New Raiders and ToD Wested Jackets

[bearbeast]

Over the last months I outgrew my old Wested jackets. Up until two weeks ago I couldn't really afford new ones, but I was able to scrounge up enough money to replace the two I wear most (Raiders Goat and ToD Lamb). My Crusade HH I will keep as it is my cold weather jacket and the thicker layers will help fill the jacket somewhat. And my shrunken lamb Raiders doesn't count as a wearable jacket anymore.

A special thanks I owe to Old hillbilly's post which helped guide my choice of size:

https://indygear.net/cow/viewtopic.php?t=74985

My older jackets were size 46. If not for Old hillbilly's post, I would have gotten a size 42 or size 44, not having the courage to get a nonreturnable jacket that does not fit...

So I spent a lot of time measuring myself, measuring my old jackets, checking the measurements on Wested's site and comparing all to the post above and I took the plunge on the OTR Raiders Goat in size 40 and an OTR ToD Lamb in 42. I was very apprehensive that none would fit right, but I had a huge surprise when I got them. The Raiders is a perfect fit and the ToD is only ever so slightly too large, but a size 40 would most likely not fit me. I can wear a T-shirt and a thickish shirt beneath the jacket very comfortably. Just tried it out with an additional hoodie and it still works well with both jackets.

I am so happy since for the last months I had been sporting jackets where the shoulders reached halfway down my arms and the sleeves halfway down my fingers.

And here are some pics of the jackets. Raiders:









So, in the hopes I help someone else choose the right sized jacket I give my stats as well: I am 5 foot 8, 72 kg (158 pounds), chest circumference just above 42 (107-109 cm) inches.

Cheers,
Bear

[Rob]

Looking really great!

[bearbeast]

Looking really great!

Thank you, Rob!

Cheers,
Bear

[Western New York Indy]

Great looking jackets!! The fit looks great- it seems like all that measuring paid off! "You have chosen wisely"

-WNY Indy

[bearbeast]

Great looking jackets!! The fit looks great- it seems like all that measuring paid off! "You have chosen wisely"

-WNY Indy

Hehehe, thank you so much, WNY Indy!

Cheers,
Bear

[Indiana Croft]

Whoa, that jacket looks like a perfect fit for your frame.
Now get the sand paper out or at least he water treatment and walk around in it.
Get that worn look.
But it really looks great.

Croft

[bearbeast]

Whoa, that jacket looks like a perfect fit for your frame.
Now get the sand paper out or at least he water treatment and walk around in it.
Get that worn look.
But it really looks great.

Croft

Thank you, Croft! Yes, I didn't expect to get a jacket that fits half as well. It's a nice feeling wearing clothes that fit.

I am hooking up my whip in the underbelly of a truck as we speak!

Cheers,
Bear

[IndanowskiJones]

Those look excellent on you, bearbeast !

[bearbeast]

Those look excellent on you, bearbeast !

Thank you, IndanowskiJones! I say it again: it feels good to wear clothes that fit properly!

Cheers,
Bear

[WConly]

Nice work! They look great on you! W>

[bearbeast]

Thank you loads, WConly!

Cheers,
Bear

[Manwiththehat]

Looks great bear Can't wait for your old jacket to arrive to me

[bearbeast]

Looks great bear Can't wait for your old jacket to arrive to me

Thank you, my friend! Me too, I cannot wait to see how it fits you.

Cheers,
Bear

[Canyon]

Looks great on you Bear!

[bearbeast]

Looks great on you Bear!

Thank you loads, Canyon!

Cheers,
Bear

[Tremolo]

Congrats bearbeast! Both jackets look great on you! I especially like the way the ToD looks.
Is the Raiders goatskin a little bit browner than ToD lambskin?

[bearbeast]

Thanks, Tremolo!

Yes, I would say so. They are both very dark, but the ToD is almost black, whereas the Raiders is more towards brown.

But the difference is very slight. For example I can hardly tell them visually apart inside the closet. I need to feel the weight of the leather. Maybe I am bad at hues...

Cheers,
Bear

[Old hillbilly]

Hi Bearbeast
Looks like a really good shoot. Glad that my post was useful to someone.

[bearbeast]

Hi Bearbeast
Looks like a really good shoot. Glad that my post was useful to someone.

Hello Old hillbilly,

Your post was extremely useful, thank you so much for sharing. Without it I would have gotten a 44 out of fear it would not fit otherwise.

Cheers,
Bear

[NorthernRaider]

Awesome jackets!
Especially like that TOD! Glad your sizing worked out.

NR

[bearbeast]

Awesome jackets!
Especially like that TOD! Glad your sizing worked out.

NR

Thank you very much, NorthernRaider!

Cheers,
Bear

[NorthernRaider]

How do you find the size of the TOD pockets? Can you use them for anything? Are the hand warmers inside the same size as the raiders?

I don’t have a Temple yet, and everyone makes a big deal about the pockets being small

Also, how do you find the collar sits? Does it kind of hang off the neck or sit closer?

NR

[bearbeast]

The ToD pockets are smaller, but you can still put stuff inside. I always toss keys in there or sunglasses. You can put something bigger, but it will be a bit uncomfortable for the hands. Anyway, I quite like the size of the pockets actually.

The handwarmers might be smaller, I never realized it, but they are very functional. My old ToD in size 46 had a huge problem: the handwarmers were large, once inside, but the opening was so small I could barely get the hand in. And a few times I thought I'd never get them back out. I guess they fixed this in the pattern or sewing, since for the size 42 it's great.

The itself collar seems OK to me, hugging the neck. But I do almost always keep my hands in my pockets so that would pull the jacket forward. I'll do a test later today and get back to you.

The flap of the collar though flares out a bit and I don't like that. For all my older jackets it was folded at a more acute angle. Now it sticks out a bit.

Cheers,
Bear

[bearbeast]

How do you find the size of the TOD pockets? Can you use them for anything? Are the hand warmers inside the same size as the raiders?

I don’t have a Temple yet, and everyone makes a big deal about the pockets being small

Also, how do you find the collar sits? Does it kind of hang off the neck or sit closer?

NR

Just checked again, trying both the jackets on. The collar sits very close to the neck. The only issues remains the flaring.

And I tried out the hand warmer pockets. The ToD's are larger than the Raiders, not the other way around. But this might be because the ToD is a 42 and Raiders is a 40.... anyway, a bit weird...

Cheers,
Bear

[NorthernRaider]

Hey Bear, Thanks very much for that info! Very helpful. I’m excited to get a TOD of my own.. maybe next year

Make sure and post pics if you wind up weathering them.

Wear them in good health, as they say.

NR

[bearbeast]

My pleasure, NR! Thank you for the wishes.

I'm not going to do any distressing on the jackets, except what comes naturally. Together with the hats they are my regular wear, so I use it at work and business trips. I need to avoid the "dragged behind the truck" look.

Cheers,
Bear