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Question about Vanson Model J

jacketjunkie

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,225
Location
Germany
Hi guys,
I have asked to the merchant what kind of leather is used to make this one. He told me competition weight but regarding the pics I have doubt about it. I think it looks more Firenze medium weight.
What do you think about it ?
https://www.wwag.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/WebSite.woa/wa/DirectAction?page=!WW16303
Thanks for the kind help
Cheers from France
Pictures rarely capture leather accurately. Bought my Vanson Dakota from them. If he says it is competition weight, it most certainly is. My Dakota came in the heaviest and thickest competition weight I had seen until then and the leather did not look that great on their website either.
 

Seb Lucas

I'll Lock Up
Messages
7,562
Location
Australia
Are these photos of the actual jacket you'll be buying or generic Vanson shots? Secondly, you can't tell Firenze from competition just by a pic. Who knows where the photos are from. The three kilograms is the real clue.

I have a Firenze barncoat jacket - at 3oz thick Firenze, it's bloody heavy enough - 2.2 kilos. I could never wear a J in Competition hide. :D
 

Hh121

Banned
Messages
3,004
Pictures rarely capture leather accurately. Bought my Vanson Dakota from them. If he says it is competition weight, it most certainly is. My Dakota came in the heaviest and thickest competition weight I had seen until then and the leather did not look that great on their website either.

Does the measurements and weight indicate in their website accurate?
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,920
Location
London
I wouldn't worry about it, there is huge variation in leather from batch to batch, unless you can get a sample from the specific batch used in your jacket you are bound to receive something different from the pictures you have seen. Whatever it is, Vanson don't use bad leather.

I have four Vanson jackets:

2001 Denver Light weight black chap leather: 2.175 kg / 4.79lb
2008 CHP2 Comp Weight: 2.90kg / 6.39lb
2015 Commando x150: 2.97kg / 6.55 lb
2016 Chopper Comp Weight: 3.60 kg / 7.95 lb

The Denver is actually the thickets one of the group, it doesn't have a lining or zippers, but i am convinced that if it had it would weight around 2.9kg too.
The CHP2 and the Chopper are both comp weight, but look completely different, they are different colour, different texture, they look like they came from two different tanneries and have 0 in common.
The chopper is that much heavier, but IMO it is mostly because of the extra nylon padding, the huge buckles etc. Take all that out and it would be very close to 2.9kg i feel.
The commando should be lighter than the comp weight ones, but it's not, it weighs as much as the Comp Weight CHP2.

Sorry if this is confusing, but i am trying to illustrate the fact that leather varies a lot from batch to batch, from year to year, from jacket to jacket. The pictures shown on the website could be from the 90s, showing a leather from a tannery they haven't used in 20 years!

Here are my two comp weight jackets:

ApCH3GG.jpg


More pics here:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/vanson-chp-2.95458/#post-2482942
 
Last edited:

jacketjunkie

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,225
Location
Germany
Does the measurements and weight indicate in their website accurate?

You should not rely on the weight or the numbers there too much.

As posted by Carlos above, Vanson jackets are usually around 3 kg but there can be variations. I guess they just measured a few or maybe from the first batch they got and put the weight on the website but it is surely not updated with every new jacket that comes in.

The sizing is only VERY roughly. You can tell from the chart.. when two different sizes only have 1 cm pit to pit difference you know they did not measure very exactly.
 
Messages
10,275
I wouldn't worry about it, there is huge variation in leather from batch to batch, unless you can get a sample from the specific batch used in your jacket you are bound to receive something different from the pictures you have seen. Whatever it is, Vanson don't use bad leather.

