Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Quality leather jacket recommendations

Ems

New in Town
Messages
14
I’m having trouble finding good quality biker jacket, but not for bike riding but for purely street wear. Im uk based. Been looking for something with nice visible grain , schott is not cut for me, their jackets have small chest to waist ratio, they are cut like tubes, I’m a bodybuilder. It’s purely for fashion, to wear with hoodie but still quality….
 

jacketjunkie

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,670
Location
Germany
The Vanson is not overly v-shaped either.. if you want a big chest to waist drop, you should look at langlitz. if you want heavy grain, go for their goatskin.
 

Zoro

Practically Family
Messages
842
Location
Europe
I understood the opposite. If it is big chest to waist drop, I stay with Vanson but go for the Model E. The side laces may look off and like a corset but are fantastic to cinch the fit.
 

Oldanalogbonniefrump

New in Town
Messages
23
I’m having trouble finding good quality biker jacket, but not for bike riding but for purely street wear. Im uk based. Been looking for something with nice visible grain , schott is not cut for me, their jackets have small chest to waist ratio, they are cut like tubes, I’m a bodybuilder. It’s purely for fashion, to wear with hoodie but still quality….
Are you looking for new or used jackets? Are you looking at international markets--to have it shipped to the UK? If you're buying new, I'd not buy a jacket without trying it on, due to you knowing your body---it's jacket roulette, I don't care what anyone says. If you're buying used and anticipating wearing a sweater or hoody, and looking in the USA world--Walter Dyer are rock solid and big bustling people wore them. Do some reading here on past posts, many Fedora Lounge folks are quite transparent and funny about their bodies--jackets too small, jackets too big etc. Yes Schott is largely a fashion jacket. Biker jackets (real ones that folks used to ride with---now they rightfully so, have armor) but older biker jackets--not fashion--thick heavy leather, sleeves are traditionally longer (for comfort--you are bending to use handlebars, varied changing body postures for riding), waist can be longer--ride on a day below 70 and you get windchill riding--so they generally are a bit long--F- the fashion--which is why biker coats became a fashion--that look. Bit baggy if just wearing a tee shirt--yes generally if not summer riding (get a second jacket)--biker coats knew you were wearing other layers under there.
 

Ems

New in Town
Messages
14
Are you looking for new or used jackets? Are you looking at international markets--to have it shipped to the UK? If you're buying new, I'd not buy a jacket without trying it on, due to you knowing your body---it's jacket roulette, I don't care what anyone says. If you're buying used and anticipating wearing a sweater or hoody, and looking in the USA world--Walter Dyer are rock solid and big bustling people wore them. Do some reading here on past posts, many Fedora Lounge folks are quite transparent and funny about their bodies--jackets too small, jackets too big etc. Yes Schott is largely a fashion jacket. Biker jackets (real ones that folks used to ride with---now they rightfully so, have armor) but older biker jackets--not fashion--thick heavy leather, sleeves are traditionally longer (for comfort--you are bending to use handlebars, varied changing body postures for riding), waist can be longer--ride on a day below 70 and you get windchill riding--so they generally are a bit long--F- the fashion--which is why biker coats became a fashion--that look. Bit baggy if just wearing a tee shirt--yes generally if not summer riding (get a second jacket)--biker coats knew you were wearing other layers under there.
That’s me in 626 schott 2xl . Obviously too big , sizing down would have fit perfectly in chest and shoulders but still leave boxy hem . Looking at the shoulders I can’t go down to L.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7573.jpeg
    IMG_7573.jpeg
    2.1 MB · Views: 28

dinhnguyen57

A-List Customer
Messages
467
Location
California
The Flat Head double rider jackets has the widest shoulders for off the rack jackets but they are not cheap. And larger sizes are harder to come by for these Japanese jackets.

The advice I got when I started out in leather jackets is to get a jacket that you already have that fits you well and measure the dimensions, (Shoulder, pit to pit, jacket length, sleeve length, hem) and make note if it's a thick or thin jacket and it will give you and idea of the size that you are looking for.

Keep in mind the fit is the most important facter. the leather type, style, or price are secondary variables, because if it doesn't fit you well, it does not matter what those other factors are, you won't end up wearing it.
 

dinhnguyen57

A-List Customer
Messages
467
Location
California
Custom made jackets may not be as expensive as you might think.

Buying used would be the cheapest option that will allow you to get multiple jackets in maybe different styles and you'll better appreciate all the different jackets and leather that's available. (I myself am in that latter camp.)

If you want more specific help, measure your chest size, and give us your height, weight.
 

Aloysius

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,720
I’m having trouble finding good quality biker jacket, but not for bike riding but for purely street wear. Im uk based. Been looking for something with nice visible grain , schott is not cut for me, their jackets have small chest to waist ratio, they are cut like tubes, I’m a bodybuilder. It’s purely for fashion, to wear with hoodie but still quality….

