I won't list all the particulars here, but if anyone wants, PM me. The only reason for this post is to share what I think is the collection of the most useful information of 'Which Leather For The Weather?', specifically, the warmest of weathers, Sunny Southern California, in case it helps anybody who wants leather, not a Cotton Wested.
In case you aren't from here: We have VERY few rain days here, and those are limited to a few months of the year, and the average temperature stays HIGH. It never snows, and I haven't even seen it get down to freezing temps, even at night in winter. It's like we only have three seasons here.
I ended up choosing the lamb, primarily based on the temperature range here - I want to be able to wear it as much as possible. If I were going for a second Wested, THEN I'd probably get a heavier leather for more rough and tumble adventure days, but for my first jacket I'd like to be able to wear it more often.
There are questions of sag, durability, water-resistance, and the Demon-Roll, but these have all been settled to me. Yeah, softer leathers could sag over time, but there are ways to fight that, and it might not happen at all from the posts of many members here. The lamb also appears to be very durable for daily wear and SOME adventuring, just not barbed-wire or getting dragged behind trucks. Lamb is NOT meant to be wet-weather gear, but it's not like it CAN'T get wet, and there is almost no rain here so some leather treatment should take care of that. And finally, the demon-roll...well, I'll keep an eye out for that, thanks, Michaelson, Rick, and I've got ideas from ya'll on how to stop it early if it does occur.
The only other considerations I'd like to offer for warm-weather wearers is the choice of lining. Turns out the cotton lining breathes better, so it is the preferred choice for warmer climes. However, the cotton does catch sleeves, hence the Wested recommendation of cotton bodies and satin sleeves. The satin MIGHT stick on arms when it's humid or perspiration begins, but it's ARID here, not humid, so I think I'm covered there. Oh, and as for WHY NOT JUST SATIN for the whole lining, turns out the cotton body seems to help keep the jacket from slipping/sliding on your shoulders, and that seems like just one more way to keep the lamb from eventual sag.
What did I miss?
The rest of the choices (color, pockets, trim tweaks, body length, etc.) do not seem to play into temperature/wearability concerns.
Also, I just wanted to THANK EVERYONE for all the great input I've gotten in the last three weeks in helping me decide. COW members are the best. Couldn't have answer ALL my questions without you all.
Thanks & Respect - J
