Wested leather quality

CM · Post by CM » Sat Apr 26, 2008 5:15 am

There's been a bit of Wested bashing here of late. While I agree that their patterns are not all that accurate, I think they make a quality product. My LC jacket is goat and it appears to be a very fine hide. It feels great and has a lovely finish. It's 6 years old and wearing nicely.

I have a feeling that the hide used by Wested is pretty good stuff. I have also found that the stitching (on my jacket, at least) is very sound.

I have just ordered a G&B Expo and I'm interested to see how they compare.

I understand that Peter has a lot of knowledge about leathers and tanning processes, so a Wested should be of good quality. Mine certainly holds up next to my other bike jackets, etc.

What do others here feel about Peter's leathers?

Cheers

Cheers

Hunter Jones · Post by **Hunter Jones** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 8:27 am

I have a lamb and the leather is fantastic. I recently ordered a Wested horse hide and have no concerns about leather quality at all.

I have quite a bit of experience with leather working in the antique furniture restoration trade so I see all kinds of leather every week.

I can honestly say that the leather Peter uses is some of the best quality I have ever come across.

whipwarrior · Post by **whipwarrior** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 9:03 am

Wested has fantastic leather, especially their horsehide and screen-accurate predistressed novapelle cowhide. I actually saw the face of God when I pulled that CS jacket out of the bag...

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:28 am

I own a goatskin Wested which is fantastic. The leather has held up nicely in wind, rain, snow, and sun. No problems with it! I also have a Wested lamb I got from someone here which is very smooth to the touch. And knowing the amount of abuse it saw from its previous owner, it's held up beautifully. Stitching on both jackets is still strong, too.

DOHERTYJAX · Post by **DOHERTYJAX** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 11:47 am

I have a Wested in goatskin, and it feels great. The lamb felt too thin for me when I had a Todd's. I am not sure if the Wested lamb is any different.

uncle ogs · Post by **uncle ogs** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:33 pm

I have a pair of Westeds in lamb and the quality of the hide is frankly suberb. My only concern is how durable it will be. I have a US wings flying jacket in goat which is really tough but i dont think an Indy jacket should look that stiff, it nedds to be loose and soft so it "rides" the right wasy IMO

IndyK · Post by **IndyK** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 12:54 pm

whipwarrior wrote:I actually saw the face of God when I pulled that CS jacket out of the bag...

I'm not quite sure who it was I saw, but it sure was the feeling You describe!

I've wanted a SA Raiders jacket for years and it finally happened last year after many years of close enoughs. I even had both cowhide and goat Wested's before finally hitting that spot-on look I achieved when I distressed the authentic brown lamb.
But the lamb lacks one particular detail in my world; the feel of Indy...
Realizing that lamb looks the part but never will be able to feel the part, I continued my search and it finally arrived with the novapella. I've allready said it many times around this forum so all I can do is repeat myself: The novapella FEELS the way the jacket looked when I saw Raiders first time. Dig it? You put on the novapella and suddenly the touch and drape of the leather feels Indy and durable at the same time.

Okay, You have to like the look from CS to really appreciate the novapella, but I've allready fallen for the whole styling of our new Indy. The colors are perfect and "Vindy" (vintage-Indy) looks great.

Cheers
Indy-K

Woodford · Post by **Woodford** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:13 pm

"I have a US wings flying jacket in goat which is really tough but i dont think an Indy jacket should look that stiff, it nedds to be loose and soft so it "rides" the right wasy IMO"

I just got a goatskin Wested this week. It is really soft and nothing at all like my Eastman A2.

Nebraska Brad · Post by **Nebraska Brad** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 1:24 pm

I have a lamb that has held up very well given the abuse it suffers. It is only about 5 months old but I have worn it 24/7 in the snow, been drenched numerous times in the rain and done all sorts of manual labor in it. The stitching is still strong and it has distressed nicely though it will tear quite easily if caught on something sharp such as a nail.

-Nebraska

whipwarrior · Post by **whipwarrior** » Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:46 pm

Indy-K, you, sir, are a true poet. I couldn't describe it better if I tried.