TartuWolf jacket journey

[TartuWolf]

Inspired by a few other threads where people have indulged themselves to share their personal collections I'm making this one mainly for my own sake as a historic overview.
Just to get a clear picture how my TFL and jacket journey went.
I apologize to the moderators if this is taboo.
I have a strong desire to get away from TFL at least for a year as visiting this website (as well as buying more jackets, mainly from JP) has reached unhealthy addiction level.
If I manage to gather the strength / courage I'll ask the mods to ban me for a year or something.
Anyway, here we go, heavily personal and photo-heavy thread!
As there's a 10 photo limit per post this will span multiple posts.
I'll try to stick to leather jackets and no veer off to stuff like vests, denim, boots, etc..

Starting with pre-TFL pieces, none of which I own anymore.

First jacket that I've worn for many years during my teenage period and early adulthood. Some suede mandarin collar straight-zip.

Some vintage straight zip I thrifted while I lived in Stockholm

The jacket that sparked my love for cross zips and pushed me to look for better jackets.

Random brown straight zip, I thought it fit me decent at that time, ugh..

Nov 2022 I join TFL.

Dec 2022 my first "real" jacket arrives
Aero dust bowl in what is "technically" my correct size 36.
But with time I learned that size numbers don't mean much, measurements tell a much better story.
This was way too big for me, especially in terms of body width in the back. Too long in the body as well.
But it was my first taste of brown CXL and I got hooked real bad.

Feb 2023 - Five Star arrives
Learned about 5*, decided to nail down my measurements and try on a new style that I liked (button-up hip length half-belt) at the same time. Solid experiment, I don't regret it. The goatskin was pretty sweet, especially for the price. Playing designed was fun too as others have mentioned. Hopefully the person who bought it from me is wearing it in good health and enjoying it.

 

[TartuWolf]

May 2023
First Vanson. And nothing less than the legendary chopper model. Holy **** what a jacket. Size "S", way too big for me, but I was SHOCKED by it no less than I was by the Aero Dustbowl.
A life-long love for Vanson was ignited. Look at that back design.. Gorgeous! But the whole bottom section is way too extreme for casual use. I'd love to order a custom Vanson with a clean bottom section someday. Keep the design, but get rid of the buckles and stiffener/extra layers.

Sep 2023
Grail denim jacket arrives - there is nothing in the world that can top this for me and it closed the doors for any thoughts of buying any other denim jacket in the future. Pure perfection. Not actually denim by the way, but denim dyed canvas.

Sep 2023
Aero Hooch Hauler arrives - not much to say here, keeping this one until the end of my days hopefully, very happy with it, I've talked about it and share photos of it many times. End-game reached.

Nov 2023
Vanson B in midweight Z150 cowhide.
A bit too long for me to keep it, otherwise the fit was FANTASTIC, very flattering!
And the nickel hardware and plain leather did not inspire me either.
Overall instantly became one of my favorite Vanson models.

Jan 2024
Another Vanson B comes, inspired by the first one.
By far the most beautiful comp weight and black leather in general that I have seen or felt to this day.
Also the most beautiful zipper that I've see to this day.
Sent it to PL to widen the sleeves as they were way too tight.
But unfortunately the chest was too tight in the end (not pit to pit!) and there was some weird bulging in the mid section because of the way it molded to the previous owner.
Length was much better than the previous one.
I think this is the jacket that I regret selling the most.
Can't find any fit photos but here it is next to the previous one.

 

[TartuWolf]

March 2024
Schott 740N peacoat
Did not fit me well, sold off locally to a colleague. I was so jealous when I saw how well it fit him..

