Thoughts on the Iron Heart “Battle Jacket” from Self Edge

[JustJackson]

I’ve been eyeing the Iron Heart “Battle Jacket” from Self Edge for a while. I’ve seen (and missed) a couple of sales of the jacket in my size (40) recently and was curious what you all’s thoughts on it are. Why did you decide to sell? How did it fit you?

I haven’t ordered because I don’t trust Self Edge’s measurements, specifically around sleeve length. On paper, the sleeves seem comically long for a size 40 at 66.8 cm because the way they measure sleeves is very silly. Their return policy is… not ideal.

For context, my shoulders are approximately 48cm and my arms are approximately 66cm. I’m afraid the sleeves are going to be too long. Thoughts?

 

[Grayland]

I never looked at the jacket before you mentioned it. I'm a 40 (I'm 5'9, 170 lbs.) and the sleeves are slightly longer than I'd prefer, but I certainly don't think they qualify as comically long. I have an Aero J-100 with slightly longer sleeves and it fits me fine.

 

[Bfd70]

Its trim but the leather us great. I’ve noticed lately IH has been making comically long sleeves. Particularly in their leather type 3. Maybe the measurements are accurate. I’m also certain their is variance by batch

 

[JustJackson]

I never looked at the jacket before you mentioned it. I'm a 40 (I'm 5'9, 170 lbs.) and the sleeves are slightly longer than I'd prefer, but I certainly don't think they qualify as comically long. I have an Aero J-100 with slightly longer sleeves and it fits me fine.

I am roughly the same height and weight as you. Is the jacket slim enough that you have trouble wearing something insulating under it? Like a heavy flannel or a hoodie?

 

[Grayland]

I am roughly the same height and weight as you. Is the jacket slim enough that you have trouble wearing something insulating under it? Like a heavy flannel or a hoodie?

I don't own the jacket you are referencing - just making the point that even at 5'9, 66.8 cm long sleeves aren't comically long. I like 25-inch long sleeves, but I have leather jackets with sleeves as short as 24 and as long as 26.5-inch. They each look just fine.

 

[bigmanbigtruck]

Don’t own one myself, but the measurements seem to be normal. The only thing that sticks out (and not by that much) is the jacket length seems to be slightly long.

Based on a size 40 posted in the classifieds with 25” sleeves (~63.5cm), I wouldn’t call them comically long. Not sure how Self Edge measure sleeves, but they seem to make the sleeves sound longer than intended.

 

[JustJackson]

Don’t own one myself, but the measurements seem to be normal. The only thing that sticks out is the jacket length seems to be slightly long.

Based on a size 40 posted in the classifieds with 25” sleeves (~63.5cm), I wouldn’t call them comically long. Not sure how Self Edge measure sleeves, but they seem to make the sleeves sound longer than intended.

View attachment 729396

The problem here, and I mean no offense to the poster of this jacket, this is not how one measures sleeves.

 

[Aloysius]

Don’t own one myself, but the measurements seem to be normal. The only thing that sticks out is the jacket length seems to be slightly long.

Based on a size 40 posted in the classifieds with 25” sleeves (~63.5cm), I wouldn’t call them comically long. Not sure how Self Edge measure sleeves, but they seem to make the sleeves sound longer than intended.

View attachment 729396

So like a RTW Aero 40. Reasonable.

The problem here, and I mean no offense to the poster of this jacket, this is not how one measures sleeves.

It's one of the ways to.

 

[bigmanbigtruck]

The problem here, and I mean no offense to the poster of this jacket, this is not how one measures sleeves.

It’s a pretty standard measurement for most of the classifieds on here. There is no established “right” way. Just meant to provide you an actual measurement you can see for yourself.

As long as you know what your ideal shoulder + sleeve measurements are, you can get a reasonably good idea of how it’ll land on your arm. At least it’s served me well for the jackets I’ve gotten.

Unless your arms are decently shorter than average, these shouldn’t look comically long.

 

[JustJackson]

Thank you for your help everyone.

 

[Bennarion]

https://forum.ironheart.co.uk/topic/17824/ihj-54-blk-japanese-horsehide-rider-s-jacket
Here is a similar jacket. In fact, the IH brand does not have a standard sleeve length. This is due to motorcycle riding

 

[El Marro]

So I own the regular IH version of this jacket, the IHJ-54. It is very nice leather, so nice that I went ahead and bought their type three because it is made from the same horsehide. And yes, the sleeves do run long on this jacket. Back length and sleeve length tend to run long on almost everything IH makes.

