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Post by docjones on May 17, 2008 23:10:13 GMT -5
I am caught between the 2 jackets in the subject. A big part of my difficulty choosing is that G&B has no pictures on its site of the lamb, and the one shot it does have is poor.
I like the US lambskin's chocolate-brown color, assuming my monitor is reproducing the right shade/color. Even the US Wings' goat seems a bit darker, seemingly closer to a dark brown than the milk chocolate shade of the lambskin.
I don't care about SA, and while Wested is a good maker, dealing with overseas manufacturers with the high cost of shipping and duties is not what I want to deal with now.
So, does anyone have any thoughts between the 2 jackets? I know G&B is a superb manufacturer, but it is also about $100 more, at least.
I am also looking for a lighter-weight version of the jacket, so it would seem lamb would make the most sense. Opinions?
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Post by GCR on May 18, 2008 0:31:53 GMT -5
You will not go wrong with G&B.  I guarantee it's lighter weight than the U.S. Wings lambskin, and also more SA (though I know you said that didn't matter). The color is a very deep, dark brown. If it's pics you're interested in, I'd check through this section. Many folks (including myself) have posted pictures of their G&B jackets. Here are a few pics of my G&B    The fit is excellent and the stitching and zipper are guaranteed for life. -GCR |
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Post by Ragingblues on May 18, 2008 1:45:35 GMT -5
I'll second everything GCR just said. The Expedition is lightweight, really tough, and a real beauty! Here are a couple of shots of mine when it was brand new:   The shine will wear off pretty quickly with normal wear or even faster if you get it wet (intentionally or being caught in the rain a few times). Ken |
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IndyNibs
Temple Guard
"I had a lot of fond memories of that dog"
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Post by IndyNibs on May 18, 2008 2:47:19 GMT -5
mind if I THIRD it? ;D
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2008 7:52:16 GMT -5
I would go with the G&B too. They are the most consistant jacket out there from my own personal experience. I have had 4 brand new Lambskin Expeditions pass through my hands and every one of them was identical. My current one is 2 years old and has broken in very nicely. Pics taken this morning.   I have also had 4 US Wings jackets pass through here too. All Lambskin. They are nice jackets but very heavy compared to the G&B and the leather was different on 3 out of 4 in both color and texture. Wings sizes also run large I usually wear a Large but with Wings I wear a Small or Medium. This is a US Wings that I got as a gift from a friend here at the Lounge. It is an older Cooper/US Wings that are no longer available.   Hope this helps. Cheers, John |
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Post by docjones on May 18, 2008 9:02:34 GMT -5
Hi all, and thank you so much for the fast replies. 2 key questions: 1- assuming my monitor's color repro is accurate, the US Wings' lamb is a gorgeous lighter chocolate brown, see here: www.uswings.com/aviatn.aspMy eye may not be seeing things right with the pics you all posted here, but it seems the Expo is darker, almost black, is that the case? I also have the G&B catalogue in front of me, and it seems darker there too. 2-What do you all think makes the G&B lighter? Do they use a different lining, is the US Wings' leather a denser or thicker type of lamb (say 4 oz vs 3 oz.)? 3-pricing: $468 is kind of steep for a lightweight leather jacket, and while I do like the Indy movies, the jacket itself is attractive in the front, and not ideal in the back. I am looking at an "Indy-style" jacket because it is shorter, and I like the front (I prefer front patch rather than slash pockets). I was looking for a waist-length Spring/Fall weight leather jacket, and am thinking that while G&B make great jackets, at $500 with shipping they are outside my budget - does G&B offer discounts to Indylounge members? I saw that US Wings gives one to members of another forum. |
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2008 9:08:46 GMT -5
The G&B is darker than the US Wings that I have owned. Also the leather on the Wings is thicker.
G&B does not give discounts but they are garanteed for life against defects. As I stated mine is 2 years old and not 1 loose stitch anywhere.
If you don't like the back on the Indy jackets you could always go with an A-2. There are dozens of different ones on Ebay.
