Eastman B-15 any owners?.. any thoughts?...

[Dirtbagdiver]

Evening folks, looking into 'cloth' flight jackets... now the one which has really caught my eye is the Eastman B-15... anybody out there who owns/has owned one?... I own a Buzz Rickson N-1 which I'm absolutely in love with, so obviously considered one of theirs, but can't find one in my size... found a later b-15c, but haven't found the love for the nylon jackets (yet)... I could get a rickson b-10 imported from Japan, cheaper than the cost of the Eastman, but the Eastman attention to the detail of the rayon/cotton blend is really alluring!... is it worth the extra money?.... are rickson planning a re-issue?...
Cheers
Dean

 

[Otter]

I have one. It is one of the few jackets that I have unwrapped and both my wife and then 12 year old daughter said "Wow, that is a nice jacket."
Well made, hard wearing, very nice collar, useful pockets and a reasonable back length unlike my Alpha Repro Series.

 

[Dirtbagdiver]

One of the reasons I'm heading for a b-15, is that the slash pockets are more convenient for casual wear....

 

[Otter]

Comfy jacket, quite warm and you don't have to panic about it getting wet. I moved on most of my sheepskins, but kept this, I would definitely buy it again.

 

[bn1966]

They are all of the above purchased one a few years ago.

 

[chamboid]

What's your size?

 

[Dirtbagdiver]

What's your size?

Hi, I'm a 46 in an Eastman A2... and a 46 when using the Eastman calculator for the B-15 on their site..

 

[chamboid]

You'll probably have more luck than with the Buzz jackets. They don't not come in large sizes too often.

The B-15's Eastman make are very good, only quibble, the Eastman stamped Conamr shaped zip. They are also brining out a B-15a using dead stock cloth.

 

[Dirtbagdiver]

My buzz n1 is a 44, and is spot on... but can only find a b-10 in that size.... like the sound of the b-15a...

 

[HPA Rep]

My buzz n1 is a 44, and is spot on... but can only find a b-10 in that size.... like the sound of the b-15a...

The Eastman B-15's are superb. Buzz Rickson's B-15's haven't been made in a few years; they offered a B-15A two years ago, and they also have offered the End-Zone Twill fabric you like that Eastman uses on their B-15. Buzz first used the End-Zone Twill on a limited-edition B-10 many years ago, which we stocked and sold out of fairly early on.

Buzz B-15's and B-15A's (not B-15C or B-15D) are not much less costly than the Eastman offering, and with the Japanese yen recently gaining considerable strength and headed to 2014 trading levels, even if Buzz offered a B-15 for fall 2016, which we'll know about by Fri., it could end up being the same cost as the Eastman version or really close.

I like the efforts at making the B-15 from both manufactures quite a bit, and each has pros and cons, with the double-faced alpaca-and-wool lining used by Buzz being a pro vs. the single-faced lining used by Eastman (double-faced is correct to the vintage jackets), and a con being that Buzz sizes will alway be limited to no larger than 44 unless we or another retailer have larger sizes made exclusively for our own needs, such as the Buzz B-10's we have in size 46.

Good luck in your quest!

 

[CBI]

Not sure this helps but first, the B-15 is a great jacket. Love the history, slash pockets and off-set zipper! Lots of other super details. I own a mint original Werber Sportswear B-15 and sold another original last year (wish I had not). The Eastman copy is great! However, the B-15 is somewhat short waisted, its got poofy arms and the fur collar IMO looks almost out of proportion to the other dimensions of the jacket. I ALWAYS choose my BR N-1 over my B-15. If you love your N-1, consider just sticking with it. The N-1 is warm, a little roomier, is military without totally looking like it and one doesn't really need to tuck in one’s shirt. I live in quarter zip fleece tops in the winter and love just throwing on my N-1. Have you considered a tanker jacket? A looser fit, slash pockets, smart knit collar, military ...............also much cheaper! Just my thoughts for fun.