Club Obi Wan

I knoe there has been alot posted about Todd's standard, but I haven't noticed any updates as to its durability. Anyone care to update? I'm thinking of getting one, but also thinking of saving up for a Magnoli. (yes i know they are in two different levels but hey I have the idea to doindy gear on a budget and see what turns up)

If you're thinking about a jacket to wear almost every day, I would seriously consider a Wested, G&B, Magnoli, or U.S. Wings.

Todd's Standard Jacket (TSJ) is a good quality jacket, but it does have its limitations as far as durability is concerned.

When I received mine, the colder months were almost over, so I only got about a month or so of good wear out of it. During that time, however, I did wear it just about everyday, and I didn't notice any issues with it. It seems to age rather well, and although mine has not seen any hard use, still looks new. (I'm sure some steel wool, sandpaper, alcohol, or acetone could take care of that quickly).

It's a good jacket, but because the leather feels really thin, I am somewhat hesitant about getting it into anything serious. I wouldn't wear it hunting, because the strap from a rifle or the resting of a shotgun on it would probably wear into the leather quickly. I'm sure it wouldn't stand up to briars or harsh weather very well. It's just not made for that kind of thing. Lots of people call it a "costume jacket", yet I think it is a little stronger than that. It's a lightweight leather jacket, suited for a good windbreaker or a warmer on those cool early fall evenings, and that's about it. It's definitely ready to go for an Indy costume.

I have only had mine for two months, and have worn it every day since I got it. I promised to do a follow up post after I have had it for a year so everyone could see how it holds up. I'm wearing it right now, and it is absolutley soaked! We have had nothing but rain here in the Pacific Northwest for the last 2 weeks, and today was a gusher, so it has been drenched through several times.

When my wife opened the package she was worried I wouldn't like it because it was so light and soft. She didn't think it felt like it was real leather. I had her feel it the other day now that it has seen some weather and she was surprised that it now seems more dense, almost thicker and heavier than when it was brand new. I think that after it is worn and gets wet the fibers must constrict making the jacket feel more substantial. Just guessing here, but it definitely has more "body" than it did 2 months ago.

I'll try to get some picks up later tonight. So far it is proving to be a very good jacket, more than a costume piece be far!

Weston

Ok. Here is my jacket new, just hours out of the package.

[img][img]http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2338/1006682dn4.jpg[/img]

[/img]

And here it is tonight, 2 month old and still very, very wet!

[img][img]http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/6709/1006926rd3.jpg[/img][/img]

I'd like to post another one in the next day or two so you can see it after it has dried. 2 months now, the saga continues. I'm loving this jacket more and more everyday. If you think it gets real easy treatment at work, notice that my work shirt has my name on it. That should tell you something!


Weston

BEAUTIFUL!!!!! Thats it.....This is the jacket I'm gonna buy....THANKS FOR THE PICS BRO!!! Since wested hasn't replied to ANY of my emails or PM's they wont get my bussiness.

Weston:

notice that my work shirt has my name on it. That should tell you something!

Dude, that's funny. What better way to say: "What else do I have to say?"

Beautiful looking jacket, Weston.

What size did you order your Todd's in, and what size do you usually buy off the rack?

Best,
-Jonesing

This jacket is a size large, and I usually wear a 40R off the rack. I'll get some more pics up later tonight now that it has dried out.

Weston

Here it is, dry after yesterdays storm. I know the pic is a little blurry, but hey, thats how I feel.

[img][img]http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/8109/1006928ok5.jpg[/img]

Like I said before, I am only enjoying this jacket more and more. It definitlely has the look I've been after for years. I'll keep you updated as I know these jackets are fairly new and time will tell how well they last. So far, so good.

Weston

i love my Todd's but i haven't really explored India's Lost Delta in it lately so....

Weston wrote:Ok. Here is my jacket new, just hours out of the package.

[img][img]http://img81.imageshack.us/img81/2338/1006682dn4.jpg[/img]

[/img]

And here it is tonight, 2 month old and still very, very wet!

[img][img]http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/6709/1006926rd3.jpg[/img][/img]

I'd like to post another one in the next day or two so you can see it after it has dried. 2 months now, the saga continues. I'm loving this jacket more and more everyday. If you think it gets real easy treatment at work, notice that my work shirt has my name on it. That should tell you something!


Weston

How is the leather on that? does it feel tough or like it could tear easily?

Terrasolo, the leather is very light and thin. I'm sure it could tear if it got snagged on some sharp metal so I wouldn't try climbing razor wire in it.
It does feel tougher now that it has seen some weather. When I first got it, I remember taking it off before playing with my in-laws overly exuberant golden retreiver because I was concerned that he could tear up the leather. Now, I wouldn't worry about it so much.

Hey, it says Lucky and Durable right on the tag. Time will tell.


Weston

It looks great to me. If my Wested lamb shrinks anymore than it already has I may have to order one these from Todd's.

Weston wrote:Terrasolo, the leather is very light and thin. I'm sure it could tear if it got snagged on some sharp metal so I wouldn't try climbing razor wire in it.
It does feel tougher now that it has seen some weather. When I first got it, I remember taking it off before playing with my in-laws overly exuberant golden retreiver because I was concerned that he could tear up the leather. Now, I wouldn't worry about it so much.

