Wested v. U.S. Wings

RockBottom · Post by **RockBottom** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:40 pm

Does anyone own both a Wested and a U.S. Wings Indy jacket? I'd be interested in a comparison. I now have a cowhide Wested Indy and lambskin U.S. Wings A2, but they're so different that it's hard to compare.

Seems to be about $100 price difference between the two. I notice that U.S. Wings says, " It's also light in weight, making this a three-season jacket." The Wested is anything but light in weight.

nicktheguy · Post by **nicktheguy** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:54 pm

I think you will be able to find the comparisons using the search feature. I used to have a US Wings Indy but got rid of it at a garage sale because I was personally less than impressed after having a Wested. I had bought the Wings Indy because I had heard pretty good things about it. It just wasn't close to my Wested. I have heard of others that love their Wings Jacket over the Wested - I think it boils down to personal taste. I have ordered another Wested in HH because I love my lamb so much and want something a little more substantial.

Nick

Scott63 · Post by **Scott63** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:24 pm

I don't know about the lambskin jackets, but I have a Wested goatskin Indy jacket and a US Wings goatskin Indy jacket. I think they’re both great jackets. My USW jacket is made of thicker leather than my Wested making it heavier and warmer. As a result, I tend to wear the USW jacket more in the winter and the Wested during the spring and fall. Personally, I like the fit and drape of my Wested more than my USW jacket. The Wested has a trimmer cut and isn’t as stiff as my USW jacket, but both are pretty soft for goatskin. As far as screen accuracy, the Wested wins in my book. However it’s funny that the more photos I see of the Indy IV jacket, the more I think it resembles my US Wings jacket.

Scott

Post by **Michaelson** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:30 pm

Personally, I can only respond to this if you're talking about comparing off the rack Wested jackets vs. Wings.

Wested jackets are custom made, where Wings jackets are not. Then again, you can't really do that either, as off the rack Wested jackets are made in China, or so I've been told. Wings are made in the U. S., with the exception of the single run of clearance Chinese contract jackets of last year.

As you can now see, it ain't that easy a comparison as you'd hope. Apples to oranges.

Speaking strickly for myself, I like the Wested jackets because of the fit (well, custom, of course!

), but over all, I'm more enamored with Wings durability and materials.
I'm REALLY looking forward to the incoming Indy jacket they're working on, especially if they successfully work some of the suggestions several of us made last week. Should be an interesting project to look at.

Anyway, carry on....

Regards! Michaelson

RockBottom · Post by **RockBottom** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:43 pm

Michaelson wrote:Personally, I can only respond to this if you're talking about comparing off the rack Wested jackets vs. Wings.

Wested jackets are custom made, where Wings jackets are not. Then again, you can't really do that either, as off the rack Wested jackets are made in China, or so I've been told. Wings are made in the U. S., with the exception of the single run of clearance Chinese contract jackets of last year.

As you can now see, it ain't that easy a comparison as you'd hope. Apples to oranges.

Speaking strickly for myself, I like the Wested jackets because of the fit (well, custom, of course! ), but over all, I'm more enamored with Wings durability and materials.
I'm REALLY looking forward to the incoming Indy jacket they're working on, especially if they successfully work some of the suggestions several of us made last week. Should be an interesting project to look at.

Anyway, carry on....

Regards! Michaelson

Hmmm. I have an off the rack Wested and it says, "Made in Great Britain."

Post by **Michaelson** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:47 pm

You sure? Mine said 'Made by craftsmen', but nothing about 'British craftsmen' or ANYTHING relating to British creation like the customs.

I was also told through channels in England they were a Chinese contract in the first runs.

Sometimes 'off the rack' also refers to returns put in stock for sale, so is yours one of the light brown lambskin versions?

Maybe they got their production line set up to make standard sizing now.

Peter, you around? What's the current story?

