Club Obi Wan

There seems to be 2 Raiders Jacket Washed Goatskin jackets on the Wested website, one for £125 and another for £135.

What's the difference between them?

Which is better? (or is the price a give away? )

Different specs I think from reading the description.

Unlike the Standard raiders which has slight modification to make it durable and street wearable this 'film jacket' although equally wearable is more lightweight.

thats the cheaper one

they are two different jacket styles. not skins!

raiders and ROLA.

Cheers to the both of you!

It's as simple as one has leather facings inside and one doesn't isn't it? In my experience it's very hard to get a good Raiders look if the jacket has leather facings but it does make the jacket more durable....

a different fit aswell I think.

If I'm correct, the Raiders is a fuller cut, while the ROLA is a more fitted or slimmer cut--the 80s cut you hear about from time to time.

I think it would be wise to drop Wested a e-mail asking them this question. I would think they know their product.

ROTLA refers to the slimmer, 80's cut, with the configuration that was the original jacket, ie slimmer torso and sleeves, no leather facings, zipper is a smaller gauge, etc. The Std. is cut fuller than the ROTLA, and has leather facings and the more sturdy brass zip.

at that price, are they not both off-the-rack made in India jackets?

yes

I would like to see some buyer's photos of the washed goat jacket. That's the one I am gunning for.
Anyone have some to share? (I'm talking to YOU John )

There's actually several threads on the washed goat recently. I know that JRabbit had one where he posted several photos.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=39605

My wested in washed goat.

And mine:

http://indygear.com/cow/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=43122

Also if you are looking for a good deal, they have their authentic brown, soft goat on clearance for 100 pounds:

http://www.wested.com/special-offer-rai ... -252-p.asp

When ordering the custom jacket from Wested, I will be choosing the washed goat ROTLA version, but I notice there is a section to make some special requests. Though I have read they are not going to honor a laundry list of requests, can someone suggest a few important ones that I should include?
Thanks for your help

It really depends on how you want to style your jacket. If you are going for a slimmer fit, like the hero jacket in Raiders, then I would recommend the RoTLA style, and it will be made with no leather facings, slimmer sleeves and torso. The features that I always like to get are: under arm gussets and a hidden press stud on the bottom of the storm flap, cotton body and satin sleeves.

I agree with Texan Scott, the underarm gussets help to prevent the "flying squirrel" effect, the satin sleeve lining makes it easier to slip your arms in and out with a long sleeve shirt on, and the hidden snap at the bottom of the storm flap will keep the flap from "flapping" out at a the bottom of the jacket.

ie:

Hopefully no offense to Forrest for the Trees (in the pic), I think your jacket's awesome, just happened to see that the storm flap sticks out at the bottom the way mine did before I put a snap on it.

JRabbit.

jrabbit - great picture - can you tell me if that is a washed goat Wested you are wearing?
Also - and excuse the newbie-ness of this question, but what exactly is a storm flap (so I can better understand getting what you suggested)

Thanks Frosty, yes, it's a washed goat Wested ROTLA. I got it back in September.

The storm flap is the leather flap that covers the zipper. As you can see in the pic above of Forrest for the Trees, the flap pokes out at the bottom of the jacket since there's no snap there. I see this happen more and more after the jacket has been worn some with you sitting a lot. Since there's no elastic at the bottom of the jacket, when you sit down the jacket hangs from your shoulders but the bottom "sits" in your lap. This will cause it to flare out some. The snap helps prevent that.

No offense taken. No jacket is perfect (no matter how hard we try). I don't mind the bottom flaring out so much, though. Adds character. My biggest regret with that jacket though is I didn't ask for gussets. I've never had them, so I don't know how effective they would be, but as it is now, the freedom of movement when raising my arms isn't stellar.

JRabbit wrote:

As you can see in the pic above of Forrest for the Trees, the flap pokes out at the bottom of the jacket since there's no snap there. I see this happen more and more after the jacket has been worn some with you sitting a lot. .

that flap sticking out at the bottom is exactly what it does on the original and I love it.

I will prob go with the custom version - is it pretty unanimous to go for the D-rings for it?

generalFROSTY wrote:I will prob go with the custom version - is it pretty unanimous to go for the D-rings for it?

For Raider's no, rectangular sliders. Or triglides (you'll have to supply triglides if you want to go that route).

Yeah, if you don't anchor down that storm flap, it could come a huge gust of wind and beat you to death with it! I don't know what's worse, getting beaten up by the storm flap or being 'drug by a truck'? ....or....getting up from being dragged AND getting beat up by the storm flap?

Whew! ...a day in the life of a gear member!