Freewheelers Sunset Deerskin Jacket

After my Caboose quickly became my favorite and most worn jacket last year, I began craving another Freewheelers jacket. The fact that my Himel cossack has to be sold due to being too large only expedited this process. While the Caboose was the first Freewheelers jacket I fell in love with, the second was the Sunset.

What I loved about this jacket was the design. It is a cross zip, something that I have never owned before, but it doesn't look too much like a motorcycle jacket. Specifically, I love the fact that it has button cuffs instead of zip sleeves. The deerskin was the only worry. However, after handling it at Desolation Row in December and hearing universally positive feedback on FW's deerskin (I believe it is Shinki, but not completely sure).

I was fortunate to find one in my size (42) at The Wild One and the transaction was quick and easy (tax was removed without request and shipping was speedy.) The measurements seemed to be perfect, but the sleeves would likely be a little long as with the Caboose.

When it arrived, this was exactly the case, but the situation was better than I expected. This jacket fits nearly perfectly. My Caboose is definitely fitting better now, but I still need to drop more pounds. The Sunset fits perfectly already. I fixed the sleeve length issue by cuffing them. I'm sure it looks sort of awkward to some, but I like it. I also realized through cuffing this one that I in fact can cuff my Caboose and have done that as well. I will post some shots of that eventually too.

People on Instagram have already suggested having the sleeves shortened, but I really don't want to. Firstly, I like the cuffed look. Secondly, with Freewheelers' quality being so incredibly high, whoever works on this won't do as good of a job as they did and that would kill me so I simply will not consider that an option for this or the Caboose.

Overall, the quality is exceptional as it was with the Caboose. I have yet to seen a non-Freewheelers jacket sewn and finished as well as a Freewheelers jacket and I've owned or tried on pretty much every brand around today. This is in fact partly why I pursued another FW jacket. Wearing their pieces genuinely make me feel happy. I admire my Caboose every time I put it on. The only other pieces I do that with are my White Kloud boots.

This jacket absolutely has that Freewheelers quality upon first inspection, but there is something more here. This jacket is without question the most comfortable jacket I have worn. Obviously, the deerskin plays a major role, but the fit very much helps as does the wonderfully soft and stunning burgundy flannel liner that is used everywhere from the body to the sleeves to the pockets. I also am very excited to have a cross zip in my collection. It is difficult me to stop gushing on this one. My happiness right now is even higher than it was when I first got my Caboose. This almost certainly will not be my last Freewheelers leather jacket. Each one makes me love the brand more.

Enough rambling, I'll have a full review on my website eventually. On to the pics!!

This jacket will darken quite significantly over time and I am very excited for that. Also, it is fully approved by my girl. She could not stop complimenting it when we took pictures yesterday

great looking fit apart for the sleeve, if you plan to permanently cuff it exposing the liner as the most worn area of jacket I don't think it would last, why not cuffing a bit lower maybe at the sewing line of the cuff, so at least the folded part is still leather

Lovely jacket, gives me great confidence in my decision to get a raw leather jacket. I get what you've done with the cuff, it looks fine to me, but from my experience it is likely to wear through rather quicker than you'd expect.

If anyone knows of a place that can fix the sleeves PERFECTLY then please let me know. I need seriously perfect work or I will not have the work done on these.

I can't wear this jacket long because the deerskin will not crease the way horsehide does

how about tucking in the leftover of the sleeve into/ under the cuff, the leather will learn and after several wear it would stay in place, and then the button of your cuff still visible from the outside and looks more natural.

dudewuttheheck said:

After my Caboose quickly became my favorite and most worn jacket last year, I began craving another Freewheelers jacket. The fact that my Himel cossack has to be sold due to being too large only expedited this process. While the Caboose was the first Freewheelers jacket I fell in love with, the second was the Sunset.

What I loved about this jacket was the design. It is a cross zip, something that I have never owned before, but it doesn't look too much like a motorcycle jacket. Specifically, I love the fact that it has button cuffs instead of zip sleeves. The deerskin was the only worry. However, after handling it at Desolation Row in December and hearing universally positive feedback on FW's deerskin (I believe it is Shinki, but not completely sure).

I was fortunate to find one in my size (42) at The Wild One and the transaction was quick and easy (tax was removed without request and shipping was speedy.) The measurements seemed to be perfect, but the sleeves would likely be a little long as with the Caboose.

When it arrived, this was exactly the case, but the situation was better than I expected. This jacket fits nearly perfectly. My Caboose is definitely fitting better now, but I still need to drop more pounds. The Sunset fits perfectly already. I fixed the sleeve length issue by cuffing them. I'm sure it looks sort of awkward to some, but I like it. I also realized through cuffing this one that I in fact can cuff my Caboose and have done that as well. I will post some shots of that eventually too.

People on Instagram have already suggested having the sleeves shortened, but I really don't want to. Firstly, I like the cuffed look. Secondly, with Freewheelers' quality being so incredibly high, whoever works on this won't do as good of a job as they did and that would kill me so I simply will not consider that an option for this or the Caboose.

Overall, the quality is exceptional as it was with the Caboose. I have yet to seen a non-Freewheelers jacket sewn and finished as well as a Freewheelers jacket and I've owned or tried on pretty much every brand around today. This is in fact partly why I pursued another FW jacket. Wearing their pieces genuinely make me feel happy. I admire my Caboose every time I put it on. The only other pieces I do that with are my White Kloud boots.

This jacket absolutely has that Freewheelers quality upon first inspection, but there is something more here. This jacket is without question the most comfortable jacket I have worn. Obviously, the deerskin plays a major role, but the fit very much helps as does the wonderfully soft and stunning burgundy flannel liner that is used everywhere from the body to the sleeves to the pockets. I also am very excited to have a cross zip in my collection. It is difficult me to stop gushing on this one. My happiness right now is even higher than it was when I first got my Caboose. This almost certainly will not be my last Freewheelers leather jacket. Each one makes me love the brand more.

