Which Jacket? (US wings vs Wested Leather)

[Eundercoffler]

Hello Indy fans, I have a newbie question here. I have been shopping around for an indy style jacket (which led me to this site) for a while. I have come across two good deals but don't have any experience with either brand so I was hoping for your input. The US Wings brand has their 30th anniversary featherweight lambskin jacket on clearance for about $250. Wested Leather has an Indy Hero jacket in chestnut brown, Napa lamb leather that was a return (happens to be in my size) for about $240 (converted from pounds). I should state that I am OK with lamb leather jacket. Living in Northern Ca I actually prefer a lighter weight jacket anyway. Additionally I'm not planning on being drug under a truck in it so I'm not concerned about durability, I figure a well made Lamb jacket should last me a good 20 years with proper care under "normal" conditions. I also know that the shipping will be higher on the Wested Leather jacket coming from England. Price is important to me so these two represent the top of my jacket budget. I just don't have any experience with these two brands and was hoping to benefit from someone else's first hand knowledge.

Thanks,
E

[ChrisMD]

There is also an extra fee or something for Wested ive heard mentioned. Something to consider. I think it all comes down to what you prefer as far as the look of each. Are you "oddly" shaped? What I mean is how do you normally fit into off the rack things? Im between sizes. any given day i will fit into xl, xxl, and xxxl depending on cut.


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[Eundercoffler]

Thanks for the info, I don't know anything about the additional fee from Wested so that is good to know. I am not oddly shaped and generally fit off-the-shelf sizes reasonably well. Both jackets appear nice and would suite my needs. I'm not looking for a stitch by stitch recreation, just a jacket that looks like Indy's that I can also wear casually. The Wested Jacket gives several of the measurements, it appears to have been a custom made coat for someone that was returned because it didn't fit right but the measurements look as though they would fit me fine. I have to admit, the idea of having a custom made jacket for that price is appealing but based on the on-line photos, I think I prefer the general look of the US wings jacket better.
E

[Tibor]

No extra fee from Wested, but occasionally you get hit with an import/customs fee at the US end. That can range anywhere from $20-30, but there seems to be no predicting if you will or won't. The Wested hero cut is definitely more accurate than the USWings, but the USWings is a solid piece.

If you're not familiar with a screen accurate cut like the Hero, you'll find it tends to fall back off the shoulders due to where the shoulder seams are located. The large collar hole also tends to draw down away from the back of your neck. It's very "Raiders" but not for everyone.

Have to say, I've never seen Wested's napa lamb. Sounds interesting.

[Eundercoffler]

Oh interesting, I see what you mean Tibor. I googled some images and the movie jacket definitely hangs more "open" than I am used to. In most shots there is a solid 12 to 15 inches of shirt visible between the two sides of the jacket. It also seems to open wider towards the bottom (maybe has to do with the gun holster and whip getting in the way?). I like the look, certainly gives you a more "layered" look than an un-zipped jacket with a sliver of shirt peeking out.
E

[Eundercoffler]

Maybe "Napa Lamb" leather comes from Lambs raised on Chardonnay!
E

[Texan Scott]

Nappa valley.

If budget is a consideration, you might want to check into Todd's jacket. Seems as though with each iteration, his jackets get closer and closer to the actual film jacket in terms of the ribby leather. Details do not fall far from the tree. For $199, it could be about the best deal in the forum today.

[Cajunkraut]

Nappa valley.

If budget is a consideration, you might want to check into Todd's jacket. Seems as though with each iteration, his jackets get closer and closer to the actual film jacket in terms of the ribby leather. Details do not fall far from the tree. For $199, it could be about the best deal in the forum today.

+1.

[Eundercoffler]

Thanks for the suggestion, I considered the Todd's jacket but I had a couple of concerns. Firstly it doesn't state in the description if it is lined or not (anybody know?). Secondly based on the on-line photos the leather doesn't appear to be of great quality. The color doesn't look very deep and it's kind of gray-ish. Now maybe I'm wrong as I have never seen one in person and maybe it's just my screen calibration. I want a jacket that I can actually wear around town not just as a prop and it seems to me from what info I was able to gather that the Todd's jacket is more of a "prop" jacket. Am I wrong?
E

[Obi Sean Kenobi]

I personally love the Wested.

For a very fair price, you will have a jacket custom made for you in your choice of leathers.

For me, the Todds sleeves weren't long enough. The leather and cut were beautiful but the sleeves on the long were too short.

The US Wings pattern is totally off. The Neil Cooper 30th Anniversary jacket came close but for the collar.

Good luck!!
Sean

[Texan Scott]

Todd's jacket is lined with a rayon type material, similar to a G&B. Though any of these jackets are actually reproductions of a prop, his are not props, per se. Even when the first few generations of his jackets were made, and the leather was very thin, guys wore them unmercifully, and they held up. You might visit his site and give it a once over.

