Indy Jacket options

[blusk]

Greetings!

I am interested in purchasing an "Indy-style" leather jacket. I am not too concerned with perfect SA but want a leather jacket that:

1)Fits well: I am 5'9 150lbs and usually wear a 39reg in sport coat
2)Can be comfortably worn in a variety of temps (60's to 30's) +/- layering. I have several leather motorcycle jackets that are just too heavy to wear for longer periods of time such as when you are travelling.
3)That is durable and will age nicely: I'd like a jacket that is not going to be easily punctured or ripped and can withstand some abuse and will develop some nice natural distressing.

Options I've considered: 1)Wested lamb or goatskin (concerned about fit and durability and goat not distressing)
2) G&B expedition (concerned about fit through shoulders) Not sure if I'd get lamb or goat. sounds like they don't distress as well.
3) US Wings (The steerhide looks good but I'm not sure if it would be too heavy. On the other hand I wonder if the lamb would be too delicate, flimsy, or tearable).

Any suggestions much appreciated.

Bryan

[fifthchamber]

I would avoid lamb...It's not the strongest leather out there, and if you're not concerned with the look overly, it's not really something that fits the provisions you've listed...

Goat would, as of course would cowhide...G&B are made very well, and although the jacket design is (to my eyes) not quite SA, it's a solid "Indy style" jacket, and one that would last you until you die I suspect...A G&B in goat would work well...

In general, if you want a jacket that is warmer, aim for the thicker skins...Cowhide will work well, and at the thickness used in Indy jackets, won't ever get "too" heavy in my opinion.. It's a solid weighted jacket, but nowhere near the Vanson cowhide I have..

If you want nice distressing I'd suggest running with a cowhide, possible a pre distressed version like they sell over at Wested (my personal vote in this one..), although of course the US Wings offering is a fine choice if you're in the US and the cowhide they have looks rather decent...

I'd suggest limiting your choice to either goat (for a thinner, lighter version) or cowhide (for a slightly thicker, warmer version)...Lamb probably won't fill the requirements for you..Cowhide will distress a little easier than the goat...But both can be worked in...(I prefer cowhide...).

Perhaps a Wested in the Pre-Dis hide?

[mikebxb]

Go Lambtouch . SA drape but Cowhide durability

[garylafortuna]

Hey Bryan, Ben has it covered pretty well. Goatskin is at least as tough as cowhide, if not tougher, and it is quite a bit lighter in weight. I've heard that of the surviving original A-2 jackets from the WW2 period that are in museums and private collections, the goatskin ones are in the best condition. Grab a look at my
G & B goatskin Expedition on the thread ' Gibson & Barnes Really Did It This Time ', on page two right here on the jacket sub forum. I am very happy with G & B,
and am in the process of getting an A-2 from them, in horse hide this time. Am I seeing things, or is US Wings offering an Indy jacket in Kangaroo Hide, which
they say is the toughest leather in the known universe.