Langlitz Columbia and Cascade review.

[Carlos840]

First, thank you @JMax for proxying this jacket to me! I really appreciate it.

For some reason we don't see many Langlitz jackets around here and i think it is a shame.
In a way i understand why, they have a very strong look/style, there are hundreds of different cross-zips and cafe racers that look very much alike, but Langlitz IMO has something that stands out from the rest.

This one was born Nov.20th 1991.

Let's start by the best bit, the pattern.
This is without a doubt the most comfortable jacket i own. It sits on the shoulders with zero weight on the neck, but unlike my J-23 it manages to achieve that without leaving a gap between the neck and the collar to funnel water down your back when it rains....

Range of motion is incredible, you could literally do yoga in this jacket without ever feeling restricted. You just put it on and within 10 seconds you have forgotten you are wearing a heavy leather jacket. You can reach up, down, stretch, twist, without ever feeling the jacket tugging or fighting you. The sleeves have a very well designed underarm gusset, a great curvature, the biceps are very wide, that plus the gussets in the back, it is the perfect combo for forward reach with zero sleeve riding up.
I have worn great patterns before (my LW J-23 and LL Universal Racer Mk2 come to mind) but nothing comes close to this Columbia.

Execution is flawless but not what i would call pretty.
It isn't stitched like a LW, RMC or Freewheelers, which IMO are the prettiest jackets i have seen stitching wise, but more like a flawlessly made Schott or Vanson.
I would call it flawless function rather than pretty and artistic.( i hope that makes sens...)

The one let down IMO is the leather.
It is the medium weight cowhide, i measure it as being 1.4-1.6mm thick.
It isn't bad, but it isn't anything special either. It makes me think of what you would expect from Lewis Leathers or Schott, super smooth and shiny, with a somewhat vinyl feeling top coat. It has a definite "forever new" feel to it, although this jacket is 30 years old and has been worn it still feels and looks new, it still squeeks like crazy.
There is very little grain, and wearing it seems to be creating creasing rather than grainning.
I wore it under a rainstorm and it kept me absolutely dry. It is definitely functional motorcycle leather, but compared to others it is a bit dull and lacks character.

Overall, this is a great jacket, it has a very unique very vintage style, is super comfortable, if you are looking for an old school MC jacket for real MC use i think it would be hard to get a better one.

Here are the pics:

And the fit pics:

Edit: this is a stock size 43 XL, XL stands for Xtra Long.

 

[Carlos840]

Bonus footage:

Here are pictures of a mid 60s well worn in Cascade to compare new vs worn leather, it is just as comfortable, if anything it feels like the same base pattern in the chest/shoulders area, but modified to remove the collar and the laced bottom.

Pics:

And fit pics:

(the bulge in the back near the bottom hem is there because the lining was cut too short for the jacket)

 

[sweetfights]

Bonus footage:

Here are pictures of a mid 60s well worn in Cascade to compare new vs worn leather, it is just as comfortable, if anything it feels like the same base pattern in the chest/shoulders area, but modified to remove the collar and the laced bottom.

Pics:

And fit pics:

(the bulge in the back near the bottom hem is there because the lining was cut too short for the jacket)

Outstanding review. You hit all the relevant points. The Langlitz jackets I have had, one incoming, fit so well and are so very functional it has to be experienced first hand. Yes- the stitching is not Good Wear or Himel but does not have to be. Langlitz surpasses all with function and fit. The graining on your jacket is gorgeous. Takes a few years of real life to achieve that! The medium weight cowhide is exceptional but does lack character. My 50-year-old Cascade is horse and has that character. This jacket looks great on you, love the pin stripes.

 

[JMax]

My pleasure, you made being proxy easy and seamless. The jacket looks great and the fit is awesome. I agree about the leather, though I have owned one LL jacket from the 50s that did show a beautiful teacore-type effect. That was it, all I have handled with more recent DOBs were like this. Probably when they exclusively went to the mid-weight stuff. Amazing jackets of course, but I prefer other leather. Currently without a LL, I should change that.

Enjoy the jackets.

 

[jacketjunkie]

Great review. And I agree. Langlitz beats them all in comfort and mobility, their patterns are great and yeah.. their leather is kinda boring compared to other makers. Little grain, little character. But.. proven to last decades without any flaking or other damage whatsoever as seen on countless of theirs from the 70s and 80s.

 

[ton312]

Great write up. The Columbia wins imho. The cascade is nice but that Columbia is spectacular. I only had one Langlitz, a brown 70’s brown Columbia in what must’ve been their lightweight cow. The only reason I sold it was the hide felt exceedingly limp. I know that’s the exception and not the rule.

