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Goat or lamb?

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 7:09 pm
by Indiana Gus
OK, I'm almost ready to order... :)

However... I'm still not sure about the leather type. I'm getting a ToD. Here's the situation: I'm going to Greece this summer and I want to take it with me and wear it without the jacket cooking me alive... if ever this is possible with 40°C. Anyway, I need to take a jacket with me, so why not a Wested. Also I want to be able to wear the jacket without getting cold in our mild Dutch winter (so at about 5°C to -5°C). I wanted to get the authentic goatskin, because of it's warmth and durability, but perhaps an authentic lambskin would be as warm as the goat in mild winter conditions and also more suitable for warmer conditions.

Please let me know what you think!

Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2004 8:04 pm
by MaxPlague
I have the authentic lamb and it's great! It's light-weight enough for warmer weather, but keeps the cold out fairly well if I wear a sweater beneath it.

I prefer the lamb because its texture is softer and smoother than the goat. However, you can't really go wrong with either choice, it's really up to personal preference and whether or not you want "screen accurate."

Best of luck in your decision. :)

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 4:21 am
by Seb
Hey Gus,

You want to wear a leather jacket in a Greek summer...? 8) I think that the difference in leather is not substantial anymore. It'll be warm, no matter what leather you wear.

I am dutch too, and I decided to go with the Auth. Goatskin. I just picked it up this week :D . I do have other cowhide leather jackets (non Indy's) and compared to them I must say that my goatskin LC jacket is fairly suitable for warmer weather. Don't know anything about the lamb though...

I say, living in the Netherlands, I could wear my jacket allmost year round. With the exception of the (rare) really cold/freezing days and midsummer beach days.
Combined with the durability and water resistance I decided to get a Goatskin jacket. One disadvantage though: it's more stiff in the beginning, but it'll soften if you wear it a lot. And of course there's a difference in texture, but that's not a problem for me.

To be short: Goatskin is perfect in my opinion.

Good luck with your decision!!!

Greetz,
Seb

Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2004 10:49 pm
by Mr. Das
Goat will be fine in Winter as I survived a Canadian winter wearing my goatskin.

The lambskin is for warmer climates as it's softer and lighter. But there was a member here from Poland that wore his during winter and I don't think he complained.

40 degrees is too hot to even be considering wearing a jacket.

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 4:05 am
by Krzysztof Smigiel
Hello Everyone,

I'm living in Poland and I have a Wested's lambskin jacket. However I'm not the person that Mr. Gas is referring to. Nevertheless it's true the lambskin Indy jacket is warm enough to survive the winter. All you need to do is to wear something warm under it. However according to my short experiences I must say I had to replace my Indy jacket into my winter jacket from time to time especially during quite chilly nights. Now I?m thinking of buying another jacket but this time made of goat skin (especially because of its durability).

Good luck in choosing!
Krzysztof

Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2004 10:15 am
by Indiana Gus
Thanks for the information!

I'm going on an archeological survey in Greece. I don't expect to wear a jacket most of the time though :), not with 40°C. Since our winters are not that cold anyway, I think I'll go with the lamb. Peter says on his website that it is very durable. I'm not going to hang behind a car with my jacket on. :)

The waiting has started!

Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 10:19 am
by Indiana Gus
OK, I placed my order yesterday!

It's going to be this:

- ToD authentic goatskin;
- cotton body/ satin sleeves;
- under arm gussets;
- extra inside pocket (with zip);
- hidden press studs on the storm flap;
- elastic action pleats.

I decided to get lamb, but then I read that goat is much more water resistent. Since Dutch weather tends to be rainy, I decided to get goat instead.

Now I'm patiently waiting the next few weeks. :wink: How long does it usually take?

Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2004 11:26 am
by Swindiana
As Wested state on their site their aim is to have it ready and shipped within 21 days. I ordered mine recently and it seems that it will arrive within that time span, despite the trouble of finding hides large enough for a tall person like me. :wink:

Regards,
Swindiana

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 12:51 pm
by VP
Hey Swindy, how tall are ya? I'm approx. 187 cm(6' 3"), maybe a bit less. But I'm still growing.