March 2024
Another grail piece arrives that I plan on keeping until the end.
Vanson model E (Highwayman).
Can't say enough good things about this jacket, just an absolute banger.
I'd like to find another specimen in the same size but shorter back length, shorter sleeves and better zipper (Talon, not the Vanson YKK plastic pin pask).
I'd probably keep this one if I had to keep only 1 leather jackets.
Even had a real mouton made for it.
Here it is next to the Aero Hooch Hauler and the shorter 2-way zip model B:
https://www.thefedoralounge.com/threads/what-jacket-are-you-wearing-today.82949/post-3112572

August 2024
Lost Worlds Ryder came from JP.
Impressed and a bit disappointed (due to the leather being lighter than I expected given my foolishly perceived LW reputation of monster weight jackets).
Pretty nice fit, but decided not to keep it in the end.
Because of the meh leather mostly - both thickness and finish.
Otherwise fantastic jacket, especially the collar and mobility. Great pattern. Huge LW fan for life!

November 2024
Vanson suede trucker
Fantastic jacket, very flattering fit, nices suede I've ever seen.
Not my thing though, sold off.

November 2024
Pike Brothers N1
Lovely jacket, wrong size, too small (which is nuts my PB standards)
First N1, hooked, search for a nice one my size continues.

 

[TartuWolf]

December 2024
Buzz Rickson N1
Nice jacket, but still not quite right, sold off, search continues.

Jan 2025
Another Pike Brothers N1
Hit the jackpot with this one.
Super happy with it, covered for life in terms of N1.
Could be slimmer in the waist specifically I want to be ****, but who wants to be ****? Not me, no sir.

Jan 2025
Weird older Y'2 leathers cafe racer model.
Meh, sold it off.

Jan 2025
Rare quilted Vanson C2
Beast of a jacket, but didn't fit me well enough to keep and I'm not a collector.

April 2025
"R.B.C" half-belt in absolutely lovely cordovan leather
Very cool jacket but didn't click for me.

April 2025
Pike Brothers peacoat.
Nice fit apart from upper back width - too restrictive when pushing arms forward (to tie shoes or hug).
Still deciding whether to keep or not. The one on the right.

 

[TartuWolf]

June 2025
Y'2 Leather KB-140-T kakishibu type 1
I've been dreaming about this jacket for years
Was not disappointed at all when I got.
Can't say enough good things about this leather or model.
But it was not for me, sold it off without any regrets.
I'm thankful for having been able to handle it.
A collectors item / museum piece if nothing else.

July 2025 / August 2025
Aero CR with full action back in black CXL
I was stunned by how beautiful the leather is on this one.
Black CXL tops any other black I've seen so far.
Had to send it to PL to get it relined because the lining was completely cooked (understandable considering what I paid for it).
Very much a heavy layering jacket. A lot of extra room in the upper/mid sleeves and upper/mid torso. Sleeves a bit shorter than I would like, but very nice body length.
Gave me hope for straight zip jackets again.
Sorry for the poor photos in this case, bad lighting.

July 2025
Vanson Oxford 9D in old comp weight
Always wanted to try an Oxford, finally found one in my size with a good length and a good price.
Great jacket, just a bit too tight in the chest. Beautiful #10 Talon zipper. Fk vanson own plastic pin zippers..
Currently for sale in classifieds.

August 2025
Rugged West Rugged Rider 3.0 J-24 inspired d-pocket cross zip
Nice jacket. Wish the sleeves were wider and the cuffs were tighter, body a bit shorter.
Otherwise a keeper for warm weather t-shirt fit.

Sept 2025
Octagon Vanson B size 34
A 36 would be better in the upper body and sleeves, would allow for more comfortable layering.
The 34 gives a very nice slim waist and rather tight hem. Which pushes the hem up and makes a bend in the mid torso. Not ideal but not too bad.
I knew it was a bit longer than I would like when buying. Very hard to find 60cm or less in terms back length, very very rare.
Maybe I'll move the bottom of the zipper up a bit if I ever change the zipper.
T-shirt fit for sure, layering is sketchy as is.
Overall rather pleased with it!

 

[zebedee]

Asking for a ban won’t make any difference . You have to decide that you don’t want any more jackets because they cost too much, perfect fit is luck or myth and, no matter how good other jackets look on other people, you won’t be as happy as you imagine you’ll be when a jacket arrives. It also helps if you’ve bought enough to feel a bit ill. I’m lucky: although I’ve bought 16 over 16 years (and now own 13), I haven’t multiple-purchased a few at once.