Regards! Michaelson

Post by **Michaelson** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:16 pm

Oh, and don't get me wrong, please. I'm not making the 'Made in China' point regarding Wested OR Wings as being derogatory. I found both my Wings AND Wested contract jackets to be VERY well made through and through.
It's just the point that if you want a fair and accurate comparison in this hobby, you really need to compare apples with apples, and oranges with oranges.

It's like trying to compare a rabbit felt fedora with one made of beaver felt. They're both fedoras, and in many cases VERY well made...but there's definitely a difference, if you follow my line of thinking this late in the day.

Regard! Michaelson

Doug C · Post by **Doug C** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:44 pm

You'll have to be carefull too when reading reviews of USWings jackets because a lot of those jackets were bought in the big clearance sale and were contract jackets as Michaelson has already pointed out. Not that they weren't good jackets but they did tend to have details that were different than what you'd get from Wings if ordering now, so don't forget that point. I personally think that the jackets they would be sending you now are better than those clearance ones.

Doug C

Post by **Michaelson** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:44 pm

The signature series are top drawer....at least the ones I've owned, as is the VIP cowhide I wear in cold weather.

The biggest difference between the Wested and Wings jackets at the moment is the batting that Wings installs between the liner and hide for insulation. The jacket is made to be worn in cold weather, where the Wested is not insulated, so they drape completely different.

With the planned Wings jacket with NO batting installed....that's going to be a different animal all together, and a new experience. From what folks have written who have removed that batting from Wings jackets, they say the drape is the same as a Wested jacket. I can only take their word for that, as I've never removed said batting myself.

Regards! Michaelson

RockBottom · Post by **RockBottom** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 5:36 am

Michaelson wrote:You sure? Mine said 'Made by craftsmen', but nothing about 'British craftsmen' or ANYTHING relating to British creation like the customs.

I was also told through channels in England they were a Chinese contract in the first runs.

Sometimes 'off the rack' also refers to returns put in stock for sale, so is yours one of the light brown lambskin versions?

Maybe they got their production line set up to make standard sizing now.

Peter, you around? What's the current story?

Regards! Michaelson

Here are the labels.

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/ ... C_5785.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i162/ ... C_5784.jpg

I have an obsession with not buying anything made in China if I can avoid it. I would be upset if the jacket was manufactured there.

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 6:02 am

I have a custom Wested Lambskin and a black goatskin US Wings. Frankly, it's tough to compare because of the hide difference. Goatskin is like light armor! I can say that Wested's lambskin is the lightest leather jacket I have ever worn. It has also held up well (not that I abuse it). In terms of fit, I'm the reverse of Michaelson. The USW fits like it was made for me, while the Wested doesn't quite get there. I like both in terms of design, and durability is usually a pointless issue with me because I don't put my clothes through much, really.

Post by **Michaelson** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:48 am

My jacket has none of those labels, RockBottom, so yours is definitely made at the shop. Mine, on the other hand, was not.

Chewey, I don't put mine through much of anything either. I'm talking about day to day wear in a regular environment and how my jackets hold up over time.

Regards! Michaelson

Dre · Post by **Dre** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:20 am

Mine (with measurements I sent in) has the Great Britain and uk things on it too. Very odd that yours might be made in China, Michaelson...and the first i've heard about that. Interesting.

Kt Templar · Post by **Kt Templar** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:42 am

I think it's a slight mix up. The "special offer" and the cotton jackets are made overseas, but not China. I believe Pakistan.

Peter had a bad experience sourcing goods from China once and is not keen on manufacturing over there. AFAIK.

Post by **Michaelson** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 8:40 am

Very good. That made sense. I must have received the first attempt before he came back to British shores.

Regards! Michaelson

FLATHEAD · Post by **FLATHEAD** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:02 pm

This is going to be a LONG post, so skip if you want to.

I currently own two Indy jackets, one a Wested Authentic Lambskin in
a size 44 Regular, and a US Wings Vintage Cowhide, which is dark brown,
and its a size large, which US Wings states is the size for a person who
wears a size 42-44.