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:03 pm
by Renderking Fisk
I have my sights on a Goat someday.

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:12 pm
by Mulceber
speaking of Lambskin, how durable is it? I've heard reports of it being easily ripped, but I've also heard reports of it being tough as nails. :junior: -IJ

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:24 pm
by binkmeisterRick
Renderking Fisk saith:
I have my sights on a Goat someday.
A live goat?! :wink:

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:29 pm
by Renderking Fisk
Sure... If folks can make their own holsters, what's keeping me from making my own jacket? Besides talent?

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:31 pm
by Michaelson
The durability of lamb is all dependent on how you decide to wear it. I find it a perfect 'urban adventurer' leather, capable of handing any trips to Wal-Mart, the mall, shopping with the wife a the grocery store, etc., and have always used mine as a good casual jacket should be used. Do I think it will handle a jaunt through the woods very well? If I stay away from throrns and the like, sure, why not. Otherwise, no. It has a surface tensile strength to catch on just about anything sharp, and instead of pulling loose, it tends to grab and stretch out to tear. If it doesn't tear, more than likely the dimple caused by the stretch will remain. It's just not up to the heavy use challenge, and the heavy distressing seen on Fords jackets weren't ALL created by the prop department. :shock:
Goat, on the other hand, is made like a tank, and CAN handle the rough roads, as well as the malls and the like. It's just a bit heavier in physical weight. Now I REALLY enjoy BOTH my lambskin and goatskin jackets......I just pick and choose which to wear, and dependent on weather conditions, and where I'm planning to go. They work perfectly when worn in the correct situation. Regards. Michaelson

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 1:53 pm
by indybill
Well said Michaelson. I knew that I would have a wait between jacket
one and jacket two, so I chose goat because, as Michaelson said, it's
a tank of a jacket. It will take whatever you can dish out and come
back for more. I'd love to have a lamb one for spring/summer wear
eventually too though. But I'd never choose the lamb for a field jacket,
just too easy to damage on the rocks, brush, etc that it'd see there.
That's my .02 cents worth.

Regards,
Indybill

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 2:16 pm
by IndianaFist
IndianaJones wrote:speaking of Lambskin, how durable is it? I've heard reports of it being easily ripped, but I've also heard reports of it being tough as nails. :junior: -IJ
I own a lambskin jacket, its nice and soft and light compared to my other leather coats. However all the lamb is chewed off one side of the zipper. Because of the zipper pinching it when being pulled up. The bottom of both sleeves are chewed up just from rubbing against things. Both lower sides of my coat are all ragged looking as is my left shoulder. Because of seatbelts. I do admit that there is nothing like the feel of lamb. But when you buy a 450 dollar jacket and its in this shape from normal wear in only 2 years!!!..........I see nothing but goat and Pecard's Jell in my future.

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 3:14 pm
by Ken
I would go with the advice here, however I found the dark brown lamb I got from Wested 2 years ago to be a great jacket and survived nearly everything I threw at it in the field or in less adventurous climates.

However one of the pockets did rip on it, though I got that repaired to perfection and I heard from its present owner that apparantly the sleeve ripped when someone grabbed him.

Ken

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 3:54 pm
by Mulceber
Now I REALLY enjoy BOTH my lambskin and goatskin jackets......I just pick and choose which to wear, and dependent on weather conditions, and where I'm planning to go. They work perfectly when worn in the correct situation. Regards. Michaelson
Kindof like a woman picking and choosing shoes for the day! :lol: Sorry for the joke on you Michaelson, and for the stereotype against women. I just couldn't resist. :P Thanks for all the advice on the jackets guys. I think when I do get one I'll go for goat and pecards jell. :junior: -IJ

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 4:06 pm
by Michaelson
I actually DO spend a few minutes in front of the closet trying to decide what hat and jacket to wear based on the weather. How'd ya know? :oops: :wink: Regards. Michaelson