Hey, it says Lucky and Durable right on the tag. Time will tell.


Weston

thanks, just one more option here then.

I was thinking, why doesn't Todd's just offer a custom goat, then we would have SA from Todd that everybody raves about and durability.

Well, as I just posted in another thread, I put my Todd's standard through crawling, rolling, swinging, fighting...and it did great. (I was making movie for some kids). How it stands the test of time is still to be seen, but it came through my workout perfectly and looked really nice in the movie.

-Corey

whipcracker wrote:I was thinking, why doesn't Todd's just offer a custom goat, then we would have SA from Todd that everybody raves about and durability.

Todd only offers custom cowhide and lambskin. Here's the link.

For the price, I can see why people choose other sellers. $499 is quite a hit. But I'd like to know if any of the gearheads here actually own one.

Curious as to why there is such a HUGE difference in price between Todd's standard and custom....is the leather in standard synethetic?...Imported from China or India perhaps?

The customs are completely hand made, presumably by Todd himself in his shop. The standards are outsourced and factory-made.

In this thread, Chris_King stated that the custom jacket also uses a thicker lambskin than the standard.

Weston wrote:Terrasolo, the leather is very light and thin. I'm sure it could tear if it got snagged on some sharp metal so I wouldn't try climbing razor wire in it.
It does feel tougher now that it has seen some weather. When I first got it, I remember taking it off before playing with my in-laws overly exuberant golden retreiver because I was concerned that he could tear up the leather. Now, I wouldn't worry about it so much.

Hey, it says Lucky and Durable right on the tag. Time will tell.


Weston

Weston that does make some sense. I remember back in AZ when we would get caught in thunderstorms riding in the desert, when you work cattle in the desert you get caught in storms sometimes, our saddles would get stiff as a board after getting wet and then would soften up after riding them another six or so. I think that is how good leather should react, depening on the tanning process of course. It's like the outer grain tightens after getting wet, We would always put a cotioner though like Lexolor or Fiebings neatsfoot minkoil mix.

Am I seeing things or are the side vent buckles on all of the Todds made of black plastic? Is that SA?

lpa53 wrote:Am I seeing things or are the side vent buckles on all of the Todds made of black plastic? Is that SA?

They're metal, painted black.

lpa53 wrote:Am I seeing things or are the side vent buckles on all of the Todds made of black plastic? Is that SA?

They should be metal. I know the ones on the customs are.

Weston,

A few questions please: Is it a good rule of thumb to order one size up from the size a person would normally wear? Does it say where the jacket was made or out-sourced? Is the lining cotton through out? The loops are metal, right?

conceited_ape wrote:

lpa53 wrote:Am I seeing things or are the side vent buckles on all of the Todds made of black plastic? Is that SA?

They're metal, painted black.

Yes, Todd himself confirmed that they are metal in this thread:


viewtopic.php?t=32449&highlight=todd+vs.wested

Jack

Weston wrote:
And here it is tonight, 2 month old and still very, very wet!

[img][img]http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/6709/1006926rd3.jpg[/img][/img]

Weston,

Did you notice any substantial shrinkage when you wetted it? I've been wondering what mine would do if I got it really wet. Did you just zip your's up and wet the exterior and be sure to keep the interior dry? I have gotten mine in a brief rainstorm but nothing really serious as of yet as far as water is concerned.

bigrex wrote:

Weston wrote:
And here it is tonight, 2 month old and still very, very wet!

[img][img]http://img117.imageshack.us/img117/6709/1006926rd3.jpg[/img][/img]

Weston,

Did you notice any substantial shrinkage when you wetted it? I've been wondering what mine would do if I got it really wet. Did you just zip your's up and wet the exterior and be sure to keep the interior dry? I have gotten mine in a brief rainstorm but nothing really serious as of yet as far as water is concerned.

Ok, I think I pretty much answered my own question by reading the rest of the thread. You were caught in a rainstorm. Comparing photos it looks like there MIGHT be the tiniest amount of shrinkage in the sleeve length, but I could be wrong.

Sleeve length shortens over time as more creases and folds are added.

That might be what you are seeing between the two pics.

Rob wrote:Sleeve length shortens over time as more creases and folds are added.

That might be what you are seeing between the two pics.

No, I'm comparing the wet pic vs the one taken two days later.

Well, I think we all se now why I went with this option.

For $150.00, you REALLY cannot do better. (unles you find a pre-owned?)

The Todd's custom is WAAAAAY to expensive, and If the XXL I am waiting for does not fit properly, I will go elsewhere for a custom (Wested most likely) as for the money, I think Peter has a superior product (and I have handled a Todd's Custom in Cow hide- it is not much heavier than the standard lamb, so it still 'drapes' nicely).

So, there it is- even with regular use and abuse, the Todd's is hanging in there. Rain soaking doesn't affect it much (I was looking for shrinkage as well). Force-drying would probably shrink it more than air drying I suspect...

Originally designed as a low-cost costume piece, The Todd's seems to be able to handle 'real life' just fine. And, if you did somehow ruin it, for only $150.00 more, you have a brand new one. (Side note: I was looking as some fall leather jackets last night [not Indy style of course]. Similar quality as the Todd's standard, for three times the price)

PS I'm still getting my Wested/NH replica jacket! Don't think for a second I'm letting that oppurtunity pass me by!