You can find a good used G&B Expedition, for usually half retail or less, on Ebay, or the Bazaar. These trade at very reasonable prices, second hand.

In your price range, it is a good deal. Otherwise, save some money back for a Wested and have it custom sized, with your choice of leather. You will spend around $300+$45 shipping+around $10 or less for foreign transaction fees+DHL import fees, (roughly $25-$45).

[ChrisMD]

No extra fee from Wested, but occasionally you get hit with an import/customs fee at the US end. That can range anywhere from $20-30, but there seems to be no predicting if you will or won't. The Wested hero cut is definitely more accurate than the USWings, but the USWings is a solid piece.

If you're not familiar with a screen accurate cut like the Hero, you'll find it tends to fall back off the shoulders due to where the shoulder seams are located. The large collar hole also tends to draw down away from the back of your neck. It's very "Raiders" but not for everyone.

Have to say, I've never seen Wested's napa lamb. Sounds interesting.

Thats the fee I meant! Thanks I forgot what it was haha


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[Forrest For the Trees]

Thanks for the suggestion, I considered the Todd's jacket but I had a couple of concerns. Firstly it doesn't state in the description if it is lined or not (anybody know?). Secondly based on the on-line photos the leather doesn't appear to be of great quality. The color doesn't look very deep and it's kind of gray-ish. Now maybe I'm wrong as I have never seen one in person and maybe it's just my screen calibration. I want a jacket that I can actually wear around town not just as a prop and it seems to me from what info I was able to gather that the Todd's jacket is more of a "prop" jacket. Am I wrong?
E

Todd's latest version is very good. The leather is excellent, as is the color. The only concession you make is the quality of the stitching. I'm between a size 38 and 40 and Todd's Medium fits me perfectly.

[Hollowpond]

I will second a thumbs up for the Todd's. Great leather, great pattern and absolute best bang for your buck out there. Five years ago, maybe not so much, but now...

[WConly]

No extra fee from Wested, but occasionally you get hit with an import/customs fee at the US end. That can range anywhere from $20-30, but there seems to be no predicting if you will or won't. The Wested hero cut is definitely more accurate than the USWings, but the USWings is a solid piece.

If you're not familiar with a screen accurate cut like the Hero, you'll find it tends to fall back off the shoulders due to where the shoulder seams are located. The large collar hole also tends to draw down away from the back of your neck. It's very "Raiders" but not for everyone.

Have to say, I've never seen Wested's napa lamb. Sounds interesting.

Thats the fee I meant! Thanks I forgot what it was haha


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Yeah...I have been hit on this one once -- weird deal too, they UPS demanded a 'certified check' for this...no cash, no personal check, etc. I understand the personal check, however, what is wrong with cash? From what I have experienced in the past, this was the only time for this one, however, I have received a couple of billings in the past from UPS for said, but they would take the payment any way I chose to provide it! Don't you love 'Customs ?' W>

[Tibor]

... small, unmarked bills, placed in a plain brown wrapper, and put under the rock at the base of the rhododendron bush...

I had that routine once too! Crazy

[Illinois James]

I think the payment form varies based on the situation. My drivers ask for a check to UPS if Wested uses their (UPS) clearing service. I've been asked for a check made out to Wested, I think, maybe because Wested paid the charges up front to a clearing firm, and I've been asked for cash or certified check or money order at the 'will call' or pickup counter at a UPS facility, after which I've always succeeded in convincing them to take a personal check. I've also had a package from Wested held ransom at a clearing firm near (or maybe even inside) the airport at Jamaica, New York. I think that's JFK. Make sure your phone number is on the shipping documents that are with your parcel (tell Wested). If you're liable for duties and they can't contact you easily, you'll be trying to find out what happened to your package on your own after a long wait, which is aggravating. I finally paid the customs fees over the phone with a credit card (I've got a bad feeling about this!) to a rather lonely-sounding man, who seemed happily 'in charge' because he had something that I wanted. And he seemed to infer that I was trying to sneak something into the country without paying customs, which ticked me off. Neither I nor Gemma knew what was going on until the guy explained the process, and that, rather poorly. I guess he liked that I was confused. And, maybe I read too much into the whole thing.

Bottom line, lots of contact info for the recipient should be available on the shipping docs. And, yeah, it's usually $25 to $30. It's our customs service, not Wested. It applies to many and most things, and they're all different depending on what's being imported and where from, I guess, based on our trade with 'that' particular country.

[Eundercoffler]

Ok well I wound up buying a Wested Leather "Raiders" jacket in Lamb. Got an off-the-shelf size 40. I generally wear a 40s so I was not surprised when the sleeves were a little long. Took it to a taylor today to have him bring them up about an inch. Nice looking jacket though, I can't wait to break it in. And... yes, I had to pay the import tax to UPS!

I love the smell of new leather in the morning!
E