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Vanson C2 vs Schott 618hh

Aloysius

I'll Lock Up
Messages
4,671
Your C2 looks great. I did see his but he didn’t have my size. I would prefer a struck through black and not a tea core leather. Maybe I’ll just get a vintage 618 and use the savings on a pair of Nicks engineers

Some of the current CW has a brown core so you might want to check before ordering, if it's the wrong one.
 

unhatted

Practically Family
Messages
570
Location
UK
The one difference that no-one has mentioned and that IMO has a huge influence on the look is the lapels and centre-zip angle. Schott lapels are angled to be teeny tiny and therefore the V of the neck comes up higher. Vanson has big, dramatic lapels and a lower V, so lets in a bit more wind in when done up with lapels snapped. IMO the Schott lapel look is more of a 50s greaser vibe while the Vanson is a bit more 70s leather man (which makes sense in terms of the eras the design dates from). I wouldn’t give up either but I reach for the Vanson more. That’s probably partly because it’s a size up, but I also just think it’s cross-zippier.

IMG_4991.jpeg
 
Last edited:

Peter Mackin

One Too Many
Messages
1,788
Location
glasgow
The one difference that no-one has mentioned and that IMO has a huge influence on the look is the lapels and centre-zip angle. Schott lapels are angled to be teeny tiny and therefore the V of the neck comes up higher. Vanson has big, dramatic lapels and a lower V, so lets in a bit more wind in when done up with lapels snapped. IMO the Schott lapel look is more of a 50s greaser vibe while the Vanson is a bit more 70s leather man (which makes sense in terms of the eras the design dates from). I wouldn’t give up either but I reach for the Vanson more. That’s probably partly because it’s a size up, but I also just think it’s cross-zippier.

View attachment 749775
Cross-zippier lol brilliant description. As a recent convert to schott, I find i reach 1st for my Schott for casual wear and Vanson for riding.Horses for courses as the saying goes.
 

Highwayman64

Familiar Face
Messages
56
The one difference that no-one has mentioned and that IMO has a huge influence on the look is the lapels and centre-zip angle. Schott lapels are angled to be teeny tiny and therefore the V of the neck comes up higher. Vanson has big, dramatic lapels and a lower V, so lets in a bit more wind in when done up with lapels snapped. IMO the Schott lapel look is more of a 50s greaser vibe while the Vanson is a bit more 70s leather man (which makes sense in terms of the eras the design dates from). I wouldn’t give up either but I reach for the Vanson more. That’s probably partly because it’s a size up, but I also just think it’s cross-zippier.

View attachment 749775
That’s a good point. The vanson gives me 70’s leather daddy vibes. It’s still a nice pattern though and it looks like it might actually be better for riding overall. I do like the smaller lapels more
 

LeatherHunter

Practically Family
Messages
861
Location
Central Florida
For the longest time I considered the Schott 118 my gold standard for a cross zip as I absolutely love the Naked Cowhide that Schott uses. It’s easy to wear and the pattern fits my frame the way I want it to. Fast forward to a year ago or so on this forum and the craze was the Vanson C2, every day it seems someone was posting one. I was curious about the jacket so I found a pre-owned one to give a try. It’s a 2010 Comp weight and I can say the fit for me is better than my Schott. Also, I got hung up with the “back seam indicates a cheap, corner cutting design” opinion by some on this.very forum. That has proven to be a bunch of BS as Vanson builds world famous jackets and that design probably aides in the fit and how it conforms to the body. I have pictured both with the Schott being first.
IMG_4226.jpeg
IMG_4225.jpeg
 

Highwayman64

Familiar Face
Messages
56
For the longest time I considered the Schott 118 my gold standard for a cross zip as I absolutely love the Naked Cowhide that Schott uses. It’s easy to wear and the pattern fits my frame the way I want it to. Fast forward to a year ago or so on this forum and the craze was the Vanson C2, every day it seems someone was posting one. I was curious about the jacket so I found a pre-owned one to give a try. It’s a 2010 Comp weight and I can say the fit for me is better than my Schott. Also, I got hung up with the “back seam indicates a cheap, corner cutting design” opinion by some on this.very forum. That has proven to be a bunch of BS as Vanson builds world famous jackets and that design probably aides in the fit and how it conforms to the body. I have pictured both with the Schott being first.
View attachment 749783 View attachment 749784
The vanson is definitely giving you more of a v shape. Both are nice
 

Tom71

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,945
Location
Europe
Many very good suggestions here, so I will not repeat too much that has been said.

As I have both jackets, I allow myself some comments, though:

- I´d prefer the Schott for off-the-bike casual use. Both jackets are cropped, but the C2 is more generous in the shoulders/arms.

- leather-wise, the horsehide of the Schott is much nicer than Vanson´s current competition weight (c.f., what @torfjord said). The later has a dull surface, looks pretty much like vinyl and newer offerings lack the reassuring heft that of past years. I also have not found that it ages well.
If you take one of @Mrfrown ´s special offerings, that goes away.