 

[Guppy]

While I have seen some Langlitz jackets that had leather that I thought was remarkably boring and lacking in character, this seems to vary rather widely. Some of the most amazing patina I've seen on a leather jacket has been Langlitz. Since they've been around about 80 years or so, I'm sure they have a gamut of different materials that they've used over the years. I can definitely provide some images of their stuff a bit later that will blow away anything else you'd want to compare it to.

Update: I owned this one for a few months before I decided that it was just too small for me and I had to sell it on, but it had some of the nicest leather I've ever handled in any leather jacket.

Here ya go.

 

[navetsea]

congrats looks like a perfect motorcyle action jacket, the underarm is obviously made with different concept to gain mobility by adding football panel other than high armhole so in neutral position you have a lot of excess material bunched up there honestly I prefer the high armhole and more forward mounted sleeve to gain mobility over adding underarm panel, think you should ease the waist lacing a bit since the lower back is stacking on your jeans and belt, might need to carry your wallet in different pocket while wearing it too probably since kidney panel is hitting it, unless you ease the waist even more to wear the wallet behind the kidney panel

 

[jonbuilder]

I have two Langitz Cascades jackets the most practical and comfortable fit for riding than any other jackets I ever tried to ride in. The first one I acquired 12 years ago is in my quessament 70s heavy steer hide. If I wear it unzipped the jacket spreads open at the hem and the arms curve forward, I can feel the forward curve. Zipped' the jacket is sung, riding & reaching forward perfect. I ride up to 150 MPH on mountain roads I feel if I went into a skid the leather would not wear through.
My other Cascade is a recent purchase in my quessament 50s obviously horsehide and IMO the nicest horsehide I have ever owned. Not as heavy as the heavy steer hide jacket but the feeling when I wear this jacket is like a second skin. I would rather be wearing the steer hide is I went into a skid but for putting the HH jacket I get "that feeling" the reason I seek out vintage motorcycle jacket
Hope this makes sense

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Those both look pretty awesome. I do love Langlitz's unique designs. I agree that the Columbia is the most amazing.

 

[01flhr]

That columbia looks outstanding and doesnt look like its hardly been worn at all. My 2yo langlitz has more wear to it. Id say its just hung in someones closet.

 

[AeroFan_07]

I have owned one, a 1982 Columbia, purchased from Monitior, later traded to Kater Karlo, both on this forum.

I have to agree with nearly all of Carlos's points about the Columbia. It's pretty amazing just how flexible this jacket is, really useful on a motorcycle. The leather on my 1982 model was rather well broken in, Mid-weight, and still a hefty but not over-the-top apx 6.5 lbs complete. It was warm and the leather itself flexed very well as it was work, so simlar to CXL Steerhide and FQHH it moved a lot better after it had been worn for 30 minuite, verses being pulled out of a very cold enviroment. I also thought the leather was a bit less in terms of character than some but it was quite durable and made the jacket quite nice to wear.

Overall, I really like the Cafe Racer they offer - the Cresent. The website photos do not do the company or the product justice for the quality of the jackets. I'm not a huge fan of the other styles overall but that's just my opinion.

 

[Chevalier]

Hi Everyone,
Posting here in hopes of getting some expert input from those who have posted already. I have reached the point in this hobby that I decided to take the plunge and order a custom Columbia. I tried on some of the standard sizes in the shop, and none had the right combo of shoulder width, chest measurement, arm length, and fit at the waist.

Looking at my other jackets (vintage), I am realizing that my favorite jackets all have flat backs (no bi-swing or shoulder gussets). Would it be heresy to ask for that style in the Columbia? I know this jacket is an old design, and I don’t want to mess with success. Has anyone seen this modification? If so, how well does it work?

Are there any other design aspects that people wish they had included in their Columbias?

Thanks!

 

[AeroFan_07]

I would recommend calling them directly during business hours next week. I know they offer different types of leathers, etc but I have not heard of Langlitz making much for modifications on this jackets themselves.

 

[Monitor]

Would it be heresy to ask for that style in the Columbia? I know this jacket is an old design, and I don’t want to mess with success. Has anyone seen this modification? If so, how well does it work?

Full action back is a major component of the Columbia and I think the pattern for this jacket is entirely based around it so while I presume they can make one without it, I don't know how much of an impact will it have on the comfort of the jacket, which is tremendous. But they're known for their willingness to do some relatively extensive modifications to any style so who knows. . .

As for your second question, if you don't intend to ride wearing that jacket, get rid of the curved part of the kidney panel. It's annoying and it looks kinda dumb.

 

[El Marro]

Langlitz can make the Columbia with no action back. As a matter of fact the original 1947 Columbia did not have an action back and it looks awesome.

I enquired about this myself when I ordered my own 1947 Columbia a few years ago and was told that they could certainly make my jacket this way. What stopped me was a fear of losing the mobility that the action back provides.
I agree with the others that you should reach out to whoever you’ve been working with on the order and see what they think about it. I also agree that you should straighten the back, as you can see in the photo it is a cleaner look.

