Thoughts on the Aero midweight 'Soft Grainy Steerhide'?

[Conteph]

Hi, I'm looking to purchase a cafe or board racer from Aero in black, custom size. I'd prefer a steerhide or goatskin. I am not currently interested in a horse leather.

I love how the steerhide chromexcel CXSH looks, and it sounds like it breaks in well, but the current 4oz 1.7mm is too heavy and thick for me. I will not be using this jacket for protection on a bike, so I'm looking for something lighter and that has more drape. It sounds like the Badalassi is an excellent option but the leather is too squeaky for me. For Aero, this leaves me with the 'Battered Steerhide 2oz 0.9mm' or the 'Soft Grainy Steerhide 2.5 oz 1.0 mm', or the 'goatskin 2.75 oz, 1.2 mm'.

I wish there was a thinner CXSH. But maybe the soft grainy, or battered steer hide are great options too?

I understand I may lose longevity with a thinner leather, but I'm not sure a 100% increase in oz and almost a 100% increase in thickness is worth it.

Thanks in advance for any input you may have!

 

[MrProper]

My Badalassi and my CXSH are both the same. Why don't you ask Aero if they have a batch with thinner CXSH? I don't think mine is 1.7 mm and wears well.

 

[Conteph]

My Badalassi and my CXSH are both the same. Why don't you ask Aero if they have a batch with thinner CXSH? I don't think mine is 1.7 mm and wears well.

Yes, good point. I did ask, they said for an extra fee they could look for a thinner hide, but it's not guaranteed. When you purchased your CXSH, was it advertised as 4 oz 1.7mm? It sounds like the properties may have changed through time.

 

[MrProper]

Yes, good point. I did ask, they said for an extra fee they could look for a thinner hide, but it's not guaranteed. When you purchased your CXSH, was it advertised as 4 oz 1.7mm? It sounds like the properties may have changed through time.

The text said something about 1.7mm. Maybe it is, but I've heard that Badalassi is thinner and both feel the same thickness and are the same weight at 2.65kg (which seems low for 4oz).
But maybe the Badalassi is just unusually thick? Either way, I'm satisfied.

 

[Canuck Panda]

In the perfect scenario a 2.5oz CXL SH would be my number one choice.

Badalassi is a bit squeaky but the sounds does tone down if you wear it a lot. It is very wearable out of the box. Almost no break in needed compared to the horsehides.

Goatskin don't have the shiny look the CXL or the Badalassi have. That's the big difference.

I would say if you go with Aero and assuming you don't want horsehides, it's gonna be one of the three above and you'd have to put up with characteristic of each, either too thick, too squeaky or not as shiny. I don't have the grainy steer but I have had battered. Imo CXL in the right thickness is still a nicer leather than the battered in terms of finishing and look. Both are very similar style of leather in terms of finishing, CXL being a bit shinier new and aged.

 

[Conteph]

In the perfect scenario a 2.5oz CXL SH would be my number one choice.

Badalassi is a bit squeaky but the sounds does tone down if you wear it a lot. It is very wearable out of the box. Almost no break in needed compared to the horsehides.

Goatskin don't have the shiny look the CXL or the Badalassi have. That's the big difference.

I would say if you go with Aero and assuming you don't want horsehides, it's gonna be one of the three above and you'd have to put up with characteristic of each, either too thick, too squeaky or not as shiny. I don't have the grainy steer but I have had battered. Imo CXL in the right thickness is still a nicer leather than the battered in terms of finishing and look. Both are very similar style of leather in terms of finishing, CXL being a bit shinier new and aged.

Thank you for the detailed response. Yes that may work well as I think I’d prefer a matte sheen. I’m tempted to get the goat, but I’m not sure if it’s a missed opportunity to get something “nicer” since it’s the same price through aero. It sounds like goat is typically cheaper than something like CXL.

 

[zebedee]

Thank you for the detailed response. Yes that may work well as I think I’d prefer a matte sheen. I’m tempted to get the goat, but I’m not sure if it’s a missed opportunity to get something “nicer” since it’s the same price through aero. It sounds like goat is typically cheaper than something like CXL.

I'd pick goat - it's really flexible and just as tough, but lighter and thinner. If you are willing to consider horsehide, Vicenza is a happy medium between goat and steer. Badalassi is great, but it squeaks a fair bit. My Cafe Racer in tan steer hide is so heavy that it just doesn't get the wear that the Cafe Racers in battered seal HH and blackened brown Vicenza do. In terms of drape, goat is top, followed by Vicenza (I have no Pinnacle HH jackets, so idea, but you've said no to HH. If you would consider HH, Vicenza is ideal). Although it is near-heresy around these parts, Simmons Bilt's black goatskin is light, tough and matte: