Recommendation on Leather Jacket (Diamond Dave vs Aero)

[Brian Choi]

Hi guys,

I am planning to pick up a jacket here and need some help with your expertise.
I have narrowed down to Diamond Dave, horsehide(non Shinki) , vs Aeros Motorcycle, FQHH.

Most I care about is 1) Material & Craftmenship 2) Fit (Reg-slim)

 

[handymike]

I thought Dave wasn’t making jackets anymore.
His steerhide was fantastic!

 

[Brian Choi]

Would you rate DD over Aeros? I love his J21 but would like to hear some other peoples option and thoughts

 

[Seb Lucas]

Aero has a longer heritage and can offer predictability and QC consistency. There are people who have been happy and not so happy with DD's work. I would go Aero or Johnson's Leather San Fran (if I were American).

 

[El Marro]

If you are looking for a Buco repro and you want great quality and fit then I would look to Lost Worlds first. I have two of their jackets that I am very satisfied with and everything I have seen recently by them has been stellar.

 

[KissMyMuscle]

It's a easy choice for me between aero and DD since I like heavier leather like horween HH or SH. Aero's J106 is silm fit. DD is fully custom fit.

Check out LW's J-23, that's a stunning piece. 1500 for the jacket, extra 200 for the belt. Be careful, their leather is very manly. You can choose the thickness from 3.0~5.0 oz. But not very heavy.

 

[Brian Choi]

It's a easy choice for me between aero and DD since I like heavier leather like horween HH or SH. Aero's J106 is silm fit. DD is fully custom fit.

Check out LW's J-23, that's a stunning piece. 1500 for the jacket, extra 200 for the belt. Be careful, their leather is very manly.

Yes, I was thinking LW Lighting for few weeks here but I thought Aero, DD, Vanson leathers and craftmenships are more superior. Although LW is a great brand I heard there Aeros and DD Vanson, LW, RealMccoy's are much better. - I heard their name brand adds a bit due to their heritage.

 

[KissMyMuscle]

Yes, I was thinking LW Lighting for few weeks here but I thought Aero, DD, Vanson leathers and craftmenships are more superior. Although LW is a great brand I heard there Aeros and DD Vanson, LW, RealMccoy's are much better. - I heard their name brand adds a bit due to their heritage.

I think a lot of members here agree LW making one of the best jackets in the US. I own a used LW and a new vanson, the LW's stitiching and leather material are better than Vanson in my opinion. Vanson's stitching is ok, my vanson has a bunch of loose thread right out of the box. But the jacket is cool and comfortable. The jacket is tough as nails.

I guess you prefer vintage motorcycle jacket and using for streetwear? If so, aero may be a good choice and their jackets are beautiful. But not the best riding jacket in the market. I really like their J 106 which is similar to buco j-24. I think the biggest advantage of buying from Aero is they charge less for a horween leather jacket compare to the US market .That was my initial reason to buy aero's jacket.

Real Mccoy own the Buco name and making great jacket for slimer people. I went to their shop in Japan before, I think it's fine.

 

[JMax]

Johnson Leathers can do Horween, custom fit and possibly still come in less than a new Aero.

Aero is awesome. LWs is top tier.

You can’t go wrong.

 

[Carlos840]

I own two DD jackets, would never recommend anyone spend money on them...
IMO they are pretty poorly made, there is no craftsmanship or attention to detail. The patterns are pretty bad and uncomfortable.
I would definitely rate Aero above DD construction wise, fit wise i am not a fan of either.
IMO there are much more comfortable jackets out there.

Here ar the reviews of my DD:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/diamond-clothing-buco-j100-review.83051/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/buco-jh-1.94712/

 

[Monitor]

Aero and that's no contest there.

I'd rather go with Wilsons than Diamond Dave for that matter.

 

[Monitor]

TBH, maybe DD shines at A-2's but the so called civilian jackets can end up being a mess. With main zippers that are too short and are closing the jacket half a way up to shoddy stitching even on the jackets that are supposed to showcase the product. I mean... Main zip stitching, above the belt.

 

[red devil]

Yes, I was thinking LW Lighting for few weeks here but I thought Aero, DD, Vanson leathers and craftmenships are more superior. Although LW is a great brand I heard there Aeros and DD Vanson, LW, RealMccoy's are much better. - I heard their name brand adds a bit due to their heritage.

Wait a second, just need to clarify here, the Lightning is Lewis Lesathers jacket not Lost Wolrds (LW), is that what you were referring to?

You can't go wrong with Lost Worlds

J23

or J24 if you're up for it

Edit: I own a J24 like this one

 

[Robbie79]

Wait a second, just need to clarify here, the Lightning is Lewis Lesathers jacket not Lost Wolrds (LW), is that what you were referring to?

You can't go wrong with Lost Worlds

J23

or J24 if you're up for it

Edit: I own a J24 like this one

I agree Lost Worlds are the best of the best....accurate (laser) stitching, high stitch count, top notch leather, hardware (if you choose e.g. Crown zippers) and lining quality....these are bullet proof jackets! When comparing my LW with my RMC J23 there are worlds between both. You can't go wrong with Lost Worlds and I'm 100% sure that everyone who ever owned a LW jacket would agree unless people don't like heavy leather jackets (LW also offer 3-3.5oz which is similar to Aero's FQHH).

 

[El Marro]

Although LW is a great brand I heard there Aeros and DD Vanson, LW, RealMccoy's are much better. - I heard their name brand adds a bit due to their heritage.

You surely didn’t hear that on this forum, at least not the idea that a Diamond Dave jacket is much better than a LW.
I have a Diamond Dave A2 that I purchased from him off eBay. Absolutely nothing wrong with it and the Shinki hide a used is quite lovely. I would still look to Lost Worlds first for a new custom order.

 

[Monitor]

I own two DD jackets, would never recommend anyone spend money on them...
IMO they are pretty poorly made, there is no craftsmanship or attention to detail. The patterns are pretty bad and uncomfortable.
I would definitely rate Aero above DD construction wise, fit wise i am not a fan of either.
IMO there are much more comfortable jackets out there.

Here ar the reviews of my DD:

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/diamond-clothing-buco-j100-review.83051/

https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/buco-jh-1.94712/

Then again, seeing these two jackets... All of the sudden becomes hard to argue against DD even with all the negatives listed in the reviews.

 

[Mich486]

If it’s for casual wear I’d consider getting a RMC repro

 

[tmitchell59]

I owned a DD Steerhide A2 and a Buco shinki repro. The Buco is one of the most popular jacket I put on my youtube channel. It was great, so was the A2.

 

[handymike]

There was that one magical jacket though....
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/diamond-dave-buco-j-21.84178/reply?quote=2184538

 

[El Marro]

There was that one magical jacket though....
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/diamond-dave-buco-j-21.84178/reply?quote=2184538
View attachment 223758

I miss that guy!