dudewuttheheck
I'll Lock Up
- Messages
- 4,424
After wanting a Freewheelers jacket for several years, @Carlos840 and his stunning La Brea pushed me over the edge. I sold my watch and used the funds to buy this little number. As with many of my Freewheelers purchases, I bought from Genco Clothing in Japan and the transaction was very smooth. Unfortunately, shipping and customs were especially slow. I am not sure why, but my international packages took only one week to get to me until 2018, when the time doubled to around 2 weeks on average.
Having tried on quite a few Freewheelers jackets in Japan almost exactly a year ago at their main store (Desolation Row), I knew the jacket would be perfect, but was worried about fit. Their jackets tend to fit quite trim and the arms are usually too long for me. Fortunately, I can zip this jacket up with ease and the sleeves are not as long as I thought they would be. They are too long, but would actually be perfect length if I were riding. I am hoping this will simply lead to some epic arm creasing. The sleeves are quite slim, so it looks fine to me. The waist is snug, but 1. I need motivation to drop a LOT of weight. 2. I can still move around quite easily with it zipped. 3. Over the past 2 years, I have zipped or buttoned my leather jackets up a grand total of... 3 times.
Otherwise, it fits absolutely perfectly in my opinion. Despite me giving and Dave nailing the custom measurements I give him, I feel that this jacket fits me better in the shoulders than any other jacket. Perhaps the design/cut of it has something to do with this. The length is also perfect for me. Overall, I am thrilled with the fit. The two worries I had turned out to be quite minor and every other aspect of fit is perfect.
The materials are jaw dropping as well. The lining is a combination of two of Freewheeler's flannel fabrics in a plain tan/olive combo color that is absolutely stunning in person and a gorgeous yellow, grey, and blue checked flannel for the sleeves. The combination is both warm and exceedingly comfortable. I already have two shirts made from the same type of fabric as the body of this jacket from Freewheelers, so I knew it would be comfortable. When winter comes, I'm going to sit around the house wearing this thing with no shirt underneath because it's just that comfortable. The warmth is fine as well because I already have jackets with silk and cotton drill liners.
The construction is flawless. Myself and a couple others on this forum have been saying for years that the Japanese cannot be beat when it comes to absolute stitching neatness and perfection. Thanks to Carlos, it seems that I am allowed to say this again without getting jumped on and it feels good so I am going to take advantage of this. Without question, this is the best constructed jacket I have ever owned, seen, or handled. Keep in mind, I currently own two Himel jackets and a Real McCoy's jacket. I have owned a Good Wear, a Simmon's Bilt (bought it before I knew about their misguided ways), another RMC jacket, and a Diamond Dave. I have tried on and handled Aero, Schott, Vanson, Flat Head, Buzz Rickson, and Rainbow Country.
In terms of construction quality and nothing else, this is better than all of them. There are some that get close, but the laser precision of this stitching is something that I could stare at endlessly. My Himel jackets are as neat in many places, but not as consistent. My RMC jacket is nearly as perfect, but this jacket is so much more complex. The complexity combined with the sewing perfection is really what makes this jacket such a winner. It is so well sewn that it has pointed out flaws in other jackets that I thought were as good as they could be.
It is a half belt which is seemingly the most pedestrian jacket style around, but they've taken it to 11 with the design of this thing. The front pockets are so ornately stitched that you know they did it just to show off and the back is the most beautiful jacket back I have seen personally, though this is definitely up for debate overall because I know there are many other beautiful jacket backs out there.
Every leather jacket that I have owned aside from one (the one I returned quickest) was made from Shinki and this continues the trend. The color is called 'dead leaf brown' and it is a slightly darker and redder version of the mid brown that I have on my Himel jackets. There is some gorgeous grain and character already, though not as much as on my Himel cossack jacket. However, this is the most rich and deep color that I have owned yet. While I must admit that I have broken my word to stop buying jackets (the TFL effect in full swing), I have not broken my promise to continue only buying Shinki jackets and this one has only reaffirmed my vow.
Overall, I am thrilled with this. Freewheelers are the pinnacle of leather jacket quality. John Chapman certainly wins on absolute detail and reproduction, but otherwise, Freewheelers is in a class of its own. I knew this after trying on their jackets last year, but it becomes more tangible now that I own one. My Himel and RMC jackets are still gorgeously made overall and my Himel grizzly is still my favorite and signature jacket at this point, but objectively, this is the best that I own. If you need custom measurements, you are out of luck. However, if you fit into one of their jackets, can afford it, and like the design, then do not hesitate. I am not going to say that this is my last leather jacket because I know that it won't be. If I had the scratch, I'd by a Sunset and a Journeyman right now.
