Is the avi leather half belt worth it?

[Boris.mtdv]

I’m looking for a leather sports jacket like the highwayman or half belt. I bought a jacket online second hand and it turned out to be too small, so now I’ve decided to only go for something I would be able to return. I live in Europe, so after digging around I found avi leather, and their half belt looks pretty decent for the money (https://www.avileather.com/product/halfbelt-horsehide-leather-jacket/)

Does anyone have any experience with this jacket and if so do you think it’s worth it?

 

[TartuWolf]

Just some thoughts from someone who also lives in EU and was doing research for about a year to find my first proper leather jacket:
AVI leather is something that I considered but quickly wrote off the list. I understand that they are primarily a budget military repro brand that do classic/civilian inspired models as well as a side hustle.
I have no doubt the military repro stuff is rather nice, but all of those civilian models just seemed rather meh to me compared to various other options.
I also didn't like the fact that they are less than transparent about their jackets being made in Pakistan.
I'm sure you'll get a decent jacket for the money but I wouldn't get excited about it.
Here you have some nice photos of their civilian line:

New collection from AVI LEATHER

This is Morten from AVI LEATHER here. At the moment we are working on some new civilian styles. All these jacket are made in 1mm black horsehide and will be offered with cotton twill lining or wool lining. The zippers are Talon and the chest pocket zipper will be updated with the talon chain...

www.vintageleatherjackets.org

If those look great to you and inspire confidence - go for it. Sure doesn't cut it for my taste.

 

[Boris.mtdv]

Just some thoughts from someone who also lives in EU and was doing research for about a year to find my first proper leather jacket:
AVI leather is something that I considered but quickly wrote off the list. I understand that they are primarily a budget military repro brand that do classic/civilian inspired models as well as a side hustle.
I have no doubt the military repro stuff is rather nice, but all of those civilian models just seemed rather meh to me compared to various other options.
I also didn't like the fact that they are less than transparent about their jackets being made in Pakistan.
I'm sure you'll get a decent jacket for the money but I wouldn't get excited about it.
Here you have some nice photos of their civilian line:

http://[URL]https://www.vintageleatherjackets.org/threads/new-collection-from-avi-leather.27694/

[/URL]
If those look great to you and inspire confidence - go for it. Sure doesn't cut it for my taste.

Thanks, what would you recommend instead for the same budget?

 

[TartuWolf]

You're not going to get a good NEW jacket on that budget, just not gonna happen.
Closest thing for a NEW jacket in terms of budget would be Rugged West. They don't have a half-belt but do have a rather nice variety of styles.

The real options come in the form of 2nd hand / used jackets.
For example at 300-400 you can get a sweet *** Vanson from Japan.
I honestly think that it doesn't get better than Vanson if you like Moto style jackets - it only gets fancier.
Overall a lot of options in JP marketplace / auctions. Can definitely end up with something super sweet for the 300-600eur budget, especially if you know some tricks.
EU - you can find something for sure, but much more difficult based on my experience. And more expensive.
UK is a bit better in that regard.
US you're looking at over 100eur in shipping alone.

 

[Boris.mtdv]

You're not going to get a good NEW jacket on that budget, just not gonna happen.
Closest thing for a NEW jacket in terms of budget would be Rugged West. They don't have a half-belt but do have a rather nice variety of styles.

The real options come in the form of 2nd hand / used jackets.
For example at 300-400 you can get a sweet *** Vanson from Japan.
I honestly think that it doesn't get better than Vanson if you like Moto style jackets - it only gets fancier.
Overall a lot of options in JP marketplace / auctions. Can definitely end up with something super sweet for the 300-600eur budget, especially if you know some tricks.
EU - you can find something for sure, but much more difficult based on my experience. And more expensive.
UK is a bit better in that regard.
US you're looking at over 100eur in shipping alone.

Thanks, I was worried about ordering from Japan because I thought shipping would be too expensive and because something might get lost in translation but I’ll give it a shot.

 

[TartuWolf]

Thanks, I was worried about ordering from Japan because I thought shipping would be too expensive and because something might get lost in translation but I’ll give it a shot.

Well it IS expensive, but not as expensive as US shipping. And you do need to know what you are doing to have the best chance at success. For example there's a lot of sketchy Aero Leathers jackets in JP that are quite tempting, but you have to be very careful with those.

 

[Boris.mtdv]

Well it IS expensive, but not as expensive as US shipping. And you do need to know what you are doing to have the best chance at success. For example there's a lot of sketchy Aero Leathers jackets in JP that are quite tempting, but you have to be very careful with those.

Yeah and I won’t be able to try before I buy. I think I’m just going to go for a Schott on Vinted because they have more standard sizes.

 

[TartuWolf]

Yeah and I won’t be able to try before I buy. I think I’m just going to go for a Schott on Vinted because they have more standard sizes.

Be very careful with Vinted Schotts, make sure you get an actual proper made in USA one because the LC or EU market ones are nowhere near the USA made ones quality.
I personally have a distaste for Schott and would probably never buy one with very few exceptions, but they do make a fine jacket especially if you can find one in good condition used.
You won't be able to try before you buy anyway with used items, unless you can try a specific model in a specific size at a store and then buy one used hoping it's from the same era with the same sizing.

 

[TartuWolf]

Tailor Brando / Crush on Retro is also something you can consider if you want to go the China route. We have a thread here, some members have pretty good experience. I've had great customer support experience from Dylan (Tailor Brando).
Here's a fresh *** video reviewing one of those jackets for 350$:

Maybe it will inspire you to take a gamble, who knows.

