Looking for a Rain Ready Biker Jacket

[Quan_love_leather]

Hi everyone,
I’m thinking about adding another biker jacket to my collection. After riding in heavy rain with my Buco J24, I’ve come to the conclusion that it isn’t really ideal for wet weather.

Right now I’m considering three options: a Lost Worlds Speed Demon, Schott 618, or a custom Lost Worlds duck canvas jacket.

I already own a Schott 611H, and from my experience riding in heavy rain, it can hold up for a little over 15 minutes before I start getting concerned. I’m wondering whether the 618 performs any better in prolonged heavy rain.

As for Lost Worlds, I’ve read quite a few threads here and have seen some amazing examples. What I’m curious about is whether anyone has actually pushed one to its limits in bad weather. How does the leather feel when new compared with after a proper break in? Does it become significantly more flexible and comfortable with use?

I’m also very interested in the Lost Worlds duck canvas version. There seem to be very few real world reviews of it, so I’d love to hear from anyone who has actually owned and worn one. How does the canvas handle heavy rain? How does it feel to wear when new, and how does it change after breaking in?

And finally, if anyone has a broken in Schott 618, Lost Worlds Speed Demon/LW jacket, or Lost Worlds duck canvas jacket, I’d love to see some photos!


Thanks in advance!

 

[jacketjunkie]

Lost Worlds will do, the HH is essentially water proof, it has a very thick topcoat.
For riding, I would grab a Vanson any day of the week instead though.. Stu makes great jackets but in the end, Vanson is a specialized motorcycle jacket maker, they will outperform at half the price.. off the bike, the LW may look better, but on the bike, Vanson wins and they offer a variety of classic styled black cross zips.

 

[Monitor]

You do not want to wear leather while it's raining. No leather is waterproof. Simple as that.

While Lost Worlds horsehide will outperform Real McCoy's Shinki, it is only a matter of minutes we're talking about here & once drenched through, it takes days for a leather jacket to dry out. Also, water doesn't ruin leather but it definitely affects it.

Canvas is even worse. Natural fibers are inherently absorbent and so cotton canvas is even less waterproof than leather, even if coated. Waxed cotton certainly buys you more time but prolonged exposure to rain will eventually get it soaked through and through. Water repellent cotton fabric does not exist and sage sateen cotton least of all.

On a side note & despite what the internet says, waxed canvas motorcycle jacket were never intended to handle riding in the rain but rather to combat damp, cold & windy weather. Which they do just fine but once it starts to rain, you pull over.

In short, if you absolutely must ride while it's raining, plastic is your best bet. All else is a waste of money.

 

[Oil Tanned]

You do not want to wear leather while it's raining. No leather is waterproof. Simple as that.

2nd. Riding in the rain w/ a leather jacket on would ****, hard.

 

[digdiss]

One doesn't go for a ride in the rain wearing leather....one gets caught in the rain on a ride wearing leather. If you knew the rain was coming, you would choose differently Every. Single. Time.

The leather will soak through and you'll get cold and wet. It'll take days to dry and then the leather will dry out, crack and shrink. It's just not the right material for that weather.

If you're gonna ride in the rain dress appropriately. I did a 110 mile round trip commute in northern california for 2 years (SF to San Jose). After a few months of dealing with heavily changing temperatures and precipitation in a single commute I ended up getting an Aerostich R-3. 10 years on the suit is still great (though the price seems to have almost doubled in that time!!). I don't wear it around town much as a one piece suit isn't practical for walking around - though it does roll up pretty small and fits in a top case.

You can get waxed cotton jackets that are bonded with a waterproof layer if you want a cooler/more retro look. And the Aerostich waxed cotton products (not bonded with a waterproof layer) have a good reputation for being water resistant if well maintained.

Also (and maybe controversial): get something with armor. Its not a magic ****** but it helps and certainly won't do any harm - especially if you slide after going down. Modern materials like D3O are so lightweight and flexible they really don't impede movement or add bulk.

But leather? Do not recommend in wet weather.

 

[Quan_love_leather]

Lost Worlds will do, the HH is essentially water proof, it has a very thick topcoat.
For riding, I would grab a Vanson any day of the week instead though.. Stu makes great jackets but in the end, Vanson is a specialized motorcycle jacket maker, they will outperform at half the price.. off the bike, the LW may look better, but on the bike, Vanson wins and they offer a variety of classic styled black cross zips.

