Zip sleeves - which side?

[rockandrollrabbit]

All you owners of jackets with zip sleeves, which do you prefer: sleeves in the back, like on the Zip Sleeve Highwayman, for instance, or on top of the sleeve, like on the Board Racer?

I've created a poll, kindly take a moment if you have an opinion from experience. What I'd really like to know, is Why. What do you like or dislike about either configuration? I've got Highwayman-type zips on a Bootlegger, and really like them. I'm contemplating a Bootlegger with zips on the other side, like the Board Racer. (Ton312 has done this, I'm hoping to hear from him as well.)

For the record, I don't ride. I just appreciate them and find them both stylish and functional. Thanks guys.

 

[El Marro]

Well I got to cast the first vote and I went with zips on top a la Board Racer. The main reason I like this zip configuration is attitude, it just looks bad ass to me! I also like the functionality of it, I find the top side zips stay totally out of my way while zips lower down or on the side tend to rub or brush things more often when moving around.

 

[Guppy]

I think the best functionality is to have the zipper on the inside of the wrist. This is the least likely part of the arm to take abrasion in a motorcycle accident, so the zipper is very unlikely to fail in this spot. If your zip cuffs are not gusseted, this will be of critical importance in the event you end up sliding on pavement on your arm.

With the zipper in this position, it's possible that it can scrape against your body when you are moving your arms, which can lead to scratches on the body of the jacket, but if you have the zipper in this position, the maker should take care to use a zipper with a rounded pull that will not have such sharp edges, and if the pull has a leather tab attached to it, that can help pad it and avoid those scratches.

I like gusseted zip cuffs better than no gussets, or winflaps.

 

[SinSir]

Honestly what I've come to love is zips without the gussets. So much easier, especially for layering and riding to get everything just right. I agree the front zips have a cool attitude, and I can see benefits to it for other reasons but gusset free and zips up front wouldn't work. I voted traditional on the back because I'm contemplating moving forward to go gusset free. I have two jackets that way now and its the best!

 

[rockandrollrabbit]

I think the best functionality is to have the zipper on the inside of the wrist. This is the least likely part of the arm to take abrasion in a motorcycle accident, so the zipper is very unlikely to fail in this spot. If your zip cuffs are not gusseted, this will be of critical importance in the event you end up sliding on pavement on your arm.

With the zipper in this position, it's possible that it can scrape against your body when you are moving your arms, which can lead to scratches on the body of the jacket, but if you have the zipper in this position, the maker should take care to use a zipper with a rounded pull that will not have such sharp edges, and if the pull has a leather tab attached to it, that can help pad it and avoid those scratches.

I like gusseted zip cuffs better than no gussets, or winflaps.

Just to make sure I understand, which zip sleeve jackets don't have gussets? It's my understanding the zips on my BL have them. There's a piece of leather inside the zip. I guess I don't understand what a gusset is.

 

[SinSir]

Cal LAPD

 

[SinSir]

I think the best functionality is to have the zipper on the inside of the wrist. This is the least likely part of the arm to take abrasion in a motorcycle accident, so the zipper is very unlikely to fail in this spot. If your zip cuffs are not gusseted, this will be of critical importance in the event you end up sliding on pavement on your arm.

With the zipper in this position, it's possible that it can scrape against your body when you are moving your arms, which can lead to scratches on the body of the jacket, but if you have the zipper in this position, the maker should take care to use a zipper with a rounded pull that will not have such sharp edges, and if the pull has a leather tab attached to it, that can help pad it and avoid those scratches.

I like gusseted zip cuffs better than no gussets, or winflaps.

I do agree with the safety in the event of an incident but at the same time I layer quite often and to get it just right allows more comfort and maybe even helps prevention, maybe. I typically wear gauntlets or longer gloves too which adds to wrist protection. My shirt under the jacket is often a codura or kevlar blend in colder temps as well. A tshirt and short gloves is entirely another story and gear convo.

 

[AbbaDatDeHat]

Greetings R&R Rabbit:
Where and why??
Never on the bottom no matter the jacket style.
Scratches everything and is noisy.
B

 

[Guppy]

Just to make sure I understand, which zip sleeve jackets don't have gussets? It's my understanding the zips on my BL have them. There's a piece of leather inside the zip. I guess I don't understand what a gusset is.

Jackets that have gusseted cuffs have a connected piece of leather beneath the zipper, connecting both sides of the sleeve. When the zipper is closed the sleeve is tight at the cuff and keeps wind out. Open, the end of the sleeve is more open and allows air to flow into the sleeve.