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 4:10 pm
by Mulceber
Michaelson wrote:I actually DO spend a few minutes in front of the closet trying to decide what hat and jacket to wear based on the weather. How'd ya know? :oops: :wink: Regards. Michaelson
I know because I took Mola Ram's AP class on ripping out hearts, mind-reading and flower arrangement. :D :junior: -IJ

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 7:22 pm
by IndianaGuybrush
[quote="IndianaJones]
I know because I took Mola Ram's AP class on ripping out hearts, mind-reading and flower arrangement. :D :junior: -IJ[/quote]

He always did the loveliest lily arrangements for those pit victims!

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 7:39 pm
by Mulceber
yeah, a real heart-breaker...er...heart-ripper that man was for most of the women he met. :junior: -IJ

Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2004 7:52 pm
by Renderking Fisk
It's ok, Michealson. My wife told me yesterday that I spend as much time as she does getting ready when I'm trying to pick the right version of gear to where for every occassion.

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 11:36 am
by Michaelson
Humm, somehow I find that one a bit difficult to picture, Render, old buddy. "Humm, let's see, what color shirt should I wear....khaki, khaki, or khaki? :-k " (grins) Been there, done that.

IGB, heart ripping out and flower arrangement? :shock: I must have missed that one in the catalog that year. All I could find was heart ripping out and lawn bowling. I already HAD the lawn bowling credit, so I passed it up. :roll: :wink: Regards. Michaelson

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:44 pm
by Mulceber
And you should see his psychology course! He seems to understand the thought process of every swashbuckling, whip-toting Archaeologist he meets! He even revealed the part of the brain that emits the "fortune and glory" hormone. :junior: -IJ

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 12:49 pm
by Renderking Fisk
Michaelson wrote:Humm, somehow I find that one a bit difficult to picture, Render, old buddy. "Humm, let's see, what color shirt should I wear....khaki, khaki, or khaki? :-k " (grins) Been there, done that.
Khaki, Stone, Light Brown, Fawn... do you have any idea how many shades of brown there are?

Then I have to ask what version of Gear am I wearing? Streets of Ciaro, Venice peir, South American Jungle... It's enough to make a man stress out.

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 1:05 pm
by Michaelson
That's the reason I usually dress in the dark. My kids have said more than once "Only DAD can somehow make khaki pants, blue socks and a green checked shirt work!" :shock: Hey, what are they complaining about? At least I'm dressed! :wink: Regards. Michaelson

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 3:32 pm
by Indiana Jess
Then there's the which kind of shirt / pants: NH, Cabelas, LL Bean. For me, it also depends on the kind of day i think it's going to be. Is it a Raiders day or Last Crusade? Unfortuately, when I get to the office, it's usually TOD.

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 3:49 pm
by Michaelson
Yep...usually .the bridge scene outfit too! (grins) Regards. Michaelson

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 8:38 pm
by Ken
I am waiting for the gortex Wested myself... ahhh the agony of choice.... do I get the Cowhide Wested soaked or the Lambskin Wested soaked?

Ken

Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2004 9:48 pm
by Renderking Fisk
Indiana Ken wrote:I am waiting for the gortex Wested myself...
Don't laugh... I bet Peter's making the proto-type as we speak!

Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2004 2:27 am
by IndianaGuybrush
Or a Kevlar Wested for those of us in more hostile territory! :shock:

(Come to think of it, a kevlar wested would come in handy back down in brooklyn :P )

Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2004 8:20 pm
by thePawn
I have both, and the lamb is definitely a summer jacket not winter.