Cheers,
John
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Post by Ragingblues on May 18, 2008 18:40:21 GMT -5
I thought you said you were looking for a lighter weight version of the Indy jacket?  If you have changed your mind about that... and about the overall cut of the Indy style itself, buying it from another company isn't going to help. No matter how much of a discount you are given, it just won't fit the bill (no pun intended). Ken |
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Post by New Yorker Jones on May 18, 2008 20:28:06 GMT -5
I don't know if US Wings does that on all their jackets for the other Indy forum; you'll have to talk to Sarge about that. Besides I think US Wings' jacket is longer than G&B so it won't be waist length (I believe). I was in the same boat you're in 2 months ago and I decided on the G&B; when you spend this much money, going "cheap" is not always such a good thing. Yes US Wings is cheaper but how many complaints do you hear about the G&B? Sometimes you have to think about the big picture. Good luck!
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Post by docjones on May 18, 2008 21:28:11 GMT -5
I thought you said you were looking for a lighter weight version of the Indy jacket? If you have changed your mind about that... and about the overall cut of the Indy style itself, buying it from another company isn't going to help. No matter how much of a discount you are given, it just won't fit the bill (no pun intended). Ken Hi Ken. I am looking for a lighter-weight LEATHER jacket, just not necessarily an Indy. I am considering an "Indy" as a potential choice despite the fact I am not crazy about its back (not a fan of all of the "accoutrements" like an action back, etc.) because of its shorter length and makers such as G&B and US Wings, who are well above the mall-jackets of this world in manufacturing skill. Sure I can get a Gap or Banana Rep lightweight jacket, but I refuse to buy a jacket made in China, Pakistan, India, etc. Its just a question of whether I am willing to accept a less-than-ideal jacket back, since I DO like the Indy-jacket front alot, and get a first-class manufactured product, or go with a lesser, mall-store product that doesn't have the indy back. |
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Post by docjones on May 18, 2008 21:29:28 GMT -5
The G&B is darker than the US Wings that I have owned. Also the leather on the Wings is thicker. G&B does not give discounts but they are garanteed for life against defects. As I stated mine is 2 years old and not 1 loose stitch anywhere. If you don't like the back on the Indy jackets you could always go with an A-2. There are dozens of different ones on Ebay. Cheers, John Hi John. The A2 doesn't work for me because of the bottom of the jacket and sleeves being cuffed... |
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Post by docjones on May 18, 2008 21:39:28 GMT -5
I don't know if US Wings does that on all their jackets for the other Indy forum; you'll have to talk to Sarge about that. Besides I think US Wings' jacket is longer than G&B so it won't be waist length (I believe). I was in the same boat you're in 2 months ago and I decided on the G&B; when you spend this much money, going "cheap" is not always such a good thing. Yes US Wings is cheaper but how many complaints do you hear about the G&B? Sometimes you have to think about the big picture. Good luck! Full disclosure, I recently purchased an Aero which is the top of the line I believe, and this is my "go-to" jacket for the bulk of the colder months. I was just looking for a lighter-weight complement to it, something to wear in the months where my FQHH would be too heavy. The Aero serves as my primary, and the lighter one is more of a secondary. Also, given that the Aero ran almost $860, not including duties, I couldn't justify spending $500 on another jacket. Philosophically though, I totally agree as my business rests upon getting people to see the big picture and spending a bit more for a better quality product than my competitor's, so I totally get it. The aggravation with this process is that these firms are primarily manufacturers based nowhere near me, so I cannot see their jackets nor try them on beforehand, so a BIG leap of faith is required before buying. US Wings does offer I believe a discount on one of their Indy-jackets (I think it might be the "Collector's Edition", which is cowhide I believe) if you mention you are a member of the other Indy-leather jacket forum... |
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Post by Ragingblues on May 18, 2008 23:48:23 GMT -5
Just out of curiosity... who's Indy jacket only reaches their waist? I guess maybe I'm misunderstanding that part, but I hope you haven't seen one that short and think they are all like that.  Mine all come to just about where the back pocket begins, which is a good bit lower than a waist coat. I'm not in any way trying to convince you that it's the right style for you at all. I just wanted to make sure I understood that part correctly. Ken |
