Aero vs BK

I've never owned an Aero, and at this point that's largely based on reports that their "contract" patterns aren't particularly accurate. I know that's not a supremely guiding factor for a lot of folks, but I'd still like to give high marks for my Bill Kelso experience.
Customer service and communication from the folks at BK was excellent. I got a Dubow 27798 during a time when it seems they were transitioning their frontline leather. I got samples sent to me in the States quickly and was notified when I was up in the queue. I definitely missed out on the current Victory Horse line ( early adopter ), but the leather I did receive is great. Further, the construction is top notch and the pattern, by all accounts, is pretty darn accurate. I had a Real McCoy's of the same contract and honestly feel the Bill Kelso iteration is much better.

These pictures are about two months old, I think, and were taken after I'd worn the BK while playing baseball. It is very comfortable, with comparatively little wear prior to this outing, having gotten a Good Wear at around the same time.





As it stands, the Good Wear is my primary go-to jacket because, hey...Good Wear, but I wear the Bill Kelso when I expect to break a sweat*. It's a great jacket.


*heh... It probably saved me a couple of dollars in gas this year, as well, as I've used it as my Mr. Rogers cardigan for keeping the morning an evening chill at bay.

andyfalzon said:

Jeff,
We welcome critique but at least say the truth.
You ordered your jacket on 29 July 2012 and we shipped it on 27 Sept. 2012. That's 2 months in my calendar, not 4 that you said. In the meantime, we were closed for 15 days in August. There is one person sewing jackets and he is entitled holidays.
There is a warning on our website that in extreme cases turnaround can be 2 months. We never exceeded that.
..

Click to expand...

You are closer to the actual shipping date than I was.
Checking my emails, On October 2 you notified me it was shipped the day before. I received the jacket approx 10-12days later...around mid October.

Re; shipping estimates/weeks off/vacations....as a general rule I think it is better to quote 8 or 9 weeks rather than 2 or 3 if you know there is a company vacation coming up/overworked staff/supply problems. Aero includes their vacations in their wait estimates, and it is appreciated.

As for the mouton.....
For several weeks, BK had noted over at the VLJ forum that they were waiting for better quality mouton to arrive before they could send out their waiting M422 orders. I waited till they announced (with photos) that they had the mouton in to place my order...and asked in my email when I placed my order if BK had all they needed to complete my order...specifying the mouton, leather, knits, zipper.
If they did not, that would have been fine, but it would have been nice to tell me up front.

About the stiffness of the leather...I don't know what to tell you. I do understand that quality leather is difficult to come by. It is a bit discouraging however when web site adds/forum posts by company owners extoll the quality of their leather to then receive something so disappointing. Follow up comments from the company that they will be getting better quality leather in in the future doesn't do much to promote confidence.

I would have to agree with Jeff on the fit Andy. Mine is exactly the same. Too long in the body, too long in the sleeves, the sleeves are way to baggie, and the waist knit is fitted far too loose and looks like pictures you see of old worn out navy jackets, not brand new ones. All of these traits can also be seen in Andrew's review of his 422, received at the same time as mine. Yes the goat is very stiff, so stiff it makes it difficult to operate the zipper. It doesn't come out the closet very often.

Brian

Sounds like a wrong size. We would like to investigate this.
Please contact us by email and we will fix it.

Interbak said:

I would have to agree with Jeff on the fit Andy. Mine is exactly the same. Too long in the body, too long in the sleeves, the sleeves are way to baggie, and the waist knit is fitted far too loose and looks like pictures you see of old worn out navy jackets, not brand new ones. All of these traits can also be seen in Andrew's review of his 422, received at the same time as mine. Yes the goat is very stiff, so stiff it makes it difficult to operate the zipper. It doesn't come out the closet very often.Brian

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Oddly, Andrew raves about his.

Interbak said:

I would have to agree with Jeff on the fit Andy. Mine is exactly the same. Too long in the body, too long in the sleeves, the sleeves are way to baggie, and the waist knit is fitted far too loose and looks like pictures you see of old worn out navy jackets, not brand new ones. All of these traits can also be seen in Andrew's review of his 422, received at the same time as mine. Yes the goat is very stiff, so stiff it makes it difficult to operate the zipper. It doesn't come out the closet very often.

Brian

Click to expand...

Didn't you and Jeff ask for dimensions before ordering...

hpalapdog said:

Didn't you and Jeff ask for dimensions before ordering...

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Yes I did.
As part of the order process, I sent BK my measurements, weight, and noted what mens jacket sizes I wear, and asked them for their recommendations on what size to order. I was told to order a size 44.

I received a PM from Andy and I'll contact him to sort things out. I ordered a 46 and it fits perfectly in the chest and shoulders, I don't see ordering a smaller size. I'm sure the fit is better on Andrew, he's about 6' 1" or 2" as I recalled, that would make all the difference in the length, I'm 5' 10". That's all for now, until I talk to Andy.

Brian

My M422 is a better fit following hot water treatment several months ago. I wanted a 44 to layer under and I have long arms so this size was fine for me.

If there was a Lounge Medal, I'd give it to Justhandguns for that great visual review...
Unbiased and detailed comparisons. Well done lad!
(pics of the three jackets being worn for fit comparisons would have been the cherry on the top).
Thanks again!

Brettafett said:

If there was a Lounge Medal, I'd give it to Justhandguns for that great visual review...
Unbiased and detailed comparisons. Well done lad!
(pics of the three jackets being worn for fit comparisons would have been the cherry on the top).
Thanks again!

Click to expand...

Picture is worth a thousand words. Was wondering when Justhandguns would show up as I have benefited from reading his comparison on another forum some time ago. In any case mine was the budget house jacket with the cheapest hide and therefore not particularly worthy of photos comparison lest ppl take that as a yardstick. One thing though, that comparison was done I think before the Victory horsehide came out.

kiltie said:

I've never owned an Aero, and at this point that's largely based on reports that their "contract" patterns aren't particularly accurate. I know that's not a supremely guiding factor for a lot of folks, but I'd still like to give high marks for my Bill Kelso experience.
Customer service and communication from the folks at BK was excellent. I got a Dubow 27798 during a time when it seems they were transitioning their frontline leather. I got samples sent to me in the States quickly and was notified when I was up in the queue. I definitely missed out on the current Victory Horse line ( early adopter ), but the leather I did receive is great. Further, the construction is top notch and the pattern, by all accounts, is pretty darn accurate. I had a Real McCoy's of the same contract and honestly feel the Bill Kelso iteration is much better.

These pictures are about two months old, I think, and were taken after I'd worn the BK while playing baseball. It is very comfortable, with comparatively little wear prior to this outing, having gotten a Good Wear at around the same time.

As it stands, the Good Wear is my primary go-to jacket because, hey...Good Wear, but I wear the Bill Kelso when I expect to break a sweat*. It's a great jacket.

*heh... It probably saved me a couple of dollars in gas this year, as well, as I've used it as my Mr. Rogers cardigan for keeping the morning an evening chill at bay.

Click to expand...

Is that a Russet coloured HH?