I understand that using a leather jacket as rain gear is kind of ridiculous , but honestly, I really hate wearing rain gear.

In practice, I’m not expecting the jacket to be waterproof. I just want it to handle getting caught in the rain if I’m already close to my destination. If the rain gets really heavy, I’ll just pull over and wait it out.

The reason I started looking into Lost Worlds is that they emphasize the functional side of their jackets and seem pretty confident about their leather’s ability to handle rain. They even have some pretty strong statements about wearing their jackets in the rain without worrying about it.

So that’s really what got me curious — I was wondering how that claim holds up in actual real-world use.

Also, would the Vanson C2 x Dusbydel collaboration be a better option for what I’m looking for?

I’m mainly after something with a classic biker-jacket look, good mobility on the bike, and better rain resistance than a traditional leather jacket. I’m not looking for something completely waterproof — just something that can handle getting caught in the rain for a while without becoming a nightmare afterward.

 

[Quan_love_leather]

You do not want to wear leather while it's raining. No leather is waterproof. Simple as that.

While Lost Worlds horsehide will outperform Real McCoy's Shinki, it is only a matter of minutes we're talking about here & once drenched through, it takes days for a leather jacket to dry out. Also, water doesn't ruin leather but it definitely affects it.

Canvas is even worse. Natural fibers are inherently absorbent and so cotton canvas is even less waterproof than leather, even if coated. Waxed cotton certainly buys you more time but prolonged exposure to rain will eventually get it soaked through and through. Water repellent cotton fabric does not exist and sage sateen cotton least of all.

On a side note & despite what the internet says, waxed canvas motorcycle jacket were never intended to handle riding in the rain but rather to combat damp, cold & windy weather. Which they do just fine but once it starts to rain, you pull over.

In short, if you absolutely must ride while it's raining, plastic is your best bet. All else is a waste of money.

Okay, I understand. But I still really hate wearing rain gear, so I think I’ll rule out the LW canvas for now.

I actually emailed JL a while back, and they told me they make their jackets for police officers doing long-distance/interstate riding in the rain. That’s partly why I assumed Lost Worlds might have something similar in terms of weather resistance.

I guess I was expecting their “functional” approach to mean their leather could handle considerably more rain than a typical leather jacket.

 

[Quan_love_leather]

One doesn't go for a ride in the rain wearing leather....one gets caught in the rain on a ride wearing leather

To clarify what I mean: if I’m going on a long ride and I know I’ll be dealing with serious rain, of course I’ll still wear the rain gear I carry with me.
What I’m looking for is more for those situations where I suddenly get caught in the rain, but I’m still only 10–20 minutes from where I’m going. If the rain isn’t completely insane, I’d rather just keep riding or look for somewhere to stop if I have enough time.

Basically, I just want a jacket that can handle getting caught in the rain for a while without me immediately having to pull over and put on rain gear.

Because, honestly, I’m just lazy as hell.

 

[digdiss]

To clarify what I mean: if I’m going on a long ride and I know I’ll be dealing with serious rain, of course I’ll still wear the rain gear I carry with me.
What I’m looking for is more for those situations where I suddenly get caught in the rain, but I’m still only 10–20 minutes from where I’m going. If the rain isn’t completely insane, I’d rather just keep riding or look for somewhere to stop if I have enough time.

Basically, I just want a jacket that can handle getting caught in the rain for a while without me immediately having to pull over and put on rain gear.

Because, honestly, I’m just lazy as hell.

Understood. Since it seems you're willing to move away from leather i would suggest waxed cotton. The aerostich stuff still looks a little technical but it's purpose built. Other than that you have Belstaff's motorcycle line, Merlin, Vanson has some models - i picked up one of these pretty heavily discounted a few years back that works well enough.

As to JL - I wouldn't doubt them. But CHP uses touring bikes with heavy fairings and tall windscreens....its amazing how much of the environment those protect you from.

Good luck on the search!

 

[Monitor]

What I’m looking for is more for those situations where I suddenly get caught in the rain, but I’m still only 10–20 minutes from where I’m going. If the rain isn’t completely insane, I’d rather just keep riding or look for somewhere to stop if I have enough time.

Either Vanson or LW will get you furthest. Normal Vanson in their Competition Weight steerhide, not Vanson x whatever. Badalasi handles rain as badly as your Real McCoy.

