Strongest and toughest hide used for Indy Jackets?

[ron521]

I like jackets made of thick and substantial feeling leather, although I prefer that the leather NOT be artificially aged. It is not important to me that the jacket be "4 season", if weather is warm I won't wear it. With regard to an Indiana Jones jacket, I like the general style, but am not concerned with absolute screen accuracy.

I have owned Navy G-1's (goatskin?), quite a few motorcycle jackets from Excelled, Brooks, and Schott (cowhide and steerhide), and several other jackets of various styles from Wilson's, Berman's, and Banana Republic.

If a jacket could be torn by a woman's fingernails, I'd view that as very disappointing.

With this in mind, which seller and material would most likely satisfy me?

Like the look of the dark brown and black US Wings jackets in NON-aged cowhide and goat, would they be thick and sturdy enough to please me?

[gwyddion]

Goat and horse would be the strongest leathers an Indy jacket is offered in today. I believe that Wested is currently the only one offering horsehide at the moment, but I could be very wrong about that Almost every vendor offers goat however, so that's easier to come by.

Just remember: How ever tough the leather may be, it is no armour so it still is susceptible to damage with rough use.

Regards, Geert

[RaidersBash]

I've heard the HorseHide is the toughest available. Wested offers one. I don't know from experience however. I do have a goat from Wested. It has held up EXTREMELY well. It is very tough, but certainly not a 4-season jacket, unless it were 2 sizes bigger so i could wear sweaters under it.

Good luck on your quest!

Welcome to the boards!

[Michaelson]

To answer your second question, I think you'd be happy with a Wings non-distressed cowhide.

I have one of the VIP cowhides, and though heavy, it's really taken a beating over the years, and yet still looks great. No scratches at all. It needs relined (Yes, I know, I still need to mail it up to you, TS ) due to the lining getting ripped on a kitchen chair, but the leather itself is essentially unscathed.

Good leather, if you're thinking about a cowhide Indy Wings jacket. I'll all for the VIP.

Regards! Michaelson

[bullet08]

i have wested horse hide. it's tough enought. it came with sample leather. i tried to puncture it with nail, burn it with cig. it's still fine. only problem is, it won't age fast enough.

pete

[Texan Scott]

For toughness, G&B goat.

[IndyBrit]

I have a wested horsehide. Tough and 4 season

[Castor Dioscuri]

i have wested horse hide. it's tough enought. it came with sample leather. i tried to puncture it with nail, burn it with cig. it's still fine. only problem is, it won't age fast enough.

pete

Did you name your username after the next distressing method you were planning on testing on it?

[ron521]

Forgot to mention, shrinkage should not be an issue if the jacket gets wet. I've worn my Schott 184 SM (a brown flight jacket) in downpours until the leather was saturated with water and damp on the INside.
I just hung it over the back of a chair, and let it dry at room temperature. It dried out and still fits like it always did.
Some on this forum have mentioned that their jackets shrunk after getting wet, to me this would be a deal-breaker.

[bullet08]

Forgot to mention, shrinkage should not be an issue if the jacket gets wet. I've worn my Schott 184 SM (a brown flight jacket) in downpours until the leather was saturated with water and damp on the INside.
I just hung it over the back of a chair, and let it dry at room temperature. It dried out and still fits like it always did.
Some on this forum have mentioned that their jackets shrunk after getting wet, to me this would be a deal-breaker.

so far i haven't had any issue with my wested horsehide getting wet. i didn't try to wash it in washing machine. however, walking in rain wearing the jacket didn't cause any issue. i got my pants and everything else soaking wet, but the jacket was bone dry. the thing doesn't soak up water at all. on the other hand, my schott cowhide will get soaking wet if i wear the thing in the rain for any lengh of time.

now i wear my wested horsehide as my rain gear instead of my northface shell.

pete

[Rundquist]

Also remember that it doesn't matter how strong the hide is if the stitching fails you.

[gwyddion]

Also remember that it doesn't matter how strong the hide is if the stitching fails you.

Excellent point! totaly forgot that for a minute.

Regards, Geert

[Baldwyn]

Also remember that it doesn't matter how strong the hide is if the stitching fails you.

Totally agree. You said this a long time ago, and I thought, aw c'mon, how can the stitching be that bad? But I had a Wested Horsehide where I could see some of the stitches loosening over time. I don't think it would fail in adventures in a cubicle and out to the car, etc, but it was conceivable to me that it might tear open during a bike crash, etc.

Too bad, that's a nice hide and cheap, and I would have been interested in how it would age naturally over time.

Reluctantly, as much as I wanted a horsehide Indy jacket, I think goat is the way to go. It's the right thickness, there's so much variety from vendors these days, it repels water nicely, and it's a tough hide. I tested my G&B goat in two motorcycle crashes, and jumped out of airplanes with it for fun, so I mean it!

[Michaelson]

Also keep in mind, loose seams leak. As water resistant as any hide can be, a jacket is only as water resistant as it's seams allow.

Regard! Michaelson

[RCSignals]

Goat, cowhide or horse hide would do you well

[ron521]

Between the US Wings "Signature Series" goatskin and the "VIP" cowhide, which leather feels thicker/heavier/more substantial.

Looking for a jacket that doesn't feel like a leather windbreaker, but has some heft.

