I'd like to hear from forum members about the relative benefits of corduroy vs alpaca wool as a jacket lining for horsehide. I'm mostly interested in learning which lining is warmer, but would welcome any other input that will help me make an informed decision.
I would say that of the two alpaca would be the warmest.I find that much over 10 degrees C and with high humidity it can be too warm and thats worn with only a long sleeved cotton t shirt underneath.Its luxurious though when teamed with layers on a cold windy day.
Alpaca is warmer, but not made for freezing temperatures. Alpaca is comfortable between 0-10 Celsius. It's a good lining for fall and early spring in Germany where I live. Corduroy can probably be worn up to 15 Celsius. Both of these numbers are only estimates, though. Both of them would not be my lining of choice though. I'd always go with a thin lining, use the jacket as outer shell and layer under it according to weather. Why restrict the time you can wear the jacket on a certain climate?
Corduroy is a thick and heavy lining for its relative warmth. Alpaca is thin for its warmth. It is also prone to wear. I don't find the corduroy to be a versatile liner. If you are wedded to one or the other, I would go with the Alpaca and layer under it, dependent on the ambient temperature. @jacketjunkie recommended layering, and I agree that is the way to go if you will only have one or two jackets. Many of us on the Board have jackets for all temperatures. Don't have to worry about layering; we just wear what fits the temps.
My Teamster is lined with body shell moleskin and cotton drill sleeves. I considered alpaca but thought moleskin far more durable than alpaca. Moleskin is IMHO more versatile then corduroy. When the temperature is really cold I layer underneath with a Filson moleskin or Mackinaw vest.
Thanks to you I got the Mackinaw vest; it is great for layering. I frequently wear it in the winter underneath my insulated Carhartt coveralls while sitting on my deck smoking a cigar. It is quite a bit colder here than it is in your Dallas area, although we had very little winter this year.
I have an alpaca lined mariner. It is warm but definitely less warm than my melton navy peacoat or my shearling lined lhb. I never had issues with itching, some people do though. It is thin and light but indeed wears rather easily on friction points. usually I wear this at temperatures between 5-15c. My only experience with corduroy is as sleeve lining. Warm but heavy.
We didn't have much of a winter tis year in N Texas either. Did you get the "regular" Mackinaw vest or the Western Mackinaw vest? Whichever you have, get the other in a different color. I think I have every color Filson makes in their moleskin button vests, plus navy and a brown moleskin zip in liner vests, all extremely useful for layering even under a sports coat.
My heavy steer Teamster is alpaca lined with cotton drill sleeve lining. Its my cold winter coat and is perfect. I wear it with a long sleeve t-shirt and I'm plenty warm or I add a flannel for additional warmth. it is not a versitile jacket for milder weather. My fqhh half belt is lined with cotton drill, making it more versitile for not so cold days, as it works great for layering. I prefer a thin lining and layering, as it makes the jacket more versitle and can span more tempurature fluxuation, which naturally translates to more wear time.
I have the regular, and I too discovered I can wear it under a sport coat and be substantially warmer. Good stuff that Filson.
I bought a second Hand alpaca lined Aero last Autumn, I was surpised how warm it is, I've had a few leather jackets in the past and they weren't great winter jackets which is why I kind of drifted away from them. While we haven't had a cold winter I did wear it for a few days on the coast when it was pretty cold, wet and windy and also for a ten or so mile walk then, I wasn't cold at all and it kept the wind out and, if anything, was a little too warm when walking and I had to unzip it. It may be because its a few year old I guess, but the alpaca in this jacket isn't really itchy at all - I mean I've not tried wearing the jacket with no shirt on or anything, I think that would be pushing things even for this forum... or maybe not ...but its no diferent when worn than cotton lined jackets in so far as comfort goes. I like layering and vests myself too but I've found with this its nice, and less bulky to just throw this, on over a shirt without thinking and know it'll be warm enough.
The antecedent to "it" is "Alpaca." It (Alpaca) wears fairly quickly on the points of contact with objects such as belts, buckles and Leatherman tools.