Why did you sell your nearly new aero leather jacket(s)?

[Aloysius]

True. I was referring to the design and construction. It looks like they tried to copy a 5* lol.

Yeah that was an accidental quote, haha.

Honestly I prefer Mysteryo’s 5* copy of his Buco.

 

[Monitor]

Cars, food, fashion…i’ll choose Italian every time vs English.

I don’t even know where to begin. I am sorry but 99.9% of the world will agree with me. Italians are on top in regards to fashion, style and constructing a garment.

99% of the world agrees with a lot of things until one person proves them wrong.

 

[Windward]

I don't know Pinnacle. Of the other two, it depends on what you want to do with it. CXL is robust and like a rain jacket. I like it, at least my steer, which is not the heaviest jacket. My Vicenza is a little more comfortable to wear, but it's not ideal in the rain.
I think Vicenza is a bit more suitable for everyday wear for city dwellers.

Have a chestnut Badalassi Windward - what about Badalassi wearing in rain??

 

[MrProper]

Have a chestnut Badalassi Windward - what about Badalassi wearing in rain??

I have already worn my chestnut Badalassi in the rain (like all my jackets). It is not spared. But the water comes through more quickly than with CXL. CXL is almost a rain jacket, whereas the veg tanned leather is only water-repellent due to the top coat (I think)

 

[Edward]

You think Aeros CXL Steer is softer than CXL HH or about the same?

The Steer is softer from the off, but also thicker. Aero advise against it for certainly styles, like the pleated back on the Dustbowl, because it doesn't allow the movements that requires the same. I was shown one at the factory like that - looked nice, but the hide didn't meake the most of the eay thed bakc is designed to move.

Jeez... I seem to be the devil's advocate guy on the leather side of the house. I swear I'm not like this on the hat side of the house, but damn you guys are really running down a product that sounds to me to be perfect for the area where it is produced.

If you've never been to Scotland, you have no idea how cold and damp it is almost all year round. Even in the summer. The CXL you guys are describing sounds like exactly what I would want in that environment.

So for me, the short answer to this thread seems to be, "Because I don't live in bloody Scotland."

Maybe I'm wrong, maybe the jacket is miserable in Scotland as well. But from what I've seen from @Feliksas, if you want a rugged jacket to wear all year round because you live in a cold, damp environment and spend a lot of time outdoors - then Aero is the right fit.

If that's not you, then you might want to look at other options.

But that doesn't make it a bad product.

Very much horses for courses.

I always laugh when people talk about how "grey and rainy" it is in England, being Irish and having spent a lot of time in Scotland (both wetter, cooler climates than England. Which is no bad thing: the weather - especially the vile, hot Summer is very much *not* what drew me to London and keeps me here. If climate was all that mattered, I'd have upped sticks to Glasgow long ago).

Of all the jackets I've owned and worn over the last thirty plus years, once (in my experience very quickly) broken in, the CXL FQHHs have been the hardest wearing, the ones I've never been afraid of getting cut or damaged by brushing against a wall or whatever. They're not a hide for everyone - in much the same way as no one brand will be very everyone - but there's nothing qualitatively wrong with them for sure - quite the opposite.

With regards to the specific question / topic:
Similar to what others have mentioned I feel the main reasons are:
- Custom jacket didn't work out, can't return, have to sell. Perhaps customer didn't specify the right measurements. Maybe the measurements are right on paper but the pattern just didn't work out. So fit issues.
- Want's to try CXL / heavy leather for the first time. After some wearing realizes that it's just not for him/her. Sell.
- Too many jackets already, hard to place into rotation, especially if comfort is compromised. Has not returned in time. Sell.
- Catch and release situation (especially in relation to the mentioned huge supply) - the measurements could potentially work, but eventually don't. Sell.


My experience with Aero:

I wear one of 2 jackets 90% of the time : Vanson E or Aero Hooch Hauler.
I've had the Aero Hooch Hauler since 2023 Sep, so about one year. I've worn it a lot.

