2025 Reboot - Winter is Coming! Time to break out your favorite jackets!

It's not quite a denim tuxedo, but it's close enough.
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on a day like today when it's going to be in the 80's, an unlined denim jacket over just a T shirt in the cool morning is all you really need.
you gotta have jackets for the winter, and jackets for the early fall when " winter is coming ".
 
Hickory n steel said:
I personally need more than that to stay warm if it's 50°f or below, but everybody is different.

I have a sherpa lined wool vest, but it's too much to wear under a trim cut denim jacket like these.
Under the blanket lined Big Smith or the unlined Key Saddle king that doesn't fit me satisfactorily sure I could definitely do it, but I've got plenty of vintage wool outerwear for when it really gets cold for me.
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Depends so much on what you’re doing…if it’s 45 degrees out and I’m raking leaves in the sun I’m comfortable in a t shirt or long sleeve shirt. If it’s 45 degrees and I’m sitting in the dark watching my kids play football, I need a lot more to be warm.
 
Burke said:
Depends so much on what you’re doing…if it’s 45 degrees out and I’m raking leaves in the sun I’m comfortable in a t shirt or long sleeve shirt.
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For me this just calls for a lighter jacket, but I still need something.
I understand that everybody is different though, my brother wears tank tops year round, and in the dead of winter he'd sleep in just boxers with the window open.
 
I hate to say it but several long yrs ago I bought a snow board parka off Amazon for dirt cheap, at least at the time. Made in China. Warmest winter jacket I've ever owned bar none. Water proof, wind proof, etc etc. 2 way main zipper for venting and extremely well made believe it or not. Not one I wear unless its extremely cold out and windy. If its' just a Rochester winter day I can get by with my Swanni parka, nice tight wool weave to the material and made in NZ. stay safe
 
Today I received this vintage Lesco cross zip that I scored on ebay, and I am really liking it.
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I have tended to avoid cross zips because I don't care for black leather jackets and 95% of cross zips are black.
Black is a boring color, and I'd guess that at least 75% of leather jackets in the US are black cross zips, from Schott to Pakistani mall jackets they're everywhere.



Lesco made great quality jackets and they're a lesser known name so you can score them relatively cheaply, quite a hidden gem.
 


Still a bit too warm for actual winter jacket.
I have been rocking my Freenote Cloth Rider’s Jacket mostly. Goes pretty far around the year when you put on or off some layers.
When nearing 0c it starts to get a little chilly but fine if you keep moving around.

I’ve also tried some wool shirt and shell jacket but it’s tad bit warm yet.
 
I like black. It matches my bikes :) .

My cold-weather jacket. Made for motorcycle cops by a company here in San Diego, but available to anyone.

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killgar said:
Yep, San Diego Leather. My jacket is "Mens Police A".

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It looks well cut / fit, and looks to be a nice stout leather.
The sleeves seem a tad long but that is often a desired feature on a jacket made specifically for riding.
Am I mistaken or did this have side laces that you removed ?

I'm used to seeing the belt loops and extra pockets on a cross zip which is the standard, but this does have a nice clean look that I do appreciate.
 
Hickory n steel said:
It looks well cut / fit, and looks to be a nice stout leather.
The sleeves seem a tad long but that is often a desired feature on a jacket made specifically for riding.
Am I mistaken or did this have side laces that you removed ?

I'm used to seeing the belt loops and extra pockets on a cross zip which is the standard, but this does have a nice clean look that I do appreciate.
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It does fit well. I have another leather jacket for warm/hot weather that just sort of limply hangs on me like a sack, but this jacket holds it's form well. This is one of the reasons why it's my favorite (it looks good on me even when unzipped). And it is a thick leather, which I imagine is the reason it holds it's shape. I've been down a few times over my 39 years of riding, always with one of these jackets on (this is my second), and they saved my skin after sliding across the asphalt, and without needing to be replaced.

It did originally have side laces, but I removed them, I didn't need them. It also had a badge holder and belt keepers. I removed those as well (just cut the stitches). And I replaced the main zipper pull.

You're right about the long sleeves.

One of the things that really drew me to this jacket was the simple, minimalist look.

Here's me in my first Police A from San Diego Leather (although I don't know if that's what they were calling themselves back when it was made), I bought it second-hand from an old biker way back in my youth. It has a variety of mods. It already had a lot of wear on it when I got it (he had been down a few times in it), but it was still intact. Sadly I "outgrew" it some years ago. I could barely get it zipped up for these pictures. Hence the newer one.