 

[Skiptomylou41k]

So I did bite the ****** buy this jacket during their Black Friday sale last year and had to return it. I bought it in a size 40. I wear size 40 for most jackets (I vary quite a bit with Fine Creek) and thought it'd be great for me. I was concerned about the sleeve measurements at first but I figured a bit longer is fine for this style of jacket. And based on the photos, a slimmer sleeve could help eat up some length. I was WRONG. The way the jacket wears was totally misleading based on the measurements. The bi-swing action shoulders made it wear huge in the shoulder and armpit area and the sleeves were actually super wide rather than slim in the upper arm. And yes the sleeve length was a huge problem. The length in the body was too long as well. It felt to me that the chest was a size 40, but the other measurements were for a size 42 jacket. It looked disproportionate in the mirror and I'm not a goofy-built guy. I'm 5'8" and 150-160 with very average build.

 

[El Marro]

And yes the sleeve length was a huge problem. The length in the body was too long as well. It felt to me that the chest was a size 40, but the other measurements were for a size 42 jacket. It looked disproportionate in the mirror and I'm not a goofy-built guy. I'm 5'8" and 150-160 with very average build.

I believe it, I’m 6’1” with a long torso and the jacket was still a bit longer than I would have liked.

 

[whitetail_country]

I tried this jacket on in store and was told that because the leather is so thick, expect quite a bit of the sleeve riding upward, nearly an inch.

 

[JustJackson]

Yeah, all signs are for me to stay away from this jacket because of the sleeves.
I’m searching for a Delraiser in 42 at the moment with little luck.

 

[Edward]

So I own the regular IH version of this jacket, the IHJ-54. It is very nice leather, so nice that I went ahead and bought their type three because it is made from the same horsehide. And yes, the sleeves do run long on this jacket. Back length and sleeve length tend to run long on almost everything IH makes.

Sounds like it's cut with a crouched-over riding position in mind. I've seen this done by quite a few makers over the years. Works fine if the jacket is sympathetically proportioned, though I have seen some designs adding four inched to the overall length without compensating otherwise, and they just end up looking odd.

 

[shinshoryuken]

So I did bite the ****** buy this jacket during their Black Friday sale last year and had to return it. I bought it in a size 40. I wear size 40 for most jackets (I vary quite a bit with Fine Creek) and thought it'd be great for me. I was concerned about the sleeve measurements at first but I figured a bit longer is fine for this style of jacket. And based on the photos, a slimmer sleeve could help eat up some length. I was WRONG. The way the jacket wears was totally misleading based on the measurements. The bi-swing action shoulders made it wear huge in the shoulder and armpit area and the sleeves were actually super wide rather than slim in the upper arm. And yes the sleeve length was a huge problem. The length in the body was too long as well. It felt to me that the chest was a size 40, but the other measurements were for a size 42 jacket. It looked disproportionate in the mirror and I'm not a goofy-built guy. I'm 5'8" and 150-160 with very average build.

Would a 38 might have been better?

 

[Skiptomylou41k]

Would a 38 might have been better?

no. chest and body were fine for me. The sleeve length and width were wildly disproportional.

 

[shinshoryuken]

no. chest and body were fine for me. The sleeve length and width were wildly disproportional.

I recently bought one from here, a size 38. Kinda gambled on the size cause I assumed a 40 would be better for me based on my measurement. But got lucky, cause its pretty much brand new and not broken in yet. My measurement is 5'10, 164lbs with 39' chest. The jacket do fit but very slim on the waist. It's an overall slim fit but the upper arms and shoulder are roomier which makes it perfect for me. The action back does a really good job with redistricting movement even though the chest is quite fitted. My Schott 654VN size medium seem to fit tighter and more restrictive. Look wise it doesn't look disproportionate on me, but I agree that the arms and shoulder seems more roomy and tapers down to the waist and then a really slight flare on the opening, kinda like a V-shape. I think the jacket is more suited for someone with a slimmer fit. People usually recommends going up a size, but I think doing it that way will result in a disproportional appearance.