What does a fully broken in CXL jacket feel like?

[Jeef]

Is the tumbled CXL comfortable from the start? I don’t think I could tolerate wearing CXL long enough to break it in. Do you guys enjoy the process of breaking it in?

 

[ton312]

In my experience CXL never loses its stiffness. I think a warmer climate would suit it better, keep the wax soft and the jacket wearable. Even my oldest cxl jacket that was made in the 80’s-90’s and was absolutely broken in was still stiff as a board on any given cold Chicago winter day.

Despite its beauty, it’s a leather I’d never even remotely consider again. I love the way it looks but have truly grown to hate the way it wears. I never found it even remotely comfortable. So the answer is cxl feels about the same depending on the temp you wear it in., broken in or out of the box. It’s wax stuffed and that never really goes away.

 

[Joe C]

I just got a HH from the Aero stock page. I'm planning on using it as much as as possible, and not being gentle with it. I was told that these jackets can take a beating, and that I shouldn't baby it.

 

[MrProper]

Do you guys enjoy the process of breaking it in?

No.
Nevertheless, I liked the jacket. But it was still stiff even years later. And I wouldn't buy it again in this leather.

 

[Harris HTM]

As others already mentioned: it will get softer but it will always be thick, heavy and stiff.

 

[Will Zach]

In my experience CXL never loses its stiffness. I think a warmer climate would suit it better, keep the wax soft and the jacket wearable. Even my oldest cxl jacket that was made in the 80’s-90’s and was absolutely broken in was still stiff as a board on any given cold Chicago winter day.

Despite its beauty, it’s a leather I’d never even remotely consider again. I love the way it looks but have truly grown to hate the way it wears. I never found it even remotely comfortable. So the answer is cxl feels about the same depending on the temp you wear it in., broken in or out of the box. It’s wax stuffed and that never really goes away.

Finally. A science-based reply. Wax is soft in warmer temps and hard in cooler temps. CXL is full of wax and behaves accordingly. It's shoe leather.

 

[zebedee]

My fqhh Highwayman was comfortable after a month or so. I've had it for almost 16 years and its quite flexible (but I live(d) in Shanghai/Hong Kong). My steer hide jackets are far less flexible and heavier, but I've only owned them for three or four years and wear them irregularly, so they might become more flexible over time. Mid-weight tumbled cordovan is lighter and was, again, flexible after a year and not too heavy.

The most immediately flexible heavy leather I've ever worn is Blattwerk bullhide on a SBV2. It's thick but very pliable (almost rubbery). The most immediately flexible and lightest is goat hide. The happiest medium overall is Vicenza. Vicenza doesn't get that much appreciation, but I find it ideal. The discontinued mid-weight bettered tan HH and battered seal HH that Aero had were also great.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Finally. A science-based reply. Wax is soft in warmer temps and hard in cooler temps. CXL is full of wax and behaves accordingly. It's shoe leather.

And this is my perspective as well.

Works great for boots as your feet & legs get the leather warmed up pretty nicely. I have one Aero left made of CXL FQHH and that's it. The best feature is the smell, without question.

 

[MrProper]

The happiest medium overall is Vicenza. Vicenza doesn't get that much appreciation, but I find it ideal.

+1

 

[Harris HTM]

Vicenza doesn't get that much appreciation, but I find it ideal

The only thing I don't like with vicenza is the lack of colour depth. Especially when compared to CXL FQHH.

 

[zebedee]

The only thing I don't like with vicenza is the lack of colour depth. Especially when compared to CXL FQHH.

Yes, agreed. Goat is the same way.

 

[JasonY]

The one CXL(SH) jacket I have is a well broken in Schott p613s that has been in a few hands here on TFL. It is everything that has been mentioned so far as well as very comfortable. It is my go-to jacket in temps up to 50's/60's. Wore it daily this winter in New England. Markedly more pliable in above freezing temps. Feels similar to a weighted blanket when warmed up by body temp and draping. It is somewhat oversized (layering jacket, but still ok with a t-shirt) which I think makes a big difference in wearability. Stiff + tight = no fun.

 

[zebedee]

The one CXL(SH) jacket I have is a well broken in Schott p613s that has been in a few hands here on TFL. It is everything that has been mentioned so far as well as very comfortable. It is my go-to jacket in temps up to 50's/60's. Wore it daily this winter in New England. Markedly more pliable in above freezing temps. Feels similar to a weighted blanket when warmed up by body temp and draping. It is somewhat oversized (layering jacket, but still ok with a t-shirt) which I think makes a big difference in wearability. Stiff + tight = no fun.

Aero's jerky HH is medium-weight, immediately flexible and very comfortable. The outer colour will start to wear through to russet/brown/pale bits in about three weeks at points of wear (see attached).