 

[Will Zach]

As for your second question, if you don't intend to ride wearing that jacket, get rid of the curved part of the kidney panel. It's annoying and it looks kinda dumb.

Yeah, that is the only thing I don't like in the new-to-me Cal as well, which is similar to Columbia. The beaver tail, great for riding, awkward for "civilian" use. I might have a tailor lop the curved part off, leaving a straight, clean and narrow kidney panel.

 

[roadking04]

Langlitz makes motorcycle jackets for motorcycle use. Every part of the jacket is designed for use, not fashion. Once you start taking "features" away, it becomes more of a fashion piece. I think action backs and football gussets are a must have. Also think about the straight back panel, it might allow a cold wind down your crack.

 

[Monitor]

Langlitz can make the Columbia with no action back. As a matter of fact the original 1947 Columbia did not have an action back and it looks awesome.
View attachment 374876

I enquired about this myself when I ordered my own 1947 Columbia a few years ago and was told that they could certainly make my jacket this way. What stopped me was a fear of losing the mobility that the action back provides.
I agree with the others that you should reach out to whoever you’ve been working with on the order and see what they think about it. I also agree that you should straighten the back, as you can see in the photo it is a cleaner look.

Fantastic! I suspected they'd be open to an extensive modification like this, just wasn't sure. But Langlitz jackets are some of the most comfortable I've ever owned - Maybe the most comfortable leather jackets ever made, as far as I am concerned - so with that in mind, I'm pretty sure that even the clean back Columbia would feel just as great to wear as the gusseted one.

Yeah, that is the only thing I don't like in the new-to-me Cal as well, which is similar to Columbia. The beaver tail, great for riding, awkward for "civilian" use. I might have a tailor lop the curved part off, leaving a straight, clean and narrow kidney panel.

I have it on a number of jackets, too and while I'm not sure why exactly, I'm just not a fan. It's not that it bothers me when I'm wearing the jacket but I just prefer straight hem, personally. It's a great feature on a bike, no debate there.
Issue might be the decorative stitching on the Cal (and Columbia) that might end up looking weird if you chop the tail off. . .

 

[Lbxpdx]

First, thank you @JMax for proxying this jacket to me! I really appreciate it.

For some reason we don't see many Langlitz jackets around here and i think it is a shame.
In a way i understand why, they have a very strong look/style, there are hundreds of different cross-zips and cafe racers that look very much alike, but Langlitz IMO has something that stands out from the rest.

This one was born Nov.20th 1991.

Let's start by the best bit, the pattern.
This is without a doubt the most comfortable jacket i own. It sits on the shoulders with zero weight on the neck, but unlike my J-23 it manages to achieve that without leaving a gap between the neck and the collar to funnel water down your back when it rains....

Range of motion is incredible, you could literally do yoga in this jacket without ever feeling restricted. You just put it on and within 10 seconds you have forgotten you are wearing a heavy leather jacket. You can reach up, down, stretch, twist, without ever feeling the jacket tugging or fighting you. The sleeves have a very well designed underarm gusset, a great curvature, the biceps are very wide, that plus the gussets in the back, it is the perfect combo for forward reach with zero sleeve riding up.
I have worn great patterns before (my LW J-23 and LL Universal Racer Mk2 come to mind) but nothing comes close to this Columbia.

Execution is flawless but not what i would call pretty.
It isn't stitched like a LW, RMC or Freewheelers, which IMO are the prettiest jackets i have seen stitching wise, but more like a flawlessly made Schott or Vanson.
I would call it flawless function rather than pretty and artistic.( i hope that makes sens...)

The one let down IMO is the leather.
It is the medium weight cowhide, i measure it as being 1.4-1.6mm thick.
It isn't bad, but it isn't anything special either. It makes me think of what you would expect from Lewis Leathers or Schott, super smooth and shiny, with a somewhat vinyl feeling top coat. It has a definite "forever new" feel to it, although this jacket is 30 years old and has been worn it still feels and looks new, it still squeeks like crazy.
There is very little grain, and wearing it seems to be creating creasing rather than grainning.
I wore it under a rainstorm and it kept me absolutely dry. It is definitely functional motorcycle leather, but compared to others it is a bit dull and lacks character.

Overall, this is a great jacket, it has a very unique very vintage style, is super comfortable, if you are looking for an old school MC jacket for real MC use i think it would be hard to get a better one.

Here are the pics:

And the fit pics:

Edit: this is a stock size 43 XL, XL stands for Xtra Long.

I know this is an old thread, but the XL stands for 1" longer in the sleeve(X) and 1" longer in the body(L). At least that is what Scott at Langlitz told me when I asked about my 44XXL labeled jacket.