Leather Jacket for Heavy Outdoor Use

[ButteMT61]

Lando posts pics actual size lol
Damn you and that two tone. I'm itching now.
I concur on heavy steer too. It's great stuff, and not as tough to get broken as the FQHH. But both are extremely tough and make great jackets. I'd like to see that Johnson 5.5!

 

[Lando]

Lando posts pics actual size lol
Damn you and that two tone. I'm itching now.
I concur on heavy steer too. It's great stuff, and not as tough to get broken as the FQHH. But both are extremely tough and make great jackets. I'd like to see that Johnson 5.5!

If I don't post actual size, how can you really get a sense of the grain lol. I do love the two tone. Got an m120 from Johnson leather that's red and black two tone. A little flash for the lounge but I love the color combo.

Back on topic, What did explorers wear before all the advanced technical fabrics took over? We got a surplus of history buffs here, someone's got to have looked it up already. Just got to figure out what these great old explorers wore then add some moderns elements. I've always pondered getting one of those lost worlds safari jackets in a light weight HH. Maybe, rather than heavy leather, which I do prefer, it's more about using only just heavy enough leather. 3oz HH survived a world war and in many cases that leather is still in remarkably good condition.

 

[Capesofwrath]

Didn't they mostly wear Gaberdine as invented by Burberry?

 

[ButteMT61]

Heavy leather, skins (with fur), oiled canvas...denim, or a mix of the previous. I've seen some pretty crazy jackets over the years that were meant to keep one alive, not post in TFL lol

 

[gtdean48]

I have an Aero FQHH 50's Half Belt with alpaca lining.
With a couple of mods, I could see it being a good multi-use jacket for riding my motorcycles & my horses.
The alpaca lining would need to go to facilitate layering = more shedding layers to go warmer.
I have the storm cuffs which I'd go zipped cuffs to facilitate gauntlet gloves for motorcycle wearing.
I don't see me throwing a rope but tacking up/down a horse is doable.
I do prefer a ranch coat for horseback that has the snaps that allow a longer length in the saddle.
Don't like that on my motorcycle tho...

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Explorers wore buckskin and pelts with a raccoon hat...didn't they?..and just smelled like a horse...[huh]
HD

 

[Capesofwrath]

Different class of explorer in your neck of the woods...

 

[mfanoni]

Greetings.

For your needs, I would recommend going with a heavier chrome tanned horsehide jacket as I believe this would offer you the best protection from the elements. Make sure it is large enough to allow for layering. I wear a HH jacket when riding my Harley, and it is the one I would take if I were heading out to the wilderness and had to take leather. Although personally, I would wear my Filson double tin jacket because it weighs less, and I believe it to be more durable during tough outdoor conditions. Just my two cents! Like others have posted, you start with one leather jacket, then two, three, you get it?

I use the filson tin at times, but it is a cold jacket and requires several layers. At least with a sturdy leather I would only need a single layer beneath for most situations. And the Filson is still pricey while not being waterproof or as tough. Tin cloth is waterproof for a while, but it requires a lot of upkeep if you ever wear it in the summer and the wax starts melting. Freezing nights and hot days are not a good combo for tin cloth.

 

[Mark Ricketts]

I do not think you want leather or wax jackets for proper outdoor winter use. Both are too cold and by the time you are layered up enough your movement is too restricted. My preferrence is for woolen Swanndri jackets from New Zealand. Comfortable, with unrestricted movement, windproof, virtually waterproof, warm down to around minus 10 centigrade with just a rugby shirt underneath, and comfortable up to the mid twenties.
These are definitely not the woolen jackets you normally see over here. Swanndri are designed start to finish as outdoor workwear. I have mine shipped directly from NZ. A couple of hundred dollars for a coat that lasts 15,000 hours heavy abuse with farmwork before they die.
As you can tell, I am quite keen on them.

