Good Leather Jacket for riding?
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Kingwood, Texas
It pays to shop online. I found the jacket below (Harley Nightfall Camo jacket) at my local dealer, and it was around $400 or so. I found the exact same jacket online for about $200. As for the jacket itself, I'm happy with it. It's got vents for when it gets hot outside, yet it keeps you warm in the colder temps.
This....I did the same thing with the Road Warrior Jacket. Went to the stealership tried on on and liked it. Looked at the tag and was like WTH!!! So I went right back home looked on ebay for the same thing and got it for 250. Has the removable line with vents and all. The piping on the jacket also reflects light very well. The OL always tells me how bright it is when she is behind me.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,520
Likes: 270
From: Wellsboro, PA
Look at the pic in TKDKurt's post, #10. Whatever you get, get a snap on the neck like that. Don't get loose collars that'll flap around & drive you nuts. Could be an expensive lesson to learn!
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: north america
I know about leather. jackets from leatherup and similar for 100-250 bucks are far from being good quality jackets, these are made in pakistan of "corrected grain" hides which means the top grain has been sanded off (because of poor quality to begin with) and a fake grain has been hot stamped or hot rolled onto it after which it is sealed with a dyed/plastic like top coat.
What this means is the jacket will never produce a nice broken in look that you see on quality top grain leather moto jackets (ie: those nice deep creases in the arms, color patination with age etc.). The pakistan 'corrected grain' jacket will look the same ten years from now except it will look even crappier.
Have a look at how many small pieces of leather are used to make these Leatherup jackets, a quality jacket is made from fewer and larger pieces; jackets fail at the seams. Also, the sealed corrected grain jacket cannot breathe like a Fox or Vanson leather, these will only get better looking with age, as will a schott, langlitz and johnson, all usa made from select/choice north american steer hides with quality hardware and stitching (instead of the cheapest china sourced hardware and nylon stitching which actually tears the leather). you are not just paying for name as others suggest believe me, there is a vast difference in quality.
Buy a crap leatherup jacket (which leatherup probably pays 25-30 bucks each for) now and then you'll need to buy another one after the stitching and especially the zippers pull apart in a year or two and/or after you realize the difference in how they really look compared to a usa made top grain or naked grain jacket. people say leatherup jackets are great only because they don't know the difference.
Also while goat is hard wearing it will never really lose that brand new look to any great degree.
Go for a 3.0 to 3.5 ounce cow or horsehide hide from the companies mentioned and pass it down to your son in twenty years. Vanson makes really nice moto jackets using 'competition weight' hides. (as does johnson and langlitz, lost worlds/legendary and schott while still thick enough is slightly less than 'comp. weight'.)
The very best are horsehide jackets made by aero of scotland followed by Langlitz, followed by Lost Worlds and Vanson, followed by Johnson and Schott/Legendary. Jackets from pakistan are on on par with "mall jackets" in terms of quality and as I said will never get a beautiful broken in look. I'm in the leather business, have studied hides and moto jackets for many years, I know what I'm talking about.
If you can't afford a new one the guy that recommended getting a used one for 1/3 price knows what he's talking about, you can get them barely used for 1/3 rd the price on ebay quite often if you're prepared to keep your eye out.
What this means is the jacket will never produce a nice broken in look that you see on quality top grain leather moto jackets (ie: those nice deep creases in the arms, color patination with age etc.). The pakistan 'corrected grain' jacket will look the same ten years from now except it will look even crappier.
Have a look at how many small pieces of leather are used to make these Leatherup jackets, a quality jacket is made from fewer and larger pieces; jackets fail at the seams. Also, the sealed corrected grain jacket cannot breathe like a Fox or Vanson leather, these will only get better looking with age, as will a schott, langlitz and johnson, all usa made from select/choice north american steer hides with quality hardware and stitching (instead of the cheapest china sourced hardware and nylon stitching which actually tears the leather). you are not just paying for name as others suggest believe me, there is a vast difference in quality.
Buy a crap leatherup jacket (which leatherup probably pays 25-30 bucks each for) now and then you'll need to buy another one after the stitching and especially the zippers pull apart in a year or two and/or after you realize the difference in how they really look compared to a usa made top grain or naked grain jacket. people say leatherup jackets are great only because they don't know the difference.
Also while goat is hard wearing it will never really lose that brand new look to any great degree.