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Post by docjones on May 19, 2008 11:24:18 GMT -5
Just out of curiosity... who's Indy jacket only reaches their waist? I guess maybe I'm misunderstanding that part, but I hope you haven't seen one that short and think they are all like that. Mine all come to just about where the back pocket begins, which is a good bit lower than a waist coat. I'm not in any way trying to convince you that it's the right style for you at all. I just wanted to make sure I understood that part correctly. Ken Hi Ken. Let me clarify the various lengths in my mind: Type I: "shorter/waist-length: lands anywhere between the belt and 2- 4 inches below the belt Type II: "hipster"-style: lands 4 - 6 inches below the belt Type III: car coat: about 6 - 10" below the belt, landing mid-thigh Type IV: trench-coat length, anywhere from the top of the knee down When I mean "short" jacket, I am thinking of something shorter than a "hipster," that lands about 3-4 inches below the belt. This would allow any small shoulder bag (I use a different one than the "official" one) to be worn under the jacket, but wouldn't push or curl up the bottom of the jacket. I would say the back length would be about 26-27" for my height, which is medium-tall at a humble 5-10 1/2". |
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Post by docjones on Jun 2, 2008 20:47:18 GMT -5
I'll second everything GCR just said. The Expedition is lightweight, really tough, and a real beauty! Here are a couple of shots of mine when it was brand new: The shine will wear off pretty quickly with normal wear or even faster if you get it wet (intentionally or being caught in the rain a few times). Ken Raging, are those of the lamb or goatskin? If its the lamb, how does it look after a few years of wear? Does it age like cowhide, sort of like the KotCS? |
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Post by Ragingblues on Jun 2, 2008 21:40:36 GMT -5
It's lambskin and I've only had the jacket about a year. The shine wears off and it breaks in nicely with normal wear, even after a few months. Lambskin will never look like cowhide, that much you can be sure of. The cowhide KOTCS jackets were basically stonewashed to get that awful patterned wear look to them.
You can do that to any jacket of course, but it's not the product of wearing it or breaking it in... and certainly not very natural looking to me at all.
Ken
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Post by docjones on Jun 3, 2008 21:41:33 GMT -5
It's lambskin and I've only had the jacket about a year. The shine wears off and it breaks in nicely with normal wear, even after a few months. Lambskin will never look like cowhide, that much you can be sure of. The cowhide KOTCS jackets were basically stonewashed to get that awful patterned wear look to them. You can do that to any jacket of course, but it's not the product of wearing it or breaking it in... and certainly not very natural looking to me at all. Ken Gotya. I am leaning towards at least ordering a G&B to try it on, given that there really is no other way to know for sure how a jacket will look or feel. Would you say the lamb G&B is light enough to wear in warmer weather, say up until the low 60 degrees? If so, how does the lining feel when it is that temp? My only concern with lamb is that it could snag/tear if I catch it on something. I was in a department store the other day and was wearing my Aero FQHH and my arm snagged a metal hangar holding ties. The metal stick bounced off the FQHH like it was a bullet deflecting off of Superman's chest. I fear that if it were lamb, it might have punctured the sleeve... And do you have any idea what the back length is for a 44 reg? |
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Post by Kaplan on Jun 3, 2008 21:52:31 GMT -5
Gotya. I am leaning towards at least ordering a G&B to try it on, given that there really is no other way to know for sure how a jacket will look or feel. Gentleman's wager: Once you get that G&B and it fits, you will want to keep it.  |
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Post by docjones on Jun 3, 2008 22:25:00 GMT -5
Gotya. I am leaning towards at least ordering a G&B to try it on, given that there really is no other way to know for sure how a jacket will look or feel. Gentleman's wager: Once you get that G&B and it fits, you will want to keep it. Shhh, don't say that too loud, my wife might hear it, and she thought I was done for '08 after getting my Aero...  |
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Post by Ragingblues on Jun 4, 2008 7:19:34 GMT -5
