Why Should I Buy A Vanson?

Coriu · Apr 23, 2021

ton312 said:
I see. They do offer quite a few styles that are not traditional biker wear, model J, mercury, Dakota, maverick to name a few. They will also build you whatever you want (for a price). Last I checked, changing the leather on a pattern was something like $75-$125 depending on the hide.

All of those models you named, as well as others on the website...all that is offered is "black" in firenze or competition weight. This helped formed my prior opinion that Vanson is limited and strictly biker-oriented. I had heard they did custom work, but it seemed crazy to me that someone may have to pay an upcharge because they want a brown jacket. I don't see anything on their website that screams, "don't worry, we have lots of other options in stock."

Also, it seems odd to me that with their rich history, they do not offer pictures of some of the wonderful jackets I have seen on TFL...to suggest to people some of the custom stuff that they could build. Based upon their website, I had categorized Vanson as a bigger, more sophisticated version of Fox Creek or Hillside USA. I hope you can see why.

Gail at Schott, RIP, had done a wonderful job of keeping alive their past. They seemed to have a genuine interest in the collector, and that is why I own several of their jackets. I understand Vanson might not have the resources of Schott, but I get the impression they are more than just a little mom-and-pop shop, and, subsequently, could do better in terms of educating the public about what they have to offer.

dannyk · Apr 23, 2021

The traits of the old CW we all rave about and I owned 2 of my 3 jackets in this leather is that it:

it is super thick and super stiff. Literal sheet of armor. Not going to lie hard to wear for a while. The fit well talk about was kinda uncomfortable at first. But in time it breaks down into a buttery soft hide. To the point where you don’t notice it at all. And it looked great. It just had this look that as soon as you saw it you know it’s a Vanson. So you had a leather that felt indestructible, which is why we all say it’s great for actual riding, great for doing actual work in, great for inclement weather: but you didn’t notice it after it broke in. It felt like a second skin and soft as anything. It was a mystery how they had a leather that tough and mean that broke into something in dreams. The last few years batches have looked lifeless overall. Some better than others but none that had the character of the old stuff. Some batches have been buttery soft from the start, other batches thick and heavy but never seem to break in. For a long time whoever their tannery was had a magic formula that they have not been able to recreate. I hope in time they figure that out. Not just cause I’m a Vanson fanboy but because I would buy it again in a heartbeat. It just hasn’t happened. No magic combo has happened.

ton312 · Apr 23, 2021

dannyk said:
The traits of the old CW we all rave about and I owned 2 of my 3 jackets in this leather is that it:

it is super thick and super stiff. Literal sheet of armor. Not going to lie hard to wear for a while. The fit well talk about was kinda uncomfortable at first. But in time it breaks down into a buttery soft hide. To the point where you don’t notice it at all. And it looked great. It just had this look that as soon as you saw it you know it’s a Vanson. So you had a leather that felt indestructible, which is why we all say it’s great for actual riding, great for doing actual work in, great for inclement weather: but you didn’t notice it after it broke in. It felt like a second skin and soft as anything. It was a mystery how they had a leather that tough and mean that broke into something in dreams. The last few years batches have looked lifeless overall. Some better than others but none that had the character of the old stuff. Some batches have been buttery soft from the start, other batches thick and heavy but never seem to break in. For a long time whoever their tannery was had a magic formula that they have not been able to recreate. I hope in time they figure that out. Not just cause I’m a Vanson fanboy but because I would buy it again in a heartbeat. It just hasn’t happened. No magic combo has happened.

It takes a little digging but Vanson probably offers more colors than any other maker I know:
https://vansonleathers.com/content/155-leather-color-swatches
Any jacket you desire can be built in this color range.

Carlos840 · Apr 23, 2021

dannyk said:
But who said any purchase has to be in CW? the one they are using on the HD Collab which I always forget is it the x or z I think it’s the x-150 looks really good, the octagon looks good, they do collabs in cxl, you can find HH Vanson’s. While I agree the most recent CWs have been less than what they used to be...it’s one of several choices. But I will say as I said in my original response they never were known for having the coolest or latest leathers. The one draw back that could be considered an actual drawback is their leather choices. Total agreement. With all their tannery issues over the last few years I can understand it to some degree. I don’t forgive them or absolve them completely; but I also don’t think it’s all their own fault. Hopefully sometime in the very near future this all gets sorted and they will have at bare minimum have their usual standard if not increased options. So yeah the last few years have not been kind to CW, let’s not pretend it’s their only leather either.

They don't have acces to old X150 either, my HD Cycle champ bought last year was made with the last hides from that batch. The guy who was waxing/finishing it for them retired and that x150 is never coming back.
No idea what the new one is like.

dannyk · Apr 23, 2021

Carlos840 said:
They don't have acces to old X150 either, my HD Cycle champ bought last year was made with the last hides from that batch. The guy who was waxing/finishing it for them retired and that x150 is never coming back.
No idea what the new one is like.

