Post by BiffMan on Jan 11, 2010 17:39:54 GMT -5
Long time lurker, first time poster... Tore up my 24 year old leather jacket (a cheesy but comfortable black Members Only semi-A2 style, maybe lamb, who knows) a couple of years ago and around the time KOTCS came out, I got it in my head that I might as well have my new one be in the Indy style and got to researching.
Wanted something that I'll have for another 20+ years and am more concerned with durability and comfort than SA, so that narrowed the options a bit, but from all the wonderful posts here and at that other place, it sounded like the G&B goat was the one for me.
That kicked off a lovely 18 month waiting period for me to convince the wife that it was okay for me to drop $500 on a jacket. We're not destitute, but we stick away from big purchases in lieu of more vacations, so had to get the spending passed through congress. For me it was simple, if I wear it for 20 years, then it's only $2-3 per month, right? Isn't that what credit cards are for?
She surprised me out of the blue a couple of weeks before Christmas and said I could go ahead and order it. So I checked around to confirm it was still the one I wanted, and chatted with Drew about whether they could still do the Expo in black or not since it wasn't listed. He replied in a couple of hours to say they could but it would be a custom order and recommended I order a standard size to see how it fit and then return it if I still wanted the black goat. Quite happy with the dark brown as it turns out.
I was very nervous on the sizing since I've heard a lot of back and forth about how the G&B coats run. I'm a very rack-sized 46L and only rarely have to have things altered, but this was such a momentous thing for me that I was still nervous waiting out the two weeks for it to get here.
So it finally arrives today and it's just words-fail-me-wonderful and fits me perfectly. Will try to post pics later, but it sleeves hit right in the base of thumb/past wrist area and the shoulders are perfect. And it's soooooo comfy! I was really surprised just how well it moves even when brand new. That's the first jacket I've worn with the action pleat thingy and straps and I really like the way both feel. Sitting and turning is so much nicer than it was with my old jacket and I really like the slight snugness of the straps and how they hold the jacket to your back a little bit even when unzipped.
And compared to my old jacket, this thing is built like a tank. Really impressed with the construction and while I'll not exactly be a regular customer for jackets, you can chalk up one more loyal G&B customer. And the best part is that my old jacket only died out due to some skiing-related misuse (ripped a shoulder seam holding skis on my shoulder, ripped a pocket seam jamming the trail map in and out) and the G&B's lifetime warranty on seams and zipper should just mean that all I have to do is not lose the silly thing and I'm good to go. Crazy warranty, but wonderful that they do that.
No, it will not be getting tossed in the washing machine, no it will not be smacked with wire brushes... If I'm out in the rain, it'll get wet, then it'll dry, and it'll be fine. I love the look of a distressed jacket, but prefer to get there one ding and wrinkle at a time. I'll get back to you in 10 years and let you know how the distressing is going...
Anyway, please pardon this completely self-absorbed post about me and my jacket, but I'm so thrilled I just had to share some love back to those who weren't aware they were helping me make one of the more satisfying purchasing decisions I've ever made.
Thanks all!
-John
Wanted something that I'll have for another 20+ years and am more concerned with durability and comfort than SA, so that narrowed the options a bit, but from all the wonderful posts here and at that other place, it sounded like the G&B goat was the one for me.
That kicked off a lovely 18 month waiting period for me to convince the wife that it was okay for me to drop $500 on a jacket. We're not destitute, but we stick away from big purchases in lieu of more vacations, so had to get the spending passed through congress. For me it was simple, if I wear it for 20 years, then it's only $2-3 per month, right? Isn't that what credit cards are for?
She surprised me out of the blue a couple of weeks before Christmas and said I could go ahead and order it. So I checked around to confirm it was still the one I wanted, and chatted with Drew about whether they could still do the Expo in black or not since it wasn't listed. He replied in a couple of hours to say they could but it would be a custom order and recommended I order a standard size to see how it fit and then return it if I still wanted the black goat. Quite happy with the dark brown as it turns out.
I was very nervous on the sizing since I've heard a lot of back and forth about how the G&B coats run. I'm a very rack-sized 46L and only rarely have to have things altered, but this was such a momentous thing for me that I was still nervous waiting out the two weeks for it to get here.
So it finally arrives today and it's just words-fail-me-wonderful and fits me perfectly. Will try to post pics later, but it sleeves hit right in the base of thumb/past wrist area and the shoulders are perfect. And it's soooooo comfy! I was really surprised just how well it moves even when brand new. That's the first jacket I've worn with the action pleat thingy and straps and I really like the way both feel. Sitting and turning is so much nicer than it was with my old jacket and I really like the slight snugness of the straps and how they hold the jacket to your back a little bit even when unzipped.
And compared to my old jacket, this thing is built like a tank. Really impressed with the construction and while I'll not exactly be a regular customer for jackets, you can chalk up one more loyal G&B customer. And the best part is that my old jacket only died out due to some skiing-related misuse (ripped a shoulder seam holding skis on my shoulder, ripped a pocket seam jamming the trail map in and out) and the G&B's lifetime warranty on seams and zipper should just mean that all I have to do is not lose the silly thing and I'm good to go. Crazy warranty, but wonderful that they do that.
No, it will not be getting tossed in the washing machine, no it will not be smacked with wire brushes... If I'm out in the rain, it'll get wet, then it'll dry, and it'll be fine. I love the look of a distressed jacket, but prefer to get there one ding and wrinkle at a time. I'll get back to you in 10 years and let you know how the distressing is going...
Anyway, please pardon this completely self-absorbed post about me and my jacket, but I'm so thrilled I just had to share some love back to those who weren't aware they were helping me make one of the more satisfying purchasing decisions I've ever made.
Thanks all!
-John
I'd love to have a G&B some day. I'm glad you love it as much as you do. I wait for more posts on this and other Indy gear that might follow. Now, let's see some pictures! 
