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Aero Anj4
- Thread starter John Lever
- Start date
dubpynchon
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,046
- Location
- Ireland
25mm sheepskin is way too warm for the UK climate. I had an Irvin with 25mm sheepskin once which I sent back, it was ridiculous. The 15mm to 18mm of the standard makers is more than enough.
Thanks for the insights. The B6 looks lovely too! Just spoke to my girlfriend and said we will take a drive to a store to have a look at the various styles and try them on.
Thanks for the heads up. Im not a freezer in the most brutal weather so this is useful info. The 25mm just looks so incredible lol
Lord Flashheart
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 398
- Location
- Victoria, Australia
Hi ESM. I have the Aero B6 in Redskin and its litterally never off my back at this time of year in Australia. The one I have is in the more recent sheepskin that is not as dense are Aero's previous skins but is still plenty warm for my winters. I'm originally from Edinburgh so possibly have a better tolerance to temp than many of my adopted Australian cousins but still get the use out of the B6.
Regards
Garry
Regards
Garry
Cheers garry! What part of Aus? My rents and sis emigrated to perth a few years back, amazing place with a stunning life they are living. Going out next october to visit for my dads birthday.
Ye, there is so many nice models of the coats and each has a feature that I like. Does your B6 collar stay upright if you turn it up, or do you have to buckle it up?
I like the look of the SB polaris, especially the big upright collar, check it out if you have time, you'll see what I mean.
These ANJ-4 models look superbly smart and mature, really need to visit a stockist. My girlfriend is nagging me, for me to let her buy me any model I want as one of my 30th birthday presents off her. It's a special birthday landmark I suppose. The cost now is irrelevant, so happy days.
Why is it that I can only see some of the uploaded pics on here and others say unavailable, yet other members can see the pics?? Im not forum savvy sorry.
These awesome jackets remind me of my Austrian army boiled wool pullover, absolute beast of a jumper I use for winter work.
Due to the UK not being overly cold, it's more about the style and aesthetics than the practicality factor for me. Im young, suit winter far more than summer, don't tend to get as cold as the guys I work with etc.
Obviously, you guys love the real mc'coy article repro's as close to the original as possible and I totally get it. I'd be happy having a model with slight aesthetic changes as long as it looks bad ass with jeans and boots.
From all the help here, the B3 and ANJ-4 will be non practical for me from a heat perspective. Sad as they look superb, along with the RAF style jacket similar to the B3's...
Ye, there is so many nice models of the coats and each has a feature that I like. Does your B6 collar stay upright if you turn it up, or do you have to buckle it up?
I like the look of the SB polaris, especially the big upright collar, check it out if you have time, you'll see what I mean.
These ANJ-4 models look superbly smart and mature, really need to visit a stockist. My girlfriend is nagging me, for me to let her buy me any model I want as one of my 30th birthday presents off her. It's a special birthday landmark I suppose. The cost now is irrelevant, so happy days.
Why is it that I can only see some of the uploaded pics on here and others say unavailable, yet other members can see the pics?? Im not forum savvy sorry.
These awesome jackets remind me of my Austrian army boiled wool pullover, absolute beast of a jumper I use for winter work.
Due to the UK not being overly cold, it's more about the style and aesthetics than the practicality factor for me. Im young, suit winter far more than summer, don't tend to get as cold as the guys I work with etc.
Obviously, you guys love the real mc'coy article repro's as close to the original as possible and I totally get it. I'd be happy having a model with slight aesthetic changes as long as it looks bad ass with jeans and boots.
From all the help here, the B3 and ANJ-4 will be non practical for me from a heat perspective. Sad as they look superb, along with the RAF style jacket similar to the B3's...
Lord Flashheart
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 398
- Location
- Victoria, Australia
The collar does stand when you zip the jacket right up an will stand at the back of my neck at any zip height. There is a leather collar/yolk behind the collar aids this.
I think with the photos you CANT view is because whoever posted them has deleted them from the site they were posted from. I'm not a tech head so maybe one of the other guys on here can answer your question better?
Does your girlfriend know how much a jacket will cost her? If so, be nice to her and start saving for her 30th!!!
