Westride (Japan clothing brand)

[Canuck Panda]

After seeing this brand pop up a few times here I've decided to get a used one to check it out.

This is the Westride Hercules repro jacket I got from Mecari. Black goatskin (3oz), Japanese Waldes/Hookless hardware (high quality ones), size 42 (Shoulder 19.5"/P2P 23.5"/Hem 21"/Back 25.5"/Sleeves 25.5").

There is a machinist flaw in my jacket. I am not sure if it was a factory second or not because I was not the original owner. But the lining was not fitted to the leather shell properly resulting in a weird crease in the back. My speculation is that the leather shell was made in a different factory than the lining and final assembly. Westride only says "lining made in Niigata", versus other Japanese brands would have a full on "made in Japan" label.

Look out for weird creases when shopping for used jackets. I will unpick the lining and see if I can get rid of the back creases.

 

[photo2u]

Clean Lines. Love it.

 

[jeo]

Very nice! I've been close to buying this exact jacket a few times, the lengths were always too long for me in a size 36 though.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Very nice! I've been close to buying this exact jacket a few times, the lengths were always too long for me in a size 36 though.

I’ll keep an eye out for you.

While the machine job could’ve been better, the goatskin and the hardware used are all good. And the price is very reasonable for used jackets.

 

[jeo]

I’ll keep an eye out for you.

While the machine job could’ve been better, the goatskin and the hardware used are all good. And the price is very reasonable for used jackets.

That's also been my experience with the used ones I've seen for sale. Usually around $300-$400.

I would be a size 36 in this jacket and every time I've seen one for sale the body lengths were just too long for me. I saw one once in a size 34 and it would have been too tight. I think this jacket is just not right for me. I very much appreciate it though!

West Ride make a bunch of other really nice styles, you just don't see them too often.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Johnson Leathers actually makes their high end line of CHP / Harley repro type jackets. The Goatskin ones are not made by JL I don't think. But the hardware is all nice Japanese and the goatskin is the same as the ones Rainbow Country uses, smells the same, looks the same but a bit thinner. Even with lesser machining jobs the quality of their material is very high end, I got mine just under $300 used, and that's a very reasonable for the quality.

Here are the Johnson / Westride jackets. I never see them on the used market though.

I might hit up JL for one of those Town Man / Harley longer surcoat. Didn't know they made them.

 

[JMax]

Johnson Leathers actually makes their high end line of CHP / Harley repro type jackets. The Goatskin ones are not made by JL I don't think. But the hardware is all nice Japanese and the goatskin is the same as the ones Rainbow Country uses, smells the same, looks the same but a bit thinner. Even with lesser machining jobs the quality of their material is very high end, I got mine just under $300 used, and that's a very reasonable for the quality.

Here are the Johnson / Westride jackets. I never see them on the used market though.

View attachment 497885
View attachment 497886

I might hit up JL for one of those Town Man / Harley longer surcoat. Didn't know they made them.

There is a legit HD Townsman for sale on eBay. It looks new.

 

[Canuck Panda]

going there now! thanks!

 

[Jasonissm]

Johnson Leathers actually makes their high end line of CHP / Harley repro type jackets. The Goatskin ones are not made by JL I don't think. But the hardware is all nice Japanese and the goatskin is the same as the ones Rainbow Country uses, smells the same, looks the same but a bit thinner. Even with lesser machining jobs the quality of their material is very high end, I got mine just under $300 used, and that's a very reasonable for the quality.

Here are the Johnson / Westride jackets. I never see them on the used market though.

View attachment 497885
View attachment 497886

I might hit up JL for one of those Town Man / Harley longer surcoat. Didn't know they made them.

Interesting, I've seen the CHP ones made by JL for sale on Yahoo Auctions new with tags, but high price (less than retail), didn't know that's where they were made.

 

[handymike]

I think the cut on this Hercules repro looks quite boxy. The price seems fair (what you paid), but the design looks like Banana Republic did it. You have much better looking jackets IMO.

 

[Jasonissm]

I think the cut on this Hercules repro looks quite boxy. The price seems fair (what you paid), but the design looks like Banana Republic did it. You have much better looking jackets IMO.

I think the back is what stands out it kind of balloons out in the center rather than tapering inward where the half belt is. You can see it mostly in the side photo. While the arms look very slim in comparison as well.

