Why Should I Buy A Vanson?

[Coriu]

I'm more worried about shrinking with age!

Better buy your jackets a tad on the short side then.

 

[TREEMAN]

I’ll post some fit pics later View attachment 345578 View attachment 345579 View attachment 345580 View attachment 345581 View attachment 345582 View attachment 345583

What are your thoughts on the leather ?

 

[JMax]

The buyer made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Keeping it would've been nonsensical. Doesn't happen often but it's a possibility!

I woulda doubled it.

 

[ton312]

I woulda doubled it.

I wouldn’t let you do that. But yeah, it was a gem!

 

[Canuck Panda]

I woulda doubled it.

I wouldn’t let you do that. But yeah, it was a gem!

Now he’s definitely getting a PM!
That grey Vanson E was an unicorn. Lucky guy who now wears it.

 

[JohnS33931]

What are your thoughts on the leather ?

I like it - it really is mid weight and not stiff. Looks beautiful.
I have quite a few from U.S. Leather, which is about 30 miles from me. They make very nice, comfortable jackets too - theirs are a bit lighter than Vanson’s midweight. The lady at Vanson told me that the midweight is tumbled. I think that if I was still riding and more likely to abuse the jacket, I would go with the CW. But I’m in my mid 60s and just wear them casually. For me the midweight was just so much more comfortable right off the rack.
Hope that is helpful.

 

[JohnS33931]

I like it - it really is mid weight and not stiff. Looks beautiful.

I haven't worn it much because its summer, but I'm not happy with it at this point. The squeaking from it is terrible. I hope it goes away - I've read to try talc or put it in the dryer with tennis balls and no heat. I'll have to try it, but does anyone have any other suggestions. I don't know if I can stand wearing it enough to break it in - hate to put this at the back of my closet.

 

[El Marro]

I haven't worn it much because its summer, but I'm not happy with it at this point. The squeaking from it is terrible. I hope it goes away - I've read to try talc or put it in the dryer with tennis balls and no heat. I'll have to try it, but does anyone have any other suggestions. I don't know if I can stand wearing it enough to break it in - hate to put this at the back of my closet.

I have not owned a Vanson made from the Firenze leather but one thing I have done with all of my Vanson jackets when they arrive is to get them wet and wear them around the house as they dry. I did this primarily as a way to speed up the break in of the heavy comp weight leather but I think it helped reduce the squeaking as well.

 

[JohnS33931]

Thanks for your help - I’ll try that when the weather cools down some.
The idea of putting in a dryer scares me a little.

 

[El Marro]

Putting the jacket in the dryer on low (or no) heat won’t hurt it a bit.

 

[AeroFan_07]

^^ +1 to both options...

I had my HD-Vanson made of X150 leather (not offered now) on this morning as it was rather cool here in Iowa. Nice (but short lived) change for early August. It's waxy of feel and only has a slight amount of "squeak" to it. Could also try a couple coats of Pecards on it and see if that - along with just wearing it, softens it up.

That said, there are just some "noisy" squeaky leathers out there that are difficult to tame.

 

[JohnS33931]

Thanks again - I’m going to try getting it wet first though.

 

[Khilij]

My Chopper in Comp Weight took about 3 months of daily wear, rain or shine, to stop squeaking, but it did stop squeaking eventually. I sounded like a rubber duck for the first bit of wearing it though.

 

[JohnS33931]

My Chopper in Comp Weight took about 3 months of daily wear, rain or shine, to stop squeaking, but it did stop squeaking eventually. I sounded like a rubber duck for the first bit of wearing it though

LOL - it was a little cooler last night - so I wore it when I walked my dog - thought I was going to wake the whole neighborhood.

 

[Carlos840]

LOL - it was a little cooler last night - so I wore it when I walked my dog - thought I was going to wake the whole neighborhood.

In my experience, squeeking comes mostly from the pits, what works well is to smear a small amount of your favourite conditionner (i use pecards) in the pits area with a rag.
I don't usually put much, i just rub the greasy rag or brush that i use for that a couple times on the pits and it silences things for a few days.
As others have said, water should also help the jacket mould to you and at some point it is going to stop squeaking.

 

[JohnS33931]

Probably dumb questions - but…
just wondering about the getting it wet - does this mean soaked or could I mist it with a spray bottle till its fairly damp?
Also I know it depends on how wet and the weather conditions, but wondering on average, how long you wear it to dry - a couple hours or all day?

 

[morrison2951]

I think misting would be the best bet.

My favorite jacket to this day is still my HH Vanson Enfield. Just a real classic and tough to find one in HH anymore.

 

[JohnS33931]

Thanks - I’m going to try that. Ordered some Pecards today too, but I’ll try misting it first.

 

[El Marro]

You can mist it and you can also hold it under the shower until it is soaked, I have done both. It is certainly more comfortable to wear around after misting it since the inside stays dry. When I do this I often spray the entire jacket with a water bottle until it begins to drip on the floor a bit and then put it on. I find it after 10 minutes or so it is usually pretty dry and if I will often repeat the process a couple times.

 

[JohnS33931]

Thank you!
That sounds pretty easy. I was imagining it taking all day to dry out. I was nervous about doing it. I haven’t let leather get very wet since I was a kid - bought a 10 speed Raleigh bicycle with a leather seat that got soaked the first week that I had it. Seat drooped and was like that the rest of the time I had it - pretty uncomfortable.