Club Obi Wan

....sorta like a crack dealer on the street corner.....giving you just enough of the stuff to get you hooked!

I recently purchased a Wested Lambskin from DougC, and am wearing it for the first time today. The jacket fits pretty well.....although of course probably not as well as one that would be custom ordered to my specs. In fact I like it so much, I have pretty much decided to go ahead and order another one!!!

I am curious, all you guys with several jackets.....what would be your choice for a 2nd Wested jacket? The one I have from DougC is the "pre-authentic" lambskin.....TOD model? My first thought is to go with a goatskin "raiders" version.....any words of wisdom?

Heh buddy...how is it going? Regarding Wested: I have a Black Raider's Goat that is absolutly wonderful -- check recent threads here -- Peter and Wested-Crew are out of goat, at the moment. I also have two lamb LC's from Wested....A Cowhide/TOD -- pre-distressed, and finally a Horse Hide LC....the horse hide LC & black goat Raiders are my favorites in the bunch, followed by the cow hide and then the lambs. Don't get me wrong the lambs are great, but just a little light for me. I like some fiber, a bit of weight, etc.

Well, don't know if any of my ramblings help...but, that is my two-cents. Have a great day! W>

Doing well Mr Conly, thanks for the input! That horsehide that you mention sounds interesting. Like I said, I really like this lambskin but was thinking perhaps something a little different might be a good idea for a 2nd choice. Dang, that's a shame they are out of the goat.

Yeah, it sounds like we might need to start a relief fund to assist Peter/Wested -- maybe a telethon called -- Get Your Goat Up !

Seriously, I am certain the wait for Goat at Wested will be well worth it. Peter and crew pick only the 'best-of-hides', so I guess in this case you'll just have to tough it out. W>

....and BTW, Thank You to DougC for getting hooked on the crac....er, I mean Wested!

Jon, they are only temporarily out of the goat so it depends on how impatient you are. I tend to lean toward horsehide as you probably know from my Aero Highwayman posts elsewhere. I have seen some great -looking horsehide Westeds. The Aero broke in really well and it is heavy FQHH. There is no reason to think that the Wested horsehide (which is lighter) cannot break in as well and be the best jacket you will ever own. What is the average temperature down in Mobile anyways? When I was down there at the very end of February, it was 68 degrees. I wouldn't think you would even need a jacket

Rick, it's pretty cold down here right now.....supposed to get all the way down into the 30s tonight!!!!
Thanks for the info........that looks like two votes for HH. Rick, what would you consider the pros & cons of HH vs. Goat. Is it simply a matter of the HH being heavier than goat so therefore perhaps not as appropriate for the climate here on the Gulf Coast?

by spiridon's line of thinking, I HATE YOU ALL!

If I wasn't jealous enough of your AB you are talking about a second wested while I'm waiting for my first!

I don't know about HH, but there is an older thread with pictures of a HH jacket, I think it was Hemmingway Jones' jacket, and the jacket was amazing.

Thanks for the tip on Hemmingway's pics IK. I looked them up and you are right, that's one awesome looking jacket!

Spiridon - to answer your question about horsehide, I favor it because:

1. Weight. I like to have some weight to my jacket. Heavy does not equate to stronger, but horsehide can be both for sure.

2. Strength. I like to feel as if the jacket will offer me some protection as well. No matter how strong leather is, if it is thin you might not rip it, but you will feel things through it. Lay on a pile of gravel with a light lambskin and a heavier horsehide and see which feels more protective.

3. Break-in. The lighter goatskins and lambskins are very comfortable, but my feeling is that if we were the same size and you wore my 2 year old lambskin jacket it would be comfortable on you due as well to the nature of the leather. The same with the lighter goatskins. Take my heavier, broken-in horsehide and wear it. It won't feel right on you because the horsehides take on the shape of the wearer. Every one I have owned has anyways. It truly becomes your jacket. In fact, while on a hanger, the arms of the jacket have taken on the bend of my elbow.

4. Resistance to the elements. Goat and horsehide are both pretty good in the rain. Most give the edge to goat, but I disagree.

5. Appearance. On the average the goatskin is pebblier in appearance. Horsehide seems to develop a grain.

This jacket looks the same on the hanger as it does when I am wearing it. It is heavy, but deceivingly comfortable. It feels protective like a suit of armor, yet it moves in the right places so it is comfortable...

Of course, this is all my opinion, but the jacket that meets all the requirements I want (plus fits right) wins my vote as my favorite jacket.

Thanks for the info and opinions guys. This has been very helpful in pointing me in the right direction.