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killgar said:
It does fit well. I have another leather jacket for warm/hot weather that just sort of limply hangs on me like a sack, but this jacket holds it's form well. This is one of the reasons why it's my favorite (it looks good on me even when unzipped). And it is a thick leather, which I imagine is the reason it holds it's shape. I've been down a few times over my 39 years of riding, always with one of these jackets on (this is my second), and they saved my skin after sliding across the asphalt, and without needing to be replaced.

It did originally have side laces, but I removed them, I didn't need them. It also had a badge holder and belt keepers. I removed those as well (just cut the stitches). And I replaced the main zipper pull.

You're right about the long sleeves.

One of the things that really drew me to this jacket was the simple, minimalist look.

Here's me in my first Police A from San Diego Leather (although I don't know if that's what they were calling themselves back when it was made), I bought it second-hand from an old biker way back in my youth. It has a variety of mods. It already had a lot of wear on it when I got it (he had been down a few times in it), but it was still intact. Sadly I "outgrew" it some years ago. I could barely get it zipped up for these pictures. Hence the newer one.

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I see people sanding new jackets to create this look, and some fashion companies offering jackets pre warn like this. It's hard to fake though.
People will pay good money for a jacket that's well worn and patinad like this, like so many traditional things leather jackets look so much better with age.
I'd never fake a jacket to look like that and none of mine will ever come even close because I own more than one piece and don't ride a motorcycle, but I love some good leather patina and the way it shows is the one thing about black leather jackets that I do actually like.
Most jacket finishes are a durable topcoat that doesn't really wear like this without heavy abrasion though, so unless you're riding you'll probably only get a fraction of this with multiple decades of daily casual wear.
I guess that's why teacore leather ( dyed black, but with no topcoat ) is popular in the high end jackets and boots, because even a white collar guy in an office environment can earn some patina.
 
Hickory n steel said:
I see people sanding new jackets to create this look, and some fashion companies offering jackets pre warn like this. It's hard to fake though.
People will pay good money for a jacket that's well worn and patinad like this, like so many traditional things leather jackets look so much better with age.
I'd never fake a jacket to look like that and none of mine will ever come even close because I own more than one piece and don't ride a motorcycle, but I love some good leather patina and the way it shows is the one thing about black leather jackets that I do actually like.
Most jacket finishes are a durable topcoat that doesn't really wear like this without heavy abrasion though, so unless you're riding you'll probably only get a fraction of this with multiple decades of daily casual wear.
I guess that's why teacore leather ( dyed black, but with no topcoat ) is popular in the high end jackets and boots, because even a white collar guy in an office environment can earn some patina.
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For someone who rides a lot, and wears their jacket a lot when they ride, the elements can take their toll on a leather jacket (sun and rain). And I don't think the previous owner did anything to take care of it, he was pretty grizzly himself. At this point the leather is cracking in a few spots, and the black coating has been flaking off since I got it. But I didn't care, it was still a big step up from the Sears catalog motorcycle-style leather jacket that I was wearing at the time. That was definitely not a real MC jacket.

And since it was already rough when I got it I wasn't worried about it's appearance either. So I'm also guilty of not taking care of it (and abusing it), not to mention a few decades of exposure to the elements. There was a leather craft store in San Diego that I used to visit (DTS Leather), and the owner was always trying to convince me to let him refinish it, but I always declined, I liked the look of it.

When I got the new one I was very committed to preserving it's pristine appearance as much as possible. Then I got hit by a car and took a slide across the pavement, so that pretty much ended that. It ain't pristine no more. But it did it's job and saved my skin, and the drivers insurance paid for the cost of a new one.

On a related note- back in 2010 San Diego Leather was featured on an episode of "How It's Made" on the Discovery channel. The episode showed a police jacket being made (Police B model). Here's that segment for anyone who might be interested-

 
Dropping into the mid-30s when I walk out to my car at night means it's time for the Dickies coat.

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It has that microfiber stuff on the inside, but it's not really insulated. That's okay, I have enough natural insulation that all I really need is something windproof. This does it, and the hood is good to separate my big bald head from the rain. I'll happily roll out the door in any weather down to about 30 with or without wind in this coat, and the Merrino wool beanie in the left pocket adds some extra insurance.
 
Everybody should own a vintage woolrich 503.
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They're an amazing piece that can be had for little money, I bought this 1950's example for $100 shipped and shortly after I was seeing them for $40-$75.
There's just nothing like vintage American wool, and the Shadow plaid ( buffalo check has become housewife fashion ) will always be iconic.
 
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