Vanson Raider vs ELMC Windward

[Edward]

If only they'd armour the Thunderbird!

 

[Guppy]

There's a very high priced ($4500), original Windward for sale on eBay, seller located in Japan.

Great photos in the listing. I'll post them here for posterity.

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Both nice, but I personally prefer the ELMC based on the styling and the leather.

The fewer zippers on the ELMC are a plus for me, but the kicker is that I much prefer its collar to the Vanson.

 

[Rich22]

Both nice, but I personally prefer the ELMC based on the styling and the leather.

The fewer zippers on the ELMC are a plus for me, but the kicker is that I much prefer its collar to the Vanson.

I'll second every word of that.

 

[ton312]

I like the Arrow better than the raider. Thurston calls it a Gambler. Half the price of an ELMC. Hide isn’t quite as nice on the Vanson but it’ll look alright in 75years.

 

[Guppy]

I like the Arrow better than the raider. Thurston calls it a Gambler. Half the price of an ELMC. Hide isn’t quite as nice on the Vanson but it’ll look alright in 75years.
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I also like the Arrow/Gambler, I think the back design is better than the Raider, and identical to the design of the ELMC Windward. No doubt it's better suited to use as an actual riding jacket than is the ELMC, and at about half the price. But the ELMC does have the edge in the looks department.

 

[Monitor]

Both nice, but I personally prefer the ELMC based on the styling and the leather.

The fewer zippers on the ELMC are a plus for me, but the kicker is that I much prefer its collar to the Vanson.

Yeah, seconded. I prefer both ELMC and Vanson's version. That old one is nice but they really could've balanced those two handwarmers. Neither the flap nor the regular one evens up with the right side pocket. Sleeves are gigantic too.

On the other hand, the slash chest pocket is brilliant on the original and much better placed than on the ELMC version. Theirs is too far inside and high up (and desperately needs a zipper). I don't know why's everyone reducing the length of pockets nowadays.

 

[ton312]

I also like the Arrow/Gambler, I think the back design is better than the Raider. No doubt it's better suited to use as an actual riding jacket than is the ELMC, and at about half the price. But the ELMC does have the edge in the looks department.

Agreed, despite being super light weight the ELMC does look like a much nicer hide. I don't care for the elastic side panels though...they should use buckles at the HB. That's the only thing that kept me from grabbing one of these off ebay at a huge discount. Even though it's not really even visible...I really hate elastic on leather jackets.

 

[Guppy]

Agreed, despite being super light weight the ELMC does look like a much nicer hide. I don't care for the elastic side panels though...they should use buckles at the HB. That's the only thing that kept me from grabbing one of these off ebay at a huge discount. Even though it's not really even visible...I really hate elastic on leather jackets.

IIRC, ELMC describes their horsehide for this jacket as 2.5oz, which isn't normally what we call light weight, although to me, being used to 3.5+oz stuff from Aero, LW, Vanson, and Natal, it did feel on the light side.

The elastic doesn't bother me at all, on mine. But generally I do agree, I prefer straps and buckles to elastics. Mainly because I associate elastic with waistbands for pants for fat people and diapers for babies, and because they're prone to dry rotting and breaking down eventually, long before the leather ever would.