Aero 36 with half belt: tight across the shoulders and an odd look from the back. Wrong size or just new leather?

[lorenzom]

Hi all,

I'm hoping for some advice from people who know Aero and horsehide much better than I do.

I bought this Aero second-hand on eBay about a month ago. It's black CXL FQHH, size 36. It was sold as a Plainsman, but it has a half belt on the back, so if anyone knows what model it really is, I'd like to know. Measured flat, it's about 17.5" across the shoulders and 19" pit to pit. I usually wear a medium.

Photos below: front, back, side and with my arms crossed.

Two things have made me unsure about it from the start.

The first is how it feels. I get a slight pressure across the shoulders. When I cross my arms, I feel it pulling in the middle of my back and behind my neck. It doesn't hurt and I can wear it fine, but I'm always aware of it.

The second is how it looks from the back. The back looks like one big flat panel. The shoulders look wide and stick out a bit, then it goes straight down and gets narrow quite fast, so the whole thing looks like a triangle. It's hard to explain, but it just looks strange to me. I don't mind the half belt itself. I'm just wondering if it's part of why the back looks like this.

So my questions are:

1. Does the pressure in the shoulders and back sound like the jacket is simply too small? Or is that normal with new horsehide, and will it ease off a lot once it breaks in?
2. Does the back change with wear? Does it soften and take your shape, or will it always look like this?
3. Could the half belt be part of the reason for that flat, triangular look?

If the answer is that it's the wrong size, I'd rather hear it now. Thanks!

 

[Harris HTM]

anyone knows what model it really is, I'd like to kn

A Plainsman

 

[lorenzom]

A Plainsman

Thanks for confirming that.

 

[Zoro]

As Harris said it is a Plainsman. It has a half belt, as explicitly stated by Aero in their product page. This is a slimmer fit and I would say that 36 is more of a Small rather than a Medium. I wear Medium in most of my "normal" or "mall" clothing and I'm a size 44 in most leather jackets (although I could also wear Large, I like Medium so it is on the tighter side).

I think it looks good. It may drape and conform better to your shape but I don't think it will break in and ease off on the shoulders.

 

[Justsomedude]

What Zoro said. It looks good on you and visually it is going to get better as you wear it.

Fit (visual) vs. fit (how it feels) I think comes down to some sort of compromise to be honest. A stiff, heavy leather jacket looks like **** if it's too big. Exactly the same qualities make it very uncomfortable if it's at all too small or if the pattern doesn't fit you.

In my experience some aspects of "I can feel the jacket" will get better as you wear it. For example the jacket will stretch from the elbows a bit and it will conform to your shoulders. As the leather softens the jacket doesn't push up as much when you sit. But when lift your arms or reach forwards and feel the jacket restrict you is not going to change much at all.

 

[zebedee]

That will sort itself out with wear. Not a worry. My Plainsman was similar and was fine after a month or so. Wear it in the rain/cold shower and then wear it until it dries. Don't get it soaked through.

 

[Bfd70]

Looks good. Leather jackets are rarely comfortable with arms crossed. If you expect an evening of consternation wear cotton.

 

[lorenzom]

Looks good. Leather jackets are rarely comfortable with arms crossed. If you expect an evening of consternation wear cotton.

Thanks. Maybe I didn't make myself clear enough — I don't mind the pressure and weird feeling, I just wanted to understand if It's just normal leather stuff or the jacket is simply too small for me.

 

[Bfd70]

Based on the pictures size is not the issue. It could however be the pattern. Welcome to the rabbit hole. Give up all hope ye who enter.

 

[l0fielectronic]

I would say if you are feeling pressure in those areas then yes, it probably is a little trim in those areas. For me I've learnt if it doesn't feel a good fit from the go it never will to me. Might it soften with wear, maybe, though if this is a used jacket then its probably had some wear already.

As others have said it could be the pattern or it could be this is a 36 with some customisation too. I think if you are happy and its comfortable then great but I wouldn't expect it to feel all that much different with a lot of wear.

 

[lorenzom]

I would say if you are feeling pressure in those areas then yes, it probably is a little trim in those areas. For me I've learnt if it doesn't feel a good fit from the go it never will to me. Might it soften with wear, maybe, though if this is a used jacket then its probably had some wear already.

As others have said it could be the pattern or it could be this is a 36 with some customisation too. I think if you are happy and its comfortable then great but I wouldn't expect it to feel all that much different with a lot of wear.

Yeah thats the thing, it is pretty new, but I think it's a little tight for me. Will try to resell it...

 

[dinhnguyen57]

The shoulders and chest looks roomy in your pictures. Before buying a different jacket, ask yourself what kind of jacket you really want. Another horsehide may likely feel the same way. If you want a more relaxed fit, or don't want that feeling of pulling on the back of the neck or back, getting a larger jacket might likely get you excess leather and odd folds in the jacket. You may want to consider a different type of leather that is thinner, with more stretchiness t it, such as lambskin, buffalo or deerskin. I found Rainbow Country and The Flat Head fits me better in those aspects concerning the shoulder but they they cost much more than Aero jackets. somethings to consider...

 

[AeroFan_07]

Regardless the leather, the half-belt or the pattern, this jacket just does not look comfortable on you. At least by the photos you have supplied here. Questions is -- Are You Comfortable in it? If not - move it along, try something else.

 

[Arin666]

Does not look like a comfortable fit, probably because it fits too small in certain areas that you have mentioned in your post.