Is a £1000 leather jacket worth it? Lewis leathers jacket review 

I've always loved this brand, regardless of the price, I feel they're definitely worth it. I've had a Bronx, and a Thunderbolt (isn't produced anymore), and currently wear a Dominator or my Lightning. Cheers

Hi Douglas, glad I came across your excellent video. I purchased that 2017 Cyclone from you in the midst of lockdown 2020; finally got to enjoy it during the autumn/winter months. Thanks again! Love the jacket and my 9 yr old son has already called dibs on it :-)

Thank you for this video. Very good information and very helpful. Ride safe man.

I was insanely lucky and got an abandoned custom order Super Sportsman in my size/spec for £480 when I visited the store. I was originally looking at a horsehide corsair at full price but I still geek out over my Super Sportsman a month later now haha

In case you can’t be bothered sitting through the whole video here are my thoughts overall! Whether Lewis leathers are worth it is up to you. I still love the brand and the jackets after owning many over the years, however for the full price I would like more information on the provenance of the leather. I’d also appreciate more transparency in the production process such as an insight into the factory. I think customers would very much appreciate this information and it would create greater appreciation of the brand’s production like companies such as Aero. Lewis leathers is not particularly expensive compared to many premium jacket manufacturers, however for that price in my opinion heritage and fashion can’t carry it alone, and greater insight into the materials and production would definitely help. My review isn’t a critique of Lewis leathers, just my thoughts on how it could improve into the future. Thanks! As an amendment it’s been brought to my attention that Goldtop jackets aren’t actually produced in the UK anymore. If you’re interested it would still be worth visiting their new show room and seeing them for yourself. Thanks

Great video bro 👍

Nice review and jackets. Regarding the leather, horsehide and sheepskin has become more popular for English style heritage leather jackets in recent years, so there could be a lot less demand for Lewis Leathers cowhide jackets. If there's a lot less demand for cowhide, Lewis will likely buy less of it than they used to, which can result in a higher price due to the reduced quantities purchased. That increased cost may then be reflected in the final garment. On the subject of production, Lewis Leathers do not have their own manufacturing facilities.

I appreciate your earnest review and passion for Lewis Leathers jackets. Leather jackets represent a sort of expression of individuality and unconventionality, especially today in a world which seems to have heavily switched to wearing quilted plastic bag jackets put out by the likes of Pantagonia and whomever else. What I don't understand is why anyone would want to wear a $1000+ jacket which was stamped and branded with a corporate identity. I s it just nostalgia? Leather jackets are an impractical and expensive article of clothing which are limited to a very strict range of temperature and weather situations. Even so, I still love and treasure mine. It takes some time for a jacket to conform and fit both your body shape, range of movement, and even your identity and personality. The last thing I want to do is hand off that effort and credit to a manufacturer that thought I might want to provide them free advertisement via a mini billboard on my chest. That is so… conformist and old-fashioned (but not in a good way). A lot of high quality leather jacket producers in Japan, Scotland, and the US are well aware of their markets and chose to not ask their customers to trot around looking like Pharrell Williams. Sorry that my comments come off as negative, but I have opinions and no one around me cares about leather jackets and so here I am sharing it on youtube. Have a nice day.

Not a bad review though Lewis are now more for posing than riding, hence a lot of TV and Film personalities buy them. I have had a few old Lewis jackets including the Corsair a couple of Bronx's. Derek used to try for 100% retro authenticity to the old ones but the belt fastenings are not like original and on some jackets nor is the Lewis Leathers patch, but he will not make a jacket without it. As for Aero I have been an Aero customer since they had a shop in Battersea selling used jackets or all kinds Aero put Horsehide as their go to leather but they also make good quality bike jackets though they are mainly the American style again made from Front Quarter Horse Hide. They may look old style but I do think they would stand a slide, where as Lewis do not seem to stand up to their original jackets of the 1960-70s. I am not sure but I don't think Lewis used Horse and may have been simply to lure Aero's customers away as it looks so good as it ages. Never buy anything made from Napper Lamb, that is what a lot of the old cheap jackets in the 1960s and 70s were made from, I have an old Kett jacket that is simply falling apart so it hangs on the wall as a badge display. Stick with Aero, even the Highwayman is good for real riding, Lewis were OK back in the 60s but went down hill over the years and despite the power ranger look for sports bikes there is still a market for this type of jacket amongst the retro bike brigade(Enfield-Bonneville etc) What do I ride? A Hayabusa for my Power Ranger kick and a Bonneville at other times and an old black jacket.

