Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Why Should I Buy A Vanson?

JohnS33931

One of the Regulars
Messages
101
Location
Ft Myers Beach or Cape Ann
What are your thoughts on the leather ?
I like it - it really is mid weight and not stiff. Looks beautiful.
I have quite a few from U.S. Leather, which is about 30 miles from me. They make very nice, comfortable jackets too - theirs are a bit lighter than Vanson’s midweight. The lady at Vanson told me that the midweight is tumbled. I think that if I was still riding and more likely to abuse the jacket, I would go with the CW. But I’m in my mid 60s and just wear them casually. For me the midweight was just so much more comfortable right off the rack.
Hope that is helpful.
 

JohnS33931

One of the Regulars
Messages
101
Location
Ft Myers Beach or Cape Ann
I like it - it really is mid weight and not stiff. Looks beautiful.
I haven't worn it much because its summer, but I'm not happy with it at this point. The squeaking from it is terrible. I hope it goes away - I've read to try talc or put it in the dryer with tennis balls and no heat. I'll have to try it, but does anyone have any other suggestions. I don't know if I can stand wearing it enough to break it in - hate to put this at the back of my closet.
 

El Marro

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,474
Location
California
I haven't worn it much because its summer, but I'm not happy with it at this point. The squeaking from it is terrible. I hope it goes away - I've read to try talc or put it in the dryer with tennis balls and no heat. I'll have to try it, but does anyone have any other suggestions. I don't know if I can stand wearing it enough to break it in - hate to put this at the back of my closet.
I have not owned a Vanson made from the Firenze leather but one thing I have done with all of my Vanson jackets when they arrive is to get them wet and wear them around the house as they dry. I did this primarily as a way to speed up the break in of the heavy comp weight leather but I think it helped reduce the squeaking as well.
 

AeroFan_07

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,313
Location
Iowa
^^ +1 to both options...

I had my HD-Vanson made of X150 leather (not offered now) on this morning as it was rather cool here in Iowa. Nice (but short lived) change for early August. It's waxy of feel and only has a slight amount of "squeak" to it. Could also try a couple coats of Pecards on it and see if that - along with just wearing it, softens it up.

That said, there are just some "noisy" squeaky leathers out there that are difficult to tame.
 

Khilij

One of the Regulars
Messages
138
My Chopper in Comp Weight took about 3 months of daily wear, rain or shine, to stop squeaking, but it did stop squeaking eventually. I sounded like a rubber duck for the first bit of wearing it though.
 

JohnS33931

One of the Regulars
Messages
101
Location
Ft Myers Beach or Cape Ann
My Chopper in Comp Weight took about 3 months of daily wear, rain or shine, to stop squeaking, but it did stop squeaking eventually. I sounded like a rubber duck for the first bit of wearing it though
LOL - it was a little cooler last night - so I wore it when I walked my dog - thought I was going to wake the whole neighborhood.
 

Carlos840

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,920
Location
London
LOL - it was a little cooler last night - so I wore it when I walked my dog - thought I was going to wake the whole neighborhood.

In my experience, squeeking comes mostly from the pits, what works well is to smear a small amount of your favourite conditionner (i use pecards) in the pits area with a rag.
I don't usually put much, i just rub the greasy rag or brush that i use for that a couple times on the pits and it silences things for a few days.
As others have said, water should also help the jacket mould to you and at some point it is going to stop squeaking.
 

JohnS33931

One of the Regulars
Messages
101
Location
Ft Myers Beach or Cape Ann
Probably dumb questions - but…
just wondering about the getting it wet - does this mean soaked or could I mist it with a spray bottle till its fairly damp?
Also I know it depends on how wet and the weather conditions, but wondering on average, how long you wear it to dry - a couple hours or all day?
 

El Marro

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,474
Location
California
You can mist it and you can also hold it under the shower until it is soaked, I have done both. It is certainly more comfortable to wear around after misting it since the inside stays dry. When I do this I often spray the entire jacket with a water bottle until it begins to drip on the floor a bit and then put it on. I find it after 10 minutes or so it is usually pretty dry and if I will often repeat the process a couple times.
 

JohnS33931

One of the Regulars
Messages
101
Location
Ft Myers Beach or Cape Ann
Thank you!
That sounds pretty easy. I was imagining it taking all day to dry out. I was nervous about doing it. I haven’t let leather get very wet since I was a kid - bought a 10 speed Raleigh bicycle with a leather seat that got soaked the first week that I had it. Seat drooped and was like that the rest of the time I had it - pretty uncomfortable.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
107,028
Messages
3,026,680
Members
52,533
Latest member
RacerJ
Top