Wested Raiders HH 4 year review

[wannabe]

I have owned my Wested HH for 4 years now and I thought I would post some pics and detail how it has held up over that time. When I was working on my MA in the UK, I visited Peter at the Little Barn in Kent in 2012 and I had him measure me for the custom Raiders HH. I wanted an HH because Jens has one and I know his has worked out very well for him. It was a great experience going out there and meeting him and speaking with him. I told him that I wanted this to be a working jacket and not a costume piece. He recommended that I get gussets (for which I am very grateful). It needed to hold up as I planned on making this my on-site jacket. It arrived at my residence a few weeks later and I loved it. I noticed that it was very heavy and needed plenty of breaking in. A few weeks later I took the jacket up Orkney to work on a massive Neolithic site. It got some good wear there.

Since then I have worn it through heavy Canadian winters and the torrential downpours of living in the UK. I wore the jacket all the time, not even just for excavations. I was able to really test the jacket when I was sent away for 6 months digging in East Africa and the Persian Gulf. As it was winter in Sudan when I was there the temperatures were not insane and you get very cold when suffering from dysentery so I was very happy to have the jacket with me to keep me warm. The jacket was remarkable and it held up brilliantly. The only part of the jacket that needed some work was the lining which did rip because of the continuous strain on it by 24/7 hard labour. The jacket feels like it is a part of me. I am not overly concerned with the screen accuracy of its weathering or buckles or stitching but I feel like it captures the essence of the Raiders jacket, lived in.

Two years on from this I asked Wested to replace the lining for me earlier this month. I decided to go for a black lining to make it a bit more unique and an homage to LC. I have only applied Pecards to it once but the jacket really is tough as nails and it softens up so much with wear.

Michaelson is right, the only way to age these items is by putting them through the ringer. The Wested Raiders HH passes the test with flying colours.

Best!

Wested HH in Orkney 2012- not broken in



After 1 month of fieldwork


3 months in Sudan


Back from Wested- 2016

[indymassilia]

Great review,congrats Wannabe !

[Holt]

So thjats the jacket we have been talking about of line.


Love it!

[wannabe]

Thanks indymassilia! And yes, Holt, this is the jacket. It is my only Indy jacket that I own. I keep telling myself that when this one wears out I will buy the West LC in HH. Would I specifically have to ask for your style collar on it?

[Michaelson]

Well, if it keeps performing at this level, you're going to be an old man before you put in that second order!

BRILLIANT review!

Regard! Michaelson

[Jeremiah]

Looks great.

[wannabe]

I am so thrilled to get the Michaelson approval! You are right, the horsehide will probably look better than me by the time I have to replace it!! Now that I am working in commercial archaeology it doesn't get too much wear as I need to wear hi-vis and such but I still do wear it often.

[Holt]

Thanks indymassilia! And yes, Holt, this is the jacket. It is my only Indy jacket that I own. I keep telling myself that when this one wears out I will buy the West LC in HH. Would I specifically have to ask for your style collar on it?

when this wears out? Man, this will last you about 70 more years easy.


I would just be wearing this as much a possible. Many people search for THAT jacket. you HAVE it.

[wannabe]

when this wears out? Man, this will last you about 70 more years easy.

Sorry Holt! I forgot I was talking to the leather master haha!

One thing that I have really noticed recently is that now that it is so well worn now it feels more light/flexible and this might sound silly but in some ways feels similar to the lightness of the Todd's jacket I owned years ago.

Thanks for all the responses guys!

[Holt]

Horsehide is one of the strongest leathers out there. That and buffalo skin.

Your in the sweet spot right now, it will only get better from here on. I own a HH and it has indeed become lighter and softer. Mine is from 2008.

[Michaelson]

I am so thrilled to get the Michaelson approval!

Agreed with what Holt said. The only hide stronger than HH is kangaroo hide, so the seams will give out before the HH will.

Regards! M

[wannabe]

Your in the sweet spot right now, it will only get better from here on.

This is exciting! I am so honoured to be able to share this with you guys and to get your feedback about it. I am so glad that I went with a Wested. Now... what excuse do I need to buy an LC jacket??

[Tibor]

Aging...

[IndyOriginal]

Beautiful jacket, great pics! Nice review. Always wanted a HH.

[car96]

I have a Wested HH.

Not sure how old it is because I bought it from another member.

Fits great and has a custom feel to it.

[Michaelson]

Now... what excuse do I need to buy an LC jacket??

You need an excuse?

Regards! M

[Tibor]

[quote="wannabe"]

3 months in Sudan


This is just a great look... Indy 1930... Between Young Indy and Raiders Indy (I generally don't like Harrison's bulked up TOD look). You have totally got the vibe going here --- absolutely vintage (well, not so sure about cargo pants but we can say the guy in the picture invented them and kept maps there)

Thoroughly impressed.

[wannabe]

You need an excuse?

Haha! I just don't know how to discuss it with my better half... Or is this one of those things where I hide it for a few months and say I have had it for ages??

Thanks Tibor!! That means loads that you feel it suits Indy 1930. It is difficult to stay bulked up when you are in the field, you do get muscles but you tend to stay quite lean because of how long you end up working for. I think that the Raiders cut really suits me being in the evening of my 20s. I am bigger than I was when I owned a Todd's and so the fit on this is just spot on- I can even fit a chunky cardigan underneath it!

[Tibor]

I thought Harrison was spot on for Raiders, but a build like TOD would be REALLY out of place for a busy adventuring archaeologist - that takes too much time in the gym. The hair is perfect for the period - you should stick with that. Cross between Sean Patrick Flannery, River Phoenix, and Rick O'Connell.

[IndianaJames]

That jacket is beautiful, looking sharp

[wannabe]

Thanks so much Tibor and IndianaJames!

[davyjones007]

And that is the reason I always wanted a Raiders in HH. Great story and looking jacket.

[Michaelson]

In honor of this thread, I decided to pull out my HH USW's Legend pattern prototype that was never put into production and prepped it for cooler weather wear.

Regards! M

[Hammerklavier]

In honor of this thread, I decided to pull out my HH USW's Legend pattern prototype that was never put into production and prepped it for cooler weather wear.

Regards! M

Would you mind post some pictures of your USW HH, thanks!!

[Hammerklavier]

Congratulations to your fantastic looking jacket! I will get a HH LC jacket sooner or later.

[wannabe]

Wow! Thank you guys for all the great responses!

In honor of this thread, I decided to pull out my HH USW's Legend pattern prototype that was never put into production and prepped it for cooler weather wear.

Woah! I am so honoured that my post has got this kind of reaction. Please post pics, Michaelson.

[Jens_Hoppe]

Very cool jacket. And that Sudan picture just rocks!

[Holt]

woah, Hello ghost.

[wannabe]

Very cool jacket. And that Sudan picture just rocks!

Thanks! I really did feel like I was living the dream!

[Jens]

See, gentlemen - *this* is what I meant: nothing better to properly distress a jacket than a few weeks digging old stones and dust. A perfect look, Adam - and as everyone said: the jacket's just going look better with every year passing from now on! Keep up the adventure!

[wannabe]

Thanks Jens! Yes, I agree, manual labour is the best way to distress a jacket.Thank you also for encouraging me to get a horsehide from Wested.