Opinions on leather types for my situation - wested pending

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 6:22 am

I'm living in Warm Southern California, which should drive a lighter leather choice if I want to wear it more often (and I do, I do), so that says 'lamb'.

But I am a transplant from northern climes, so I value function as highly if not a bit higher than form, so I want to go tough (goat/cow/horse), and my only hesitation is getting something too hot to wear except one month a year here.

- Our average temp here seems to be about 70-75 F (20-25 C).
- Daytime ranges 55 F (10 C) (rarely) to 100 F (40 C) (not so rarely), with the common range being 60-90 F (15-30 C).
- Nighttime ranges 40-80 F (5-25 C).

Rob's Horse also threw me in a quandry, but maybe I should discount that option for now until Wested has established suppliers sufficiently to provide color choices on their page, since the russet Rob has may not be available much or for long, and indeed, there may at some point be an authentic brown horse?

So I'll try to keep the questions short:

: 1) Guesses on comfortable air temp ranges for wearing lamb?

: 2) Guesses on comfortable air temp ranges for wearing goat?

(I'm assuming horse would be about the same as goat warmth-wise, and cow would be better for lower temperature ranges than those both - from the other threads I've read.)

: 3) Colorings of wear and tear on Wested horse thusfar?

I think there are only about three members out there w/ Wested horse - Rob's, obviously, but I thought one or two others said they just got horse, but Rob was the only one posting pics thusfar. Rob, no pressure, don't need further pics. I'm just following up on a comment you made in another thread that the color underneath wasn't necessarily what you expected after some wear/tear?

PLEASE and BIG THANK YOU for any and all input. Those of you long-term - high-posters should be able to answer 1 & 2 fairly quickly from your own experiences, and don't worry about being a bit inaccurate, I usually myself don't look at thermometers when I take something off, I just take em off/put em on when I'm too hot/too cold.

Thanks,
IJ

P.S. No posts unwelcome.

EDIT: Updated to include Celsius. All Celsius sort of rounded to nearest multiple of '5' just to make convenient ranges.

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 6:30 am

Oh, and for the obvious next question - what do I wear for a jacket now? Except the three or so hottest months which are shirt only, I wear a Levi's denim jacket most of the time.

I change to a shirt-jacket and occasionally a waterproof jacket during the winter. Really, winter is a misnomer here.

It's really more like 6 months of summer, 3 months of fall, then poof! - 3 months of spring. Only two-three months of rain, right where fall goes right to spring.

Thanks again -
J

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Sat Sep 25, 2004 6:56 pm

Leather windbreaker? Oh, hehehehe..

...that's great, that'll stick w/ me for a while.

Problem is I don't WANT a leather windbreaker, but I'm afraid that otherwise the temperature here would keep me from wearing a goat.

There's almost no rain, so that's not an issue.

And there's no need for tolerance for the cold, since it's rarely ever down to 40, even at night in winter. No, it never snows here.

I know, it really sounds like where I live is perfect for lamb. Arf...at least if it SOUNDER tougher...("Lamb? No, no...it's RAM.")

Thanks, and bring em on -
J

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 3:18 am

Sorry to bump my own thread, but come on! 141 views, and only IndianaMikey will help?

Hehe...guess my choice narrowed right down to
1) goat, and risk limited wear due to temperature, or
2) lamb, which means I get to wear it more, but not when it might actually rain, I might fall down, or have to put things in my pockets and risk accelerated sag.

What would Indiana Jones do? (I'd pay to have that on a bumper sticker!)

J

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 4:19 am

You know, although it goes against what I did (ie: buy a heavy leather in a relatively warm climate), I'd plump for the lamb. Wear the #### out of it. Then evaluate on your next purchase as to whether you want something thicker. Things like sag and rips aren't going to happen overnight.

Merrick · Post by **Merrick** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 5:36 am

I have to agree with Rob here, go for the lamb, based purely on my own experience. The climate which you live in is spot on to my own region, it seldom gets below 5 C even at night in Winter, and even then the lamb is sufficient if you wear a sweater underneath. I can comfortably wear my lamb when the temperatures are in the 20's. I've yet to get it soaked, so I am unable to speculate on this point.

The lamb isn't as fragile as you may be lead to believe either. I wear mine quite often hiking and such, and although I wouldn't go crawling through the bush with it, it has stood up to being brushed against trees and falling over rocks, without any noticeable distress. Snagging it on branches may be another story though. I'm fortunate not to have done this. But then my first thought when I stumble is "Protect the Wested!" Perhaps someone else with a lamb could give further insight into its strength in such an instance.

However, a close friend owns a goatskin jacket (unfortunately not a Wested, but hopefully the differences aren't that vast.) That is one tough sucker. He's had it for years and its only just showing wear around the sleeves and seams, which is incredible given his line of work (he often has to dig up roads). He does complain it gets hot very quickly in regular temperatures (I don't mean when he is working) and therefore he only wears it in the daytime during the colder months. Even at night in winter he often only wears a simple shirt underneath.

That's purely my opinion based on my mediocre experience. If you want tough, buy goat, if you want comfort in a range of temperatures, get lamb.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:48 am

Agreed. Lambskin. I've been to the QM twice in springtime, and the lambskin was the only jacket I could wear that I could actually stand the humidity and warmer temps. For your posted needs, I'd say it will serve you perfectly. Regards. Michaelson

Indiana Jerry · Post by **Indiana Jerry** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 11:36 am

Thanks, folks. In the complete flip-flop this has been over the last couple weeks, you've got me flipped back to lamb, and I won't worry about the toughness.

And if nothing else, if I kill the lamb, it's an excuse to buy another Wested someday.

Thanks ever so much for being patient w/ my ambivalence!

J

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 12:10 pm

Well, just to add to your info....I gave my eldest daughters Wested lambskin a going over with Letapp on the hide, and Pecards on the seams. This jacket dates back to the mid 90's, and I would be hard pressed not to believe it wasn't a screen used jacket, as it has so much naturally achieved wear and tear/distressing as a lambskin could develop, as my youngn' WEARS this jacket. It is not babied what so ever.

With the exception of the standard scratches, faded color, and expected distressed appearance, every seam, stitch and strap were in excellent condition...not one out of place...not one rip or tear could be found from failure from over stressed pockets or sleeves, even though the jacket has been ridden hard and put away wet.

Unless you plan on wrestling in barbwire, with proper care, the lambskin will handle a real world just fine, as her's has gone with her everywhere she goes, including dig sites, and comes back for more. Granted, it's not horsehide or goat....but it isn't tissue paper either.

High regards. Michaelson

Flattery · Post by **Flattery** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 12:48 pm

I think you'd be happy with the lamb. You can get leather products that will water-proof it (temporarily). It may not last as long as goat, and isn't nearly as durable, but it breathes well. Besides... it gives you an excuse to buy a goatskin jacket down the road.