Bit off more than I can chew - Vanson

[Thranmir]

I've been using this site as a source of information to educate myself as I slowly try to invest in better quality clothing, figured it's time to join in.

What started out as me wanting to invest in better clothes led down a rabbit hole of endless information. Raw selvedge denim, Goodyear welted full grain calf boots, then the hunt for a leather jacket not made from paper thin lamb Nappa.

I fell in love with the V1 Vanson Remington, I liked the idea of this being my forever coat I could wear everywhere. I don't think Tesco and EMP leather jackets prepared me for this competition leather beast. It's stiff as all hell, squeaks and generally feels unwieldy compared to what I'm used to. My dainty fingers can barely get the buttons through the holes they're that stiff

Reading comments on how many years it can take to break in comp leather, I definitely feel I took on a commitment I wasn't ready for. I'm going to sell this gorgeous coat and look for something more beginner friendly that I'm more comfortable using in day-to-day life.

Any recommendations for such jackets that you can just throw on and comfortably move in would be highly appreciated or at the least I could break in within a smaller time frame, a year feels much more manageable for me than a decade haha.

 

[floater]

Get something lighter in weight, or you could try goat or deer instead of cow or horse if you want more drape.

I have my personal methods for breaking-in stiff leather jackets which involve what some would call extreme or unnecessary measures, but it works, I’ve done it with comp weight cow and with shinki hh.

But I also have a hh coat that was buttery smooth since I bought it.

But regardless of leather type I would stick with something around 1mm-1.2mm and vegetable tanned.

 

[Thranmir]

Get something lighter in weight, or you could try goat or deer instead of cow or horse if you want more drape.

I have my personal methods for breaking-in stiff leather jackets which involve what some would call extreme or unnecessary measures, but it works, I’ve done it with comp weight cow and with shinki hh.

View attachment 737125

But I also have a hh coat that was buttery smooth since I bought it.

View attachment 737129
View attachment 737127

But regardless of leather type I would stick with something around 1mm-1.2mm and vegetable tanned.

Thank you for the advice! Your method certainly looks.... Unorthodox haha. That HH jacket looks incredible!

 

[jchance]

If you love it, you can just sell the coat and buy another one that is heavily used. With some patience, I’m sure it would come up eventually.

If you’re not limited to this brand/model, I’d say go vintage. A jacket/coat that has been worn for 70+ years is what you’re looking for. It’s fully broken in, ready for enjoyment.

 

[Thranmir]

If you love it, you can just sell the coat and buy another one that is heavily used. With some patience, I’m sure it would come up eventually.

If you’re not limited to this brand/model, I’d say go vintage. A jacket/coat that has been worn for 70+ years is what you’re looking for. It’s fully broken in, ready for enjoyment.

Thank you for the advice. I've been trying to avoid vintage/worn in jackets for my first one just because I'm not educated enough to understand their value, it deeply confuses me why some are worth £90 and some £900. I also struggle to determine between good ageing/broken in and damaged/near the end of its life.

 

[jchance]

Thank you for the advice. I've been trying to avoid vintage/worn in jackets for my first one just because I'm not educated enough to understand their value, it deeply confuses me why some are worth £90 and some £900. I also struggle to determine between good ageing/broken in and damaged/near the end of its life.

Alternatively, you can accelerate the break-in process by putting your leather jacket and 2 tennis balls in the dryer with no-heat setting. Every hour inside is equivalent to 6 months of wear. My brand new cowhide jacket became buttery soft after 14-16 hours using the above method. Life is too short for me to wait for the decade-long break-in process before I can enjoy wearing the jacket.

As to vintage, you’d need to spend time learning the brands (start with the stickied threads) and stay 1950s or earlier. Most vintage pieces can be purchased for around $300 or less. $700 is collector territory. Stay away from 4-digits. Starting with Cal (any decade) would be a good idea.

