Zippered Sleeves...how roomy?

• Mar 12, 2014

• #1

Cyber Lip

Practically Family

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739

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Seattle

How large do you guys like your sleeve openings in general, zippered ones in particular?

I never thought about this before until I got a zip sleeve aero highwayman recently, which has narrower openings. The things that are bugging me about it is that it's already kind of a PIA to get on and off with long sleeve shirts due to the cotton drill sleeve lining, so the narrower openings add to that. And I can only zip the zips about 2/3rds of the way up. I'm wondering if this is proper? Maybe I've always had jackets that were cut too large in the opening. What's the general rule?

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #2

Tarwater

Familiar Face

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54

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PA

I don't know what the standing rule is but in my thinking (and therefore purchasing) I want a jacket to fit at the wrist like it does elsewhere. If it is sized for layering I want it to zip snug against the layers at the wrist. If it is made to be fitted w a T shirt then I want it to zip snug against my wrist. I always want it to zip fully but snugly as I ride a motorcycle. I don't want extra room for bees and debris. In terms of fit being relative to body fit, I wear them close to the body as well. Again with a jacket for riding, a protective layer does little good if it slides up to your pits in the event of a wreck. I wear the same jacket on and off the bike. Someone else may want to chime in from a non riding perspective but there's my thought on it.

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #3

Dinerman

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Bozeman, MT

The point of zippered sleeves is to keep the wind out when riding a motorcycle. They are designed to be as snug as possible, with the zipper there to allow you to get you hand through the opening when putting it on and taking it off, just like the buttons on a shirt sleeve. Many modern jackets are cut wider in this area, with the zipper there more for style than for any actual function.

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #4

Tarwater

Familiar Face

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PA

Oh yeah, ha...and the wind

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #5

Lone Starr

New in Town

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43

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CA

Depending on how old the jacket is and what type of leather it is, it may just need a a little work in time. It may just be not a good fit for your body type. Unless you're built like Popeye, the working in should help. If it's a size 44 in brown and you're interested in a possible trade let me know. Good luck.

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #6

Cyber Lip

Practically Family

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739

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Seattle

No it's a size 38 but it fits larger than a 38, except in the forearms.

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #7

HoosierDaddy

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15,563

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East Central Indiana

Why not contact Aero and tell them about your problem and sending pics would also help. I have a size 40 FQHH Aero Bootlegger with zip sleeves..and the sleeves zipped are snug but zip easily all the way. However..removing the Jacket I must unzip them about halfway. My Vanson Enfield with zip sleeves is the same(and most of my other MC jackets)..so I figure that is normal.
HD

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #8

Superfluous

My Mail is Forwarded Here

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Missing in action

My zippered sleeves -- on Cafe Racer style jackets -- are considerably tighter around the wrist as compared to traditional cuffs.

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #9

wild_balls

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WESTCOAST OF SWEDEN

Cyber Lip said:

No it's a size 38 but it fits larger than a 38, except in the forearms.

Click to expand...

Hi,

Did you buy this from the used aeros? In that case it's might be my old one in a beautiful brown!
It was quite narrow in the forearms! The only reason for letting it go was the itching alpaca!
Anyway, it is a very beautiful jacket.


Cheers joakim

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #10

Cyber Lip

Practically Family

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739

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Seattle

It's not your jacket Wild Balls, it was made new to order. I'm not so sure if it constitues a problem, or if it's just me not being used to it VS other jackets. If I'm wearing just a t-shirt I can zip them all the way up but it's very tight and not comfortable as the folded over webbing(?) presses hard into my wrists. If I have a long sleeve shirt on they go 1/2 to 2/3rds up max. And that's if I'm not wearing a watch. With a watch on, forget about it. This isn't a riding jacket so wind is not an issue, but I do use the zips in cold weather. I ordered this jacket with zippered sleeves specifically for that reason. It's also relatively new/still breaking in, so maybe they'll work in/loosen up in time?

Ideally I would have liked them a tad looser to fit snugly (bit not tight) over long sleeves & watch all the way zipped. One advantage to the fit now though is it looks neater unzipped and doesn't have that flared sleeves look. I'm just trying to determine if I should look into having them let out a little. Not even sure if it's possible to do that but thought I'd get some opinions here first on how you all like your sleeves to fit.

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #11

I

IXL

One Too Many

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1,284

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Oklahoma

All of my Vanson jackets with zip sleeves can be zipped all the way up to " blood circulation-stopping tight" around the wrist, without the zipper being pulled all the way up. I like it like this, as I can set the degree of closure to seal out the elements,. And, I know that a tight fitting sleeve won't ride up my arm in the case of a whoopsie.

I have a Schott Perfecto, model 118, that I can put on and remove easily even while the sleeves are fully zipped: it won't seal, and if I ever go for a slide I believe the sleeves would, too. But I do look cool in the Schott, though.....

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #12

I

IXL

One Too Many

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1,284

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Oklahoma

Your sleeves will ease up a bit, with time and usage. When new, the heavy gussets really hurt my wrists (I'm delicate!!) but with time they relax and sort of mold to my shape, allowing me to pull the zipper up a little farther without screaming. But wearing a watch? Forget it!

My guess is that if you keep this jacket and wear it lots, you will end up being very happy with the eventual fit of the zippered sleeves.

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #13

HoosierDaddy

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15,563

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East Central Indiana

I wear a wrist watch all the time with my zip sleeve Aero and Vanson(semi large watch) and have no problem..but can't easily get to it to read if totally zipped. Partually zipped..no problem. However..the sleeves have never been so extremely tight that they hurt my wrists but perhaps you have thicker wrists than me.

 

• Mar 12, 2014

• #14

Cyber Lip

Practically Family

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739

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Seattle

I have normal sized wrists. It's just that I sized down to a 38 for this highwayman. It fits like a jacket in a size 40 something range, except for the sleeve openings. Dudes, I have a hard time looking at my watch with the sleeves all the way unzipped! Lol but that's just because of how stiff it is right now more than the size of the hole

 

• Mar 13, 2014

• #15

M

Meerkat

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60

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Ireland

Cyber Lip said:

It's not your jacket Wild Balls, it was made new to order. I'm not so sure if it constitues a problem, or if it's just me not being used to it VS other jackets. If I'm wearing just a t-shirt I can zip them all the way up but it's very tight and not comfortable as the folded over webbing(?) presses hard into my wrists. If I have a long sleeve shirt on they go 1/2 to 2/3rds up max. And that's if I'm not wearing a watch. With a watch on, forget about it. This isn't a riding jacket so wind is not an issue, but I do use the zips in cold weather. I ordered this jacket with zippered sleeves specifically for that reason. It's also relatively new/still breaking in, so maybe they'll work in/loosen up in time?

Ideally I would have liked them a tad looser to fit snugly (bit not tight) over long sleeves & watch all the way zipped. One advantage to the fit now though is it looks neater unzipped and doesn't have that flared sleeves look. I'm just trying to determine if I should look into having them let out a little. Not even sure if it's possible to do that but thought I'd get some opinions here first on how you all like your sleeves to fit.

Click to expand...

First of all as other contributors have mentioned zippered sleeves are intended to be tight from a motorcycle point of view and I have to tell you that I have a vanson stallion that has nicely weathered in EXCEPT for the zippered sleeves which are as waxy and tight as when I purchased it new that was ohhhh 8/9 years ago