It's lambskin and I've only had the jacket about a year. The shine wears off and it breaks in nicely with normal wear, even after a few months. Lambskin will never look like cowhide, that much you can be sure of. The cowhide KOTCS jackets were basically stonewashed to get that awful patterned wear look to them. You can do that to any jacket of course, but it's not the product of wearing it or breaking it in... and certainly not very natural looking to me at all. Ken Gotya. I am leaning towards at least ordering a G&B to try it on, given that there really is no other way to know for sure how a jacket will look or feel. Would you say the lamb G&B is light enough to wear in warmer weather, say up until the low 60 degrees? If so, how does the lining feel when it is that temp? My only concern with lamb is that it could snag/tear if I catch it on something. I was in a department store the other day and was wearing my Aero FQHH and my arm snagged a metal hangar holding ties. The metal stick bounced off the FQHH like it was a bullet deflecting off of Superman's chest. I fear that if it were lamb, it might have punctured the sleeve... And do you have any idea what the back length is for a 44 reg? I would definitely say that it's light enough to wear in weather up to 60 degrees. As far as snagging on something, it hasn't happened to me yet, but being lambskin... I'm sure it could snag on something. I think cowhide or even goatksin tends to be more rigid, which keeps it from grabbing sharp points a little better than a drapey hide like lambskin. I do think they will all get punctured if snagged, it's probably more likely with lamb. I really like my goatskin jacket as well, since it's a very different look and feel than lamb. If I could do things over, it would be a goatskin G&B instead of a Wested, as I prefer their design better. Have you considered a goatskin? I know Cowboy has one from G&B, so maybe he can share what his thoughts are on how warm or tough it is. I only have a 42R from G&B, but if I can remember to do so... I'll measure the back panel when get home. It's going to match their chart, since everything they make is the same... but I'll do my best to measure and post it tonight. Ken |
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Post by Kaplan on Jun 4, 2008 10:15:12 GMT -5
My goat G&B is noticeably warmer than my lamb g&B. However, they are both light jackets. The G&B goat is lighter than Wested's goat.
I wish I could compare to US Wings, but I have never handled a Wings jacket.
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Post by docjones on Jun 4, 2008 19:31:01 GMT -5
In the usual manner in which I do things, I used a sledge hammer where a flyswatter would be most sensible, and ordered both G&B lamb and goat.
As is my typical luck, both are out of stock, and won't be available for 3-4 weeks - but I am having swatches sent which will help in the meantime. If I really want to go crazy, I will order a few US Wings, lay them all out like a smorgasboard of leather jackets, and try them all on...
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Post by whipcracker on Jun 9, 2008 11:31:28 GMT -5
anyone ever owned a US Wings VIP? if so how was it?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2008 12:40:58 GMT -5
In the usual manner in which I do things, I used a sledge hammer where a flyswatter would be most sensible, and ordered both G&B lamb and goat. As is my typical luck, both are out of stock, and won't be available for 3-4 weeks - but I am having swatches sent which will help in the meantime. If I really want to go crazy, I will order a few US Wings, lay them all out like a smorgasboard of leather jackets, and try them all on... If G&B tells you 3-4 weeks, they will most likely be there in 2 weeks. Expect a courtesy call from thier Customer service people about a day after they arrive. Cheers, John |
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Post by docjones on Jun 9, 2008 20:27:52 GMT -5
In the usual manner in which I do things, I used a sledge hammer where a flyswatter would be most sensible, and ordered both G&B lamb and goat. As is my typical luck, both are out of stock, and won't be available for 3-4 weeks - but I am having swatches sent which will help in the meantime. If I really want to go crazy, I will order a few US Wings, lay them all out like a smorgasboard of leather jackets, and try them all on... If G&B tells you 3-4 weeks, they will most likely be there in 2 weeks. Expect a courtesy call from thier Customer service people about a day after they arrive. Cheers, John It is so damn hot here in the east that I am almost ready to call them back and say "wait until September" - it was almost 100 degrees today. That's so darn hot its not even comfortable to try them on. The other issue, and this is a question for all, is that is it wise to order them now, given that they will basically sit in a closet for 3 months? Its not as if they are on sale at G&B - yes prices could rise by Sept. - but how best should the jackets be stored for the next several months? |
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