Help with affordable Shearling Aviator Jacket in EU

[giantsteps]

Hello!

This would be considered a newbie question I am sure. For many many years I've wanted a shearling jacket. Only recently have I begun researching but all the info is kinda overwhelming. I would be interested to buy the best quality as possible in EU for about 500 euros. Now I am flexible as far as models go I really like the Irvin but I am open to some B3s B6 even. Accuracy in repoduction of the original models is not really my concern. I would gladly sacrifice some details for better quality leather or construction.

The options I found are Wested , Five Star, Avi, Schott (the LC models). They kinda push the 500 euros mark and none of them really seem to get consistently good reviews. I like the five star ones but they ask for 85 bucks for delivery which is a kinda lot plus they have an option to tip at checkout? whats the deal with that lol. so their business seems kind sketchy. Are there any other under the radar makers in EU that I should consider?

Thank you for taking the time to read!

Regards,
Phill

 

[Tomwiththeweather]

For €500 your best bet is to wait and watch and try to snag a nice secondhand piece. New, you could take a look at Noble House… I have no first-hand experience but they seem like well made, though not particularly faithful reproductions of any given style. They offer several shearling options for €500-600.

 

[Zoro]

I've done a similar research a couple years ago, with similar findings and ended up just going all in with Thedi as I didn't want to go the second hand route.

I bought a Schott LC and returned it as I just wasn't "wow'ed" by it. It wasn't terrible, but at that stage I was determined to get something better. I think I had bought it on sale for like ~750€, which still is higher than you're aiming for. Still, if I was limited to such a low budget (I know, it's a fair amount of money, just low for a piece like this), I would either go for Schott LC or Avi, specially as you could always return them if you are not satisfied. Otherwise, go for used, but you won't be able to return it then.

The closest to being an "under the radar" maker, which would be another interesting option (perhaps better than the previous two?) would be Goldtop's Battle Of Britain jacket, but it is currently sold out. I've read good things about their jackets for riding, but haven't seen anything specific on their shearling.

 

[Jon Crow]

For €500 your best bet is to wait and watch and try to snag a nice secondhand piece. New, you could take a look at Noble House… I have no first-hand experience but they seem like well made, though not particularly faithful reproductions of any given style. They offer several shearling options for €500-600.

Noble house pffft don't go there, there supposed German Luftwaffe reproductions are expensive and pants

 

[beetleything]

https://www.avileather.com/product/raf-flying-jacket-pockets/

 

[Fiedi]

Hi, if you don't care too much on authenticity concerning zips, knobs etc then take a look on the homepage of https://www.noble-house.eu a company in southern Germany Ulm. I have a nice B-15 AF sherling made of thick felt which is of a good quality imo

 

[Fiedi]

Sorry didn't see the earlier posts - my jacket is about 10 years old and I have no experience with the quality noblehouse delivers nowadays...

 

[Poltung]

Crush on Retro black Australian shearling

Crush on Retro B3

Crush on Retro is a Chinese goods reseller (they're not the manufacturer, their jackets and boots can be found on Taobao), but their items are good for the price, especially without shipping fees, VAT or custom fees. For what it's worth, here's an unboxing/review so you can see for yourself: RoadToHeritage's review

 

[Jon Crow]

Yahoo Japan and buyee you see decent b3 jackets on there that don't break the bank

 

[Edward]

The closest to being an "under the radar" maker, which would be another interesting option (perhaps better than the previous two?) would be Goldtop's Battle Of Britain jacket, but it is currently sold out. I've read good things about their jackets for riding, but haven't seen anything specific on their shearling.

That Goldtop is an excellent jacket. A friend has one (friend is also an owner of ELC Irvin, ELC B3, and several other high enders) and is very pleased. It's not finished to the level of the other jackets, but at about a third of the price, holds its own well.


No direct personal experience of Schott's LC range, but what I hear of it is uniformly underwhelming. AVI's leather options were all the rage hereabouts briefly, though there was some dispute at one stage about where they were made vs price.

The other one I've looked at was QMI.BE. Some nice looking B3s on there at a very fair price. I was considering one but didn't get much response from their email re sizing. If they had a UK outlet I might have risked it, but returning to Belgium is just enough hassle that it made me wary. FWIW, my experience is it's much easier to find a very serviceable leather at a budget price than it is a sheepskin.