That's enough rambling. I will write a more complete and coherent review for my website soon, but I wanted to get my initial thoughts out for the lounge first. I apologize for the poor pictures. It was 85F during the shoot and I was dead tired. I swear I am happier than I look
Their is a strip of a different cotton material for the neck. Such a cool detail
The pockets are lined with yet another fabric
All of the lining materials are knockouts.
Having tried on quite a few Freewheelers jackets in Japan almost exactly a year ago at their main store (Desolation Row), I knew the jacket would be perfect, but was worried about fit. Their jackets tend to fit quite trim and the arms are usually too long for me. Fortunately, I can zip this jacket up with ease and the sleeves are not as long as I thought they would be. They are too long, but would actually be perfect length if I were riding. I am hoping this will simply lead to some epic arm creasing. The sleeves are quite slim, so it looks fine to me. The waist is snug, but 1. I need motivation to drop a LOT of weight. 2. I can still move around quite easily with it zipped. 3. Over the past 2 years, I have zipped or buttoned my leather jackets up a grand total of... 3 times.
Otherwise, it fits absolutely perfectly in my opinion. Despite me giving and Dave nailing the custom measurements I give him, I feel that this jacket fits me better in the shoulders than any other jacket. Perhaps the design/cut of it has something to do with this. The length is also perfect for me. Overall, I am thrilled with the fit. The two worries I had turned out to be quite minor and every other aspect of fit is perfect.
The materials are jaw dropping as well. The lining is a combination of two of Freewheeler's flannel fabrics in a plain tan/olive combo color that is absolutely stunning in person and a gorgeous yellow, grey, and blue checked flannel for the sleeves. The combination is both warm and exceedingly comfortable. I already have two shirts made from the same type of fabric as the body of this jacket from Freewheelers, so I knew it would be comfortable. When winter comes, I'm going to sit around the house wearing this thing with no shirt underneath because it's just that comfortable. The warmth is fine as well because I already have jackets with silk and cotton drill liners.
The construction is flawless. Myself and a couple others on this forum have been saying for years that the Japanese cannot be beat when it comes to absolute stitching neatness and perfection. Thanks to Carlos, it seems that I am allowed to say this again without getting jumped on and it feels good so I am going to take advantage of this. Without question, this is the best constructed jacket I have ever owned, seen, or handled. Keep in mind, I currently own two Himel jackets and a Real McCoy's jacket. I have owned a Good Wear, a Simmon's Bilt (bought it before I knew about their misguided ways), another RMC jacket, and a Diamond Dave. I have tried on and handled Aero, Schott, Vanson, Flat Head, Buzz Rickson, and Rainbow Country.
In terms of construction quality and nothing else, this is better than all of them. There are some that get close, but the laser precision of this stitching is something that I could stare at endlessly. My Himel jackets are as neat in many places, but not as consistent. My RMC jacket is nearly as perfect, but this jacket is so much more complex. The complexity combined with the sewing perfection is really what makes this jacket such a winner. It is so well sewn that it has pointed out flaws in other jackets that I thought were as good as they could be.
It is a half belt which is seemingly the most pedestrian jacket style around, but they've taken it to 11 with the design of this thing. The front pockets are so ornately stitched that you know they did it just to show off and the back is the most beautiful jacket back I have seen personally, though this is definitely up for debate overall because I know there are many other beautiful jacket backs out there.
Every leather jacket that I have owned aside from one (the one I returned quickest) was made from Shinki and this continues the trend. The color is called 'dead leaf brown' and it is a slightly darker and redder version of the mid brown that I have on my Himel jackets. There is some gorgeous grain and character already, though not as much as on my Himel cossack jacket. However, this is the most rich and deep color that I have owned yet. While I must admit that I have broken my word to stop buying jackets (the TFL effect in full swing), I have not broken my promise to continue only buying Shinki jackets and this one has only reaffirmed my vow.
Overall, I am thrilled with this. Freewheelers are the pinnacle of leather jacket quality. John Chapman certainly wins on absolute detail and reproduction, but otherwise, Freewheelers is in a class of its own. I knew this after trying on their jackets last year, but it becomes more tangible now that I own one. My Himel and RMC jackets are still gorgeously made overall and my Himel grizzly is still my favorite and signature jacket at this point, but objectively, this is the best that I own. If you need custom measurements, you are out of luck. However, if you fit into one of their jackets, can afford it, and like the design, then do not hesitate. I am not going to say that this is my last leather jacket because I know that it won't be. If I had the scratch, I'd by a Sunset and a Journeyman right now.
That's enough rambling. I will write a more complete and coherent review for my website soon, but I wanted to get my initial thoughts out for the lounge first. I apologize for the poor pictures. It was 85F during the shoot and I was dead tired. I swear I am happier than I look
Their is a strip of a different cotton material for the neck. Such a cool detail
The pockets are lined with yet another fabric
All of the lining materials are knockouts.
