Breaking point in breaking in jackets / jeans

[LordOfLeather]

That's one thing - I didn't know jeans can be uncomfortable until I got into the high-end denim hype. I never wore denim with stretch, hated it even before I knew I was supposed to because I always suspected there's something inherently wrong with wearing clothes that stretches, but I also don't recall ever buying a new pair of jeans, no matter how cheap, that felt uncomfortable. I'd try on a pair and it was either too small or too large. The one in my size, I didn't think about it twice once I left the store.

So with this whole raw denim ****, I just thought I'd just be getting a nicer looking jeans (I still like the look of those super faded trousers people post). What I ended up with instead was losing a whole lot of money for trousers that sucked in every conceivable way.

Took me a while to realize that most of those makers don't really know how to make clothes.

It was at that time that I also stumbled upon Naked & Famous whose jeans I freaking loved and that mistakenly made me believe that not all this raw denim stuff is bad. It is. And N&F are good because same as Levi's, they actually know how to make clothes, down to picking the right material for their jeans. Of course, it didn't take long for the denim-heads to begin disparaging N&F as being an "entry" level maker from which a true denim connoisseur naturally has to graduate to truly good stuff like Iron Hearts and the likes.

The fact that for the last couple of years, Zara has been dropping self-edge, raw denim collections that look exactly like I don't know, something from Oni, for a fraction of a price, says enough about the whole thing. I wouldn't be surprise if they actually get their denim from Japan Blue.

I always appreciate your skepticism and honesty. I can relate a lot, actually. I rolled my eyes at raw denim for years, and still think it's overhyped. I do appreciate what seems to me a somewhat higher quality and attention to detail than the jeans I've worn most of my life, but at the end of the day they are still just jeans. I will happily wear my "entry level" N&F jeans and have no plans to throw more money down the drain on higher end versions of the same thing. On my budget N&F already feels like an extravagance. But even if I had more disposable income, I can't justify the price tag of brands like IH, because it's still just denim. It has a limited lifespan, unlike a leather jacket that will outlive me.

 

[LordOfLeather]

Only explanation for me would be that the jeans were so uncomfortable that you had to adjust your body the whole time in funny angles and that led to the injury. One of the jeans I have for example is too tight at my belly so I catch myself with strange postures when sitting...

I'm sure it was this, but weirdly didn't feel uncomfortable when I was actually sitting. I'm not a chiropractor, but I think it shifted something in my sacrum that has thankfully realigned now. This is also just a sign of middle age, no doubt.

 

[Bfd70]

I can’t say I’ve ever been beaten but this was the toughest competitor.

 

[Robson]

I sold all my Aeros about two years ago (They were lovely jackets but just not comfortable to wear driving or anywhere you need a lot of mobility.) and while I like heavy jeans the Iron Hearts I've had have been the only ones which developed into being super comfortable relatively quickly. Currently have a pair of the 'heavy' Unbranded jeans which feel thinner than the same weight of IH jeans yet are also less comfortable even though the fit feels better. Go figure...

If you take your sizing to small it is not going to work, with thick leather you need room to be able to move. If you have room, you can bent thick leather, if you sizing is tight you wil not alble to move. Or it is going to take a very long time before the leather is going to work with you, instead of against you.
But that is just my opinion.

 

[Bern1]

10 years ago I sold off or traded an entire fleet of LW that I bought brand new in size 44, when I finally found out that 42 is my size. (More often than not.)

The battle is ongoing. Earlier this year I bought a 42 Ryder. Sleeves just a tad long, not much. Argh! Just saw one on the bay in size 40, but it seems the waist is a tad tight. Argh!

I did buy an Aero Bootlegger in a 40 that fits better than any other jacket I own.

 

[LordOfLeather]

I can’t say I’ve ever been beaten but this was the toughest competitor.
View attachment 805862

Correct me if I’m wrong, but is that a Vanson? Comp weight, I presume? Great looking jacket, whatever it is

 

[marker2037]

For me it’s mostly patterns and not really weight that determines if something works or doesn’t, but I also was never into the whole heavyweight cxl and denim that a lot of guys were. Mid weight, good patterns and cuts that fit your body, and that’s it.

 

[Bfd70]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but is that a Vanson? Comp weight, I presume? Great looking jacket, whatever it is

You are correct sir

 

[LordOfLeather]

You are correct sir

My experience with comp weight hasn’t been that bad, but I think it’s just a testament to Vansons great patterning. Also, the leather characteristics seem to vary greatly from one batch to the next, so who knows?

 

[newtojackets]

Aero chromexcel horsehides for me.

Started with the board racer- leather was beautiful, but the CXL combined with the extremely narrows sleeves of the board racer, meant bending my arms chafed the insides of my elbows.

Tried the cafe racer next, definitely better but the stiff leather with the neck hang issue meant wearing it for a few hours would make my back hurt

 

[theeprimitivesound]

My Y2 EB-140 was a beast to break in, and is still stiff in places, it hugs me now, as for heavy denim, i have a pair of N&F elephant 20oz, which ive never had an issue with, washed them right away, and theyre my go to winter jeans, which here in Alberta Canada, lasts a while.