 

[Boris.mtdv]

Tailor Brando / Crush on Retro is also something you can consider if you want to go the China route. We have a thread here, some members have pretty good experience. I've had great customer support experience from Dylan (Tailor Brando).
Here's a fresh *** video reviewing one of those jackets for 350$:

Maybe it will inspire you to take a gamble, who knows.

I ordered their Mulholland in black horsehide and I wasn’t impressed. Had a weird chemical smell that stank up my whole house, the leather was rubbery, the fit was kind of weird and the hardware feels cheap (which it is and which should be expected, but it was rather disappointing lol). Maybe I should have chosen the model in the video but I won’t be taking the plunge again.

 

[baldipino]

I ordered their Mulholland in black horsehide and I wasn’t impressed. Had a weird chemical smell that stank up my whole house, the leather was rubbery, the fit was kind of weird and the hardware feels cheap (which it is and which should be expected, but it was rather disappointing lol). Maybe I should have chosen the model in the video but I won’t be taking the plunge again.

Well that's a bummer. I had a similar experience with my buffalo hide FiveStar jacket. I seemingly cannot stop thinking I'll find that magical, perfect "deal." But this experience has definitely impressed upon me the virtue of buying quality even if I have to wait and save. Pulling random triggers on "deals" has done nothing for me but fritter away hard-earned money I could've used toward purchasing items of true value-- both objectively and personally.

 

[Fiedi]

Well that's a bummer. I had a similar experience with my buffalo hide FiveStar jacket. I seemingly cannot stop thinking I'll find that magical, perfect "deal." But this experience has definitely impressed upon me the virtue of buying quality even if I have to wait and save. Pulling random triggers on "deals" has done nothing for me but fritter away hard-earned money I could've used toward purchasing items of true value-- both objectively and personally.

Hi, then I will be surprised in the one or the other way as I just have ordered a jacket by COR which looks like the one in the YTvideo. According to the info on the homepage it's vegy tanned and waxed horsehide from Poland, what seems to be logic for me as Poland is on of the countries with the most horsemeat consumption in the EU... Hope I can send it back without problems if it is trash...

 

[Boris.mtdv]

Hi, then I will be surprised in the one or the other way as I just have ordered a jacket by COR which looks like the one in the YTvideo. According to the info on the homepage is vegy tanned and waxed horsehide from Poland, what seems to be logic for me as Poland is on of the countries with the most horsemeat consumption in the EU... Hope I can send it back without problems if it is trash...

I hope you get your moneys worth . Would be curious to see what quality you end up with so please update!

 

[Fiedi]

I hope you get your moneys worth . Would be curious to see what quality you end up with so please update!

It's for 260,-€, so I don't expect real high quality - but the leather like the jacket on the foto is a must, otherwise I will send it back, as little upgrades with the knobs or the buckles I even like to do...
Me too, I already had a real bad experience with all trapdoors as I bought a leatherjacket on Ebay from a british seller but produced in Pakistan of the lowest quality in all belongings, even dangerous for my health I am sure if I had worn it and on top a difficult case to get my money back... If this happens again I will be cured and confident with my Simmons Bilt on the picture below, wich I bought by BurgundSchild Berlin

 

[Edward]

Another option, if you have the patience for it, is to keep an eye on Aero's pages for their second-hand and Apprentice Made jackets. The second hand ones are Aeros that folks have traded in with them, and generally come at a good discount. Apprentice Made jackets appear irregularly, but they are the product of new hires being trained up on the Aero line. I've owned two over the years; generally they're sold at about half the new price. If there are any very minor flaws (and Aero are fussy about what they let out the door with their name on it), they are clearly marked out on the sale page, along with clear and accurate measurements. An excellent option if you have the patience to wait for something you like in your size to come along, and aren't too fixated on buying a specific model / hide.

 

[Zoro]

Hope I can send it back without problems if it is trash...

That's quite likely going to be a tough one. Sending it back would imply send it back to China and all Chinese sellers (in general, not only leather jackets) are hard to deal with when it comes to returns.

Some people have been successful with it, I personally only buy stuff from China fully conscious I'm not return it because the hassle isn't worth it for me.

On the bright side? I got a leather jacket from China and I'm very happy with it. Would I still had preferred to spend some more money on an used or apprentice Aero as Edward points out? 100%. No, 500%! But I cannot know when a jacket in the pattern, size, leather and color I want will show up for sale (or if it ever will), but I do know what I can get from China right now.

 

[Fiedi]

That's quite likely going to be a tough one. Sending it back would imply send it back to China and all Chinese sellers (in general, not only leather jackets) are hard to deal with when it comes to returns.

Some people have been successful with it, I personally only buy stuff from China fully conscious I'm not return it because the hassle isn't worth it for me.

On the bright side? I got a leather jacket from China and I'm very happy with it. Would I still had preferred to spend some more money on an used or apprentice Aero as Edward points out? 100%. No, 500%! But I cannot know when a jacket in the pattern, size, leather and color I want will show up for sale (or if it ever will), but I do know what I can get from China right now.

On the homepage they have written down the option to send back within 15 days and I had my last bad experience with the jacket made in Pakistan that I sent back in the end to UK... But I ordered to have the jacket on the fotos and not for sending it back to wherever

 

[baldipino]

Hi, then I will be surprised in the one or the other way as I just have ordered a jacket by COR which looks like the one in the YTvideo. According to the info on the homepage is vegy tanned and waxed horsehide from Poland, what seems to be logic for me as Poland is on of the countries with the most horsemeat consumption in the EU... Hope I can send it back without problems if it is trash...

My poor experience was due to the leather giving me a rash wherever it touched bare skin. I truly hope your purchase goes well and that you are satisfied with it! Please keep us posted and give some fit pics-- it'd be the 1st time I'd seen that jacket actually on someone. Cheers!