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The absolute thickest/heaviest clothes in their class for each kind of clothes
- Thread starter Der_Einzige
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Nowhere. It was commissioned by a former lounger who sourced the leather and provided it to one or two makers who ended up rejecting the project until Five Star agreed and actually delivered it. Jchance has shared the thread of that epic journey.
Harris HTM
Call Me a Cab
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- In the Depths of R'lyeh
Well, JL were about to do it but our friend freaked out when he found out that they would skive the leather at the seams, this is cheating, right?
Ah, that could be. I read the thread a while ago and all in one swoop, so the details are a bit unorganized in my mind. I truly wish I had already been here to had witnessed it live.
Harris HTM
Call Me a Cab
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It was fun to watch but this guy managed to get banned twice here, he quite often behaved like a spoiled brat. A pity as he had a nice collection.
BloodEagle
Practically Family
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- 584
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- UK
Very peculiar interest in extremely thick clothing. My question is what sparked your interest in this type of stuff and what is driving you to hunt down the very thickest jackets or jeans when they are usually so uncomfortable? Why do you want to walk around in armour?
I'm not the OP but for me it's actually the experience of owning two ultra-heavy fabric items.
The first one is the British-made Iron Shirt, produced by Hebtroco from fabric normally used for pants. It's 16oz!! It seems extreme for a shirt but it's surprisingly comfortable and has an amazingly complimentary cut--straight bold lines, and the shoulders look a bit like they have shoulder pads, though they obviously don't.
The second one is a Ship John waxed cotton jacket at 24oz. Super thick--feels like leather--but surprisingly comfortable to wear.
These items are extreme "on paper" but actually wear surprisngly comfortably, so much so that they are probably my two favorite pieces I own, and they have unique qualities that similar items made from thinner fabrics don't. In the case of the Iron Shirt--it has a very masculine, shapely silhouette, and in the case of the Ship John jacket, it feels like a different type of fabric (leather) and it's suitable for different temperatures than regular cotton.
The first one is the British-made Iron Shirt, produced by Hebtroco from fabric normally used for pants. It's 16oz!! It seems extreme for a shirt but it's surprisingly comfortable and has an amazingly complimentary cut--straight bold lines, and the shoulders look a bit like they have shoulder pads, though they obviously don't.
The second one is a Ship John waxed cotton jacket at 24oz. Super thick--feels like leather--but surprisingly comfortable to wear.
These items are extreme "on paper" but actually wear surprisngly comfortably, so much so that they are probably my two favorite pieces I own, and they have unique qualities that similar items made from thinner fabrics don't. In the case of the Iron Shirt--it has a very masculine, shapely silhouette, and in the case of the Ship John jacket, it feels like a different type of fabric (leather) and it's suitable for different temperatures than regular cotton.
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Modified_last_call
One of the Regulars
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- Bucks County, PA
I've owned this jacket now for a couple of years and I snicker every time I put it on.
It actually wears quite well, but it's a little over kill
Considering this, what other jackets do you have? In which situation would you choose this one over those others?
Modified_last_call
One of the Regulars
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- 158
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- Bucks County, PA
Leathers aren't particularly warm but this one blocks the wind well and I'll use it in those conditions.
With the exception of a Hooch Hauler and this jacket, most of what I wear are original U.S. made jackets in various styles.
Cal CHP, wool and deer half belts, Bates board racer, Buco J-100 (too large for me now).
I'm all over the place, whatever strikes my fancy. Today I'm wearing a Walter Dyer, tomorrow will be something else I suppose.
I thought JL made that but I read that long ago and my memory is fuzzy. That’s why I write things down every time I research something instead of relying on memory.
I thought I like thick leather jacket until I tried a really thin leather jacket (with amazing grains still). It’s wool lined, with a heavy belt buckle and it weighs only 4.3 lbs. I can wear it all day, even to sleep, without my body feeling the weight, its forces, and the pain. I’m not into self-masochism like you guys.
For sweater, I researched heavily into it a while back. The thickest I could find at the time was 10-ply sweater in lambswool from SEH Kelly (that’s how sweater is measured). I lived in Minnesota at the time, the 2nd coldest US state, and I was afraid it would be too hot when I get indoor if I were to wear it, so I never bought one. But if I live in Alaska/Antartica, I’d buy that.
