@jschmid I agree with Alex. These are two rock and roll awesome jackets, but different.

The difference I find between the two - beyond the look and vibe - is that the horsehide takes time and wear to conform to your body. Body armor that needs to be broken in and develops quite interestingly in the process. The horsehide repels rain super well. It is not an "insulator" in colder weather, however, unless you have a UHF or warmer base layer underneath. Flexible though, as a t-shirt underneath works great too when the weather warms up.

The split steer is supple and super comfortable from the beginning -- and very warm in cold weather. Heavy as shite and substantial. I dig wearing it for the comfort and obviously the look. "Drapes" more with body movement rather than the horsehide that conforms to your body, I find. The split steer seems to me that the cut is overall a flattering cut for a lot of guys' body shapes. Super warm in colder temps, but pretty breathable. It has solid wind resistance, but for rain resistance, best to spray the jacket.

They both can take a lickin' and they age completely differently due to the hide difference. My brown split steer is a super comfortable patina monster that collects your life experience quickly, while the tea-core horsehide is an armor that develops a beehive of cool honeycombs that tea-core with extended wear.

What they have in common is that, with either, high probability that you can make it out of the kitchen of an angry, cleaver-wielding wife situation relatively unscathed.

@SaddleSC Received the shirt today--my first UHF, in fact--in XXL. What a material! Warm like wool, and a flattering fit. Fit is very comfortable all around, though the sleeves are long but material rolls in a cool way. The sizing of these shirts is funky (in a good way for me at least) vs other brands, and the length on this XXL is surprisingly how I like it for my 5'9 frame. With larger sizes in other brands the arm openings are also always so big and sloppy. This one is terrific. The black overdye of the green tartan looks awesome and doesn't draw sniper fire. I dig how the moss green thread pops. Looking forward to how the material develops over time.

Rockin' the new J-64. And man, what a solid and cool jacket! I went with the XL, and am 5'9, 190 lbs, broader shoulders and chest but shorter arms. Always had difficulties finding the right fit in nice leather, but this one feels great. For you watch guys, I had my tailor remove the cuffs and hem a plain sleeve so I can wear my watches. The horsehide is as distinctive as advertised...And that glorious smell.

@init616 That was a consideration for me as well. For me, I live in a hot and dry climate (in the summer), where only shirt sleeves are enough 6 months of the year. October through May though I wanted a leather. I've found in the last couple of weeks that this jacket is quite good with only a dress shirt, tee, or light/medium baselayer underneath in my daily range of 0-23C or so in the winter. The leather is thick, unlike any denim type 3 I've ever worn. Probably not the best choice in 35C or higher.

The break-in of the jacket has to be one of its best features as well. A bit of rain or sprayed water and wearing the jacket, stretching out the shoulders, back, and chest, the jacket just conforms brilliantly to your body, rolls forming on the arms. Super cool. Here it is two weeks in, wearing 10 of the 12 days or so. I used a butter knife to stretch the button holes a bit, as it's a bitch to button when new--your fingers will thank you.

Another sweet feature is the interior "gun" pockets. In my jacket, the right inside pocket is noticeably deeper than that on the left--likely variability in mfg so if important for you, good to check with the guys on the jacket they send you. I'm left handed though, so all good. Not that it is relevant in the UK, but that right pocket easily fits a 4" Glock 19 or Walther PPQ without printing on the outside of the jacket. Definitely brilliant thick leather that softens up quickly but keeps its shape.

@Ross Check out this shirt under a UV light (blacklight). Pretty cool how the green, orange, yellows, and light blues come through.

@borosillykid Hahaha, hey gfs don't count! Tell her if and when you get married, she has a say. A man needs his jackets, jeans, boots, knives, tools, bikes, trucks, gear, toys of all varieties. Once you get married, far more complicated finding more space, for example, for those must-have, custom Viberg marbled black shell cordovan boots and Black Jack elephant boots that arrive in the same week. Ugh! When the wife sees them, I reply "these old things? Got them used from a guy on the boot forum." LOL

Having said that. Giles wasn't just marketing when he says that IH's chrome-tanned horsehide is the best he's found. Smells glorious and takes a serious lickin' as bikers would want and looks great. The J-64 is beast of a jacket armor with a great break-in that molds to the body like the 21 oz jeans. I also have the SB Blattwerk work jacket horsehide that smells like olives and velvety smooth and no break-in from day 1. Two totally different vibes.

Terrific shirt! Fits pretty different, as mentioned, than my XXL UHF. I’m a 44” chest and went with the XL. Man, the color and fabric (and snaps) are killer.
I like the XL fit, waist is larger than my XXL UHF, but drapes so well. A flattering shirt indeed—bonus points.

