Club Obi Wan

Hello,
You may have read my post in the Fedora Section. I have the privledge of going to London this summer. I hope to pick up a Wested, but before I do, I would like to know how the Wested compares to a Flightsuit Indy jacket. The durability? The screen accuracy? That sort of thing. I would really appreciate feedback here, thanks.

James

Oh dear, I sence the can o' worms here... There are loads of posts on this topic and we may not wish to start another. I remember flame wars about this so lets keep it civil.

Cheers,
Jeff

Yeah, you'd probably be best to just do a search and a little reading on the topic. There are alot of posts on it. I'm sure that if there is any meaning to the word consistency, then this thread will be shut down, like, yesterday. All it takes is one person to voice a negative opinion and have someone try to defend his/her point and then it all gets shut down.

I'd personally rather let everyone duke it out over which one they think is best and why, but it's not my site. If you just do a little research, I'm sure the answer to every question you have can be found deep in the bowels of COW.

Good luck in your choices, sir.

Wested made the original jackets for the films. Flightsuits make a replica (the expedition) that was intensivly researched by the fans after studying a film jacket.

Both make very good jackets. Wested runs cheaper than flightsuits, and I beleive they no longer do fully custom orders. Personally I would favour Wested through location, and price and their customer service is excellent (can't comment on Flightsuits as have not had any dealings with them).

If you go with a Wested I would advise getting measured by Peter when you get to London and you will have the chance to see all the hides in person, and get to say exactly what you want in your jacket - and who knows you might find one on the clearance rack!

Either way, you should end up with a really nice Indy jacket.

Ken

WEsted doesnt get fully customized orders anymore??

For how long has this been this way?

No, he meant FS has cut back on custom orders. Regards. Michaelson

Oh, thanks Mr.Michaelson for the information

Personally I'd have to say Wested all the way. Flightsuits is equal in quality to Wested, but you just can't beat Peter's prices. :junior: -IJ

Disclaimer: I don't own a jacket, and when I do, (soon) it will be a Wested.

For my own "research and reading," I have come away from COW with the following understanding: Flightsuits and Wested are both top quality manufacturers. Both are very screen accurate. There has been an implication that Flightsuits is more durably constructed, and that's where your money goes. Wested, on the other hand, is more easily customizable, is less expensive, and for the psychological factor, is the Real Deal. Peter and Co. made the originals, and Peter and Co. makes these.

For my money, the decision is about a quality jacket that isn't just a licensed knock-off (not that <i>either</i> of these manufacturers falls into that category), or a jacket custom made to look just like the Indy jacket, but is The Jacket. Not the one out of the Smithsonian, but... well, I'll put it this way: when Indy straps on the whip again in the next couple years, Steve and George will be calling Peter, and that's the jacket I want to have.

I didn't mean for this to turn into an evangelical post. The argument I've heard that the Flightsuits jacket is the more "real world," rugged adventure jacket that Indy would actually outfit himself with is equally as valid.

Cordially,
Lord Clarence

Lord_Clarence wrote: well, I'll put it this way: when Indy straps on the whip again in the next couple years, Steve and George will be calling Peter, and that's the jacket I want to have.

I

There's absolutely no guarantee that will happen. It's the highest bidder when it comes to costuming contracts, and Peter has won and lost his share of bids. With the passing of time, and all the new vendors who have entered the fields since the last movie, there's no telling who could grab the contract for Indy IV. I have heard that it's been a bone of contention with Lucas as the years have passed that they did not factor in what would happen later in terms of item sales, and Peter kept the patterns to his jackets, so Lucas has not had any real say so in what was done with after movie sales. I have heard that one of the clauses in the next contract would be that the patterns, once used, would become property of LucasFilm, and I do not believe Peter would agree to that. It's also a known fact that Ford was given an FS to wear several years ago, and it's one of his constant companions, so HE may have a say so, considering FS is just down the road from Lucas and Co, and Peter on the other side of the world, it could be a matter of convience. Way to many scenario's now to state for absolute fact WHAT Lucas and co. will do. Where Peter has remained the source for all of the LucasFilm SW costuming says that they've lost no confidence with Wested, so there's that for Peter's side of the argument, he's also had his hands full with the Harry Potter franchise, as well as two upcoming sequels to a very well known adventure movie of a couple years ago. Wested is not sitting on it's hands by any stretch of the imagination.

