Six Retro Jackets

Enlarge Image Image Gallery The Star jacket from Vanson Leathers.

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1. Retro to the bone, the Star from Vanson Leathers is the most unique of the jackets we sampled. Made of the heavy-duty, race-strength leather Vanson is famous for, the story of how the Star came to be is simple: In the 1970s, Vanson offered a road-racing suit in this style, and one of those suits is in the company’s museum. When someone asked if Vanson could make them a “street” version, the company obliged, and the Star was born. The jacket features double leather at the shoulders and elbows/forearms, a full wind flap, zip-down sleeves, rear vents, a rayon lining, solid brass hardware — and a racing license pocket for good measure. As an added bonus, Vanson will happily make you one in whatever color scheme you like. Stiff when new, it will take some riding to break in, but it’s exactly the kind of high-quality piece you’d expect from Vanson. Price: Starting at $729. More info: www.vansonleathers.com 

2. Firstgear’s Earl Jacket has the kind of classic styling we love. Complete with horizontal stripes and available in Black/Orange or Gray/Black, this vintage-cut jacket provides a tight and secure old-school fit. Made of 1.1mm leather, the jacket features a removable vest liner, an adjustable waist, two inside pockets, armor in the shoulders and elbows, and a foam back pad that is perforated for added airflow. Zippered flow-through air vents on the chest combine with exhaust vents on the back to let the jacket breathe when it’s hot out. Price: Starting at $299.95. More info: www.firstgear-usa.com 

3. Fox Creek Leathers makes some serious gear, and the Reflector Jacket is no exception. Crafted from 1.6mm leather, the jacket is heavy, but so well built you don’t want to take it off. It features reflective piping across the front and back to make you visible at night, along with two inside pockets, dual front and rear zippered vents, an adjustable waist, a removable full-sleeve liner and a hide-away fleece neck warmer. This one is cut longer in the torso than any of the other jackets here, which is nice for comfort when not on the bike, but can lead to the bottom edge of the jacket digging into your thighs a bit when sitting astride your ride, an issue we’d expect to lessen as the jacket breaks in. Price: $412. More info: www.foxcreekleather.com

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