So now I’m really pissed and sad my car broke down and ruined my purchase. Maybe I can see if HD have a size small in the warehouse and see if it will fit. The measurements are close. Damn.

Coriu · Apr 23, 2021

ton312 said:
It takes a little digging but Vanson probably offers more colors than any other maker I know:
https://vansonleathers.com/content/155-leather-color-swatches
Any jacket you desire can be built in this color range.

Wow...its baffling to me why they don't have more photos demonstrating this versatility, especially with their more casual jackets. With my bad eyes, so much of what is on their site looks like black jackets.

Coriu · Apr 23, 2021

dannyk said:
The traits of the old CW we all rave about and I owned 2 of my 3 jackets in this leather is that it:

it is super thick and super stiff. Literal sheet of armor. Not going to lie hard to wear for a while. The fit well talk about was kinda uncomfortable at first. But in time it breaks down into a buttery soft hide. To the point where you don’t notice it at all. And it looked great. It just had this look that as soon as you saw it you know it’s a Vanson. So you had a leather that felt indestructible, which is why we all say it’s great for actual riding, great for doing actual work in, great for inclement weather: but you didn’t notice it after it broke in. It felt like a second skin and soft as anything. It was a mystery how they had a leather that tough and mean that broke into something in dreams. The last few years batches have looked lifeless overall. Some better than others but none that had the character of the old stuff. Some batches have been buttery soft from the start, other batches thick and heavy but never seem to break in. For a long time whoever their tannery was had a magic formula that they have not been able to recreate. I hope in time they figure that out. Not just cause I’m a Vanson fanboy but because I would buy it again in a heartbeat. It just hasn’t happened. No magic combo has happened.

Have you or others had difficulty finding older jackets that fit you properly, especially jackets that fit like skin of their original owners(and whose build may be somewhat different than yours)? When you buy one, do you typically size up, size down, or use your regular size? Hope you understand the point of my question. LOL

TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead · Apr 23, 2021

Coriu said:
Wow...its baffling to me why they don't have more photos demonstrating this versatility, especially with their more casual jackets. With my bad eyes, so much of what is on their site looks like black jackets.

Other than Thedi and maybe Field Leathers to some extent, most of the jacket sites have horrible websites demonstrating the jacket being worn and fitted properly. A few do a better job of shooting the jacket on the floor or hanger (i.e. Thurston Bros and some of the Japanese styles). But most are horrible. Schott recently got better, but most of their jacket shoots are awful. Skinny models with oversized jackets, horribly blown out lighting. Vanson I will agree though is probably near the worst in that department. Almost the opposite of Schott, with overweight models, blown out lighting.

dannyk · Apr 23, 2021

Coriu said:
Have you or others had difficulty finding older jackets that fit you properly, especially jackets that fit like skin of their original owners(and whose build may be somewhat different than yours)? When you buy one, do you typically size up, size down, or use your regular size? Hope you understand the point of my question. LOL

I get it haha. I’ve had two in size 36 and one in size 38. One was an E, one was a C2 which are very similar and one was a chopper which is different style. They all fit pretty well. The chopper I bought new so no worries on that one ha. The two others were older one from the 90s the other early 2000s. Fit like a glove. Fully broken in...heavy as hell but super soft and tailored perfect so you didn’t notice the weight at all or feel encumbered. I mean always trust actual measurements more than tagged size but in my limited experience I went true to size and it worked every time. And even though broken in to someone else’s body obviously; since they are so soft and comfortable after taming the beast no issues.
When people would be hyperbolic about breaking in a jacket with old CW it was so true. You actually had to break it in; and the transformation was ridiculous. Like you would scratch your head saying how did a leather that looked kinda meh, and would not budge or crease become something that had such life and become so soft? One of the few makers where the break was a real and true thing. The newer stuff like I said looks lifeless and kinda meh from beginning to end. And the batches have been either soft and broken in from the start or hard as a rock and didn’t seem to break in at all.

JMax · Apr 23, 2021

Carlos840 said:
They don't have acces to old X150 either, my HD Cycle champ bought last year was made with the last hides from that batch. The guy who was waxing/finishing it for them retired and that x150 is never coming back.
No idea what the new one is like.

As I understand it, they are on the hunt for someone to continue providing X-150/Octagon that meets their specs. Unfortunate, as a part of me likes the X hides better than the CW, even the old stuff.

TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead said:
Other than Thedi and maybe Field Leathers to some extent, most of the jacket sites have horrible websites demonstrating the jacket being worn and fitted properly. A few do a better job of shooting the jacket on the floor or hanger (i.e. Thurston Bros and some of the Japanese styles). But most are horrible. Schott recently got better, but most of their jacket shoots are awful. Skinny models with oversized jackets, horribly blown out lighting. Vanson I will agree though is probably near the worst in that department. Almost the opposite of Schott, with overweight models, blown out lighting.

