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Ordering a custom Aero. Advice or suggenstions needed.

Colin G

One Too Many
Messages
1,194
Location
Canada
Sateen in the sleeves is a must :), especially if you ever wear it with a short sleeved shirt.

I am in a t-shirt or polo almost %100 of the time. I run hot.

I don't even wear a light jacket till it hits around 10 degrees C (50 F).
 

Jejupe

Practically Family
Messages
957
Location
Finland
Sateen in the sleeves is a must :), especially if you ever wear it with a short sleeved shirt.

Sateen is nice, but I actually prefer cotton drill with short sleeved shirt. Actually I would recommend full cotton drill lining with heavy CXL leathers. Aero's cotton sateen is nice, but it is not as durable as cotton drill.
 

Colin G

One Too Many
Messages
1,194
Location
Canada
Yes so I've not been online much in the past day. I personally find the Tartan's to not be itchy either. They look stunning and they are indeed. Just have to take a little better care of them overall. They really do not add warmth either, but I find they develop holes more easily than Cotton Drill. See my thread about this in a J106 from earlier this year: https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/tartan-lining-service-life.94436/#post-2442553



Most of all, I totally agree, do not over-think it, and get something you can break-in and make yours. Cordovan Steer sounds awesome to me! :)

Reading that thread just took wool off my lining list instantly but I was never sold on it anyway. Sounds terrible to be honest. I have had jackets years old I wore constantly with zero lining wear.

I am sticking with my first plan and going with heavy cotton drill.
 

Jejupe

Practically Family
Messages
957
Location
Finland
Reading that thread just took wool off my lining list instantly but I was never sold on it anyway. Sounds terrible to be honest. I have had jackets years old I wore constantly with zero lining wear.

I am sticking with my first plan and going with heavy cotton drill.

Good choice! If I could have only one leather jacket :eek: it would be Aero CXL leather + cotton drill.
 

Sloan1874

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,418
Location
Glasgow
Can I suggest the Bootlegger premier fit - very slim with high armholes. I would recommend cotton drill for sleeves, light wool lining for the body - it's not scratchy and is marginally warmer cotton.
 

Colin G

One Too Many
Messages
1,194
Location
Canada
Can I suggest the Bootlegger premier fit - very slim with high armholes. I would recommend cotton drill for sleeves, light wool lining for the body - it's not scratchy and is marginally warmer cotton.

As of today, I have the 30's half belt coming as a test fit jacket and that should be here in about a week and a half. I am very sold on the Premiere Half Belt and sticking with that plan since that is the one I keep looking at and coming back to.

I don't really like the Bootlegger either since I am not too fond of a double collar or an asymmetrical zip like that. Not my style although the Bootlegger is a nice looking jacket, it is not for me.

No to wool also. I am not a fan of wool to begin with so cotton drill it is. I never wear sweaters and hate wool socks. I am stubborn and won't budge on that one. The only thing wool I own is a toque or a beanie or whatever everyone else that is not Canadian calls them.
 
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Seb Lucas

I'll Lock Up
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7,562
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Australia
I am not a big fella and like my jackets fitting neat and trim. I am 5' 8" and about 160 LB. I refer a jacket with a higher arm hole also.

I have sold off my current leather Jackets (Vanson Model A, Schott 689H) as they were too large for me at a size 42. I should be in a size 40 so I am starting over with two new jackets.

Go with whatever Thurston recommends.

But a size 40? I'm a 40 in many Aeros and I am 6 inches taller than you and 25 pounds heavier. Wouldn't you be after a 36 or 38? People often wear clothing that is over sized these days so it is hard for them to judge their real size.

Anyway - if I were you I'd get a Premier Highwayman with a cotton drill lining - the strongest most effective lining. The Bootlegger is very nice but the HWM will be more versatile.
 

Sloan1874

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,418
Location
Glasgow
Well, at least we're helping you to whittle down your choices. The test fit jacket's an excellent way to go, saves a lot of heartache if you can't get to the factory yourself.
 

Colin G

One Too Many
Messages
1,194
Location
Canada
Go with whatever Thurston recommends.

But a size 40? I'm a 40 in many Aeros and I am 6 inches taller than you and 25 pounds heavier. Wouldn't you be after a 36 or 38? People often wear clothing that is over sized these days so it is hard for them to judge their real size.

Anyway - if I were you I'd get a Premier Highwayman with a cotton drill lining - the strongest most effective lining. The Bootlegger is very nice but the HWM will be more versatile.

I have zero interest in a Highwayman. Highwayman fit large so I'd be a 36 in that. I have no idea about Aero sizing so I am trusting Thurston Bros. I assumed she'd send a 38 but the 30's half belt she is sending must fit true to size.

Carrie at Thurston said I should try a 40 as a fit jacket. I tried a Vanson Model F from them and it fit nice, but just didn't like the overall jacket. Going off that, she said a 40 in the 30's half belt is what she is sending as a fit jacket for me to try as a reference for the Premiere half belt so yes, I did do as Thurston recommended.
 

Colin G

One Too Many
Messages
1,194
Location
Canada
I received the test fit jacket today which is a 30's half belt in a size 40. It is FQHH and it feels on the thin side compared to my Vanson steerhide and Schott horsehide.

The steerhide sample is thicker than the FQHH sample they sent which confirms things for me. Steerhide for sure. This FQHH jacket almost feels ready to go and would not need a whole lot of break in time. My Schott was like a concrete jacket out of the box and took forever to break in. I was sent a vincenza sample also and I feel it would be far too thin for what I want.