I have four Vanson jackets:

2001 Denver Light weight black chap leather: 2.175 kg / 4.79lb
2008 CHP2 Comp Weight: 2.90kg / 6.39lb
2015 Commando x150: 2.97kg / 6.55 lb
2016 Chopper Comp Weight: 3.60 kg / 7.95 lb

The Denver is actually the thickets one of the group, it doesn't have a lining or zippers, but i am convinced that if it had it would weight around 2.9kg too.
The CHP2 and the Chopper are both comp weight, but look completely different, they are different colour, different texture, they look like they came from two different tanneries and have 0 in common.
The chopper is that much heavier, but IMO it is mostly because of the extra nylon padding, the huge buckles etc. Take all that out and it would be very close to 2.9kg i feel.
The commando should be lighter than the comp weight ones, but it's not, it weighs as much as the Comp Weight CHP2.

Sorry if this is confusing, but i am trying to illustrate the fact that leather varies a lot from batch to batch, from year to year, from jacket to jacket. The pictures shown on the website could be from the 90s, showing a leather from a tannery they haven't used in 20 years!

Here are my two comp weight jackets:

ApCH3GG.jpg


More pics here:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/vanson-chp-2.95458/#post-2482942

How do you like the Commando?
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,920
Location
London
How do you like the Commando?

It arrived this morning, and i have been wearing it all day.
It's a very nice jacket, i really like the leather, the fit is great, its a very comfortable pattern, i really like it.
I especially like having a Vanson with "properly" finished sleeve ends, the unstitched sleeves (at the wrist end) on regular Vansons is something i struggle with.
The only thing i would change is the length, IMO it is 1" too long front and back.

I will post pics and a review sometime this week.
 
Messages
10,275
It arrived this morning, and i have been wearing it all day.
It's a very nice jacket, i really like the leather, the fit is great, its a very comfortable pattern, i really like it.
I especially like having a Vanson with "properly" finished sleeve ends, the unstitched sleeves (at the wrist end) on regular Vansons is something i struggle with.
The only thing i would change is the length, IMO it is 1" too long front and back.

I will post pics and a review sometime this week.

Thanks for the info.

I agree, especially about the leather and length. But the two-way zip makes the length okay for me. The X-150/Octagon is Vanson's current best. I look forward to the review.
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,920
Location
London
Thanks for the info.

I agree, especially about the leather and length. But the two-way zip makes the length okay for me. The X-150/Octagon is Vanson's current best. I look forward to the review.

IMO the two way zipper is just a crutch to make up for the fact that it is too long...
The fact that they changed the pattern in the v2.0 and gave it a "fuller bottom opening" is to me also indicative of the same problem. Just make the jacket shorter, and you don't need a two way zip or a fuller bottom opening!

Considering i am 6'2" and find it too long, they must have struggled to fit it to the average person.

Edit: Sorry for the derail.
 
Last edited:
Messages
16,464
I wouldn't worry about it, there is huge variation in leather from batch to batch, unless you can get a sample from the specific batch used in your jacket you are bound to receive something different from the pictures you have seen. Whatever it is, Vanson don't use bad leather.

I have four Vanson jackets:

2001 Denver Light weight black chap leather: 2.175 kg / 4.79lb
2008 CHP2 Comp Weight: 2.90kg / 6.39lb
2015 Commando x150: 2.97kg / 6.55 lb
2016 Chopper Comp Weight: 3.60 kg / 7.95 lb

The Denver is actually the thickets one of the group, it doesn't have a lining or zippers, but i am convinced that if it had it would weight around 2.9kg too.
The CHP2 and the Chopper are both comp weight, but look completely different, they are different colour, different texture, they look like they came from two different tanneries and have 0 in common.
The chopper is that much heavier, but IMO it is mostly because of the extra nylon padding, the huge buckles etc. Take all that out and it would be very close to 2.9kg i feel.
The commando should be lighter than the comp weight ones, but it's not, it weighs as much as the Comp Weight CHP2.

Sorry if this is confusing, but i am trying to illustrate the fact that leather varies a lot from batch to batch, from year to year, from jacket to jacket. The pictures shown on the website could be from the 90s, showing a leather from a tannery they haven't used in 20 years!

Here are my two comp weight jackets:

ApCH3GG.jpg


More pics here:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/vanson-chp-2.95458/#post-2482942

These two, though...
 

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