Apparently 12-ply, 14-ply- or even 16-ply sweaters exist but I’m not into their styles. I love SEH Kelly stuff, and 10-ply would have been overkilled already. SEH Kelly does have some 4-fly sweaters but I have enough sweaters already. So, the heaviest would be 16-fly but I suggest against buying one.
I thought I like thick leather jacket until I tried a really thin leather jacket (with amazing grains still). It’s wool lined, with a heavy belt buckle and it weighs only 4.3 lbs. I can wear it all day, even to sleep, without my body feeling the weight, its forces, and the pain. I’m not into self-masochism like you guys.
For sweater, I researched heavily into it a while back. The thickest I could find at the time was 10-ply sweater in lambswool from SEH Kelly (that’s how sweater is measured). I lived in Minnesota at the time, the 2nd coldest US state, and I was afraid it would be too hot when I get indoor if I were to wear it, so I never bought one. But if I live in Alaska/Antartica, I’d buy that.
Apparently 12-ply, 14-ply- or even 16-ply sweaters exist but I’m not into their styles. I love SEH Kelly stuff, and 10-ply would have been overkilled already. SEH Kelly does have some 4-fly sweaters but I have enough sweaters already. So, the heaviest would be 16-fly but I suggest against buying one.
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Guppy
I'll Lock Up
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- Cleveland, OH
I do like heavy weight everything, so I don't mind responding. There's definitely a limit for fabric and leather thickness.
I guess I'll start from the bottom.
Boots
7-8oz all leather construction from the PNW. White's, Nicks, Frank's, etc.
Socks
I like thicker, merino wool socks and if I know I'm hiking miles, double socks, a thin lining sock under a thicker 80% merino wool keeps feet dry and prevents blisters for all day comfort. Darned Tough, and similar. Love them all year round, hot weather is no problem.
Pants
I don't have a practical need for anything over 21 oz denim, although I do have a pair of double knee Iron Heart that technically hits 42oz where doubled. But mostly I wear cargo pants or fatigues, the weirder the better. Triple Aught Design Force 10RS fit well, wear well, but the Ny-Co fabric isn't particularly heavy. I still love them. Great pattern and features. I also like Bronson, Non-Stock, Sauce Zhan, Red Tornado, and other Japanese and Chinese makers of American vintage style workwear and reproduction military gear. Freewheelers, too, but they are ridiculously expensive. I also love 60s vintage West Germany winter wool military pants for cold weather, it tops out the heavy pants. They're lined with paper.
Belt
Daltech Bull Belt, Hank's, etc. Topping out at 15-17oz, which is 1/4" thick. Once you get used to it, everything else feels light, even though a half as thick belt is still plenty.
Shirts
CPO shirts in wool or wool-nylon from a variety of makers, I started a thread about them on the outerwear forum. Taylor Stitch Maritime shirts, Filson Mackinaw Shirt Jac, Weather Wool, some other honorable mentions.
Base layer
Raschel knit heavyweight thermals from a variety of makers, some quite affordable and others more geared toward brand conscious people who like to spend money. Morgan Mills arctex, if you can find them, the mill closed years ago. Taylor Stitch heavy bag waffle, etc.
Sweaters
Lots of makers do a great Irish fisherman sweater, the thicker and denser, the better. We need a real winter to properly wear one. Outdoor Knitwear, Barney Woolen Mills, and a host of others. Guernsey and commando wooly pully jumpers too.
Leather jacket
Cal Leather, Vanson Lost Worlds, Langlitz, Aero, Schott, Thedi, etc.
I guess I'll start from the bottom.
Boots
7-8oz all leather construction from the PNW. White's, Nicks, Frank's, etc.
Socks
I like thicker, merino wool socks and if I know I'm hiking miles, double socks, a thin lining sock under a thicker 80% merino wool keeps feet dry and prevents blisters for all day comfort. Darned Tough, and similar. Love them all year round, hot weather is no problem.
