Bootlegger, but my shoulders have spread as I've aged (the Bootlegger arrived in my early mid 30s; I'm 50 now), and I need a different size. I'm reluctant to part with the ones I will be selling / have sold, but ultimately they're too nice to go unworn, I can't wear them, and I don't have the space to store jackets I'm not wearing. Most of them will be replaced with the same of a similar model.

I still very much like the hefty CXL hides in browns and cordovans. I'm fussier with black - I like a black hide that stays black. It depends on the jacket, though. I'm also a big fan these days of Aero's goathide; forthcoming jackets will doubtless come in both options. Possibly also a battered steer at some point. I never had a CXL that didn't break in just fine after a month or so.

 

[NamoAmituofo]

Vanson uses HH? Where did you get it from?

Yes mate Vanson used to offer heavy HH (I vaguely recall Horween CXL but others can correct me). Rumors have it that Vanson has the best cut and couple that with a heavy HH I just have to experience it! I got it from a fellow lounger here

 

[Guppy]

I don't know, but I guess it's mostly fit issues and the reality of wearing a jacket through the breaking in period convinces a lot of people that it's not for them. Whatever the case, I've certainly bought a lot of nice jackets at deep discount because of it. And sold a number of them on as well.

 

[Peter Mackin]

Last year I bought a 2nd hand black HWM in 40 that was stock and fully broken in. I sold it cos it was too light for my liking especially given it was CXL SH - at just 2.5KG or 5.5lb. I just sold it and used the funds to buy a Vanson Enfield 42 in black HH (!!) which I haven’t received but chest and sleeves measurements are close to HWM 40. I hope it will fit and if it does I will wear the hell out of it to get all the teacore showing! Oh I do hope it is significantly heavier as I just can’t do light jackets

My custom aero KoTR I do plan to keep wearing it and pass onto next gen one day! It weighs 3.2KG or just over 7lb. Aero did a cracking job making it fit me so well, they actually went 2-3 rounds to confirm the measurements I provided based on HWM model. Every time I put on this armor light jacket I just feel good.

I have a 3rd jacket, which I may decide to sell one day. I remember o this forum there was a HWM that was worn out so much - and I plan to do just that to my 2 jackets.

Good luck trying to get your vanson Enfield teacore,,,come back to me in 50years and show me the results......