Wested can be well worth looking at, especially for those in the UK, but it pays to be careful with model. The ones where Wested made the original (Indy jackets, DasBoot / Doctor Who, for example) tend to be very good; the ones where they're copying another maker's jacket from the screen ( Captain America; the original was a modified Aero Bootlegger) don't do so well. Their military styles are distinctly lacking in any sort of accuracy to the original design - too much so, for my liking. It's a personal thing and highly subjective, but to my eye something sold as an Irvin or a B3 but which has major departures from the original design (pockets, too long, different panelling, whatever) just looks a bit cheap and nasty irrespective of how well it is made. That said, I'd give significant consideration to one of their "B3" models in black, as to my subjective eye the black takes it far enough away from the original design that it's just a nice civilian jacket that was inspired by a B3. YMMV, of course. In my experience, Wested punch well above their weight for MiE jackets at a priced that competes well with Far Eastern imports, as long as you find the right model.

The other alternative I'm aware of is What Priced Glory, though their sheepskin is thinner and the jackets are really designed to be worn by guys doing living history stuff across the Summer show season, so it'd be a gamble as to whether they'd really be suitable as daily Winter wear.

 

[Jon Crow]

That Goldtop is an excellent jacket. A friend has one (friend is also an owner of ELC Irvin, ELC B3, and several other high enders) and is very pleased. It's not finished to the level of the other jackets, but at about a third of the price, holds its own well.


No direct personal experience of Schott's LC range, but what I hear of it is uniformly underwhelming. AVI's leather options were all the rage hereabouts briefly, though there was some dispute at one stage about where they were made vs price.

The other one I've looked at was QMI.BE. Some nice looking B3s on there at a very fair price. I was considering one but didn't get much response from their email re sizing. If they had a UK outlet I might have risked it, but returning to Belgium is just enough hassle that it made me wary. FWIW, my experience is it's much easier to find a very serviceable leather at a budget price than it is a sheepskin.

Wested can be well worth looking at, especially for those in the UK, but it pays to be careful with model. The ones where Wested made the original (Indy jackets, DasBoot / Doctor Who, for example) tend to be very good; the ones where they're copying another maker's jacket from the screen ( Captain America; the original was a modified Aero Bootlegger) don't do so well. Their military styles are distinctly lacking in any sort of accuracy to the original design - too much so, for my liking. It's a personal thing and highly subjective, but to my eye something sold as an Irvin or a B3 but which has major departures from the original design (pockets, too long, different panelling, whatever) just looks a bit cheap and nasty irrespective of how well it is made. That said, I'd give significant consideration to one of their "B3" models in black, as to my subjective eye the black takes it far enough away from the original design that it's just a nice civilian jacket that was inspired by a B3. YMMV, of course. In my experience, Wested punch well above their weight for MiE jackets at a priced that competes well with Far Eastern imports, as long as you find the right model.

The other alternative I'm aware of is What Priced Glory, though their sheepskin is thinner and the jackets are really designed to be worn by guys doing living history stuff across the Summer show season, so it'd be a gamble as to whether they'd really be suitable as daily Winter wear.

Nice post Edward, I actually like those black shearlings, I had one in the 90s when living East Coast UK

 

[Edward]

Nice post Edward, I actually like those black shearlings, I had one in the 90s when living East Coast UK

Yes, the 'Memphis Belle' one really quite appeals. I might just indulge myself next Winter...

 

[giantsteps]

Helloo all and thank you for all your answers!

Eventually after researching and waiting I went with a Schott LC 1259. I got it on a sale on aboutyou and I spent only 300 euros for it. I am very happy with it, It really is very very nice for someone who never had a shearling jacket. The way it fits is great but for people that consider it, size up. I am 182 and 68kg and went with a size XL. And it is a little loose but very comfortable. So to anybody looking to get a nice B3 jacket on the cheap like I did wait for sales.

I dont think you can find a better deal than this.

I saw a few people online that spoke very badly of the quality of the Schott LC, I dont find it to be true at least for me. But again for 300 euros, if i spent full price meaning 850 or even 600 euros as it is discounted down to usually I might have not been so happy.