CHP / Columbia jackets

[Mojo1975]

I gotta tell you, I love CHP jackets, vintage, modified, or otherwise! I think you've gotta get the fit tight, tight, tight...I don't know...how are the Aero C.H.I.P.S. jackets? They've gotta be spectacular! Here's my Vanson CHP with spot work on the belt, mixed vintage hardware, 1930s western belt buckle, and fur collar...

 

[injunjack]

Why are you wearing shirt collar above mouton collar??

 

[Mojo1975]

Why are you wearing shirt collar above mouton collar??

I don't know...I do that a lot with cafe' racers--a western shirt collar up over the mandarin collar...it adds some color. Yet, I agree with you...a bit odd maybe...LOL........ I might have to rethink this look....LOL.... Any other thoughts on the western shirt collar showing??? I always kind of thought it looked halfway cool....

 

[injunjack]

I don't know...I do that a lot with cafe' racers--a western shirt collar up over the mandarin collar...it adds some color. Yet, I agree with you...a bit odd maybe...LOL........ I might have to rethink this look....LOL.... Any other thoughts on the western shirt collar showing??? I always kind of thought it looked halfway cool....

looks too seventies....LOL maybe you're too young to remember...gives me shudders everytime I see it.

I like to wear my CHP's as plain as possible, with just basketweave dutybelt.
But then I'm just an older biker...

 

[Pushrod]

Here's mine, Vanson CHP:

 

[Mojo1975]

Here's mine, Vanson CHP:

Great CHP...Vanson makes a very, very cool CHP!!!

 

[Mojo1975]

looks too seventies....LOL maybe you're too young to remember...gives me shudders everytime I see it.

I like to wear my CHP's as plain as possible, with just basketweave dutybelt.
But then I'm just an older biker...

Here's the jacket without the collar...maybe that helps...LOL...

 

[alfyman]

CHP jackets

I would love to own one of these jackets, but with the Black Fur Collar.

 

[Mojo1975]

I would love to own one of these jackets, but with the Black Fur Collar.

Just ask I. A. & B. to do the same jacket for ya, but with a black collar. I think the jacket with a black fur collar would be cool as hell!

 

[JLStorm]

I gotta tell you, I love CHP jackets, vintage, modified, or otherwise! I think you've gotta get the fit tight, tight, tight...I don't know...how are the Aero C.H.I.P.S. jackets? They've gotta be spectacular! Here's my Vanson CHP with spot work on the belt, mixed vintage hardware, 1930s western belt buckle, and fur collar...

I dont care for CHP jackets, just my personal opinion. But yours with the white fur collar looks absolutely awesome. Excellent jacket and it fits you very well.

 

[Mojo1975]

I dont care for CHP jackets, just my personal opinion. But yours with the white fur collar looks absolutely awesome. Excellent jacket and it fits you very well.

Thanks so much for the compliment on the jacket... I have a 1930s Half Belt Aero in black FQHH with a golden brown fur collar, just like the old Buco J-24s, on the way....it's not a Vanson CHP, but I think it's going to be hella cool!!!

 

[JLStorm]

Thanks so much for the compliment on the jacket... I have a 1930s Half Belt Aero in black FQHH with a golden brown fur collar, just like the old Buco J-24s, on the way....it's not a Vanson CHP, but I think it's going to be hella cool!!!

Make sure to post photos when you get it.

 

[Mojo1975]

Make sure to post photos when you get it.

Most definitely...I think it'll be a month or two, but it'll be worth it!!!

 

[JLStorm]

Most definitely...I think it'll be a month or two, but it'll be worth it!!!

I have two very heavily customized Aeros. They are one of a small handful of things in life that are worth the wait.

 

[les_garten]

Review: Langlitz Padded Pocket Columbia Medium Cowhide

Review: Langlitz Padded Pocket Columbia off the Rack Sz 50 in Medium Cowhide

I've thrown up some pix of this jacket in reference to other jackets and feel this Jacket deserves it's own thread! Plus this just ain't that busy
of a sub-forum, so every little bit helps! I am getting ready to buy another Padded Pocket Columbia in Goatskin(Custom w/Mods) and will
Compare and Contrast the 2 jackets when I get the new one.

