Arctic Parka Seal

[persnick]

I just saw the parka on Aero's site, and I love it! Does anyone have any info on it, or has anyone here bought one? The price isn't exactly great and since I have to deal with duties on top of that, I am reluctant to buy right away. Does anyone know of less expensive but still high quality alternatives. I'm starting to think I should move to the UK, I buy too much clothes from there already.

http://www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=197

 

[Graemsay]

I haven't seen the parka, but the Nigel Cabourn / Aero Sleeping Bag Jacket is similar, and is a gorgeous thing. It's on sale now, at a mere £2100 if you want to spend even more.

 

[persnick]

Oh my goodness!

Is it me or does it look a tad feminine in white...Do they have those in a brown? It is awfully expensive though.

 

[Sloan1874]

It's lovely, though a little 'Barbarella in the Antarctic'.

 

[persnick]

Haha..I do agree with that.

 

[thor]

Looks like something Robert Falcon Scott or Ernest Shackleton would have worn down at the South Pole

 

[persnick]

The decadent Cabourn coat or the first parka?

 

[thor]

The decadent Cabourn coat or the first parka?

The Cabourn parka. The Aero B-7 parka looks too 1940's USAAF while the Cabourn coat looks 1910-1920 vintage, spot on for a race to the South Pole!

 

[persnick]

What do you guys think of this parka? Aero or Alpha Industries?? (I don't know anything about alpha industries)

http://www.alphaindustries.com/Mens-Leather-Jackets/Alpha-Industries-B-7-Vintage-Sheepskin-Parka.asp

 

[Vespizzare]

Be great to wear to a screening of "Nanook of the North."

 

[persnick]

It has its charms, mostly because it is a little ugly.

One could ridicule flight jackets with the same ease--since I doubt one would use it in the cockpit.

 

[budrichard]

I haven't seen the parka, but the Nigel Cabourn / Aero Sleeping Bag Jacket is similar, and is a gorgeous thing. It's on sale now, at a mere £2100 if you want to spend even more.

I would have no problem wearing that here in Wisconsin!
Not feminine at all, a beautiful coat!-Dick

 

[AngryNJ]

I have always wanted a premium leather maker to make a jacket that I could get for my girlfriend. This could be modified easily for women in my opinion. Take in the waist etc... I wish aero or someone would make a nice leather trench for women.

 

[l0fielectronic]

Alpha Industries?? (I don't know anything about alpha industries)

The older Alpha Industries jackets I've bought have been great, mostly field jackets are what I have experience of. But about ten years ago they went a much more fashion route and some of the jackets I've seen in stores, particularly the leather ones, seems of poor quality, cheap feeling leather and odd fits. I guess if this is more of a heritage piece then it might be better made or at least you would hope.

 

[persnick]

The older Alpha Industries jackets I've bought have been great, mostly field jackets are what I have experience of. But about ten years ago they went a much more fashion route and some of the jackets I've seen in stores, particularly the leather ones, seems of poor quality, cheap feeling leather and odd fits. I guess if this is more of a heritage piece then it might be better made or at least you would hope.

Thank you for the caveat...I appreciate your advice

 

[Doctor Strange]

Alpha's nylon flight jackets are still good. That is, they are better made than the el-cheapo knockoffs by Rothco, etc., that litter the market. (Alpha also has a budget line called Knox Armory that's closer to the Rothco level.)

Until a few years ago, they were a made-in-the-USA company, but that's no longer true. (That said, I got one of their current MA-1s last year and it's fine.) Chances are that things that aren't part of their main product line (which is essentially nylon and wool jackets) - like their leather jackets - are sourced from another maker and rebranded. But in general, they're a pretty legit maker.

http://www.alphaindustries.com/

 

[persnick]

Who do you think makes their parka? I would order the parka from Aero but it is expensive and the cost of duties and shipping make the cost a little too much for a novelty item

 

[Doctor Strange]

I honestly don't know. I was really thinking more of their A-2, G-1, and leather MA-1 jackets - which are all pretty standard items - not the parka you're interested in.

 

[persnick]

Appreciate the advice...I'm going to search a little more but might end up with the Aero parka.

 

[Sloan1874]

The parka is a serious piece of kit by the way. There is a guy who owns one on the FL - if you check the Belstaff or Aero thread I started last year, there's a pic of him wearing it. I understand he was a lumberjack and wore the parka for work during winter.