Go for a 3.0 to 3.5 ounce cow or horsehide hide from the companies mentioned and pass it down to your son in twenty years. Vanson makes really nice moto jackets using 'competition weight' hides. (as does johnson and langlitz, lost worlds/legendary and schott while still thick enough is slightly less than 'comp. weight'.)
The very best are horsehide jackets made by aero of scotland followed by Langlitz, followed by Lost Worlds and Vanson, followed by Johnson and Schott/Legendary. Jackets from pakistan are on on par with "mall jackets" in terms of quality and as I said will never get a beautiful broken in look. I'm in the leather business, have studied hides and moto jackets for many years, I know what I'm talking about.
If you can't afford a new one the guy that recommended getting a used one for 1/3 price knows what he's talking about, you can get them barely used for 1/3 rd the price on ebay quite often if you're prepared to keep your eye out.
Last edited by barneyfife; Oct 13, 2012 at 05:21 AM.
4th Gear
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: north america
ps. buffalo is also a poor choice, these aren't made from hides of majestic bison from the american plains (though US makers can and do use real American bison), they're made from skanky deseased water buffalo from se asia ffs. they're a cheaper hide then even the pakistan cow hide however in most cases you can't even tell if the pak jacket is made from water buffalo or cow because of the stamped in grain.
cheap jackets will come out of the box very limp and soft, this is not a plus for a new jacket despite the sellers trying to make it sound like that's what a quality hide feels like. a quality hide/jacket is quite stiff when brand new, initially it will be able to stand up on its own when zipped up (although naked hides like fox creek are the softest of quality hides), it is where you bend your arms and body in a stiff jacket over the first few months (at least) causing the hide to take on your singular arm and body shape and creases which gives the jacket its character, the quality jacket once it is broken in will actually look like it drapes on your body, a pak jacket will never do this, it'll look like a bag on you when new and will always fit/look like a bag on you, no creasing, no character.
also put the jackets side by side, the quality hide has a warm glow to it which will only get better, the pak hide is shiny and stays that way.
horsehide will end up giving a marginally better drape and patina than cow but it takes alot longer than cow.
if you want to learn more about what makes a quality leather hide/moto jacket just check out 'the fedora lounge' website in the 'outerwear' forum and get it from guys that actually know what they're talking about.
cheap jackets will come out of the box very limp and soft, this is not a plus for a new jacket despite the sellers trying to make it sound like that's what a quality hide feels like. a quality hide/jacket is quite stiff when brand new, initially it will be able to stand up on its own when zipped up (although naked hides like fox creek are the softest of quality hides), it is where you bend your arms and body in a stiff jacket over the first few months (at least) causing the hide to take on your singular arm and body shape and creases which gives the jacket its character, the quality jacket once it is broken in will actually look like it drapes on your body, a pak jacket will never do this, it'll look like a bag on you when new and will always fit/look like a bag on you, no creasing, no character.
also put the jackets side by side, the quality hide has a warm glow to it which will only get better, the pak hide is shiny and stays that way.
horsehide will end up giving a marginally better drape and patina than cow but it takes alot longer than cow.
if you want to learn more about what makes a quality leather hide/moto jacket just check out 'the fedora lounge' website in the 'outerwear' forum and get it from guys that actually know what they're talking about.
Last edited by barneyfife; Oct 13, 2012 at 05:23 AM.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 11,166
Likes: 1,801
From: Puget Sound, WA.
These guys are worth a look- http://espinozasleather.com/
This is a jacket with the following features:
This is a jacket with the following features:
- Snap down collar
- Heavy duty YKK zippers
- Zipper closure on sleeves
- Fully lined with quilt thinsulate liner
- One full size inside chest pocket
- Adjustable belts on sides
- Two chest pockets
- Pletes for extra arm extension
Banned
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 14,866
Likes: 31,162
From: Whiskey Falls, Texas
I know about leather. jackets from leatherup and similar for 100-250 bucks are crap, these are made in pakistan of "corrected grain" hides which means the top grain has been sanded off (because of **** quality to begin with) and a fake grain has been hot stamped or hot rolled onto it after which it is sealed with a dyed/plastic like top coat.
What this means is the jacket will never produce a nice broken in look that you see on quality top grain leather moto jackets (ie: those nice deep creases in the arms, color patination with age etc.). The pakistan 'corrected grain' jacket will look the same ten years from now except it will look even crappier.