Some jackets have this, while others only have a windflap under the zipper teeth, connected to one side only. With the zipper open, the sleeve cuffs flap around and dangle. The one advantage of this is that without the extra material of the gusset scrunched up inside the sleeve when zipped up, the sleeve can be more comfortable and less bulky.

 

[rockandrollrabbit]

Jackets that have gusseted cuffs have a connected piece of leather beneath the zipper, connecting both sides of the sleeve. When the zipper is closed the sleeve is tight at the cuff and keeps wind out. Open, the end of the sleeve is more open and allows air to flow into the sleeve.

Some jackets have this, while others only have a windflap under the zipper teeth, connected to one side only. With the zipper open, the sleeve cuffs flap around and dangle. The one advantage of this is that without the extra material of the gusset scrunched up inside the sleeve when zipped up, the sleeve can be more comfortable and less bulky.

Good, so it turns out gussets are exactly what I thought they were. I for one wouldn't want sleeve zips without them.

 

[rockandrollrabbit]

Thank you to everyone who's replied so far. If you don't mind, take a sec to make your opinion known in the vote at the top. Thanks.

 

[rockandrollrabbit]

I think the best functionality is to have the zipper on the inside of the wrist. This is the least likely part of the arm to take abrasion in a motorcycle accident, so the zipper is very unlikely to fail in this spot. If your zip cuffs are not gusseted, this will be of critical importance in the event you end up sliding on pavement on your arm.

With the zipper in this position, it's possible that it can scrape against your body when you are moving your arms, which can lead to scratches on the body of the jacket, but if you have the zipper in this position, the maker should take care to use a zipper with a rounded pull that will not have such sharp edges, and if the pull has a leather tab attached to it, that can help pad it and avoid those scratches.

I like gusseted zip cuffs better than no gussets, or winflaps.

Thanks. I'm not using the jacket for riding, so my considerations about which is preferable are different.

 

[SinSir]

Good, so it turns out gussets are exactly what I thought they were. I for one wouldn't want sleeve zips without them.

I thought the same way and honestly had a hard time wrapping my head around it until I had a jacket without them. I understand it more now. I probably wouldn't remove them from a jacket with them but it has crossed my mind on a jacket or two. I have a Schott that one sleeve is very particular about zipping up and the gusset bunching. Its a pain 7 out of 10 times. Or this jacket I had once that with the sleeves unzipped I had a hard time getting over shirt cuff.

I also felt the same way about surgeon cuffs on my suits. Now all my tailored suits get those too.

If I think about it its come in handy a time or two gusset free to adjust something in a tight space like dropping a nut. I didn't have to remove my jacket, just unzip, fold up, and squeeze my arm in there.

Either way its interesting to see everyone's thoughts so far as to why and preference.

 

[navetsea]

I vote for zip in the back, I tried ungusetted zip near the thumb, but in my case the lower sleeve was always get caught by the base of my thumb and twisting along the movement of my hand, so I asked the maker to rotate the zipper outside but it was ending up at the face of my watch when I tried it on, so I rotated again to the usual position at the back, since I like exposed zipper teeth ( living in the tropics every bit of ventilation helps) the front of the jacket is busy with some exposed zips already, so the back is a lot more ideal to balance it out, also prefer V gusset over thin/ narrow flap for jacket. coiled V when zipped help to seal more without the sleeve being shaped too tapered toward the wrist to properly seal it so I can have straighter looking sleeve rather than carrot shape with V gusset stuffing the excess space of the wrist.

 

[Mr Knight]

Main preference goes to zip in the seam like the zip highwayman is due mostly to aesthetic purposes, to me having the zip in the board racer position just looks odd in my opinion. I’m sure there’s a practical reason for having the zip on top of the wrist as my Alpinestars riding jacket has it in this position but I’ve owned two Aero jackets with seam zips and it gives the sleeves a slimmer profile without being too ‘biker’ themed.

 

[handymike]

It depends on the style of jacket. For a moto-style I like them on top for attitude like on the Indian Ranger (windflap) / for casual- on the seam (back) and gussets. Be careful with aero...the gusset leather is thick as the jacket, and CXL won’t close all the way.

 

[ton312]

Can't choose, love both.

 

[Will Zach]

I like the clean look when I look at the sleeve, hence I prefer the zipper on the bottom of the wrist.

 

[sweetfights]

Love them here- out of my way but still looks great.

 

[roadking04]

Scratches everything and is noisy.
B

I asked this question a few months ago. I have to agree with B. Zippers on the bottom tend to scratch things if you are not careful. I have a nice walnut rocking chair that I scratched with my Perfecto zips. Not a big deal, hardly noticeable, but it was MY chair. I would hate to accidentally scratch SOMEONE elses chair.