This is my first foray into Aero and to be honest, the jacket is not quite as high in quality as I expected. The front zipper is almost an inch of axis at the bottom which is kind of odd, but it is a test fit jacket so it is going back tomorrow anyway. The chest pocket is also pretty small and very hard to get a hand in there and my hands are an average medium size.

It to fit OK in some areas, but the arm holes are too low so when you raise your arms to hold handlebars on a motorcycle, the shoulders pop out and look like little horns. My Vanson Model A, even though too large at a 42, moved with me and did not do this. I assume due to it having a bi-swing back and high armholes. The Premiere half belt would be getting a b-swing added and with the higher arm hole could fit but seeing as I can't get a Premiere to try as a test jacket I am unsure what to do and may abandon it.

I think a 38 would be too small and the 40 I received fit ok but just did not feel comfortable in the underarm and chest area, especially when assuming a riding position on my motorcycle or even lifting your arm to move your hand on top of the steering wheel in a car. I had similar issues with my Schott with low arm holes. Waist fit fine and the lack of bi swing made moving your arms around difficult without the jacket being uncomfortable.

The Premiere half belt supposedly has higher arm holes but going off this 30's half belt I was sent, I am really hesitant proceeding with the Premiere since I can't try the exact jacket before I buy.

I need to try a 38 before I make any more decisions whether I want to continue with an Aero or not. It could be a possibility, that Aero justs does not offer anything that caters to how I want it to fit.

I wanted a
 
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ProteinNerd

My Mail is Forwarded Here
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3,890
Location
Sydney
If you want a jacket for a motorcycle you shouldn’t be looking at a half belt imo. They aren’t designed for the riding position and thus they ride up when you lift your shoulders.

I would have thought a Vanson Enfield might be a better option if that’s what you are after?
 

jacketjunkie

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,223
Location
Germany
If you want a jacket for a motorcycle you shouldn’t be looking at a half belt imo. They aren’t designed for the riding position and thus they ride up when you lift your shoulders.

I would have thought a Vanson Enfield might be a better option if that’s what you are after?

I'm pretty sure he mentioned earlier in another thread that the Model B (Enfield pattern) didn't suit his needs for riding either, for the same reasons as the Aero HB. Too low armholes and shoulders rising up. That Model A must have set some pretty high standards.
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,920
Location
London
If you want a jacket for a motorcycle you shouldn’t be looking at a half belt imo. They aren’t designed for the riding position and thus they ride up when you lift your shoulders.

I would have thought a Vanson Enfield might be a better option if that’s what you are after?

Also the lack of windflap or crosszip will make a HB useless on the bike above 40MPH.
 

Colin G

One Too Many
Messages
1,194
Location
Canada
A Vanson Model A will be my main motorcycle jacket, but not the only jacket I may wear when riding.

Long rides, yes the Vanson is it. Hopping on the bike to go down to the store, the pub ect, I may not want the Vanson and may want to wear the Thedi or whatever. Sometimes I just wear a denim jacket, sometimes just a t-shirt.

I want to be able to use any of my leather jackets when riding, not just the Vanson. I need a jacket to be more than just a good looking jacket. It needs to work in many situations like driving in a car comfortably without me fighting the jacket. I don't just stand around in a jacket but I need to actually move around comfortably and do things like move my arms above my waist when the situation calls for it.

High arm holes, like the Vanson Model A has, allows this to happen without the shoulders moving upward.
 
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Colin G

One Too Many
Messages
1,194
Location
Canada
If you want a jacket for a motorcycle you shouldn’t be looking at a half belt imo. They aren’t designed for the riding position and thus they ride up when you lift your shoulders.

I would have thought a Vanson Enfield might be a better option if that’s what you are after?

The Enfield is a more boxy fit. I went down that road years ago and got the Model A instead.

The 30's premiere half belt is supposed to have high arm holes which is why I want it. I don't really care about a wind flap on it or not as I may not wear it a whole lot on a motorcycle. I can handle a little wind getting through the zipper if I decide to wear it during riding on a short jaunt. A denim jacket lets in wind and that has never bothered me either.

I was sent a 30's half belt as a test fit jacket and yes, the 30's half belt has a lower arm hole so of course it will lift. I ran into that problem with a Vanson Model F and my old Schott 689H. Thurston Bros had no Premiere half belt to send a test fit jacket so they sent me a 30's half belt to try since it fits similar in the chest, but unfortunately the pit/arm holes are not similar.

I plan on adding a b-swing or action back, depending upon what Aero can easily add to it. They said they could but I never went into detail with them yet about which back can be added.

Even if I never intended to wear this jacket on a motorcycle, I'd still want an action back or bi-swing. Almost every leather jacket I have owned has had a bi-swing back on it so that is a feature I have really come to like.
 
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Colin G

One Too Many
Messages
1,194
Location
Canada
Here are the back choices I am considering. I have about 4 or 5 that I could use, but these 3 are the back styles I am favouring. Full bi-swing, 3/4" bi-swing and a shoulder gusset type. The first two bi-swings are the ones I am gravitating to most.





 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,920
Location
London
Here are the back choices I am considering. I have about 4 or 5 that I could use, but these 3 are the back styles I am favouring. Full bi-swing, 3/4" bi-swing and a shoulder gusset type. The first two bi-swings are the ones I am gravitating to most.






IMO option 1 is the most useful one.
I also have one like option 2 and it doesn't help much with forward reach.
No real experience with option 3, but have read that it doesn't function as well as option 1.
 

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