Aged Chromexcel HH vs Chromexcel SH?

Hi all! I’m thinking about ordering an Aero Leather Premier Highwayman. I’m not sure as to whether I want it in black CXFQHH or black Chromexcel steerhide. I love the weight of HH and I’m aware of the principle differences between the two leathers, but I’m not sure how they’ll both look after a few years! Can anybody post photos of their well-worn black Chromexcel HH/SH jackets?

I believe at one point I saw a picture posted on here of a 25yo Highwayman in black CXFQHH which had more or less turned completely brown. Is that something I should expect as Aero HH ages? Is it teacore?

Sorry to bombard you all with so many questions - I’m new to this all!

Welcome to FL - hope you find exactly the One jacket you want then run - so your wallet survives.

That said, please take time to do a search. This question has been asked, in many variations, dozes of times. Rather than re-invent the same wheel - take a look around.

Here's a few good places to start:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/show-your-graining.101515/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/ask-a-question-get-an-answer-about-outerwear.102916/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/finally-bought-an-aero.102723/#post-2750447

AeroFan_07 said:

Welcome to FL - hope you find exactly the One jacket you want then run - so your wallet survives.

That said, please take time to do a search. This question has been asked, in many variations, dozes of times. Rather than re-invent the same wheel - take a look around.

Here's a few good places to start:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/show-your-graining.101515/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/ask-a-question-get-an-answer-about-outerwear.102916/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/finally-bought-an-aero.102723/#post-2750447

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Thank you! I was viewing a couple of those threads last night, but didn’t find them of much help. I was hoping someone would be able to chime in with an answer to my question as I know it’s relatively specific compared to the usual “how does it age” questions.

CXL Horsehide

CXL Steerhide

handymike said:

CXL Horsehide
View attachment 300150
CXL Steerhide
View attachment 300148
View attachment 300149

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Absolutely perfect!!! Thank you, that’s exactly what I was looking for. In your experience how do these jackets differ?

ThinkingAboutCXFQHH said:

Absolutely perfect!!! Thank you, that’s exactly what I was looking for. In your experience how do these jackets differ?

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They really don't...
A few years ago there was a scandal at Aero because the guy in charge sold people Steer whilst telling them it was horse, there where even jackets made from a combination of steer and horse.
No one ever spotted a difference...

Some will say steer is grainier, horse has a thinner grain, some will say the difference is obvious.
Others say the only way to spot the difference between HH and SH is a DNA test.

Personally i know i would never be confident enough in my ability to differenciate CXL HH and CXL SH to bet big on it, IMO there is very little difference between the two. (other than the fact that the SH is a bit thicker in this case)

Carlos840 said:

They really don't...
A few years ago there was a scandal at Aero because the guy in charge sold people Steer whilst telling them it was horse, there where even jackets made from a combination of steer and horse.
No one ever spotted a difference...

Some will say steer is grainier, horse has a thinner grain, some will say the difference is obvious.
Others say the only way to spot the difference between HH and SH is a DNA test.

Personally i know i would never be confident enough in my ability to differenciate CXL HH and CXL SH to bet big on it, IMO there is very little difference between the two. (other than the fact that the SH is a bit thicker in this case)

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+1

It´s probably fair to say that leather thickness and tanning method has by far a greater effect on look&feel of a hide than the animal behind the hide.

I get the impression that Aero orders relatively lighter hides in the past 2-3 years. They still have the heavy stuff though, in both HH and SH. All I can say is that my only SH-jacket (CXL-SH from Horween) is even heavier than the heavy CXL-HH.

Yeah, absolutely what @Carlos840 says and I think it's time horsehide elitism stops once and for all. There's no measurable difference to it, other than the price that the little Front Quarter Horse Hide tag adds.
Whenever I think I can finally tell horsehide apart from cowhide, I'm proven wrong. Hh tends to have those ripples more often but I've seen it on cowhide as well.

ThinkingAboutCXFQHH said:

I believe at one point I saw a picture posted on here of a 25yo Highwayman in black CXFQHH which had more or less turned completely brown. Is that something I should expect as Aero HH ages? Is it teacore?