[crismans]

I'd probably say goat. I don't think it's my favorite hide (I'm not always that fond of the texture or pebbleness of some goat), but I think it is probably the best all-around hide (is that paradoxical or what?). It is tough, water resistant (as leather goes), and can have a good drape to it. I don't know that I would call it 4 season but it can definitely be 3 season. All you would need is to layer under it in the winter. No leather is that warm by itself.

[RCSignals]

That Wings VIP cowhide is great too, substantial and tough yet soft to the feel.

[RaidersBash]

so far i haven't had any issue with my wested horsehide getting wet. i didn't try to wash it in washing machine. however, walking in rain wearing the jacket didn't cause any issue. i got my pants and everything else soaking wet, but the jacket was bone dry. the thing doesn't soak up water at all. on the other hand, my schott cowhide will get soaking wet if i wear the thing in the rain for any lengh of time.

now i wear my wested horsehide as my rain gear instead of my northface shell.

pete

I've worn my Wested Goat in the pouring rain several times, to the point where it was soaked through. The jacket always seemed just a tad tight. It always feels great when soaked, like it fits as it should, but then goes back to the original size. I'm going to try in the coming summer to soak it through and let it dry while wearing. That's always been the problem before, not being able to wear it until it dried and shaped to me.

The goat is approx. 10 years old. Have never had an issue with stitching and it still looks great, but is not a 4 season jacket. It's too heavy for So. Cal summers, and too light for winter.

more at this thread: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43358

[crismans]

That Wings VIP cowhide is great too, substantial and tough yet soft to the feel.

I've not held the VIP cowhide but I can imagine that it is a great leather. The leather for their CE jacket is outstanding. I believe (this is discussed ad nauseum on a thread here but my memory is terrible lately) the jacket is currently on sale for $399 plus the COW $100 discount applies. If this is the case, then getting that jacket for $299 is an absolute steal.

[JulianK]

If you're looking for weight, the Wested Cowhide feels like slipping on a flak jacket! People are surprised how heavy it is when I hand it to them. That being said however for me, it's too heavy! It also doesn't drape very well, although I'm sure that in 10-15 years when it's had a chance to soften up, it'll be great!

[Michaelson]

That Wings VIP cowhide is great too, substantial and tough yet soft to the feel.

I've not held the VIP cowhide but I can imagine that it is a great leather.

That it is, but like the above mentioned Wested cowhide, it, too, is very heavy. GREAT for facing snowstorms and really bad weather, but pretty hefty for daily wear. Still, one of my favorite cowhide jackets.

Regards! Michaelson

[Tennessee Smith]

To answer your second question, I think you'd be happy with a Wings non-distressed cowhide.

I have one of the VIP cowhides, and though heavy, it's really taken a beating over the years, and yet still looks great. No scratches at all. It needs relined (Yes, I know, I still need to mail it up to you, TS ) due to the lining getting ripped on a kitchen chair, but the leather itself is essentially unscathed.

Good leather, if you're thinking about a cowhide Indy Wings jacket. I'll all for the VIP.

Regards! Michaelson

... still waiting

[JulianK]

For my money, goatskin will always win out over horse and cow for the simple reason that it is arguably tougher than horse on the more traditional levels, and therefore tougher than cow, AND it is generally thinner and more pliable. The later makes construction easier, i.e. tighter seams and better weatherproofing. It's why USN/USMC jackets have always been made from goatskin.

JMO

I concur! Only goat for my money too.

[Castor Dioscuri]

Also remember that it doesn't matter how strong the hide is if the stitching fails you.

What we really need for the perfect jacket would therefore be goatskin hide, and spidersilk thread! Now there's a jacket I wouldn't mind getting my hands on!

[Michaelson]

... still waiting

Yeah, yeah, I know....on my 'to do' list....

[Rundquist]

Also remember that it doesn't matter how strong the hide is if the stitching fails you.

What we really need for the perfect jacket would therefore be goatskin hide, and spidersilk thread! Now there's a jacket I wouldn't mind getting my hands on!

Not that simple. Polyester is stronger than cotton, but pure polyester will cut the leather if stitched tightly. It is not the strength of the thread that determines the quality. It is the quality of the workmanship - pure and simple...

That's true too. Polyester can cut through leather, especially if it is sewn with too many stitches per inch. Cotton wrapped
thread is the way to go.

[CM]

I can't see any reason for going past goat. Unfortunately here in Aust, you rarely see goat. Most stuff is cow. The goat jackets I have from overseas are brilliant leather. Soft as lamb but tough as iron. They are not light, only just under the cow jackets I have. My goats are one wested and 2 G&B's. The G&B goat is the best leather I think I have ever seen.

[lantzn]

Here's a description from Wells Lamont on leather.

http://www.wellslamont.com/pages.php?pa ... ve%20Guide

I love My Nowak CS dark cowhide. It's one of the best leather jackets I've owned. I live in the Pacific NW and it's held up nicely. The construction of this jacket is second to none.

[Texan Scott]

Sometimes, thickness of the leather can be misconstrued as warm. Layers, thinsulate or down give warmth. It's what is inside the jacket, between the lining and the leather, otherwise it is a 3 season windbreaker, in effect.

[ron521]

Agreed, and it applies to any shell material as well.
My down parka has a lightweight nylon shell, and is FAR warmer than any leather jacket I own (although someone probably makes a leather parka insulated with down).
It's the only garment I own which allowed me to be truly comfortable in Chicago when temperatures fell to -10 F or less.