CXL:
Mine is made out of CXLFQHH. It's great. No regrets. Would take the same leather again without a doubt. I don't understand all the "cardboard" name calling and hate it gets from time to time. Yes the sprayed on stain/dye rubs off rather easily and the thin aniline top coat doesn't help with that either. Yes you need to be patient and break it in. But that's the compromise you accept if you want the undeniable and unrivaled (in my opinion) beauty of CXL. A great option was "thin" CXL that was available by accident for some time and was highly praised by Canuck Panda. Easier break-in, more give, more comfort, better drape, same beauty.
But I would like to try CXLSH just for comparison, so that would be my choice if I'd ever lock in another Aero order. Likely won't because of the several price increases since my purchase.
Maybe I'm clueless but I haven't noticed a strong stiffening of the leather either, even though I've worn it around freezing temperatures a lot.
Surely my Hooch Hauler would be a bit more comfortable and would have a bit more mobility if it was made out of a different (thinner / more stretchy) leather, but I happily wear 25oz denim daily (feel free to make fun) so I'm not bothered by a bit of restriction. Similar to the 25oz denim, the cut/pattern/size plays a much bigger role in comfort than the fabric (specially once broken in). As for the Aero pattern/cut..

Pattern/cut:
This is where Aero doesn't shine. According to countless comments I've seen on TFL and based on my own experience as well. The neck thing being the main culprit.
The way it fits fully zipped up is also rather silly, maybe they just assumed no one would wear it fully zipped up when designing the jacket/pattern?
Otherwise the Hooch Hauler fits lovely, but the mobility is rather mediocre. I'm sure it would be much better if the jacket had some proper shoulder gussets or bi-swing / action back. Or just more volume in the upper back. But it's a slim fitting, more dressy/fancy of the two jackets that I use, so the mobility is good enough. Better neck cut + move volume in the upper back and I'd be 100% happy with the fit/mobility.
The pattern/cut/mobility especially pales in comparison to the Vanson E, but let's be honest, it's very hard to compete with Vanson patterns, especially seen in dedicated riding jacket like the model E.

Hardware:
The silly and stubborn insistence on the #5 zippers, especially on CXL jackets... I know we have allies fighting a battle from the inside to convince the decision makers to allow giving customers an option for a beefier zip, but I think it's a loosing battle.

Customer support:
This is not specific to Aero, but I hate the fact that you can't get a clear set of stock measurements for a given model/size. They will vaguely give you some and will actually agree to do adjustments other than length. For example I've asked for extra width in the shoulders and extra taper in the waist and both were accommodated very nicely. My jacket was even remade without question because the first one had narrower shoulders than I requested, even though they never guaranteed the shoulder width that I wanted.
In terms of communication calling is great (and expensive in my case, lost 50eu that way...). In terms of emails you're lucky if you get Danny, not so lucky otherwise in my experience.

Overall the Hooch Hauler is a shorter, slimmer (upper body and upper arms) moleskin lined Aviator jacket with button cuffs. Works best in the 5c to 15c range, does not work very well with layering, but it's doable to some extent, feeling fine at 0c in certain weather conditions. My Vanson E is a longer, roomier (upper body and upper arms) quilted lined moto cross zip jacket with zip sleeves. Works best in the -10c to 10c range due to better layering options, zipped sleeves keeping wind out and being able to comfortably fully zip it up.

I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Brown CXL in all it's glory for some visuals to relax after all the text
View attachment 652266
View attachment 652267

Nice back on the HH - custom order Sunburst back?

 

[Windward]

I have already worn my chestnut Badalassi in the rain (like all my jackets). It is not spared. But the water comes through more quickly than with CXL. CXL is almost a rain jacket, whereas the veg tanned leather is only water-repellent due to the top coat (I think)

Thanks MrProper - good to know but it will soften up extremely I think. My Jerky seal HH was in rain and after that it felt like gloves - very nice and super soft after that event. BR

 

[TartuWolf]

Nice back on the HH - custom order Sunburst back?

Nope, that's the stock Hooch Hauler back, but thank you for the compliment, sure does add some uniqueness to the jacket. Notice the V shaped to of the half belt as well, the sunburst back does not have that.