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Anyway, all Horween leather Aero is using will age pretty much the same and with enough wear, every jacket should start turning brown. Among other factors, this depends on the batch of the leather Aero's received too but generally speaking, you should expect the finish to fade away as you wear your jacket.

Other than that, horsehide and cowhide can be just as thick or thin for that matter and will end up looking the same.

Aero gets their CXL horse and steer from the same tannery and the price is the same for horse or steer. Other makers that charge more for horse than steer I believe are buying their horse from a different source or requesting a more expensive grade of horse than they do for their typical steer hide.

Here's a couple of ones I owned in the past:

Aero CX Steerhide Cafe Racer - apx 5 years of wear at this point --



Here's a similar CX Steerhide 30's Half Belt I also purchased new from Thurston brothers - I show a close up or two, then the jacket itself, then a fit photo from ~ 2016. One of the first I ever did. I was not sure how to do it then, just set a camera down on self-timer and tried.



Then a FQHH Sheene that is long since departed --



I got interrupted earlier so I posted this "post" without finishing.

Guess the point I wanted to make with these photos - Do Not buy a CXL-Jacket if you want it to look new 20 years down the road. This will not happen - unless you do not wear it. The tanning methods and waxes in this leather permits it to open up and patina quite rapidly. Many people like this, some do not.

Here's one more point about CXL Front Quarter Horse Hide verse CX Steerhide in my limited experance. Generally speaking the FQHH has a more distinctive odor as it's new. I like them both - the Steerhide for whatever reason has a somewhat lighter odor. However I know there are folks here who have given up CXL and CX jackets just due to the very strong and lasting odor they possess.

To my eye, the CXL FQHH has a little more "marbled" appearance when viewed for a few feet back than CX Steerhide. Hard to capture this digitially, but I hope it makes sense. Steerhide is generally a bit heavier than FQHH.

I prefer the Steerhide. When I see a jaw-dropping Aero jacket, it is usually Steer. A very good argument can be made that the HH cordovan color has more depth, but the grain of the steer wins for me.
In my experience, the Steerhide felt more malleable once it was worn/ broken in. Others have their own views, but I feel that the CXL HH isn’t as pleasure-able to wear. It is a love/hate relationship. I’m constantly reminded that I’m wearing a jacket I’m battling with ...but at the same time I feel like a total badass doing it. Horsehide also tends to break in differently to my eye. I see it “crinkling” whereas Steer develops “rolls” if that makes sense. If you are looking at black, I’d go steer, or Tumbled HH (search for @Psant25’s zip-sleeve Highwayman). If you are looking at the Prem. Highwayman, I’d go CXL Steer for the “biker” vibe, or Vicenza for the Rock-n-roll feel. Cordovan color- Steer. Brown would be Horse. I hope I’ve helped.

This is @Angel’s jacket in heavy Steer after a year of constant wear:






My black HH Seven after a year of wear and HWT:




@Psant25’s Tumbled HH jacket:

This is my CXL HH Premier Highwayman after the FL 30 Day challenge:

I bought it used/ it was made in 2016, so it is a similar if not same batch as the Seven I posted above.

handymike said:

This is my CXL HH Premier Highwayman after the FL 30 Day challenge:
View attachment 300281
I bought it used/ it was made in 2016, so it is a similar if not same batch to the Seven posted above.

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Great stuff. Thank you!

Carlos840 said:

They really don't...
A few years ago there was a scandal at Aero because the guy in charge sold people Steer whilst telling them it was horse, there where even jackets made from a combination of steer and horse.
No one ever spotted a difference...

Some will say steer is grainier, horse has a thinner grain, some will say the difference is obvious.
Others say the only way to spot the difference between HH and SH is a DNA test.

Personally i know i would never be confident enough in my ability to differenciate CXL HH and CXL SH to bet big on it, IMO there is very little difference between the two. (other than the fact that the SH is a bit thicker in this case)

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Thank you, I really needed to hear this! I appreciate it a lot.

I just hope I haven’t added any confusion.

handymike said:

I just hope I haven’t added any confusion.

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Not at all! This is exactly the kind of discussion I need before a major investment like an Aero.

Updated my picture post, I was interrputed by a sales person at my door earlier...