Who knows? Way to much has gone under the bridge since the last movie, and we won't know until the bids are placed, and opened, which hasn't happened yet (to my knowledge).

Regards. Michaelson

My two cents on all this is all three of Wested, USWings, and Flightsuits (4 if you count some of the Disney jackets) on the main page are all good versions of Indy's jacket. That's why they're there. You have to remember each movie the jacket was different. Heck, even in each movie the jacket may be different from one scene to the next. For a 100% authentic, it's a tough call to make. All the jackets on the main page have your basic Indy elements to them including but not limited to:

-Bucket Cuffs (some Disneys have snap cuffs)
-Action Pleats with adjustable straps with either D-Rings or Rectangular Sliders
-Cargo Pockets with hand warmers

Now as for durability, both USWings and Flightsuits make their jackets US Military Spec. Also you have to consider the hide you choose. Goat is stronger than Lamb (which is what's in the movies). Cow is thicker than Goat in most cases, and so on....

So you need to first figure out what YOU want in a jacket? Movie accuracy? Which movie? Which scene? What leather do you want? Lamb? Goat? What is the price range you are looking for? Is US Made a factor? Is UK Made a factor? Can you fit S-M-L-XL sizing (USWings)? Do you want a jacket pre-made ready for shipping, or do you mind the wait for a custom jacket to be made. Once you answer all this, your jacket manufacturer of choice should be more apparent than simply asking what's better, Wested or Flightsuits. Hope that helps some too.

Just out of curiousity; How close are the FS and USW in color compared to the auth. lamb of Wested?

Regards,
Swindiana

All I shall say is, take your jacket or jackets and watch the movie,the truth is in the celluloid.

Michaelson wrote: There's absolutely no guarantee that will happen. ...[snip] ... Way to much has gone under the bridge since the last movie, and we won't know until the bids are placed, and opened, which hasn't happened yet (to my knowledge).

Well, I certainly hadn't taken all of that into account. I stand corrected and humbled. It is an interesting balance, the geography and economics of choosing one manufacturer over another for the costuming of the movie. Obviously I figured since Peter was the original, and he still gets Lucasfilm work... but you're right, I don't really know. I do know when we go to see the "Paramount" mountain fade into the movie, we will all be scrutinizing the gear for changes, and comparison to our own!

Cordially,
Lord Clarence

Is there a website link for Flightsuits?
Thanks.

Thanks!

IndianaJones wrote:Flightsuits is equal in quality to Wested... :junior: -IJ

I respectfully disagree in favor of FlightSuits.

I respectfully disagree in favor of FlightSuits.

Fair enough. :junior: -IJ

I respectfully disagree in favor of FlightSuits.

Fair enough. -IJ

Hey now, hey now. Let's keep this civil here.

Seriously though, Mods, I am SO very proud of all of you for keeping this repetative thread alive. Keep it up.

My Apache Helicopter has been hovering over this thread....


...looking for anything like this in my night vision view finder...


Everyone is to be commended for their display of on-field civility. Carry on, as you were.. hoo-rahhhh

Was that Sergei or R Lee Ermey? Hoo-Rahhh!

There are two major differences (to me) between the FlightSuits (now Gibson & Barnes) Expedition and Wested's Indy: no leather facings and only a Dacron twill lining in the Expedition.

Those didn't stop me from getting an FS, but they do make me want to order a Wested (when the authentic horsehide finally comes in!)