Enough rambling, I'll have a full review on my website eventually. On to the pics!!

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Congrats also from my side! I‘m glad that you also like this beautiful jacket! I think I will wear mine today or tomorrow I would consider shortening the sleeves....perhaps David Himel can help you even if he‘s in competition with them, but on the other hand you‘re a well known customer and he doesn’t have this jacket in his portfolio

That’s a really nice jacket. I can’t wear that color with my skin tone but if I could I’d be all over that. Excellent jacket. I personally wouldn’t be too happy to have to cuff the sleeves. I don’t like doing that with any jacket but for leather... Absolutely not. It’s a shame they can’t allow for this simple alteration, especially at that price point.

Beautiful hide. I would have a hard time trusting someone to do the alteration. Does goodwear or himel ever do this kind of work? Although I love Johnson leathers I would not recommend them if you are looking for perfection for alteration. I had them do a few alterations on some aero jackets and they turned out pretty bad. Stitches didnt line up. Different thread color. Sleeve opening a different size compared to the other...

There's a whole thread on cuffing leather jacket sleeves here if you're interested:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/thr...up-the-sleeves-once-in-leather-jackets.91480/

I had a similar situation with a Simmons Bilt Klondike earlier this year. I ordered the sleeves extra long to accommodate being on a motorcycle, but they ended up being WAY too long. I wore them cuffed out for a while, then cuffed in for a while, then ultimately decided to have the sleeves shortened.

I considered sending the jacket back to SB to do the alteration (free of charge), but the shipping was like $200 and the customs paperwork was a HUGE hassle.

I eventually had a local leather shop here in China do the alteration for $75, and I can't really tell the difference from the original stitching. Much happier with the shortened sleeves now too

PS: Sleeves are almost never PERFECT. They're either going to feel a bit short or a bit long until you just stop noticing it

Since these are button cuffs the alteration should not be difficult at all. Simply remove the cuff band, shorten the sleeve and reattach the cuff band. Problem solved, thank you and you're welcome.

Ill go against the grain here and come out in support of the cuffed sleeves. It's a cross-zip in yellow deerskin--it's playful by nature and flipping the cuffs just adds to it. I also fully disagree with the notion that the cuffs detract from the silhouette. Deerskin, especially when thick, has that distinct visual volume to it and the cuffs show that off. You also cuff almost every pair of pants you own (I do too) and I think there's can be a fun balance in the fully cuffed look if you lean into it. Obviously you can do whatever you want with your jacket but I personally think the worst option is to think about it too much. You have a number of impeccably built custom jackets and thematically its kinda fitting that your first cross-zip makes you step away from total perfection.

I do know an excellent tailor, but he’s in the U.K.
He’s currently shortening the sleeves on my FW Journeyman in black deerskin.

The first question that comes to mind is: Why do they make the sleeves so freaking long?

Makes no sense to me. Would be nice to see a photo of the sleeves uncuffed to see how they look.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfkJ9JgFvsG/

Fantastic jacket!

Pictures from Denimbro, this is what you're looking forward too:

TheJuniper said:

Sleeves are almost never PERFECT. They're either going to feel a bit short or a bit long until you just stop noticing it

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That's right, well said.
P.S. Smart jacket, it's more like piece of art than just a jacket! Very like it!

Dude, Thats a beauty for sure.. but no good with the sleeves cuffed. as was stated before it looks to my untrained eye that if the full cuff was removed and the sleeve length shortened the cuff can be sewn back in place with only that one seam being restitched. it would make all the difference.
How about a guy like Dave Sheeley or Mark Fisher those guys have some serious talent, if they were willing I'm sure they would do awesome work.

Nice Jacket. They should bring back the roll up cuffs.

@dudewuttheheck , that's a fantastic jacket, I just love everything about it and it fits you great but... I'm afraid I gotta agree with the others on cuffing of the sleeves. Don't do it. It doesn't look bad but it looks... Careless. Like, I really dig the look of cuffed sleeves on a leather jacket when they reach to the middle of the forearm. That rock-star look, you know. But if the sleeves are so long that they come out good when cuffed just a tiny bit... Then it just looks sloppy. Gives off that "yeah, whatever, good enough" vibe. Comes off especially noticeable in contrast with the rest of your style which you've clearly invested a lot of work and effort into (I mean that in a positive way, of course).

Wearing them unrolled would be, as far as I am concerned, perfectly fine, even if they're too long. There's nothing wrong with slightly longer sleeves on a leather jacket. They're supposed to be a bit longer, anyway.

I'd definitely have the sleeves shortened. The jacket's worth it. Can't you send it to Himel?

dudewuttheheck said:

This jacket will darken quite significantly over time and I am very excited for that. Also, it is fully approved by my girl. She could not stop complimenting it when we took pictures yesterday

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Bad ass. I have always loved your style. YOU can definitely get away with cuffing. With my OCD I would probably not in fear of creating an ultimate wear line/fold and thus lose the ability to "uncuff". I would go with the likely arm creasing with use and uncuff. Either way nothing is diminished from your very stylish example.

I was kinda joking with the roll up cuff, but maybe it would work. It is just a button on the inside. Your cuffs are finished in and out like the jacket i posted. One button is not too invasive. It is period correct. I have several jackets from the 30s with these cuffs.

John Chapman recommends Dena at Great Leathers in Avon Illinois. I've been to her shop, only 30 miles from me. She does work from all over the world. Very nice lady with skill. No idea if she would do any work on your jacket. If you send it there let me know and I will go down and check it out!