I bought this jacket off Fleabay about 5 years ago or so. Like most of my Jackets, it's been mainly hangin' out in my closet since then. South Florida doesn't have a lot of Jacket days, with the exception of riding days where you need the gear all the time. My bike has been laid up for a while and I am just getting back into addressing that project so been lookin' at my moto jackets again.So this is a 10 Pocket Padded Columbia in an off the Rack Size 50. It is Medium Cowhide. This jacket has no eapulettes, padded shoulders and elbows, Sam Brown Belt and Belt Loops, Left arm Bicep Pocket, Right Forearm Pocket, Chest Pocket, 2 handwarmers, Leather Lined Gun Pocket, Map Pocket, Wallet Pocket, armpit Hidden cash pocket.

Here's the product Page: http://www.langlitz.com/columbia/ Such that it is...

Leather: This jacket is a medium Cowhide. Which is basically heavier weight, or as heavy as everyone elses heavy Cow. Langlitz will spend some time trying to talk you out of buying their heavy cow, listen to them folks! You gotta be crazy to get this jacket in their heavy cow! The leather is pretty smooth, but not quite Glove smooth. I has a firm hand to it, but not overbearing or plasticky like some we know. I bought the jacket used so to me it feels pretty supple for it's weight/hand. Mine looks like all the Cow Columbias when I see pix of them. If you look at well used Columbias they all get that limp kinda look which makes for a comfortable wearing jacket. These jackets mold well to you. I really like the Leather of this jacket, I can;t imagine a moto jacket having nicer leather, except maybe Langlitz's Horse. I've never touched that, but the pix of it look great, but it is a $1200 upgrade! So that puts it outside of the realm of possibility for most of us. But if I were to unload my Cow, I would Love to try out their Horse.

Liner: A heavy Black Nylon that is very slick in feel, yet has a pronounced surface texture. Feels like Heavy Satin. Hard to describe, at least for me. Feels very high quality though and durable. The leather used to line the Gun pocket is the same as the Jacket, Medium Black Cow in his case. I've had a S&W .38 +P Airlite in there, I can also just Jam a Beretta 92FS in there but it's too big for it really. A Glock 23 .40 cal would fit, or a small 9mm like a SW MP Compact or Shield. The other pockets are lined with a heavy canvas or sailcloth kind of material. They also feel very durable and substantial.

Zippers/Hardware: The zips on mine are Langlitz branded pullers/zippers. I don't know who actually manufactures the zippers. They are really quality feeling zippers. The pullers are kinda 3D, absolutely gorgeous! Very. very, well done. The small pullers are a Bell shape and are really nice as well. I tried to get good pix of these because I would opt for them over Talons or anything else they would offer in my opinion. My next jacket from them wil have these zips. All the snaps on the Belt Loops, collar, windflap, etc are brass which takes on a beautiful patina to it. Some folks like Nickel hardware but I like the brass as seen here. Langlitz will do either one.

Cut: This is a Motorcycle jacket for riders. The sleeves unzipped come about to my knuckles. Put my arms out in front of me and they hit my wrists right at the base of my hand, perfect! The jacket is roomy throughout the shoulders, long in the back so it covers your lower back when you bend over. I didn't have the jacket made custom, but the sz 50 fits me perfectly. I would say this jacket is a slightly roomier cut. Could be the bi-swing and gussets make it feel that way. It also has the Laced gussets on the bottom sides of the jacket to accomodate "Paunch Creep". I usually wear a 48 in an Aero A-2, a 46 in a G&B 422A or LW A-2 if that helps. I wear a 45/46 Brooks Brothers Suit Jacket. 5'11 220-245, dependin'. The jacket with it's gussets helps with the seasonal paunch. Tt has been suggested by a guy who bought one that this jacket was for old Fat guys. I identified immediately with that statement! But they'll fit it however you want. The japanese Langlitz forums are chock full of skin tight fits. If you don't ride a bike, tell them that and they'll mod the fit for whatever else you would use this jacket for.

Here's some numbers for this off the Rack sz 50
Armpit - Armpit == 50"
Shoulder down the sleeve == 27"
Across the back == 23"
Bottom of Collar to down the back == 30"

Style: The original Columbia is a 1947 design by Ross Langlitz, which is as far as I can tell, is a copy of the Schott Perfecto 618 as worn by Marlon Brando in The Wild One. The Langlitz model has no "General's Stars", and has the addition of an integrated Kidney belt which is nice. There is also a Pocket Columbia version and the Padded Pocket Columbia version you see here. You either like this style or you don't. This style is the way it is for a reason though. This is foremost a motorcycle Jacket. The offset zipper makes a huge windflap behind the zipper. Wind has to navigate that huge fold to penetrate and make you cold while riding. Wind just can't get through. With the zipper half way down, you can fasten down the collar and let a little air in for cooling when it is hot.