 

[TartuWolf]

Asking for a ban won’t make any difference . You have to decide that you don’t want any more jackets because they cost too much, perfect fit is luck or myth and, no matter how good other jackets look on other people, you won’t be as happy as you imagine you’ll be when a jacket arrives. It also helps if you’ve bought enough to feel a bit ill. I’m lucky: although I’ve bought 16 over 16 years (and now own 13), I haven’t multiple-purchased a few at once.

Yeah making that decision is very hard, both in terms of stopping with the jacket buying and in terms of spending time on TFL. I think I can manage the first one better than the second one. I like being here, it's interesting, feels good. Kind of the first ever community in my life where I feel like I belong. But at the same time I really don't see much point in staying here, it's too impulsive/addictive and takes up too much of my time.

 

[Zoro]

I love this kind of write ups. At this point I think that you are just in this not only as a research but also as a hobby. There's fun in all of it and clearly you have enough disposable income to put into this, so I don't see anything wrong, specially as you keep getting rid of the items that you do not use. Who knows? You might get your ban and simply pivot into another similar hobby

 

[MrProper]

Since I canceled my order with Aero last summer, I haven't bought another leather jacket (fabric doesn't count ;-)). And the best thing is that I no longer get a “want to have” feeling here in the forum. I think I'm well served with my jackets and can hardly wear them all. The spring/fall season is simply too short for too many leather jackets.
I still check in here every day, but I don't read everything for a long time.
But if I thought it was an addiction, I would leave the forum.

 

[Biff42]

Bro, you remind me of Gary Oldman especially with the Mohawk (Sid Vicious) and dreads (True Romance).

 

[tuanhng614]

Nice post with all the up and down in your journey.

You should stick around, share knowledge, help newbies. There’s the upside in it that would benefit your leather jacket craves as well

 

[TartuWolf]

Bro, you remind me of Gary Oldman especially with the Mohawk (Sid Vicious) and dreads (True Romance).

Heh, I don't mind looking similar to Gary Oldman

 

[TartuWolf]

Nice post with all the up and down in your journey.

You should stick around, share knowledge, help newbies. There’s the upside in it that would benefit your leather jacket craves as well

I wouldn't mind sticking around if I could do it in a controlled way (like once a day at a specific time in the evening) rather than spontaneous/obsessive.

 

[Monitor]

Leaving TFL will prove inconsequential as it is perfection you are addicted to and perfectionism is a black hole.

But discovering who you are and focusing on it can help you to control the addiction. Which can be worse than drugs. At least for me. . .

It is also interesting how they (cor)relate, one transforming the other.

 

[Pandemic]

Heh, I don't mind looking similar to Gary Oldman

The new Slow Horses comes out soon!

Leaving TFL will prove inconsequential as it is perfection you are addicted to and perfectionism is a black hole.

But discovering who you are and focusing on it can help you to control the addiction. Which can be worse than drugs. At least for me. . .

It is also interesting how they (cor)relate, one transforming the other.

I had friends ‘get off’ heroin by switching to meth, etc. I sometimes feel like that here: I might proclaim loudly that I’m a ‘one leather jacket guy’ while diving down the hole of Lee denim jackets, fatigue pants, side-zip boots or something else

 

[Schumie]

Very interesting write-up! Thank you for taking the time to do this

 

[3.14nche]

I'm partial to padded jackets but I still think the Chopper and C2 looked pretty good on you.
Hope you'll be able to stay around without being OCD about it.

 

[TartuWolf]

I'm partial to padded jackets but I still think the Chopper and C2 looked pretty good on you.
Hope you'll be able to stay around without being OCD about it.

I almost ordered the same kadoya model after seeing yours

 

[Egalter]

Great thread, very interesting. A lot of knowledge and lots of jackets shared. Thank you.

 

[newtojackets]

That hooch hauler and denim jacket are both 10/10