Sheepskin or shearling lined leather?

[Harris HTM]

Good afternoon gentlemen,
Since the pound-euro exchange rate is currently great (unless DB turns into a new Lehman, fingers crossed it won't...) I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on a new winter leather jacket.
The dilemma is:
(1) a sheepskin such as a B6; or
(2) a shearling lined CXL Bison, or FQHH (or even goat).

I'd like a really warm jacket as an alternative to my Alpha N3B parka for the really cold dutch winters (though the couple last winters were rather warm).
I guess a sheepskin will be warmer; on the other hand I'd like a more "formal" jacket that I can wear also on more formal occasions. Moreover, I have no idea how sheepskin reacts to rain (and we have a lot of it here).
Every time I make up my mind for option (2) I come across a post here of a member showing his new B3, B6 or D1 off, and naturally I become instantly jealous.
What is your opinion guys? Anybody with experience on both? Any help is appreciated.
Cheers
Harris

 

[ChiTownScion]

I love my ANY-4, but the downside is that the shearling collar acts like a sponge in heavy rain. About the only downside, really. I never wear it with a suit or a sport coat but I think that it has a nice rough elegance to it- and as far as keeping me warm during extreme cold, it's second to none.

 

[Harris HTM]

Yes, I can imagine the collar getting soaked in water. If I go for a sheepskin then probably I will get the Coastal Command - it comes with a hood, really practical for cold and rain.

 

[samo]

Hi,

i have similar dilemma and I decided for shearling lined civil jacket. I really did not like the lack of hand warm pockets on ANJ 4 or Irwin. I also considered that sheep skin is not as water repelent as goat. Finally, I decided for shearling lined Roadster from SB. I attached the link for my post, hope it helps.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/sb-shearling-lined-roadster.85599/#post-2064589

 

[apba1166]

I had a couple sheep-lined leather jackets, one HH and the other goat. Sold them both. I found myself not wearing them. Perhaps it felt like too much lining for substantial leather. I now have a LW Suburban sheep I like better.

 

[Harris HTM]

Hi,

i have similar dilemma and I decided for shearling lined civil jacket. I really did not like the lack of hand warm pockets on ANJ 4 or Irwin. I also considered that sheep skin is not as water repelent as goat. Finally, I decided for shearling lined Roadster from SB. I attached the link for my post, hope it helps.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/sb-shearling-lined-roadster.85599/#post-2064589

Hi Samo, thanks for the post. Your SB seems really nice. Is it really warm as a jacket? Do you think it looks bulkier (= oversized) because of the lining? I mean, one of my doubts for a shearling lined civil leather jacket is whether it would look a size larger or so.

 

[Harris HTM]

I had a couple sheep-lined leather jackets, one HH and the other goat. Sold them both. I found myself not wearing them. Perhaps it felt like too much lining for substantial leather. I now have a LW Suburban sheep I like better.

Hmmm, I had no idea you could get a suburban in sheepskin! Any photos?

 

[samo]

Hi Samo, thanks for the post. Your SB seems really nice. Is it really warm as a jacket? Do you think it looks bulkier (= oversized) because of the lining? I mean, one of my doubts for a shearling lined civil leather jacket is whether it would look a size larger or so.

Although I received the jacket at the end of the winter and wear it only a few times i can confirm that it is very varm, varmer as my old B6 with shearling of similar thickness.
I do not think that jacket is bulkier as it should be, I ordered jacket via my body measurements and was frankly quite suprise as i received size 48 as I expected that they will go size up to accomodate shearling? On the other hand Roadster is not meant to be trim fitting jacket. If You will go with similar jacket as me I would ask for manufacturer recommendation as only more relax fitting jackets are meant to be lined with shearling.

P.S.: You should consider also that shearling lining is quite heavy, my jacket weights about 3,5 kg what is in the line with i.e. B6 but sill lighter as ANJ 4. I think that bison lined with shearling will push scale close to 4,5 kg?

 

[Harris HTM]

Although I received the jacket at the end of the winter and wear it only a few times i can confirm that it is very varm, varmer as my old B3 with shearling of similar thickness.
I do not think that jacket is bulkier as it should be, I ordered jacket via my body measurements and was frankly quite suprise as i received size 48 as I expected that they will go size up to accomodate shearling? On the other hand Roadster is not meant to be trim fitting jacket. If You will go with similar jacket as me I would ask for manufacturer recommendation as only more relax fitting jackets are meant to be lined with shearling.

Thanks for the advice Samo. I think I will go for a longer jacket than yours. I have an alpaca lined aero mariner which I downsized (from normal 40 I wear to 38). I guess it could accommodate a shearling lining and still fit.
How is the SB goat thickness and weightwise? Did you try it on rain?

 

[samo]

Hi Harris

For my Roadster I estimated that goat hide i more than 3 oz thick, IMO goat SB is probably one of the most rain resistant leathers. About Mariner I would really on manufacturer opinion. I do not know how much woud shearling influence the look of such jacket? You should also consider the weight of shearling, for my jacket I estimated that shearling lining weights close to 1,5 kg, and for your 3/4 length jacket it could weight more?

 

[Harris HTM]

Hi Harris

For my Roadster I estimated that goat hide i more than 3 oz thick, IMO goat SB is probably one of the most rain resistant leathers. About Mariner I would really on manufacturer opinion. I do not know how much woud shearling influence the look of such jacket? You should also consider the weight of shearling, for my jacket I estimated that shearling lining weights close to 1,5 kg, and for your 3/4 length jacket it could weight more?

Hi Samo, good afternoon. A 3oz heavy goat is really heavy, I thought goat was supposed to be lighter than FQHH - but I guess it is much suppler than FQHH. My perfect winter jacket would be a 3/4 coat (such as the Mariner or long half belt or long rider from SB), in goat or bison, shearling lined. But I guess it will weigh a ton... The dilemma lingers on!

 

[samo]

Hi,

well 3 oz goat is thick but not as heavy as cow or horse. Once I have a jacket made of 2.5 oz cow and in weighted exactly the same as similar jacket made of 3 oz goat. Nevertheless, anything in 3/4 length, lined in shearling would be a substantial jacket.

 

[Harris HTM]

I thought that Oz is a weight unit, right? Or do I get it wrong?

 

[Sloan1874]

Simon of this parish (SJC) has a beautiful Aero Hercules that he had lined retrospectively with shearling, and that is an immense jacket. I've got a couple of sheepskins, an Irvin and an ANJ-4, and the latter I would say has a formal-ish look that works on an evening out.
Personally I think the combination of heavy leather and sheepskin can look great. I would say that Aero's Barnstormer with a shawl collar represents a nice balance: the upper half of the jacket is lined in sheep and the lower part is cord. Looks smart and is really warm.
It's one of those jackets that I occasionally think about, but really, I have enough to be going on with currently...

 

[samo]

I thought that Oz is a weight unit, right? Or do I get it wrong?

I am not expert for imperial units but in this case oz is used as length or better thickness unit 1 oz = 1/64 of the inch, so approximatelly 0,4 mm

1+ for Sloan
maybe it is not worth experimenting and just get the Barnstormer or any other jacket which innitially comes with shearling ?

 

[Harris HTM]

I would get a shawl collar barnstormer but I'm actually after a 3/4 jacket with a zipper. Tough choice.