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 5:19 am
by SAB
However... I'm still not sure about the leather type. I'm getting a ToD. Here's the situation: I'm going to Greece this summer and I want to take it with me and wear it without the jacket cooking me alive... if ever this is possible with 40°C. Anyway, I need to take a jacket with me, so why not a Wested. Also I want to be able to wear the jacket without getting cold in our mild Dutch winter (so at about 5°C to -5°C). I wanted to get the authentic goatskin, because of it's warmth and durability, but perhaps an authentic lambskin would be as warm as the goat in mild winter conditions and also more suitable for warmer conditions.
buy what you want dude, it doesn't matter, you won't be wearing a jacket in 40+ degrees C. :D

Posted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 6:18 am
by Eiti
I have both jackets too. Both are fine but I prefer the toughness of the goat and the look of an well traveld lamb. So one is for fashion dressing and one for daily use. Goat is a bit warmer and i had the same problem as you. I have to study a year in Australia. That is why i asked Peter to add ventilation holes under the arms (like on a real bomber jacket) he did and my impression is that the goat jacket won´t cook my anymore in warmer climate.
Also it is warm enough for the German winter.
I proved it some days ago.

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 2:50 pm
by AceTachyon
Incoming newbie says hi!

Any California Gearheads out there have a take on which is better for Cali weather, lamb or goat?

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 4:38 pm
by antiquity collector
Yep, I'm in So. Cal. and I have a dk brown lamb. Perfect for the weather. I'm about to order a Goat though for travel as I go back to NY for visits.

The lamb was fine for me in NY even in winter but I'm from there so cold doesn't really bother me. Just give me a T-shirt and my Wested and I'll go out in snow.

Just want to try the Goat for the heck of it and to try something different.

I did rip a pocket though on my lamb. Don't know how.

AC

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 4:48 pm
by LuckyLighter
Actually, I like the lamb with a little mint jelly. Mmmmm!

Or in a gyro!

(Well, somebody had to leave a wise-a** post.) :wink:

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 4:48 pm
by Minnesota Jones
AceTachyon wrote:Incoming newbie says hi!

Any California Gearheads out there have a take on which is better for Cali weather, lamb or goat?
I don't know if this is a question in general or just for Westeds. But as for the FS Expo, my Seal Chrome Goat is very thin and much more a summer jacket than my USWings Goat, which is thicker... but I'd imagine regular lamb would also be a thinner jacket better for warmer weather.

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 5:07 pm
by AceTachyon
Minnesota Jones wrote:I don't know if this is a question in general or just for Westeds.
I've got my eye on the Wested jackets.

San Francisco Bay Area weather tends to shift quickly between cool/cold and warm/hot depending on where you go. I'd originally been thinking to go with the lamb due to the weather but I know I'll be wearing this jacket during "urban adventuring" so I want it to hold up to dings and scrapes. Goat might be the way to go in terms of toughness but I don't want to boil inside the jacket whilst I'm wearing it.

Any hints?

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 5:23 pm
by binkmeisterRick
Try getting a goatskin with two inside breast pockets, then place a frozen cooler pack in each pocket before going out. Just kidding. :wink:

I went with the goatskin because for me, the durability was more important over all than being too hot in the jacket. I suppose I could get a cotton Wested if warmer weather was too much of an issue... Anyhow, good luck and welcome aboard.

bink

Posted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 4:46 am
by thecollektor
San Francisco Bay Area weather tends to shift quickly between cool/cold and warm/hot depending on where you go. I'd originally been thinking to go with the lamb due to the weather but I know I'll be wearing this jacket during "urban adventuring" so I want it to hold up to dings and scrapes. Goat might be the way to go in terms of toughness but I don't want to boil inside the jacket whilst I'm wearing it.


I have the same problem, Frisco weather conspires to make you uncomfortable. I have a Wested in lamb, and a US Wings in goat. The lamb is great for those days where it shifts between hot and cold, but if it gets down into the low 50's, the goat with cotton lining tends to work pretty well.

As for toughness, just about any goatskin is durable enough to survive a few scrapes. Lamb can tear easily if it snags on something sharp (saw it happen to my wife's jacket, not a pretty sight)

But whatever you do, I would avoid going with US Wings. I didn't listen to the advice on the boards here regarding Wings, and I paid for it.