Pants
I don't have a practical need for anything over 21 oz denim, although I do have a pair of double knee Iron Heart that technically hits 42oz where doubled. But mostly I wear cargo pants or fatigues, the weirder the better. Triple Aught Design Force 10RS fit well, wear well, but the Ny-Co fabric isn't particularly heavy. I still love them. Great pattern and features. I also like Bronson, Non-Stock, Sauce Zhan, Red Tornado, and other Japanese and Chinese makers of American vintage style workwear and reproduction military gear. Freewheelers, too, but they are ridiculously expensive. I also love 60s vintage West Germany winter wool military pants for cold weather, it tops out the heavy pants. They're lined with paper.
Belt
Daltech Bull Belt, Hank's, etc. Topping out at 15-17oz, which is 1/4" thick. Once you get used to it, everything else feels light, even though a half as thick belt is still plenty.
Shirts
CPO shirts in wool or wool-nylon from a variety of makers, I started a thread about them on the outerwear forum. Taylor Stitch Maritime shirts, Filson Mackinaw Shirt Jac, Weather Wool, some other honorable mentions.
Base layer
Raschel knit heavyweight thermals from a variety of makers, some quite affordable and others more geared toward brand conscious people who like to spend money. Morgan Mills arctex, if you can find them, the mill closed years ago. Taylor Stitch heavy bag waffle, etc.
Sweaters
Lots of makers do a great Irish fisherman sweater, the thicker and denser, the better. We need a real winter to properly wear one. Outdoor Knitwear, Barney Woolen Mills, and a host of others. Guernsey and commando wooly pully jumpers too.
Leather jacket
Cal Leather, Vanson Lost Worlds, Langlitz, Aero, Schott, Thedi, etc.
There aren’t definitive answers to this question. Something like bull hide is probably the thickest hide being turned into jackets. For items that are thick/durable, I’d look at either custom orders or actual workwear that is used for things like welding (but you’re likely to find that goatskin is used - it’s not as thick as other hides, but is more durable). You’d probably find that whereas extremely thick leather/cotton/canvas is around, it wouldn’t be made into all-over clothing as the materials would be unwieldy, restrictive and therefore non-functional.
Harris HTM
Call Me a Cab
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If I remember well @ton312 once got a jacket from 5* made from a hide meant for I don't know: belts? Whips? Medieval armour? It was indeed super 'durable', he even used a hammer if I remember well but the jacket didn't yield. If this is what the OP means by thicker= more durable then yes, that's true. Although I'd rather wear a jacket made of steel than that.
The Lost Cowboy
Call Me a Cab
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Thickness isn’t necessarily an indicator of quality or material longevity. If you don’t believe that, up to you, but ‘boomer nonsense’ it isn’t. It is hard to imagine someone walking about in the thickest examples of all the clothing listed, plus footwear to similar spec. There are (for example), very thick wool overcoats which are not all that durable in comparison to blended, water/wind resistant fabric overcoats which will stand up to a monsoon for six hours after which there isn’t any deformation of shape and which do not get waterlogged, cannot rot, etc. The blended fabric in my overcoat is about half the thickness of peacoats I own, but it’s far more durable.
Thanks for telling people how they look.
El Marro
My Mail is Forwarded Here
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We thought he might be AI, but he turned out to be just another jackass of the human variety…
I too was super interested in heavy leather and denim when I started hanging around here 10 years ago. That was really the big thing at the time, the heaviest CXL Aero jacket you could get with some 25 ounce denim pants below.
that phase lasted a lot longer than it should’ve for me probably because I finally realized that I like clothing to be comfortable, and now I own a lot of heavy things that I no longer like to wear.
I too was super interested in heavy leather and denim when I started hanging around here 10 years ago. That was really the big thing at the time, the heaviest CXL Aero jacket you could get with some 25 ounce denim pants below.
that phase lasted a lot longer than it should’ve for me probably because I finally realized that I like clothing to be comfortable, and now I own a lot of heavy things that I no longer like to wear.
TartuWolf
Call Me a Cab
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I think that holding extra thick and beefy items in high regard is a completely valid and understandable opinion, I'm not far from being in that camp. What leaves a strong distaste in this case is how OP came in ***s swinging, calling names and insulting forum members. That ain't gonna fly here mate, might as well find another forum.
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