 

[Edward]

I do not think you want leather or wax jackets for proper outdoor winter use. Both are too cold and by the time you are layered up enough your movement is too restricted. My preferrence is for woolen Swanndri jackets from New Zealand. Comfortable, with unrestricted movement, windproof, virtually waterproof, warm down to around minus 10 centigrade with just a rugby shirt underneath, and comfortable up to the mid twenties.
These are definitely not the woolen jackets you normally see over here. Swanndri are designed start to finish as outdoor workwear. I have mine shipped directly from NZ. A couple of hundred dollars for a coat that lasts 15,000 hours heavy abuse with farmwork before they die.
As you can tell, I am quite keen on them.

They sound great, though I'd be dubious about wearing wool on a motorcycle - not so much protection in the event of a spill...?

 

[mfanoni]

I've used wool for a lot of my work, and it is a fine product. The problem is the upkeep. It gets dirty and starts losing warmth, it isn't either waterproof or windproof (maybe NZ ones are?), and they get destroyed by sharp sticks and rough handling. I use exclusively Filson wool coats and they are probably as fine a coat as any other, and they do not come close to what I am looking for. Great for cold, dry, windless days. But the wind, dirt and water do them no favors.

 

[mfanoni]

They sound great, though I'd be dubious about wearing wool on a motorcycle - not so much protection in the event of a spill...?

Or a tumble off an animal. Those can be bad if it's in the wrong spot.

 

[Mark Ricketts]

My Swanndri have had as much abuse as you could possibly imagine, from shepherding on the Welsh mountains with rain coming in sideways, to farming through bitter Canadian winters. They stay waterproof for a few hours in the worst downpour and the heavy weight coats are completely windproof. The bushshirts may not be the most stylish, but I have never found any material that can compare for workclothing.
The coats are not indestructible. They only last 10 years being worn outside eight hours a day in all conditions.
Wool for work, leather for play.

 

[Mark Ricketts]

True, if you wear wool for protection on a bike you are a mug.

 

[mfanoni]

I don't want be a mug.

 

[Edward]

My Swanndri have had as much abuse as you could possibly imagine, from shepherding on the Welsh mountains with rain coming in sideways, to farming through bitter Canadian winters. They stay waterproof for a few hours in the worst downpour and the heavy weight coats are completely windproof. The bushshirts may not be the most stylish, but I have never found any material that can compare for workclothing.
The coats are not indestructible. They only last 10 years being worn outside eight hours a day in all conditions.
Wool for work, leather for play.

I'd love to see something akin to the Aero Waterfront made with some of those wools. The style aren't all to my taste, but the cloth looks fantastic. The zip-up shirt-type one would be very stylish were it just few inches shorter, but then that would also negate the practical value of keeping the nethers warm!

 

[Mark Ricketts]

They used to make some great 3/4 coats, unfortunately now they only produce the bushshirts as that is what sells best.

 

[Edward]

Pity, I can imagine they'd make a hell of a mackinaw / peacoat.

 

[rgraham]

"A member here(once)..had an 'Admiral Byrd' longer FQHH coat fashioned by Aero. It was worn in harsh conditions throughout his working travels and seemed to hold up and just gain great charactor along the way. I don't think it would matter whether the hide was HH or steer. Aero's hides are durable. LW's hide finish is practically bulletproof. However..with these coats..only layering would provide warmth in extreme outdoor cold unless lined with shearling. Perhaps insulated heavy twill..or waxed cotton might be another alternative."
HD


That's the first thing that came to mind when I read the original post. That guy had the best looking jacket and boot setup ever.

 

[apba1166]

I would not want to be doing outdoor work all day in an unbroken Aero HH or heavy steer, the heavier the worse, especially lined heavy. I actually do outdoor work all day (documentary camera) lifting, bending, carrying...and the leather that works is the tough heavy deer, like LW will do...maybe other places like Langlitz. And then layer. Maybe even their moose would work. Of the other suggestions, I do work sometimes in an Aero oil pull steer (Route 66) lined w/alpaca and storm cuffs. The storm cuffs really help, more than the alpaca w/warmth; I have an Aero vintage FQHH to work in for the reasons mentioned above, and it is a good alternative. One more suggestion: Buffalo/Bison. Flexible, even when lined a bit heavier. I have one lined in a heavy moleskin w/stormcuffs and it is warm, and supple. I also often wear a heavy shearling vest for warmth over lighter-lined LW deerskin and the Aeros. Gets me warmth, leaves my arms flexible.