Aero Indian Ranger is aggressively V shaped. Also check out their CHIPS and US Navy flight jacket.

Schott Perfectos have been a four-inch drop going back to the 40s so that is a no go.
 

Ems

New in Town
Messages
14
Custom made jackets may not be as expensive as you might think.

Buying used would be the cheapest option that will allow you to get multiple jackets in maybe different styles and you'll better appreciate all the different jackets and leather that's available. (I myself am in that latter camp.)

If you want more specific help, measure your chest size, and give us your height, weight.
Chest 120cm

Shoulder 48 cm

Waist 100 cm

177cm tall

93kg

I really like schott 626 design , that’s what I’m after but their xl has 60cm hem/ back length, with my 100 waist that’s 20cm of boxy room in waist. Otherwise xl would fit me perfectly in chest and shoulders.
 

leather_wearer

New in Town
Messages
38
Have you looked at Lewis Leathers? They do custom sizing, you can either put measurements in on the website or go to London store and they’ll measure you. They’ve got a variety of biker styles, and you can choose the leather type - horse, cow, sheep, veg tan, chrome-free, your choice of colour, your choice of inside pattern, inside pockets, etc.
 

Oldanalogbonniefrump

New in Town
Messages
23
That’s me in 626 schott 2xl . Obviously too big , sizing down would have fit perfectly in chest and shoulders but still leave boxy hem . Looking at the shoulders I can’t go down to L.
Yup--try it before you buy it. Some go large , some go small. In the end it depends on our body. Thanks for sharing the picture!
 

Ems

New in Town
Messages
14
I could stretch my budget even to real McCoy boco but I don’t like vegetable tanned and their retro details on the jackets , im more after modern look , I can’t believe it’s difficult to find quality double rider with good fit these days
 

leather_wearer

New in Town
Messages
38
I could stretch my budget even to real McCoy boco but I don’t like vegetable tanned and their retro details on the jackets , im more after modern look , I can’t believe it’s difficult to find quality double rider with good fit these days
What is your budget? Lewis has multiple double riders: Bronx, Twin Bronx, Lightning (a genuine classic), Cyclone, Memphis, Super Monza, and Europa. They’re all £1200 in store off the rack, or £1400 to have it made to measure. (Seeing you like Schott 626, I think you’ll like Bronx or Memphis, they have the epilets and waist belt, the other models I mentioned are a more streamlined option IMO.)

It’s lifetime quality, great after sales support if you need it, Britain’s oldest motorcycle apparel brand, heaps of heritage around rock n roll streetwear, UK-based, and the jacket will be tailored to your measurements. If it’s in your budget then i feel like it ticks all your boxes.
 
Last edited:

Edward

Bartender
Messages
26,489
Location
London, UK
The Aero MC, their take on the same style as the Perfecto, is very aggressively tapered, worth considering. I had one that was about ten inches of a drop from chest to waist.
 

Ems

New in Town
Messages
14
What is your budget? Lewis has multiple double riders: Bronx, Twin Bronx, Lightning (a genuine classic), Cyclone, Memphis, Super Monza, and Europa. They’re all £1200 in store off the rack, or £1400 to have it made to measure. (Seeing you like Schott 626, I think you’ll like Bronx or Memphis, they have the epilets and waist belt, the other models I mentioned are a more streamlined option IMO.)

It’s lifetime quality, great after sales support if you need it, Britain’s oldest motorcycle apparel brand, heaps of heritage around rock n roll streetwear, UK-based, and the jacket will be tailored to your measurements. If it’s in your budget then i feel like it ticks all your boxes.

What is your budget? Lewis has multiple double riders: Bronx, Twin Bronx, Lightning (a genuine classic), Cyclone, Memphis, Super Monza, and Europa. They’re all £1200 in store off the rack, or £1400 to have it made to measure. (Seeing you like Schott 626, I think you’ll like Bronx or Memphis, they have the epilets and waist belt, the other models I mentioned are a more streamlined option IMO.)

It’s lifetime quality, great after sales support if you need it, Britain’s oldest motorcycle apparel brand, heaps of heritage around rock n roll streetwear, UK-based, and the jacket will be tailored to your measurements. If it’s in your budget then i feel like it ticks all your boxes.
I looked into Lewis, they make smooth and shiny tan , I’m after nice prominent grain , they only make that with vegetable tan …
 

leather_wearer

New in Town
Messages
38
I looked into Lewis, they make smooth and shiny tan , I’m after nice prominent grain , they only make that with vegetable tan …
The website photos are bad, to be honest. Here’s a photo of my sheep, which I bought on Saturday so it’s brand new, not after any break-in period. If that’s not a prominent enough grain for what you want though then I’d agree they’re not going to be the right brand for you as the other leathers are smooth when new (although they’ll still develop a more prominent grain as you wear them, even my horse Lightning has really nice grain on the arms now)

IMG_2894.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ems

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
115,485
Messages
3,194,815
Members
59,132
Latest member
FionaBassl
Top