Do you still have the Aero jacket? Have been trying to get my hands on one of the 80s version for a while, amazing jacket!

If one is in the market for a motorcycle jacket, check out Aero Leathers in Scotland. Top-notch hides, many options with regard to liners, pockets, zippers, etc. and impeccable construction make their jackets excellent. I have two of their jackets in Horween chormexcel front quarter horse hide and love them both.

the Goldtop 1958 is the perfect leather jacket imo

Why did you opt for the cowhide rather than the horsehide on the Corsair?

Really good review. I recently bought a Lightning from the shop. Fits like a glove. Leather feels nice and soft. As an added bonus it had a tartan lining. What are your thoughts on Belstaff or Schott?

Veg-tanned horsehide said to be more stiff than chrome-tanned. I've not handled the latter but I can personally attest to the former.

Goldtop 1959. That's what I'm going to get, James.

Talking about "transparency" etc, Highwayman was original a Lewis Leather brand trademark that Aero leathers stole. The Belstaff brand was sold out to some Italian fashion house then to investor groups for huge sums, stuck on any old crap design, and pumped up ridiculously until it basically went bankrupt. It was losing £48 million to £61.86 million per year at one point. Very different trajectories. Lewis Leathers has instead remained one guy, one shop, & loyal to its original designs, materials etc. FWIW, the original Belstaffs were disgusting things to wear.

Great video Dougie. Your Highwayman is looking great and is a real part of Aero history, the old Connolly ones helped put Aero on the map. I think you will find that Goldtop jackets are not prodcued in the UK. Although they call themself Gold Top "England" i think it has been many years since they were actually prodcued in the UK.

Despite your comments the Corsair looks different class on you and well worth the money...!

Do you know of any companies that makes cheaper replicas of classic Lewis Leathers? I know one of their perfecto-style jacket has been re-made by Angry Young and Poor for punk rockers who wants the british jacket at a reasonable price. I'd like a Dominator but i aint that rich.

I think the jacket in Why’d you only call me when you’re high video is the Addict Clothes. Right? Horsehide perhaps? I’m trying to figure that out.

I saw that super phantom on ebay, why you want to sell it?

Nice video. Lewis jackets are a turn-off for me. It is weird for me to see a brand on the left chest. Arrow is overpriced. Personally, I like originals. You can still find excellent deals online. I am in the US. With shipping and import duties, you often pay a premium of 120-180 in an additional fee. I found that some of the celebrities tend to wear the real deal not a reproduction like most companies now make. With exception of some Original makers who are still around like Cal leathers and others.

Congrets👍 Your parents are very good looking people.

More fashion than actual motor bike riding imo brought a Lewis new in 82 proper thick leather etc I looked at one of these "new" jackets 😀 very thin imo a grand for a leather jacket to just say its a Lewis nah if its for riding you would buy a proper brand not a pouser brand

Great review!! Can you do another leather jacket review? Show yourself wearing a fully zipped up black leather biker greaser jacket and some Levi’s jeans in particular? Show full front and backsides of yourself in them both Love your videos ❤️❤️

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The Lewis jacket is 895 pounds today. Not sure where you got your pricing from. 🤷‍♂️

Still waiting on that video request 👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿👎🏿

Cost you and arm and a leg LOL

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