Both jackets are great, though, so the best advice is to try which one fits better, like @Bfd70 suggested. Of course, this may not be easily available to you.

Sizing: The C2 is one size down from the 618HH by numbers.
 

Bfd70

I'll Lock Up
Messages
5,400
Location
Traverse city
The one difference that no-one has mentioned and that IMO has a huge influence on the look is the lapels and centre-zip angle. Schott lapels are angled to be teeny tiny and therefore the V of the neck comes up higher. Vanson has big, dramatic lapels and a lower V, so lets in a bit more wind in when done up with lapels snapped. IMO the Schott lapel look is more of a 50s greaser vibe while the Vanson is a bit more 70s leather man (which makes sense in terms of the eras the design dates from). I wouldn’t give up either but I reach for the Vanson more. That’s probably partly because it’s a size up, but I also just think it’s cross-zippier.

View attachment 749775
Great point. After some time here and trial and error this has become a top 3 detail for me. I 100% prefer a higher zip up less neck plunge.
 

beetleything

One of the Regulars
Messages
123
Location
Bonnie Scotland
Both companies make excellent jackets. For me, it would come down to if i ride or not, schott makes riding style jackets, vanson makes riding jackets.
Nonsense - i have a 613 and it's Steerhide and i ride - i would feel 100% comfortable and safe in this jacket and it looks great to boot !
Looking on Vinson's website i DO like the idea of a concealed carry pocket - sadly not allowed in Bonnie Scotland !
 

Zoro

Practically Family
Messages
698
Location
Europe
Nonsense - i have a 613 and it's Steerhide and i ride - i would feel 100% comfortable and safe in this jacket and it looks great to boot !
Looking on Vinson's website i DO like the idea of a concealed carry pocket - sadly not allowed in Bonnie Scotland !
What do you mean not allowed? Every time I enter a shop, I remove my neckwarmer and conceal carry it! :)
 

01flhr

A-List Customer
Messages
369
Nonsense - i have a 613 and it's Steerhide and i ride - i would feel 100% comfortable and safe in this jacket and it looks great to boot !
Looking on Vinson's website i DO like the idea of a concealed carry pocket - sadly not allowed in Bonnie Scotland !
You can ride in shorts and flip flops but that doesnt make it good motorcycle gear. Vanson is taylored to riding, every aspect of their jackets are aimed at making them better on the bike from the size of the cuffs, the locations of the zippers, even the direction the pockets zip.
 

Highwayman64

Familiar Face
Messages
56
How do you size the jacket? My chest is between 41-42” and I was thinking of getting the 618 in a 42. It measures 23” pit to pit according to Schott. I figure a 4ish inch ease should be pretty trim but I can still wear a sweatshirt under it
 

Jeef

New in Town
Messages
40
I think the C2 is more comfortable than the 618. The C2 keeps it short length even in larger sizes which makes it easier to wear it zipped up and sitting down. I like the larger arms on the c2. And I think the back center seam looks cool.

I much prefer the leather from schott. There isn’t anything really wrong with current comp weight leather but I would rather have the standard schott steerhide, horsehide, or naked cowhide.

You could get a C2 from del with different leather but I would still choose current comp weight c2 for $769 before paying $1300 for a c2 with CXL or something similar.

If you are in US I would buy both 618 and c2 and try them both on. The only thing that really matters is if you like the way it fits, they each have a different fit.
 

01flhr

A-List Customer
Messages
369
How do you size the jacket? My chest is between 41-42” and I was thinking of getting the 618 in a 42. It measures 23” pit to pit according to Schott. I figure a 4ish inch ease should be pretty trim but I can still wear a sweatshirt under it
Call vanson, theyre very helpful. I bought a new b in comp weight this summer and called them with my measurements and they recommended a size. Actually, i emailed them.
 

beetleything

One of the Regulars
Messages
123
Location
Bonnie Scotland
You can ride in shorts and flip flops but that doesnt make it good motorcycle gear. Vanson is taylored to riding, every aspect of their jackets are aimed at making them better on the bike from the size of the cuffs, the locations of the zippers, even the direction the pockets zip.
i wouldn't feel safe in shorts and flip flops - far from it ! Schott is tailored also to riding - they are both more or less the same style - zippers -cuffs etc...so don't see how Vanson is better than Schott for actually using it as a real motorcycle jacket.
 

01flhr

A-List Customer
Messages
369
Most vansons are built to accept armor and heated accessories. Im not trying to be insulting to schott, but theyre not a good motorcycle jacket. If you were to go to a racetrack youd see a bunch of vanson, bates, and a few other smaller brands and absolutely 0 schott.
 

Highwayman64

Familiar Face
Messages
56
Yeah I think most racing teams are wearing vanson but not a double rider. It’s kind of outdated for that anyways. I would think the C2 and the 618 are similar in that regard other than cut being more generous in the vanson
Most vansons are built to accept armor and heated accessories. Im not trying to be insulting to schott, but theyre not a good motorcycle jacket. If you were to go to a racetrack youd see a bunch of vanson, bates, and a few other smaller brands and absolutely 0 schott.
 

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