Innocent request - compare Wested and Flightsuits jackets

randystokes · Post by **randystokes** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:33 pm

I'm not looking to start a fight, but I'd be very interested in hearing comparisons and contrasts between the Wested jacket and Flightsuits' Indy jacket. I know the FS jacket is a lot more expensive, but how do they compare on leather quality, "screen accuracy," quality of manufacture, weight, other features?

Inquiring minds want to know -- but please keep it civil, and no fighting amongst yourselves.

Randy

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:47 pm

Good luck. You can hide under the Plymouth if it gets rough.

Regards! Michaelson

Fatdutchman · Post by **Fatdutchman** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 5:48 pm

I think the Flightsuits jacket is not even $100 more expensive... I got charged $347 for my Wested, and I THINK the Flightsuits jacket (in goat) is $428. The Flightsuits jacket was going to be my "backup" jacket, in case Wested ran out of goatskin before getting to mine, BUT, I emailed Gemma and got a response that mine was already cut and would be shipped out tomorrow!

To quote the immortal words of Bruce "Ash" Campbell: "groovy".

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 6:24 pm

Dutch, does the $428 include sales tax and shipping?

Fatdutchman · Post by **Fatdutchman** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:06 pm

I'm sure it doesn't. Shipping is probably gonna be about $20. I was just goin' with memory on the Flightsuits price. Mental notes aren't worth the paper they're printed on....

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 8:35 pm

i think this thread should be specifically addressed to those who have both. i couldn't really justify getting a FS jacket considering how happy i am with the wested. i would be quite interested in the report though.

randystokes · Post by **randystokes** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:39 pm

Fatdutchman wrote:Mental notes aren't worth the paper they're printed on....

I'm a lawyer, and we say the same thing about oral contracts!

Randy

McFly · Post by **McFly** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:49 pm

Michaelson wrote:Good luck. You can hide under the Plymouth if it gets rough.

Regards! Michaelson

I'll be there in a minute - lemme grab my mug and a couple magazines. How's "Classic Style" sound to you?

In Christ,
Shane

randystokes · Post by **randystokes** » Mon Dec 04, 2006 9:51 pm

IndyMcFly wrote:
Michaelson wrote:Good luck. You can hide under the Plymouth if it gets rough.

Regards! Michaelson
I'll be there in a minute - lemme grab my mug and a couple magazines. Do you like "Classic Style" ?

In Christ,
Shane

I'll bring my mug, too. I'm sure Michaelson has a coffee maker installed under the car, just in case.

Randy

mark seven · Post by **mark seven** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:56 am

randystokes wrote:
I'll bring my mug, too. I'm sure Michaelson has a coffee maker installed under the car, just in case.

Randy

I'll bet there's a bunker built under there by now,with all mod-cons(and 6 months supply of food!)

Captain D · Post by **Captain D** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 1:06 pm

I dunno if Flightsuits still advertises their Goatskin Indy jackets at something like $408, but if you talk to one of their representatives and say that you saw it at that lower price I think they would sell you one at that price still...

In short, I have to admit that the quality of the Flightsuits Indy jackets (or any of their jackets for that matter), is simply top-notch; second to none in my opinion. The Flightsuits jacket basically speaks for itself by looking at their positive track record in terms of quality and construction from those who own one.

Kind regards,
Captain D

randystokes · Post by **randystokes** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:00 pm

Thanks to everyone. This has been very helpful. If anyone else has thoughts on this subject, I continue to welcome them.

Randy

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:53 pm

_, you're right the jackets should not become unravelled. The basic construction should be very similar, considering the provenance of the G&B. Do they overstitch and back up again more than the Wested? Is the thread a thicker gauge? Has anyone given ther G&B to Peter to see, I'm sure hed be fascinated with it.

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:59 pm

He has had one in hand for many years, and it was supplied to him by Lee Keppler. He's aware of what G&B makes.

Regard! Michaelson

randystokes · Post by **randystokes** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:02 pm

Michaelson wrote:Regard! Michaelson

Gee, Michaelson, not only did Kt not rate HIGH Regards, but he only received a single "Regard."

HIGHEST Regardsssss!

Randy

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:02 pm

Michaelson wrote:He has had one in hand for many years, and it was supplied to him by Lee Keppler. He's aware of what G&B makes.

Regard! Michaelson

Cool, I'll get him to show it to me next time I go over to bother him. Should get a colourful response

.

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:13 pm

randystokes wrote:
Michaelson wrote:Regard! Michaelson
Gee, Michaelson, not only did Kt not rate HIGH Regards, but he only received a single "Regard."

HIGHEST Regardsssss!

Randy

I find that extra 's' every now and again.

Regar! Michaelso

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:14 pm

_ wrote:
Uh, likely a very cool response... I personally would not recommend it...

Perhaps you're right...

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:44 pm

:

"It's a jacket, Jim, but not as we know it."

Indiana G · Post by **Indiana G** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 5:57 pm

fascinating.....

Garzo · Post by **Garzo** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 5:40 pm

_ wrote:
Kt Templar wrote:_, you're right the jackets should not become unravelled. The basic construction should be very similar, considering the provenance of the G&B. Do they overstitch and back up again more than the Wested? Is the thread a thicker gauge? Has anyone given ther G&B to Peter to see, I'm sure hed be fascinated with it.
There is a can of worms waiting to be opened...