 

[Thranmir]

Alternatively, you can accelerate the break-in process by putting your leather jacket and 2 tennis balls in the dryer with no-heat setting. Every hour inside is equivalent to 6 months of wear. My brand new cowhide jacket became buttery soft after 14-16 hours using the above method. Life is too short for me to wait for the decade-long break-in process before I can enjoy wearing the jacket.

As to vintage, you’d need to spend time learning the brands (start with the stickied threads) and stay 1950s or earlier. Most vintage pieces can be purchased for around $300 or less. $700 is collector territory. Stay away from 4-digits. Starting with Cal (any decade) would be a good idea.

Ahh that's an interesting idea! I've been trying to wear it around the house all day but I feel like I'm wearing a blimp on the sofa and the constant creaking is so distracting.

Appreciate the advice on vintage, I'll keep an eye out and keep reading. I think I'll have to lose some more weight before they become a viable option anyway, it's part of why I was hesitant to sell the Remington. It seems very rare on the market in the first place, let alone a size 50.

 

[DogFacePonySoldier]

It looks like a kid

Get something lighter in weight, or you could try goat or deer instead of cow or horse if you want more drape.

I have my personal methods for breaking-in stiff leather jackets which involve what some would call extreme or unnecessary measures, but it works, I’ve done it with comp weight cow and with shinki hh.

View attachment 737125

But I also have a hh coat that was buttery smooth since I bought it.

View attachment 737129
View attachment 737127

But regardless of leather type I would stick with something around 1mm-1.2mm and vegetable tanned.

The first jacket looks like its being kidnapped haha. What kind of jacket is the second one its gotta hella lookinggrain to it

 

[Zoro]

How long have you owned and worn it? If the answer is little time, I will always recommend against selling it as long as it fits you (when it comes to sizing).

It's something new that you're not used to it. The times you try something new and you like it immediately are very few, life is full of acquired tastes. In all areas, not only when it comes to clothing. In my case, I would "force" myself to wear it for a month or two, as much as I can (as long as the weather allows it). If at the end of it I still don't like it or I get one of my "normal" jackets and I feel far better than with I've felt with this one the last couple months, then that is when I would sell it... But usually at some point I get used to it and I start reaching for it "willingly".

And in the times you're not wearing it, you can play ******* with it as others recommend

 

[Thranmir]

How long have you owned and worn it? If the answer is little time, I will always recommend against selling it as long as it fits you (when it comes to sizing).

It's something new that you're not used to it. The times you try something new and you like it immediately are very few, life is full of acquired tastes. In all areas, not only when it comes to clothing. In my case, I would "force" myself to wear it for a month or two, as much as I can (as long as the weather allows it). If at the end of it I still don't like it or I get one of my "normal" jackets and I feel far better than with I've felt with this one the last couple months, then that is when I would sell it... But usually at some point I get used to it and I start reaching for it "willingly".

And in the times you're not wearing it, you can play ******* with it as others recommend

I've owned it for a couple of months now, I struggle to make myself wear it to the shops, on the nursery run etc. Restrictive movement, squeaking loudly, tight in the car. It fits me great (as well as stiff armour can) I just struggle with the practicality aspect. I do really love how it looks, I'm not sure I'm ready to send the poor thing to a dungeon just yet

 

[zebedee]

Keep wearing it - wear it in the rain.

 

[AeroFan_07]

To the OP - Reading your initial comments, appears the type of jacket you selected may be as much this problem as the stiff and squeaky nature of this ones' leather is for you.

Do you have other 3/4 length button up jackets that you wear & enjoy that are textile?

I have never been drawn to longer button up leather jackets, for some of the very reasons you mention in your initial post. I do have button up denim and a button up Freenote Cloth waxed cotton jacket, but those are all waist length. they are easy to slide in and out of a low-slung car as my daily driver is, mobility is not a factor with them.

Perhaps finding a waist length, zip-up leather jacket would make a lot more sense, and maybe keep the button up Vanson for a "stretch goal" jacket - once you get used to a more normal zip-up jacket, then give the Vanson another try.

