_ wrote:For me, I'd have to say my all time favorite jacket is a Vietnam-era G1 that I still own after 19 years. For me, this is quite a record - as MK and Michaelson can attest.....
OOOOohhhhhhh yes!
I honestly can't say, and therefore didn't vote. I guess I have yet to find that 'one and only' jacket. I love A-2's, but every one I've owned tends to ride up on my back, including my G&B lambskin, and climbing in and out of my vehicles...well, I just don't like a cold back and fighting with a jacket that wants to be up around my armpits all the time.
I've loved all my Indy jackets, but the design has a lot of holes that allow air to leak in during cold weather. No problem when layering, but terrible for cold weather and NO layering. JMO here.
Never owned a G-1 myself, so I can't reply to that one. Guess the search continues for that 'ultimate' jacket for this writer.
Regards! Michaelson
Last edited by Michaelson on Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Speaking as another individual who has had a nearly epic problem with holding onto a jacket for any length of time, I too can't really vote on this one.
Obviously, I am drawn to the Indy jacket design, otherwise this whole insane journey to find the perfect jacket would never have started. I like the barrel cufs. I like the blend of A-2, G-1, and G-8/1930s motorcycle jacket style of it. It's just a sweet look that combines what I think are the best elements of all three jackets.
But the Indy jacket is the one jacket that I've never been 100% satisfied with ANY jacket I've ever owned. If the jacket fits me in the shoulders/chest, it's too long in the sleeves. If I have the sleeves altered, they end up too short. If the jacket fits in the chest, it's too big in the waist and ends up making me look like Superman flying in to pick up a prescription at the local Eckerd. The insanity that started me off was the first Indy jacket I bought (from Michaelson, and I NEVER should have done anything to it), that fit me perfectly EVERYWHERE, but I obsessed over what I thought was a too big collar (Last Crusade jacket). I had the collar altered, and...you guessed it, it ended up looking like a cafe racer! The one jacket I've held onto longest of this design is a FS Expediton in Authentic brown distressed steerhide. I keep it, not becaue I'm happy with the way the jacket fits (it's got the right fit up top, but does the Superman thing in the back because I'm 40" in the chest and 30" in the waist), but because it was a "one-off" custom job that somebody didn't like and sent back. It's got their M422A lining which I LOVE, and is just such a cool color I can't seem to get to the point of letting it go.
The only other jacket I've held onto for any length of time is my Aero A-2 in Dark Brown horsehide, with some SWEET squadron insignia on it. It, too, has fit problems....I have always felt like it could be a little longer in the body, and it's also too big in the waist. But, the things I like about it sortof cancel out the things I would change. And the jackets are just too expensive brand new to rationalize making a change. Better the devil you know than the one you don't....
So-I, too, am still looking for that perfect jacket. Of course, the way money is around my house, I'd have to let one of these go before I could get another one. I'd like to try a Wested in Horsehide. I'd like to try one of the G&B M422As. And until I do, I can't really say I have a favorite that I've owned.
But of all the designs listed, I have to say I like the design of the Indy jacket best. It just shouts, "I'll kick your @#$!"
You mean the one that came, then returned to you in the same box as trade in to G&B and Dave Marshall for yet another jacket that didn't fit at the time?
Now that I have the, uh, extra weight put on, find it and send it on back!
Regard! Michaelson
p.s. Oh, as to the 'smoking rope', that's another topic all together.
No problem. Just another one of those useless 'speed bumps' on the road of life.
That is sad too. That A-2 really WOULD probably fit me now.
Like you and I have known for years, we are shadowy reflections of each other in terms of size and shape. The only differnce is you're an inverted pyramid because you weight lift. I'm the other way round....and I just keep adding to the base.
_ wrote:
I hope KT knows I'm not a complete prick...
You have every right to be sceptical. But you'll probably notice more things that show this effect, look at your shirt they the bit down the centre where it buttons up, I'll bet you that centred on you're body and that if you have pockets they'll be centred on that line, not on the edge of the shirt.
The wiley old jacket makers will not tell you all their tricks, and most of them will let us flail about with our 1" change here and 1/2" there. Keeps them in business!
I voted for the G-1. Although I don't care much for the fur collar, the G-1 design is the most comfortabe design I've ever worn. The next jacket I get (some day) is going to be an ANJ-3. Its basically the front of an A-2 combined with the back of a G-1.
My Indy HH was the first jacket I was really happy with - partly because of the styling, partly because its horsehide, and partly its the first one that really fits me well. Custom tailoring can't be beat. Its an all around favorite. But like Michaelson said, its just not very warm, so its got its limits.
That's where my new Aero Bootlegger comes in. With blanket wool lining, storm cuffs and made from FQHH, its warm and SUPER tough. That heavy horsehide is the toughest leather on the planet. And it fits like a glove.
I've owned various other leather jackets in all kinds of styles, A2, cafe racer knock offs, car coats etc, but those are ho-hum. The Indy and Aero jackets compliment each other very well depending on the time of year.
Can't imagine anything other than the Indy being the overall winner in this forum. Off of the poll list I love my Indy jacket but I also love my A-2 which I would wear over the Indy on those colder <25 degree days.
My Indy and A-2 stick out above most of my other jackets of which I have somewhere in the neighborhood of 45-50 jacket. A lot of them are film related.
One that I'm dying to get but have held of thus far (the wife keeps me in check a little bit as we've had to acquire another wardrobe in the garage just to accomodate the overflow of jackets) is the Browncoat that was in the series Firefly. It's the one that the captain of the Firefly, Malcolm Reynolds, wears. It's quite a unique piece that I've never seen anything close to except at conventions. The only place I know to obtain a truly screen accurate one is Abbyshot.
I voted for Indy's which I think is the coolest jacket I have ever seen.
The A-2 is the second one I like and of course wouldn't say no to a G1 someday.
Since I have at least two jackets in every one of the "favorite jacket" categories except the "other" category for which I probably have nearly a dozen it was difficult to decide; and, since there is no typically American 'undecided' category I voted for the A-2. To me it represents the epitamy of what a military/adventure jacket should look like. It has been around a long, long time and I recall seeing most of my old-time film heros wearing it in many of the WWII films I've seen as a youngster and thus the first leather jacket style I was drawn to and purchased.
Having said that, I love my G-1 jackets. I especially love the bi-swing back and the inside map pocket which I find most convenient, and natural to store items and easily pull them out and often find myself searching for in other jackets that do not have such a pocket when I'm wearing them. My Toko-Ri jacket is especially fine for colder weather since I ordered it with a thinsulate zip in lining.
My Indy jackets, ...well what more can be said than it just looks cool
I can't vote because I have NEVER had a leather jacket that actually fit me!!!!
A2's...no way. I have GOT to believe that real vintage A2's HAVE to have a better sleeve design than the current repros do, with their hideous suit-jacket-hanging-straight-down sleeves. No way could anyone actually fly an airplane (or put in a lightbulb, or comb their hair, or even reach a steering wheel...) wearing some of the offerings today... They're not flight jackets, they're straight jackets.
Indy jackets...haven't had one on me so far that came anywhere near fitting me. (two down...)
As soon as I get the leather samples (and I should have had them a week and a half ago ), I'm gonna have Johnson leather make me a classic motorcycle jacket (in brown...I HATE black leather). A typical '30s and '40's style jacket. Maybe it will actually fit... It's possible, but I ain't gettin' my hopes up...
), I'm gonna have Johnson leather make me a classic motorcycle jacket (in brown...I HATE black leather). A typical '30s and '40's style jacket. Maybe it will actually fit... It's possible, but I ain't gettin' my hopes up... 
