Club Obi Wan

Today it is about 90 degrees, so I thougt it was the perfect time to think about a winter jacket

I realy want to order a Wested custom in LC/CS style and I love the way the Novapelle looks in all the pictures I've seen of it.

My question is if it would be suitable to use as a winter jacket for Dutch winters? The temperatures in the Netherlands during the winters typically are between 60 and 23 degrees with enough rain to make your own private sea.

So, with a sweater, would it be warm enough? Or should I look at other leathers if I want it to be warm enough for those temperatures?

NO leather jacket is made to 'warmth'. It's not the nature of the material. It's the insulation inside that makes the jacket 'warm', and the leather is the natural protectant for the outside of the body.

That said, either goatskin, cowhide or horsehide will sever your purposes very well. Just order a size that will allow you to layer underneath, and you'll be good to go.

I've worn cowhide in those kind of temperature conditions, and rain and heavy snow, and with layering of a sweater and long sleeve shirt was quite comfortable.

Goatskin would be a better choice in rainy conditions.

Regards! Michaelson

Thanks for the advice Michaelson.

I guess I should have mentioned that I meant "being more suitable" for colder weather as opposed to my ROLA special. And also that me wearing a sweater implies wearing a shirt and t-shirt aswell (layering is the norm out here, not layering the warm weather exception).

One of the reasons I am thinking of a LC/CS custom is that I suspect it to have a better cut than my ROLA special has for layering. Am I right about this?

Yes, in my opinion, you are correct.

Regards! Michaelson

I have a wested goat off the rack, I feel with a sweater it will be really warm,like Michaelson said,layering is the key.I have an A-2 horsehide that's 4 oz thick and last year in Chicago we had some cold days,even as thick as it was and the linning that it has I still had to layer. Even the B-17 pilots had warming suits that they worm while bombing Germany.good luck with your choise and enjoy.

Thanks for all the advice guys

AC, thanks for the tip on the U.S. Wings, but because of a "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" type of thing between Peter and me I'll stick with a Wested on this one. I'll keep it in mind for the future though.

Regards, Geert

If you find some warmer lining material that you like,you can send it to wested and they will make you a jacket with your own lining in it..just a thought.

Oh, and goat is the most water tolerant leather from your choices. Something to consider with all that rain.

I said that already!

Regard! Michaelson

Thanks for all the advice guys!

I have one more question though. Since the jacket I own is a ROLA Special I never had that thing going on where the pleats make you look like you are sprouting wings. If I don't want this to be the case on my LC/CS custom, what should I ask for?

I am concerned that if I ask for an 80's fit I lose the space for layering, but I don't want to look like I'm planning on taking off either.

Is this even something I should be worried about on a wested LC/CS jacket, or is this more of a RAIDERS jacket problem?

I sure hope you guys can help me on this.

Regards, Geert

you just ask for 1.25 inch pleats.

narrow pleats dont flare out

bests
Holt

I think that if you want a Cold-Weather Version, you could have it lined with Polarfleece, since its quite thin, but helps keep you very warm. It wouldn't distort the lines of the jacket as some heavier lining might. I don't know how slim you are, but you might be able to wear some undershirt to deal with the cold. Layering always works, but layer-upon-layer adds a lot of bulk. It works in New England, but usually with a roomy coat as the outer layer.

Are you crazy! I don't even wear an Indy durnign an Australian Winter - sure you can get away with it but really!!! Wear a sensible cold weather coat my man. JMO

Are you crazy! I don't even wear an Indy during an Australian winter - sure you can get away with it, but really!!! Better to wear a sensible cold weather coat my man. JMO

Of course you could wear your Indy with an overcoat....

Where do you live CM, in the mountains? I'm in one of the coldest parts of Australia, and have been happily wearing my novapelle with a t-shirt and light jumper (sweater!) for weeks. Some of us feel the cold more than others. Besides, sensible cold weather coats don't look as good!

Well..... I geuss I am crazy

But don't worry, It only freezes for about ten days a year out here. Besides, I'm not planning to wear it on the verry cold or verry wet days: I've got a skiing jacket with a hood for those days.

Last night when I got home from work on my bicycle it was about 52 degrees outside and I survived perfectly wearing a t-shirt and my ROLA Special lamb It was just a little bit too nippy IMO, but no ill efects whatsoever.

YARVTON, I've got a polarfleece bodywarmer that I think I will be able to wear underneath the jacket. If you hadn't brought up the polarfleece, I would never have thought of that.... that plus the standard 2 or 3 layers for winter and the jacket will probably get me trough the winter without freezing

Holt, thanks for the advice on those pleats. I will include that in the requests when I order.

Again I would like to thank you all for your advice.

Regards, Geert