@cityofdelusion @init616 Do these help? After removing the cuffs and tailoring the sleeve opening for a clean look and watch friendly, watches easy to wear and see. And I wear some big watches. 44mm Panerai or 43mm GS Tentagraph all good. I dig the tapered sleeve opening of this jacket, superb for you watch guys that hesitate with the long sleeves and tight cuff.

@DeeDee85 Glad it can help or at least share my experience so far. These jackets are freakin’ expensive and best to know what we’re in for before our wives figure out how much we actually paid.

@Mizmazzle Thanks, brother. I actually kept the cuffs on after shortening on this one and glad I did. I can still wear my watches with it when unbuttoning the cuffs. On my J-64, I cut the cuffs away on that one but the horsehide is so different than this roughout so works out for both. Damn fine jacket this one--no break-in at all. Pretty awesome steerhide and construction too and the ever-important gun pockets. And of course painful fingers--hurts so good.

@will6er These jackets are awesome in warmer weather, and with the very useful internal pockets. I have the similar black and brown 10oz teteron cotton version, and I had the sleeves shortened by a local tailor (just moving the cuffs up a bit), so I can wear it with business or short sleeve shirts. Works great and looks sharp.

Man, this one is very tempting. The 16oz slubby denim of my 888s absolutely rocks.

Received these jeans in tag 35 earlier this week. Man, the 888 cut, OD, and rock and roll 21oz together make an epic pair of jeans. Well-done, IH team. Special shout out to the hemming folks. While these are intended to be blackout jeans (at least for some time), that yellow hem line stitch is a totally cool detail on these jeans. Cheers, fellas.

@jschmid I agree with Alex. These are two rock and roll awesome jackets, but different.

The difference I find between the two - beyond the look and vibe - is that the horsehide takes time and wear to conform to your body. Body armor that needs to be broken in and develops quite interestingly in the process. The horsehide repels rain super well. It is not an "insulator" in colder weather, however, unless you have a UHF or warmer base layer underneath. Flexible though, as a t-shirt underneath works great too when the weather warms up.

The split steer is supple and super comfortable from the beginning -- and very warm in cold weather. Heavy as shite and substantial. I dig wearing it for the comfort and obviously the look. "Drapes" more with body movement rather than the horsehide that conforms to your body, I find. The split steer seems to me that the cut is overall a flattering cut for a lot of guys' body shapes. Super warm in colder temps, but pretty breathable. It has solid wind resistance, but for rain resistance, best to spray the jacket.

They both can take a lickin' and they age completely differently due to the hide difference. My brown split steer is a super comfortable patina monster that collects your life experience quickly, while the tea-core horsehide is an armor that develops a beehive of cool honeycombs that tea-core with extended wear.

What they have in common is that, with either, high probability that you can make it out of the kitchen of an angry, cleaver-wielding wife situation relatively unscathed.

I think I mentioned above that the brown jacket, it's lighter color, attracts any sweat or grease like flies on shite. If it bothers you, a mild spraying of something like Saphir Super Invulner can be a decent go-to when you get the new jacket and once a year. But man, this is one awesome and buttery supple heavy jacket.

@MTpockets With the overdye on these jeans, does indigo bleed onto lighter colored boots? Any idea?

If you like to wear watches, I have the cuffs taken off and shortened a bit but long still enough to make the nice honeycombs. Makes the jacket so much more wearable and a go-to, everyday jacket rather than a wardrobe queen. If you do take off the cuffs, make sure to accommodate the length of the sleeves for an inch or two natural compression/shortening as the honeycombs set in with wear.

Oh another thing about the brown split steerhide. I wore it for a day with only a t-shirt, and noticed that after about 8 hours, a black ring around the collar. This material absorbs any oil (including natural sweat) readily. Best to give it a Saphir Super Invulner spray coat when you first get it if that would bother you.

@Nobunaga I did exactly the same and got similar results, including the better fit. Great drape on this one.

@borosillykid Hahaha, hey gfs don't count! Tell her if and when you get married, she has a say. A man needs his jackets, jeans, boots, knives, tools, bikes, trucks, gear, toys of all varieties. Once you get married, far more complicated finding more space, for example, for those must-have, custom Viberg marbled black shell cordovan boots and Black Jack elephant boots that arrive in the same week. Ugh! When the wife sees them, I reply "these old things? Got them used from a guy on the boot forum." LOL

Having said that. Giles wasn't just marketing when he says that IH's chrome-tanned horsehide is the best he's found. Smells glorious and takes a serious lickin' as bikers would want and looks great. The J-64 is beast of a jacket armor with a great break-in that molds to the body like the 21 oz jeans. I also have the SB Blattwerk work jacket horsehide that smells like olives and velvety smooth and no break-in from day 1. Two totally different vibes.