I would add Himel to that super short list. Thedi, Himel and perhaps an improving FL. But you are so right, most top tier makers have horrid sites. The jacket and fit pictures stink, or there is an obvious lack of information about sizing, options, etc.

Edit: I forgot to add Pegasus. I was actually thinking about this while running this AM. A bit weird.

Coriu · Apr 23, 2021

TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead said:
Other than Thedi and maybe Field Leathers to some extent, most of the jacket sites have horrible websites demonstrating the jacket being worn and fitted properly. A few do a better job of shooting the jacket on the floor or hanger (i.e. Thurston Bros and some of the Japanese styles). But most are horrible. Schott recently got better, but most of their jacket shoots are awful. Skinny models with oversized jackets, horribly blown out lighting. Vanson I will agree though is probably near the worst in that department. Almost the opposite of Schott, with overweight models, blown out lighting.

Hey, hey, hey, brother...us big boys can be sensitive, y'know..thin is in, but meat is neat

ton312 · Apr 23, 2021

TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead said:
Other than Thedi and maybe Field Leathers to some extent, most of the jacket sites have horrible websites demonstrating the jacket being worn and fitted properly. A few do a better job of shooting the jacket on the floor or hanger (i.e. Thurston Bros and some of the Japanese styles). But most are horrible. Schott recently got better, but most of their jacket shoots are awful. Skinny models with oversized jackets, horribly blown out lighting. Vanson I will agree though is probably near the worst in that department. Almost the opposite of Schott, with overweight models, blown out lighting.

Nothing, and I do mean nothing, is worse than Langlitz in this regard:

hondurasdave47 · Apr 23, 2021

ton312 said:
I’ve emailed Nick this morning to check the status of my Oxford. It will be in comp weight. I figure if it’s no good I will return it and opt for Z-150. It’s a stock jacket. I do wish they would find the recipe for the old comp weight, frankly I prefer it to cxl. As much as I love CXL I think old recipe comp weight blows it away.

Let us know how you like the CW. I'm considering an Oxford (without the back middle seam or side buckles) or a Mercury from this hide.

ton312 · Apr 23, 2021

hondurasdave47 said:
Let us know how you like the CW. I'm considering an Oxford (without the back middle seam or side buckles) or a Mercury from this hide.

I will! I haven't heard back so I think I'll call on the way home from work.

Psant25 · Apr 23, 2021

ton312 said:
I will! I haven't heard back so I think I'll call on the way home from work.

I picked up a stock CHP2 last year I think it was. for fit i was going to order a custom. Minus 2 body and plus 1/2 in sleeve. The new leather they use i was really turned off. I ended up not going custom with them and got a refund and I think that is when i went JL for that custom chp. I hope yours is better though fingers crossed for ya!

Hh121 · Apr 23, 2021

Psant25 said:
I picked up a stock CHP2 last year I think it was. for fit i was going to order a custom. Minus 2 body and plus 1/2 in sleeve. The new leather they use i was really turned off. I ended up not going custom with them and got a refund and I think that is when i went JL for that custom chp. I hope yours is better though fingers crossed for ya!

Definitely the right decision to go to JL, you will get the same great range of motion on the jacket plus 100000000 times better leather.

J Leather Investigater · Apr 23, 2021

JMax said:
Yeah, the guy mixing the recipe at the tannery must be Can’t get Right. Apparently a high number of attempts just to get what they have.

I was under the impression because of talking with Kim that the "old" tannery burned down an vanson had to find another supplier thus the inconsistencies

dannyk · Apr 23, 2021

John D Maccarter said:
I was under the impression because of talking with Kim that the "old" tannery burned down an vanson had to find another supplier thus the inconsistencies

Yes that happened. And then found a new one and they closed permanently due to Covid. But it’s my understanding they didn’t use the same tannery for each leather they stocked. So one leather may have been done at one place and the x somewhere else and the z another place etc...so I’m not 100% sure about any of their leathers and their current status.

JMax · Apr 23, 2021

Hh121 said:
Definitely the right decision to go to JL, you will get the same great range of motion on the jacket plus 100000000 times better leather.

My two JLs are great. Very nice on bike, especially the M200. Not as good as Vanson’s E or Force when riding.

SteveFord · Apr 24, 2021

Why by a Vanson?
They're made in US, they're made for motorcyclists and they'll outlast you. I've had mine for years.
I have 3 Vanson and one Fox Creek jacket, one set of Vanson pants, one set of Fox Creek.
The leather in Fox Creek is much more supple, other than that they both seem to be about the same quality.

Why Should I Buy A Vanson?

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