To goat or not to goat, lamb is the question?

Indy_1971 · Post by **Indy_1971** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:21 am

I was just thinking about buying another jacket (G&B Expedition).
Having a dilema over getting lambskin or goatskin.
I know that there are a lot of members who have a world of experience in buying gear, so I was wondering...
As far as jackets go, if you had all the info that you do now and could skip all the trial and error; would you go with lambskin or goatskin (reasons why please, benefits, disadvantages and so forth)?
Also, who would you buy your first jacket from.

CM · Post by CM » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:38 am

Easy one.

1. Goatskin - light, nice drape, strong as %&**

2. G&B - based on a Raiders stunt jacket. As screen accurate as I need. Milspec standard production quality.

Indiana Joe · Post by **Indiana Joe** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:43 am

I've owned both a lamb and a goat Expo. The lamb is a beautiful jacket with a nice drape. My lambskin was also a bit darker than my seal-colored goat. For what you are paying, I would not suggest wearing a lambskin Expo on any adventures. It can tear too easily.

The goatskin Expo is tough as nails and has a natural water repellancy (but it's not a raincoat!) that lends itself to being a jacket that will stand up to just about anything you may encounter. The goatskin will also take a very long time to show signs of distressing.

For some folks, the drape is important. For others, durability is at the top of the list. It's really about which is most important to you.

Raider S · Post by **Raider S** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:23 am

I'm no expert but I'm pretty sure you will hear that lamb draps better while goat is stronger.

These may be true, but I'd like to know how many have actually torn a lamb jacket from regular wear. (By that I don't mean using it as a work jackt on a construction site or falling of a motorcycle with it.)

Either material is very tough and will last a long time if cared for.

Indy_1971 · Post by **Indy_1971** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 11:53 am

So is goatskin a substantially thicker leather than lamb?
Is the drape that much different?
I'm assuming someone out there has both.

Raider S · Post by **Raider S** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:16 pm

I don't think thicker is the correct word. Maybe stiffer.

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:27 pm

Depends on how it's tanned and who you get it from.

The G&B chrome tanned goatskin was as stiff as a board...and yet vegetable tanned goatskin is extremely soft.

Regards! Michaelson

Indy_1971 · Post by **Indy_1971** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:35 pm

So, anybody bought a goatskin G&B lately?
They say the goatskin is a "supple, strong Baluchistan goatskin".
Don't know much about this goatskin, sounds like the best of both worlds.
Anyone?

Tollan · Post by **Tollan** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:42 pm

I think the lamb is quite a bit thinner judging by the leather samples I got from G&B. I owned a goat expo for years and the leather took a long time to break in and aged very slowly. I have ordered a lamb which should arrive in 2-3 weeks.

Why don't you drop the folks at G&B an email asking for some leather samples... they'll oblige your request. Then you can make up your own mind and order the jacket that you want. A lot of people talk about the durability of goat... which is true... but in real/everyday life do you really need that kind of durability? Probably not. I know I'll order a goat Expo or other jacket from G&B at some point because I DO need a durable jacket at times. Normally I don't get dragged behind trucks but when I do I usually worry about damage to my head, so the jacket's durability wouldn't matter anyway

Rundquist · Post by **Rundquist** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:50 pm

The current batch of goatskin that Gibson & Barnes is using is the softest that I've had (and I've had many Expeditions). It's really exceptional. You really don't have to worry about the drape.

PS - It's literally the nicest Expedition that I've ever had.

Post by **Michaelson** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 2:03 pm

Rundquist wrote: PS - It's literally the nicest Expedition that I've ever had.

An endorsement like this coming from Rundquist is like money in the bank.

Regard! Michaelson

bobjones · Post by **bobjones** » Tue Jun 17, 2008 10:43 pm

I am currently working with G&B to determine the right fit (44 R or 44T), as they sent me a 44T to try on for sizing.

Next puzzle to solve will be hide - and color.

I learned today that they offer a cowhide and was told that it is heavier than the lamb, and roughly equal to the goat in weight.

Even more interesting, G&B said that the goat also can be ordered in a "chocolate brown", a lighter shade than the darker "seal" browns of the lamb or the cowhide. I am very curious what it would look like in a chocolate brown, since that to my eye is nicer, and also more SA I think...

They are sending swatches so I should be able to compare the hides and colors shortly. I will post pics of them when received.

feathers73 · Post by **feathers73** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 10:17 pm

Rundquist can you comment on the weight of the Expedition goat versus lamb? I had a US Wings goat and it is really to heavy. Have you had any experience comparing the US Wings (import) goat versus the GB goat?

Texan Scott · Post by **Texan Scott** » Sun Jun 29, 2008 12:09 am

I just received a GB goat on Friday, per recommendation by Michaelson, and everything he said about it was spot on. Having had a lamb, the GB goat is a soft leather, thicker than lamb, and much more durable than lamb. As the site says, lamb is a luxurious leather, it just looks good, and shimmers in the right light. The downside to lamb is that it can be scratched and scarred more easily. As a personal preference, the thicker leather is suitable for a cooler climate, and more durabe for obvious reasons. I prefer a jacket that I can keep for many, many years, and as an example, many of the the original WWII A-2's were goat, and some 60 years later, they still hold up to the test of time.

M was right! you can't go wrong with the GB goat. You just wish it was fall-winter so you can wear it more often....

Prescott · Post by **Prescott** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 12:35 am

I've had both the lamb and the goat. If this is your first Indy jacket, I say go with the goat. The lamb just doesn't feel sturdy enough. A leather jacket should have some weight to it. This is probably the first thing you notice when you put it on. The impression, rightly or wrongly, is that a light leather is missing something in the quality department.
After you've owned an Indy jacket for awhile, you may want to branch out into a cooler or summer jacket. This is where the lamb comes in. I'm sorry, but once you start, you'll want to own more than one. This is almost a universal fact. You can take solace in the fact that we're all in this with you much to the detriment of our bank accounts.

-P-

Bowie · Post by **Bowie** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:46 am

Rundquist wrote:The current batch of goatskin that Gibson & Barnes is using is the softest that I've had (and I've had many Expeditions). It's really exceptional. You really don't have to worry about the drape.

PS - It's literally the nicest Expedition that I've ever had.

Rundquist- Which jacket are you referring to?? Your seal brown??

To goat or not to goat, lamb is the question?

To goat or not to goat, lamb is the question?

two cents...