Regards
Garry
Agree completely. I suspect the OP will find it hard to to lay their hands on an ANJ-4 outside of say American Classics or Superdenim down in Covent Garden. That aside, if the OP purchases from a sale page, they'll have the luxury of being able to try on and send back if it doesn't fit - in the case of Aero's ANJ-4, they fit pretty much as per the purchaser's normal suit size: mine is a 36 and fits like a 36.
As far as thickness of sheepskin goes, yes, it's thicker than an Irvin and therefore less flexible, but in the dead of a Scottish winter they really do the job. Also, they look very, very cool, which, y'know, is important too...
Garry, that jacket is real nice! The colour reminds me of a conker and growing up, i loved the leather look of conkers. Heavy duty rugged look to your jacket, easy to see how it gets you through the winter. Is it heavy?
No it will only be for 3 weeks or so due to work mate. Would live to travel aus mind at some point for a few months.
Yes, I explained the cost of these but she thinks like me. These jackets are investments and should be viewed as such. If I had 10 years out of one and looked after it, a £1000 is only £100 a year in my mind. Plus the fact she's financially secure is a bonus mate! Like me though, she has expensive taste, Im not off the hook! Though her next milestone biryhday is the big 40.... I got time to save lol.
Scott
No it will only be for 3 weeks or so due to work mate. Would live to travel aus mind at some point for a few months.
Yes, I explained the cost of these but she thinks like me. These jackets are investments and should be viewed as such. If I had 10 years out of one and looked after it, a £1000 is only £100 a year in my mind. Plus the fact she's financially secure is a bonus mate! Like me though, she has expensive taste, Im not off the hook! Though her next milestone biryhday is the big 40.... I got time to save lol.
Scott
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I love the look of the aero pre war RAF jacket. Pretty much perfect. It has the thick fur look, love the colour, it has the buckle to pull it to a fitted look around the wais, zippers on the cuff with slim fitting sleeves by the look from the photos.... no pockets!!! I only need to add zipper pockets D1 style or hand warmers and thats the perfect coat for what im after!
Anybody with experience of the pre war RAF aero? I find the fact it avoids the horizontal front seem a bonus too.
I will email aero and see if they will put pockets on one for me.
Anybody with experience of the pre war RAF aero? I find the fact it avoids the horizontal front seem a bonus too.
I will email aero and see if they will put pockets on one for me.
Lord Flashheart
A-List Customer
- Messages
- 398
- Location
- Victoria, Australia
Not heavy at all esm. I have a horse hide Teamster which is way heavier.
I really doubt that they'd say yes to this one. The last time I saw an Aero Irvin with hand warmers it was under the old regime. It sat on the sale page forever! Really, though, you don't need the pockets and they just ruin the look of classic and, even thought I hate the word, iconic jacket. If you want a shearling with pockets, I'd get a B6.
I get the practicality of an Irvin for keeping you warm at 30,000ft in a lancaster bomber with your jacket underneath. What I have never understood is it's place without pockets in the modern "non uniformed" world with wallets, keys, phones, gloves and all the other junk I carry around with me (chap stick, chewing gum, tickets etc. etc)|.. I've tried .. I really have (5 repro Irvins later) ..... but IMHO a shearling needs pockets ... my lightweight Irvin from Aviation Leathercraft wasn't period accurate, not even close ... but it was one of the most practical and comfortable shearling jackets I've ever owned and part of that was because of the pockets with the two outers doubling up as two inners 
.
When it's cold enough to wear an Irvin .... it's cold enough to need either your hands in pockets or gloves. Stuffing your hands in your jeans pockets doesn't cut it (and doesn't keep them particularly warm standing watching soccer or rugby) and pulling your hands inside the cuff to keep them warm is the only other alternative " look it fits great .. but it's a little bit long in the arms ... it'll be fine once the sleeves crease up ... no I don't have a hunchback, why do you ask ?". If you cannot put your hands in nice warm shearling pockets then you need gloves. If you come inside you need somewhere to stuff your gloves, without pockets that meant stuffing them inside the sleeve leading to the invariable loss of one or both (the lessons learned from the worst teacher going). The single pocket on the B-3 and B-2 is awesome for this ... the zero pockets on the Irvin are not
The Irvin is great in a single seater sports car where you have a "glovebox" to stuff errr gloves in ....... most beyond the realms of these fora don't even recognize the minute details ... you're lucky if they recognize it's an "Irvin" the best you get is a "flying jacket" or "Biggles". There's a reason why the addition of pockets is the most commonly requested modification to Aviation Leathercraft.