Have a look at how many small pieces of leather are used to make these Leatherup jackets, a quality jacket is made from fewer and larger pieces; jackets fail at the seams. Also, the sealed corrected grain jacket cannot breathe like a Fox or Vanson leather, these will only get better looking with age, as will a schott, langlitz and johnson, all usa made from select/choice north american steer hides with quality hardware and stitching (instead of the cheapest china sourced hardware and nylon stitching which actually tears the leather). you are not just paying for name as others suggest believe me, there is a vast difference in quality.
Buy a crap leatherup jacket (which leatherup probably pays 25-30 bucks each for) now and then you'll need to buy another one after the stitching and especially the zippers pull apart in a year or two and/or after you realize the difference in how they really look compared to a usa made top grain or naked grain jacket. people say leatherup jackets are great only because they don't know the difference.
Also while goat is hard wearing it will never really lose that brand new look to any great degree.
Go for a 3.0 to 3.5 ounce cow or horsehide hide from the companies mentioned and pass it down to your son in twenty years. Vanson makes really nice moto jackets using 'competition weight' hides. (as does johnson and langlitz, lost worlds/legendary and schott while still thick enough is slightly less than 'comp. weight'.)
The very best are horsehide jackets made by aero of scotland followed by Langlitz, followed by Lost Worlds followed by Vanson, followed by Johnson and Schott/Legendary. Jackets from pakistan are on on par with "mall jackets" in terms of quality and as I said will never get a beautiful broken in look. I'm in the leather business, have studied hides and moto jackets for many years, I know what I'm talking about.
What this means is the jacket will never produce a nice broken in look that you see on quality top grain leather moto jackets (ie: those nice deep creases in the arms, color patination with age etc.). The pakistan 'corrected grain' jacket will look the same ten years from now except it will look even crappier.
Have a look at how many small pieces of leather are used to make these Leatherup jackets, a quality jacket is made from fewer and larger pieces; jackets fail at the seams. Also, the sealed corrected grain jacket cannot breathe like a Fox or Vanson leather, these will only get better looking with age, as will a schott, langlitz and johnson, all usa made from select/choice north american steer hides with quality hardware and stitching (instead of the cheapest china sourced hardware and nylon stitching which actually tears the leather). you are not just paying for name as others suggest believe me, there is a vast difference in quality.
Buy a crap leatherup jacket (which leatherup probably pays 25-30 bucks each for) now and then you'll need to buy another one after the stitching and especially the zippers pull apart in a year or two and/or after you realize the difference in how they really look compared to a usa made top grain or naked grain jacket. people say leatherup jackets are great only because they don't know the difference.
Also while goat is hard wearing it will never really lose that brand new look to any great degree.
Go for a 3.0 to 3.5 ounce cow or horsehide hide from the companies mentioned and pass it down to your son in twenty years. Vanson makes really nice moto jackets using 'competition weight' hides. (as does johnson and langlitz, lost worlds/legendary and schott while still thick enough is slightly less than 'comp. weight'.)
The very best are horsehide jackets made by aero of scotland followed by Langlitz, followed by Lost Worlds followed by Vanson, followed by Johnson and Schott/Legendary. Jackets from pakistan are on on par with "mall jackets" in terms of quality and as I said will never get a beautiful broken in look. I'm in the leather business, have studied hides and moto jackets for many years, I know what I'm talking about.
EVERYTHING this guy said is dead spot on. In fact, they ought to make his post a sticky on what to consider when shopping for a leather jacket. I've got several leather jackets, all over 25 years old, so i decided to buy a new one. Had my eye on a Fox Creek leather jacket, but with my size at 52/54 it was going to be around $600. After hearing the responses here about LeatherUp i decided to order one. Thought it was a fantastic deal at around $150.
Got it today, and although it's heavy, I'm disappointed in the shiny look it has. The hide has an almost fake look to it. I know it's leather but it just doesn't look right to me. For $150 it's a great deal, but if you've owned quality leather jackets in the past you'll be disappointed.
I'm gonna keep it, but I'm also gonna order that Fox Creek jacket i have bookmarked...
Banned
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 14,866
Likes: 31,162
From: Whiskey Falls, Texas
Incorrect info, or maybe they've recently changed, but there is NO return shipping label. If it doesn't fit you can send it back for a refund or exchange, but return shipping is paid by YOU!