Is Aero Goatskin Chrome Tanned or Vegetable Tanned?

[mimesis2nemesis]

I've always wondered about Aero Goatskin... Is it chrome or Vegetable Tanned? Also, How do you fine gentlemen think it measures up against G&B Goatskin? Thank you in advance for the responses.

 

[Seb Lucas]

The G&B is some of the finest, thickest goat I have ever seen but it doesn't have quite the visual character of the Aero goat I've seen. Aero's are less shiny (naked?) and pre-washed, I think. Don't know about the processing. The G&B takes a long time to loose it's new look. You'll be able to pass it onto your grand children - if that matters to you.

 

[JanSolo]

Aero goat:

- Ultra thick, sometimes twice as thick as G+B goat
- Vegetable tanned using quebracho and oak bark tannins which result in a light milk chocolate base colour of the leather
- Semi aniline seal spray finish on top which leaves a semi glossy slightly mottled appearance
- Due to vegetable tanning much stiffer than chrome tanned hides
- A goatskin that must be seen, held and weighed to be fully appreciated

G+B

- Very good A-grade hides which are usually flawless
- Chrome tanned
- Drum dyed (i.e. the dye fully penetrates the leather...no difference in colour between surface and the flesh side)
- Finished leather is much softer and more pliable than Aero's veg tanned hide but also thinner and probably less abrasion resistant
- Due to chrome tanning and drum dying the leather doesn't age as nicely as veg tanned and spray finished hides do.

Some pics of Aero's goat:

Mottled finish

Pebbly grain/thick hide

Almost FQHH weight...Cheyenne in seal goat

 

[pjstrass]

does Aero still make jackets in goat ...not mentioned that I saw on the website (Scotland). Does anyone have a comparison with US Authentic goat ..esp. vs. Gibson & Barnes ?

 

[Seb Lucas]

Interesting info Jan. All the G&B goat I've seen is about 2.5 to 3 oz thick. I personally wouldn't want it any thicker. G&B will do veg dyed goat too. Aero have much better patterns than G&B

 

[JanSolo]

Aero will make M422as, A2s and civilian jackets up to size 40/42 (depending on model) out of goat. No 3/4 length jackets at the moment due to lack of larger hides.
The biggest skins are mainly reserved for one-piece A2 backs.

 

[JanSolo]

Look at the cut edge of the throat latch: Paler base colour with spray finish top coat. A clear sign of veg tanned skins.
A chrome tanned skin (if left undyed) would show a blue-white base colour due to the chrome salt tanning agents. Therefore most chrome tanned hides are drum dyed and pigment finished.

 

[Jeff M]

Aero will make M422as, A2s and civilian jackets up to size 40/42 (depending on model) out of goat. No 3/4 length jackets at the moment due to lack of larger hides.
The biggest skins are mainly reserved for one-piece A2 backs.

I actually have a M422a on order at the moment with Aero..size 46.
I take a size 44 regularly..but they recommended going up a size as this is a slim design.