I get the style and the look thing on the Irvin like having the utterly superfluous elastic strap on the collar ( I can't be the only person who's put it round my forehead and looked in the mirror and though "REALLY?") ... but having been there, done it and worn the T-shirt (you will need little else with a shearling) .... whatever you get, get pockets ( just MHO)
.When it's cold enough to wear an Irvin .... it's cold enough to need either your hands in pockets or gloves. Stuffing your hands in your jeans pockets doesn't cut it (and doesn't keep them particularly warm standing watching soccer or rugby) and pulling your hands inside the cuff to keep them warm is the only other alternative " look it fits great .. but it's a little bit long in the arms ... it'll be fine once the sleeves crease up ... no I don't have a hunchback, why do you ask ?". If you cannot put your hands in nice warm shearling pockets then you need gloves. If you come inside you need somewhere to stuff your gloves, without pockets that meant stuffing them inside the sleeve leading to the invariable loss of one or both (the lessons learned from the worst teacher going). The single pocket on the B-3 and B-2 is awesome for this ... the zero pockets on the Irvin are not
The Irvin is great in a single seater sports car where you have a "glovebox" to stuff errr gloves in ....... most beyond the realms of these fora don't even recognize the minute details ... you're lucky if they recognize it's an "Irvin" the best you get is a "flying jacket" or "Biggles". There's a reason why the addition of pockets is the most commonly requested modification to Aviation Leathercraft.
I get the style and the look thing on the Irvin like having the utterly superfluous elastic strap on the collar ( I can't be the only person who's put it round my forehead and looked in the mirror and though "REALLY?") ... but having been there, done it and worn the T-shirt (you will need little else with a shearling) .... whatever you get, get pockets ( just MHO)
I would be gutted sloan if they don't. Going over the multiple jacket models I realised what I liked about each, sleeve zippers for gauntlet gloves or roll up if needs be, the buckle for cinching plus it just looks cool to me.
I also get the aspect of detracting from a classic look by adding pockets. With a B6 im not sure of the epaulettes. Thing is, I assume the major majority of people would have no idea of the original model and its history and design layout. They would either like the jacket or not, maybe a few old timers every now and then may pick up on the modification.
As plumbline said, todays world of mobile phones, wallets, key bunches etc warrants pockets for me personally. I do get the nostalgia aspect to them though and hobbyists would probably think I crucified the jacket by going D1 zipper style pockets to match the sleeve zippers lol
Sloan, im only curious if they would accomodate a customisation as a one off, of which I'll happily pay a premium for. Im not asking for them to change the whole line of jackets to now include pockets. If that is how it has come across that is not what I meant.
Im in my 20's, the jackets were designed at a time when life and uses were much different, they are not as practical today as they were in the 30's, but just my opinion.
I've seen a jacket that fits the bill, if they won't make an alteration to have pockets, it's absolutely fine, I won't buy that model, all good.
Only aviation hobbyists would pick up on the fact the pockets are a custom job.
I seem to have rubbed you up the wrong way with the pockets, sorry bud
Im in my 20's, the jackets were designed at a time when life and uses were much different, they are not as practical today as they were in the 30's, but just my opinion.
I've seen a jacket that fits the bill, if they won't make an alteration to have pockets, it's absolutely fine, I won't buy that model, all good.
Only aviation hobbyists would pick up on the fact the pockets are a custom job.
I seem to have rubbed you up the wrong way with the pockets, sorry bud
You could pester all you want and get what you want but remember that if it arrives and you don't like it, thats an awful lot of money to spend because being a one off it will be non returnable.
Irvins are great jackets but look around and you may find a heavy sheepskin just how you want it. As you say historical accuracy is not that important so why not go with the Aviation Leathercraft suggested already. Its a well made item aimed at folks who want the idea, just not the details the repro makers concentrate on.
Irvins are great jackets but look around and you may find a heavy sheepskin just how you want it. As you say historical accuracy is not that important so why not go with the Aviation Leathercraft suggested already. Its a well made item aimed at folks who want the idea, just not the details the repro makers concentrate on.