What I see as the major differences (beyond the fact that they are made
out of two totally different animals) is as follows:

The pocket flaps on the Wested are much more scalloped than the Wings
jacket. The Wings pocket flaps are not at all even close to being SA.

The pockets on both jackets measure approximately 6.75 inches wide
by 8.5 inches high, and thats measured to the top of the pocket flap.

The side straps are higher up on the Wested jacket by about an inch
and a half.

The action pleats are deeper on the Wested than they are on the Wings.

The Wings jacket has the elastic bands across the back between the
pleats as a standard thing. My Wested does not have them, but you can
get them if you want them.

The Wested measures 24 inches armpit to armpit, the Wings measures
25 inches armpit to armpit. This makes the Wested a more traditional
Military fit for a person with a 44 inch chest, while the Wings has a more
modern, looser cut to it.

The Wings jacket is about 2.0 inches longer than the Wested, making
the Wings jacket more like a TOD version versus a Raiders version. But,
I had Peter add an inch to my Wested, so my Wings jacket is only 1.0
inches longer than the Wested.

The sleeves on the Wings jacket are much larger around in diameter
than the Wested. My Wested fits more like a suit jacket in the sleeves,
where the Wings sleeves are somewhat bloated looking.

The sleeves on both jackets were too long for me, by about an inch and
a half. I had the Wested custom made to my length, at no charge. I had
to pay to get the Wings sleeves shortened. This bothered me, and added
more to the Wings overall cost in order to make it fit me.

Also, the armholes are much lower on the Wings, so when you reach up
above your head, the body of the jacket raises up with your arms. The
Wested does not do this, as the arm holes are higher up.

The Wings collar is not as wide as the Wested, and it comes to more of
a point at the end versus the Wested, which is slightly rounded at the
collar ends.

The collar stand on the Wested ends at the far end of the stormflap,
where as the Wings collar stand ends about halfway across the stormflap.

The lining of the Wings is some mutant Poly/cotton thing, that is actually
not too bad for me temperature wise. The Wested has a cotton body with
satin sleeves. You can get the Wested with a solid cotton or a solid satin
complete lining if you want either of those.

The Wings jacket lacks the overall cover stitching around the edges like
the Wested has. This cover stitching gives the Wested jacket a more
finished look to it, and it keeps the leather/lining in place better.

The zippers and other hardware on both jackets are an antique brass
look, with the Wings zipper being a slightly larger gage than the Wested.
Both have "D"-rings on the side straps.

Overall the Wested is a more form fitting, more Indy looking jacket than
the Wings. It looks more formal, and I think it looks more high class, like
an expensive jacket. It has a military fit, which gives the jacket a look
more like a piece of clothing than just a jacket. You can't put too many
layers under it, so its good for shirts or maybe a thin sweatshirt. This
jacket also drapes very nicely, and forms itself to my body, making look
like the custom made jacket that it is.

The Wings jacket fits looser, has baggier sleeves and does not drape
as nice on my body as the Wested. Part of that is because its made from
cowhide, so I know its heavier, but it just does not look as "Indy" to me.
It also looks "off the shelf", which it is.

It does however take some major abuse, the likes of which the Lambskin
could never take without tearing or getting damaged.

I wear the Wings jacket more with heavier layers under it, and find it to be a
very comfortable, all around jacket that I can wear to just about anywhere
and look cool.

They are both fine jackets, and you will like them both, no matter which
one you pick.

Flathead

nicktheguy · Post by **nicktheguy** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 9:35 pm

Good post Flathead!

Chewbacca Jones · Post by **Chewbacca Jones** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:48 pm

Michaelson wrote:Chewey, I don't put mine through much of anything either. I'm talking about day to day wear in a regular environment and how my jackets hold up over time.

Regards! Michaelson

I got ya, my friend. I suspect that our experiences may be the same in the long run, but my Wested is only two seasons old. And didn't see much action this year because we pretty much jumped right from summer heat to arctic winter blast. I just don't want anyone to think that I was claiming a level of durability that I didn't intend.