 

[Thranmir]

To the OP - Reading your initial comments, appears the type of jacket you selected may be as much this problem as the stiff and squeaky nature of this ones' leather is for you.

Do you have other 3/4 length button up jackets that you wear & enjoy that are textile?

I have never been drawn to longer button up leather jackets, for some of the very reasons you mention in your initial post. I do have button up denim and a button up Freenote Cloth waxed cotton jacket, but those are all waist length. they are easy to slide in and out of a low-slung car as my daily driver is, mobility is not a factor with them.

Perhaps finding a waist length, zip-up leather jacket would make a lot more sense, and maybe keep the button up Vanson for a "stretch goal" jacket - once you get used to a more normal zip-up jacket, then give the Vanson another try.

Thank you for your response

Yes I typically wear 3/4 length wool coats, and in my early 20's I wore 3/4 and full length leather coats but they were lamb Nappa so very little restriction of movement.

Forgive me I don't know terminology yet so I'll use the language know. I've never been drawn to biker style jackets because I have a long torso. I'm 6ft but have a 27 inch inseam leg if that's an indicator haha. So I find the traditional zip up leather jackets really short on me, I like something creating a "longer" silhouette on me as opposed to the short boxy look when I'm already so top-heavy.

So I was going for the styles I've always liked but wanted some heritage and quality. I can definitely see the logic in what you're saying, those styles in leather that will last are likely going to be restrictive.

I've seen comments saying 15+ years and comp leather still isn't broken in, I think this coat is over 25 years old and I can barely see a wrinkle. I can suffer the restriction and the discomfort but it has to be a little faster than that haha

 

[Carlos840]

I've been using this site as a source of information to educate myself as I slowly try to invest in better quality clothing, figured it's time to join in.

What started out as me wanting to invest in better clothes led down a rabbit hole of endless information. Raw selvedge denim, Goodyear welted full grain calf boots, then the hunt for a leather jacket not made from paper thin lamb Nappa.

I fell in love with the V1 Vanson Remington, I liked the idea of this being my forever coat I could wear everywhere. I don't think Tesco and EMP leather jackets prepared me for this competition leather beast. It's stiff as all hell, squeaks and generally feels unwieldy compared to what I'm used to. My dainty fingers can barely get the buttons through the holes they're that stiff

Reading comments on how many years it can take to break in comp leather, I definitely feel I took on a commitment I wasn't ready for. I'm going to sell this gorgeous coat and look for something more beginner friendly that I'm more comfortable using in day-to-day life.

Any recommendations for such jackets that you can just throw on and comfortably move in would be highly appreciated or at the least I could break in within a smaller time frame, a year feels much more manageable for me than a decade haha.

Whoever told you it would take years lied to you.
Just wear it, before you know it it will feel like a second skin.

If you want to speed things up just go on a few walks in the rain, the combination of humidity inside the coat from your body and humidity on the outside from the rain will break it in in no time.

Jackets take decades to break in when you keep them in closets or only use them to take cute instagram pictures.
If you live with it, it will break.

 

[Thranmir]

Whoever told you it would take years lied to you.
Just wear it, before you know it it will feel like a second skin.

If you want to speed things up just go on a few walks in the rain, the combination of humidity inside the coat from your body and humidity on the outside from the rain will break it in in no time.

Jackets take decades to break in when you keep them in closets or only use them to take cute instagram pictures.
If you live with it, it will break.

Thank you for the advice, that's interesting because I always thought "rain is the enemy" of leather jackets. Something about it drawing out the natural oils and eventually leading to damage.

I understand you're meant to air dry them on a suitable hanger and not let them dry in heat or sunlight, but even after that the consistent feedback I've seen is don't make a habit of letting it get wet too often. Is that not the case?