>>>>Cont>>>>

 

[les_garten]

Construction: Stitching and quality of materials is basically second to none. Anything happens to the Jacket, they'll fix it. You need it altered, they'll fix it. You don't like it, they'll take it back. There is just nothing to pick on here that I can see. I can't see how they could improve on anything. They will custom do anything you want. If you look over all the Japanese Langlitz pages you can see a lot of options that they don't list on their webpage and don't tell you about. You have to ask for them specifically. Do your homework before buying a Jacket from them. Look at a lot of their jackets on Google Images and make notes so that you know what to ask for when it comes order time. I would rate the overall construction as good or better than LW. Much better than Aero IMO, which ain't bad.

Customer Experience: I didn't order the jacket from them originally. But I've had a lot of conversation with Langlitz on my current jacket I am having them build for me. They've sent me tons of samples, catalogs, etc. over the years. I've read a lot of crazy good customer service stories from people on a lot of forums. Here are a few>>

A guy makes a thread asking about LL jackets. Not sure he wants one, not sure about cow or goat, not sure about the style. Thinks he deosn't like the style. Thinks he's not sure about Goat. The guys on the thread totally talk him into buying a very expesnvie jacket assuring him he'll Love it. He'll Love the style, he'll Love the goat. He sounded totally trepidateous in hindsite. Gets the jacket and totally hates it. Hates the style, hates the Goat, wants Heavy Cow. Says it's a fat boys jacket. A lot of crying, and moaning and generallly Nancy behaviour going on. Just kidding, but you get the idea. They take the Jacket back with zero questions! A custom jacket! No Questions! Feel free to answer this thread with all the other companies who do this with your only out of pocket being return shipping! I double-dog dare ya! No, I triple-dog dare ya! There, it's been done, a Triple-Dog Dare!

Another guy who intentionally mis-measured trying to outsmart Langlitz, gets the jacket, and it's hugely oversized. He admits he was padding the measurements because he was worried it would be tight. They know how to size their jackets, don't try to outsmart them. They take the jacket back, make him another one in a different hide! He also changed from Goat to Cow! I bought a used Jacket on Fleabay and liked it so much I want to order a new one from them. They are doing things just dead on right. Their customers are their best salesman.

Customizing: They will basically do anything you want. They will also make other type of jackets you don't see on their webpage. Just ask them. I am kinda wanting them to do a Californian Half Belt type Jacket in Goat(Good Wear is in the running as well). Maybe I can get Tommer45 to dye it for me?

Now onto the PIX! These pix are linked. To see them at full resolution, click the pic, and then click again in your browser if you want to get all the detail.


















>>>>Cont>>>>

 

[les_garten]

More Pix:

 

[ForestForTheTrees]

I live just a couple of miles away from Langlitz Leathers. They made my riding jacket. I'm of the opinion that LL's strength is their customer service (and their return policy). I'm very familiar with it unfortunately as the last two customs they made for me weren't even close in the fit department. Like you said, my money was fully refunded both times. I won't part with my riding jacket, but I've given up on them making another jacket for me. I do dig the LL branded hardware they're using now.

 

[ForestForTheTrees]

By the way (my apologies if you're already familiar with this fact), if you look inside the chest pocket (the one with the Langlitz Leathers label sewn to it) you can tell whether or not the jacket was a custom or not. If it is, it will have the original owners name on the inside of the pocket, printed on the lining. The Langlitz you receive directly from them will come this way automatically. Also, I really like their goatskin products. My riding pants use their goatskin and are very comfortable.

 

[les_garten]

By the way (my apologies if you're already familiar with this fact), if you look inside the chest pocket (the one with the Langlitz Leathers label sewn to it) you can tell whether or not the jacket was a custom or not. If it is, it will have the original owners name on the inside of the pocket, printed on the lining. The Langlitz you receive directly from them will come this way automatically. Also, I really like their goatskin products. My riding pants use their goatskin and are very comfortable.

Yeah that's how I know mine is off the Rack. It just has a 50 in there.