I like the construction but the patterns have put me off.

 

[JMax]

going there now! thanks!

Actually two of them. One for around $750 minty, the other in great condition for $1200 or so. I can’t find the minty one now. Saw both within the last few days.

 

[ton312]

I think the cut on this Hercules repro looks quite boxy. The price seems fair (what you paid), but the design looks like Banana Republic did it. You have much better looking jackets IMO.

I thought the same thing. I see quite a few Japanese repros looking very rectangular through the torso. It could well be that they are designed to fit that body type. I think there are significantly nicer Herc repros available and if given the choice, I would choose almost any over the west ride.
Edit: upon closer inspection I think some design elements are also way off. The waistband is entirely too narrow, as are the cuffs. Collar and throat latch assembly looks off. Knowing you have an aircraft hanger of better jackets, I would liken this to a Cidu type interpretation of the original Herc (materials aside, which do look nice).

 

[ton312]

I do like the liner though and should’ve said that the materials themselves look nice.

 

[Canuck Panda]

The Westride Herc does not curve in at the waist (half belt). It just tapers from chest to hem in a straight line. So it’s about 22” (44” around) at the waist! The only repro Herc I have that curves in at the waist is the Rainbow Country, but can’t recommend due to pricing.
Theres also a Top Notch repro from this Westride brand in the same goatskin. I will assume that one can fit better with the cinches at the waist. Still boxy shape like this Herc but can cinch. For under 300 bucks shipped these are not bad. I’ll keep an eye out for that one.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Actually two of them. One for around $750 minty, the other in great condition for $1200 or so. I can’t find the minty one now. Saw both within the last few days.

I found them. The 1200 dollar one is in very good shape. Very nice.

 

[Jasonissm]

The Westride Herc does not curve in at the waist (half belt). It just tapers from chest to hem in a straight line. So it’s about 22” (44” around) at the waist! The only repro Herc I have that curves in at the waist is the Rainbow Country, but can’t recommend due to pricing.
Theres also a Top Notch repro from this Westride brand in the same goatskin. I will assume that one can fit better with the cinches at the waist. Still boxy shape like this Herc but can cinch. For under 300 bucks shipped these are not bad. I’ll keep an eye out for that one.

Why not? I'm probably gonna spring for a Rainbow Country Herc when I'm in Japan in about a months time.

 

[handymike]

The Rainbow Highwayman looks the best IMO

 

[Canuck Panda]

Why not? I'm probably gonna spring for a Rainbow Country Herc when I'm in Japan in about a months time.

Rainbow Country is flawless. But they’re getting really expensive now. And people are asking more for them on the used market too. if you can try them on in person it’s worth the investment.
If you can, try out their Highwayman model too. It’s the same slim curve cut as the Herc but with a single yoke plain back and uses NOS Talon instead of the repro Hookless. The hookless is actually the better zip but Talon has its charm. The big thing about the RC Hwman is that it comes with thicker leather than the Herc. But all the seams are skived so it doesn’t feel bulky. That to me is what Rainbow country does best that no one else comes close. It’s like a heavy weight CXl jacket that is wearable from day one without any break in. The Herc is just the normal 1.2mm Shinki. The highwayman is at least 1.4 1.5mm.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Here are some used Westride jackets on Mercari. They’re usually under ¥30,000 ($250) Any more they just sit there like these. Sometimes the proxies offer 5% off probably best to wait for that.

If you find a jacket on Yahoo Auction, it might also be listed on Mercari for a bit less. Doesn’t hurt to double check. My most recent Yahoo Auction seller charged me 2.5 times the price he got the same Izumiya jacket from Mercari. Lots of shady practices on Yahoo Auction now, much like EBay.

https://jp.mercari.com/item/m53518050574
half belt size 38

https://jp.mercari.com/item/m10889574413
https://jp.mercari.com/item/m67193549642
aviator with half bitten d pocket size 34 and 44

https://jp.mercari.com/item/m84784459987
horsehide aviator size 42

https://jp.mercari.com/item/m99825864448
heres a Johnson one in size 42. But for the money plus a bit more I can get a horsehide one from JL directly. Beautifully made these CHP jackets.

Like I mentioned above, I don’t think Westride jackets are fully made in Japan like the other Japanese brands. But the material is same as the other Japanese ones. That makes it a really good value on the used market when they don’t overprice them.