Well, yes - Peter has examined a FS creation... Back in 1987, Lee Kepler had FS make him a prototype jacket, which had a very distinctive inner pocket design... I have personally seen this jacket... Lee was trying to get jackets made by "somebody" for him to sell at gun shows, etc... Rumor has it that Wested was unable to make these jackets prior to this because they had not kept the patterns from the original Raiders days... After receiving the prototype from Lee - well, next thing you know, Wested was making jackets for LC and shortly thereafter selling jackets to us... The story was that the patterns had been "found" - but it took a long time for Lee to get that jacket back from Wested...

I've seen the patterns and a few other prototypes from 1987 down at FS... Like many other "pedigrees" our jacket is most likely really a mutt... But that cool inside pocket trim we love? Well, I saw it on FS jackets dating back to 1982... So, the difference between a FS and a Wested? Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.........

_,
are you suggesting the legendary Wested is actually based on an FS/Gibson & Barnes design?

That's heavy.

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 5:41 am

I have to agree with _ on this one. The G&B's are built like a tank! That doesn't mean that the leather is miserably stiff and construction chunky and blocky,,,the leather is still AWESOME goat or lamb,,soft and supple, and just gets better and better and better with age. If you have never held or seen or owned a Flightsuits, it is really just hard to describe in words. You have to see them,hold them, feel the weight,the leather,look at the seams and stitching,,they are a really beautiful, tough, fieldworthy jacket that is worth EVERY penny. In my book, definately in a class of their own compared to a Wested. At the risk of starting an uproar,,they really make a Wested seem more like a costume jacket than a jacket that could be used on an adventure.

Disclaimer!! I really do like Wested too!! It's an awesome jacket. I'm just trying to help with the comparison

TR

Garzo · Post by **Garzo** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 6:21 am

I've been wanting to get a G&B Expetition for a while now and already own a G&B ANJ-3, so I know they make excellent jackets.

However, being oversees, I have tried to contact them solely over email with a couple of questions regarding sizing, etc., and they don't answer!

Has anyone else experienced poor customer service, at least when email communication is concerned? I've emailed three different reps, and nothing.

I'll probably end up calling them long-distance, but it doesn't seem right, especially when I tell them I'm interested in buying one of their $400+ jackets.

Captain D · Post by **Captain D** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:55 am

I'm not sure if he is still there or not, but G&B rep. Jeremy Walters was excellent in responses when I had contacted him about buying two Expedition jackets at two seperate times. I would check to see if he is still there...As far as I know, he's still listed on their main website under the "contact us" link.

Garzo · Post by **Garzo** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 9:01 pm

Captain D wrote:I'm not sure if he is still there or not, but G&B rep. Jeremy Walters was excellent in responses when I had contacted him about buying two Expedition jackets at two seperate times. I would check to see if he is still there...As far as I know, he's still listed on their main website under the "contact us" link.

Thanks Capt. D. I've sent a message to Jeremy with my questions. I hope he gets back to me. It's certainly weird that the other messages were all ignored - doesn't say much about their customer service. But like I said, I already own one G&B jacket and love it, and the thought of a G&B Indy jacket ... it's a must.

Captain D · Post by **Captain D** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 10:48 pm

Garzo wrote:
_, are you suggesting the legendary Wested is actually based on an FS/Gibson & Barnes design? That's heavy.

_ wrote:
A colaberation between Lee and FS, but yes that is what I am saying...

Although a lot of members here may not like the G&B jacket simply because it's not made by "Wested," I think that it's only appropriate to allocate some of the credit of jacket "screen-accuracy" to those individuals who actually helped to bring the G&B jacket to life. The G&B jacket is, afterall, based on a screen-used Raiders jacket. And many of us who are wearing screen-accurate Wested Indy jackets on our backs today should give credit to those members here who not only helped to bring about the G&B jacket, but also to bring back "screen-accuracy" in our Indy jackets as well.
In all respect, no beef against Wested at all; afterall, they're the ones who originally made the jackets. Just my honest observation...

Abner1925 · Post by **Abner1925** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:14 pm

That's very true Captain D. The real story of the Flightsuits/G&B jacket and it's very existence is shrouded in mystery these days. _ laid it out pretty straight in this thread that Peter making jackets at all for LC, and the fact that we now have Wested's from Peter are both due to the Flightsuits/G&B jacket. When I credit the jacket here, I am of course, crediting the people that made it's design possible and brought it to life in the first place. I know of a few of the names involved, but don't want to leave anyone out, so I will let someone with much more knowledge of the events (like Michaelson or _) name names if they wish.

I never understood why it had to be a battle whenever the Flightsuits/G&B jacket was mentioned. If more people knew the real history of it all, that certainly might help the competitive nature of the posts. It doesn't have to be a "one company or nothing" issue, as they are both fine jackets especially given the history.

randystokes · Post by **randystokes** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:45 pm

Someday there should be a new Indiana Jones movie: Indiana Jones and the Search for the Origins of His Jacket.

Randy

Texas Raider · Post by **Texas Raider** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 4:08 am

This guy normally responds to me regularly, too..

robert@gibson-barnes.com

TR