Why would you even look for a Vanson jacket anywhere else other than on their official website?

 

[Quan_love_leather]

Either Vanson or LW will get you furthest. Normal Vanson in their Competition Weight steerhide, not Vanson x whatever. Badalasi handles rain as badly as your Real McCoy.

Why would you even look for a Vanson jacket anywhere else other than on their official website?

Ah, well… it looks damn good . I’m Asian and skinny a little bit, so the fit of the Vanson jackets on their website looks pretty roomy on me, which makes me a little nervous.

There are actually some older Vanson jackets here in Vietnam that are similar to the old jacket from Almost Vintage style, and they look great. The problem is that most of the used ones that make it over here are already pretty close to the leather cracking, so if I want a Vanson now, I’d probably have to buy new.

You know what I’m thinking, right?

A jacket with the clean fit of a Buco, the freedom of movement and comfort of a Schott, and enough water resistance to give me some extra time in the rain… that would be ****ing perfect. )))))))))

 

[Quan_love_leather]

Understood. Since it seems you're willing to move away from leather i would suggest waxed cotton. The aerostich stuff still looks a little technical but it's purpose built. Other than that you have Belstaff's motorcycle line, Merlin, Vanson has some models - i picked up one of these pretty heavily discounted a few years back that works well enough.

As to JL - I wouldn't doubt them. But CHP uses touring bikes with heavy fairings and tall windscreens....its amazing how much of the environment those protect you from.

Good luck on the search!

I understand. But if you were to look beyond Lost Worlds, say Belstaff, Merlin, Vanson, or other brands,which ones would you recommend?

I’m really into the classic biker look, so I’m not particularly interested in anything that looks too modern or overly technical. I still want it to look like a proper old school motorcycle jacket.

 

[digdiss]

I understand. But if you were to look beyond Lost Worlds, say Belstaff, Merlin, Vanson, or other brands,which ones would you recommend?

I’m really into the classic biker look, so I’m not particularly interested in anything that looks too modern or overly technical. I still want it to look like a proper old school motorcycle jacket.

You don't get more classic than a belstaff brooklands or trailmaster. Though if going for the longer jacket i would go for a crosby over the trailmaster cause that belt can be a PITA. They're pricey and slim fit, but actually waterproof (bonded) and come with D3O.

I have no experience with the vansons but im sure they're vanson quality. Generally don't come with armor pockets but there is this collab.

And the Iron and resin ones are pretty good and have a very heritage look - though I would wait unitl they go on sale.

 

[Quan_love_leather]

You don't get more classic than a belstaff brooklands or trailmaster. Though if going for the longer jacket i would go for a crosby over the trailmaster cause that belt can be a PITA. They're pricey and slim fit, but actually waterproof (bonded) and come with D3O.

I have no experience with the vansons but im sure they're vanson quality. Generally don't come with armor pockets but there is this collab.

And the Iron and resin ones are pretty good and have a very heritage look - though I would wait unitl they go on sale.

Okay got it

 

[Monitor]

Ah, well… it looks damn good . I’m Asian and skinny a little bit, so the fit of the Vanson jackets on their website looks pretty roomy on me, which makes me a little nervous.

There are actually some older Vanson jackets here in Vietnam that are similar to the old jacket from Almost Vintage style, and they look great. The problem is that most of the used ones that make it over here are already pretty close to the leather cracking, so if I want a Vanson now, I’d probably have to buy new.

You know what I’m thinking, right?

A jacket with the clean fit of a Buco, the freedom of movement and comfort of a Schott, and enough water resistance to give me some extra time in the rain… that would be ****ing perfect. )))))))))

Except for the leather and the price tag, "dudsbydel" jackets are the exact same jackets you would get buying directly from Vanson.

 

[Quan_love_leather]

Except for the leather and the price tag, "dudsbydel" jackets are the exact same jackets you would get buying directly from Vanson.

Ah, got it.
By the way, since we’re talking about alternatives, what do you think about the Lost Worlds Buco J23 in USAF Sage Sateen? I noticed it has a water-repellent outer and a waterproof military Oxford lining.
Would you consider that a better option than their 15 oz duck canvas if my main concern is being caught in the rain for 10–20 minutes while riding?
I’m still after that classic BucoJ24 kind of look, so the Sage Sateen caught my attention.