I'd never even considered rain being a problem before I started researching, heck my leather coats were what I picked for the rain so my wools didn't get drenched. But those were throwaway supermarket jackets and I want to make sure I don't destroy decent ones due to ignorance of proper care.

 

[Carlos840]

Thank you for the advice, that's interesting because I always thought "rain is the enemy" of leather jackets. Something about it drawing out the natural oils and eventually leading to damage.

I understand you're meant to air dry them on a suitable hanger and not let them dry in heat or sunlight, but even after that the consistent feedback I've seen is don't make a habit of letting it get wet too often. Is that not the case?

I'd never even considered rain being a problem before I started researching, heck my leather coats were what I picked for the rain so my wools didn't get drenched. But those were throwaway supermarket jackets and I want to make sure I don't destroy decent ones due to ignorance of proper care.

Veg tanned leather is not a fan of water, what you have is heavy duty chromed tanned leather, it doens't care about water.
The tip about drying it slowly still applies, no leather should be dried on the radiator or in the sun, that could lead to cracking.

But yeah, you have zero reasons to worry about the rain in that Vanson, it is built for it.
Honestly, give it a chance, try to wear it everyday for a month, go stand outside in a downpour, wear it doing sweaty work (humidity on the inside will break in faster than humidity on the outside), just use it.

Before you know it it will be grainy and it will fit like custom made armour.

 

[Thranmir]

Veg tanned leather is not a fan of water, what you have is heavy duty chromed tanned leather, it doens't care about water.
The tip about drying it slowly still applies, no leather should be dried on the radiator or in the sun, that could lead to cracking.

But yeah, you have zero reasons to worry about the rain in that Vanson, it is built for it.
Honestly, give it a chance, try to wear it everyday for a month, go stand outside in a downpour, wear it doing sweaty work (humidity on the inside will break in faster than humidity on the outside), just use it.

Before you know it it will be grainy and it will fit like custom made armour.

Thanks so much dude, this gives me hope! My research is only surface-level so far, trying to understand the different leather types and their characteristics, which then leads to tanneries and heritage then tan ing processes, the Chromexcel Vs this that the other and my brain starts to melt haha.

I should have known the specifics of my own coat though so thank you. I can find so little Information on the original Remington so unless there's a list telling me exactly what it's made of and how, I've not a clue how to distinguish leather and tanning types by characteristics. I will learn thank you again.

 

[Carlos840]

Thanks so much dude, this gives me hope! My research is only surface-level so far, trying to understand the different leather types and their characteristics, which then leads to tanneries and heritage then tan ing processes, the Chromexcel Vs this that the other and my brain starts to melt haha.

I should have known the specifics of my own coat though so thank you. I can find so little Information on the original Remington so unless there's a list telling me exactly what it's made of and how, I've not a clue how to distinguish leather and tanning types by characteristics. I will learn thank you again.

I read above that you have been wearing the jacket at home all day, that's a great move, if you want to speed things up a little get a spray bottle, fill it with softened water and spray yourself throughout the day so the leather is always damp.
I use softened water as if you are in a hard water area tap water will leave a white residue on the leather behind.

That will be much more useful than doing it dry.

Give it a good go before giving up, that Vanson is a great coat.

 

[Thranmir]

I read above that you have been wearing the jacket at home all day, that's a great move, if you want to speed things up a little get a spray bottle, fill it with softened water and spray yourself throughout the day so the leather is always damp.
I use softened water as if you are in a hard water area tap water will leave a white residue on the leather behind.

That will be much more useful than doing it dry.

Give it a good go before giving up, that Vanson is a great coat.

Another solid tip, thanks a lot dude I'll go research how the hell to make water soft now haha.

 

[Carlos840]

Another solid tip, thanks a lot dude I'll go research how the hell to make water soft now haha.

If you have a dehumidifier in your house, the water it collects will be softened.
You can buy it in 5L jugs at Tesco, B&Q etc.

Or just leave a bucket outside, rain water is good too.

You just don't want water with a lot of minerals in it.