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Post by gaseousclay on Oct 23, 2017 11:23:21 GMT -6
Lately i've been pouring over N1 deck jacket offerings from several brands and wanted your opinions. Of course, i'm looking at getting an N1 jacket further down the road as funds permit but for now i've looked at 3 different companies which are along similar price points, with the exception of MF which is a little bit more expensive. This would obviously be an investment piece so i'm trying to do as much research as possible before committing to any specific brand, and it'll give me time to figure what things in my closet need to go to fund this purchase.  MF 10th Anniversary indigo N1  Iron Heart N1  The Real McCoys N1 Even though the MF N1 is $200 more than the others I'm really drawn to the indigo color and the fact that it has metal clip fasteners. Nothing wrong with traditional buttons but the clip fasteners are simply a stylistic detail that I like. But, it appears they all have similar details like jungle cloth exterior, alpaca lining, etc. I'm sure Buzz Rickson has an N1 available but the ones i've seen have that godawful USN stenciling which is a dealbreaker for me. |
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Post by disheveled on Oct 23, 2017 12:37:20 GMT -6
My Ihm-14 is one of my favorite jackets and I can't recommend the style enough.
I'd recommend trying all 3 on to see which style/cut fit your tastes best. I know that is probably impossible, so at least buy from somewhere with a good return policy. $35 fee is so worth it to insure you are happy with the big money spent.
Which size were you leaning towards in the MF? I agree the metal fasteners are dope.
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Post by gaseousclay on Oct 23, 2017 13:17:33 GMT -6
Yeah, I really like the ihm-14 as well which is why it makes the decision process so difficult. But, this is one of those purchases I don't want to rush into because it's so costly. If I were to get the MF indigo Blouson de Quart i'd likely go for a size 40 (assuming there's still stock at MF and/or SE), which looks comparable to the ihm-14 medium. The one and only downside to the MF N1 is it's $200 more expensive. The fasteners, the teardrop pockets and the indigo color are what make it stand out. The Real McCoy's one isn't bad looking either but it has standard pockets rather than teardrop pockets. Not a deal breaker but for a $750 jacket it's one of those details that knocks it to the bottom of my list. I had looked at the khaki variant of the MF Blouson de Quart but dislike that it has a corduroy collar rather than a proper alpaca collar like the others. I feel like my ocd is taking over and i'm starting to nitpick at little things. If I pull the trigger on whatever brand it sure ain't gonna happen for until after the New Year that's for sure. If stuff sells out by then I guess that'll make my choices easier.
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Post by yinzer on Oct 23, 2017 15:22:42 GMT -6
I've never worn one so I wish I could help more. But, just by looking at these jackets, do all of them offer lined outer pockets?
These could be no big deal to some people or yourself, but I like a nice lined outer pocket in my coats. Also, the biggest and longest collar would also be a factor for me.
That MF one is sharp...
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Post by gaseousclay on Oct 23, 2017 18:21:25 GMT -6
yinzerThe MF N1 has corduroy lined pockets, whereas, the IH N1 has alpaca lined pockets. I checked the Real McCoy's site and a couple others and they didn't specify if the pockets were lined or not.
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Post by jasutinsan on Oct 23, 2017 19:35:00 GMT -6
at least buy from somewhere with a good return policy. $35 fee is so worth it to insure you are happy Flying in the face of this wisdom (which I agree with), you could also get the one you like best for $750 by playing a little Rakuten-roulette: global.rakuten.com/en/store/rogues/item/sugarcane_sc13597/As for my opinion, I like the both the IH and the MF. The Buzz Rickson is very nice, but even still its quality pales in comparison. |
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Post by gaseousclay on Oct 24, 2017 5:45:08 GMT -6
 The Buzz Rickson version is in fact available without the stencil via HPA. It has slash pockets just like the Real McCoys version so they look almost identical. Nothing against BR as their N1 is supposed to be an exact repro, so i'm sure the quality is on par with the other companies mentioned. |
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Post by gaseousclay on Oct 24, 2017 6:02:38 GMT -6
 Here's another deck jacket variant, a USN hook front deck jacket from BR. It doesn't quite have the bells and whistles of the others, like alpaca lining, but it does have the stylistic details like D style pockets and metal clasps. Looks sharp. I keep falling down the N1 rabbit hole. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2017 7:35:01 GMT -6
If you go check over on the sale page for "The Lost Worlds", he might still have some of the black leather N-1's for sale... I believe they were about $500ish... (Sorry, can't drop a link, because the network at work blocks his website)
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Post by gaseousclay on Oct 24, 2017 8:31:31 GMT -6
www.lostworldsinc.com/Lost_Worlds_Sale_Items.htmNot a fan of the leather N1's, unfortunately. Besides, the sale page states, "We cannot provide measurements for SALE ITEMS." There's no way i'm dropping that kinda coin on a jacket without measurements.
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Post by davelewis on Oct 24, 2017 11:30:31 GMT -6
I've got a Pike Bros, and it is very well put together. There about 300 euros, but they remove the VAT outside Europe, and also offer a waxed version for 50 more. I ultimately went with it because at the time, the sizing was more suited to me, and I prefer the wool to extend all the way through the jacket into the arms, where many of the others have a quilted arm. I've had both types, and can say the wool sleeves are superior for warmth. www.aeroleatherclothing.com/product-detail.php?id=980 |
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Post by gaseousclay on Oct 24, 2017 12:59:59 GMT -6
I think the sleeve lining comes down to personal preference and practicality, no? Some of the guys over at the IHUK forum were talking about this because the IHM-14 has quilted sleeves which makes getting your arms in and out pretty easy when you have a thick flannel shirt on, so it has a practical advantage. Some complained about non-quilted sleeves making their arms/elbows sweaty because it was too warm. I don't really have a preference with regard to the way the sleeves are lined. I'm more concerned about lining in the neck and body of the jacket, which all of these jackets have.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2017 13:31:53 GMT -6
i very nearly ordered a pike bros last winter...which is probably the route i'd still go if i were to get one today, partially due to cost, but also that i didn't see hundreds of dollars in quality differences between them and some of the others (personal opinion of course). the clip fasteners look great when all fastened, but less so when the outer flap isn't fully closed. (i'd also worry about scratching up my car when reaching across to clear snow/ice/etc. as for the logos on some of the variants...i also dislike it, but have heard that they are typically very easy to remove (i think someone on the forum had actually taken the logo off one as well)
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Post by gaseousclay on Oct 24, 2017 14:33:53 GMT -6
i very nearly ordered a pike bros last winter...which is probably the route i'd still go if i were to get one today, partially due to cost, but also that i didn't see hundreds of dollars in quality differences between them and some of the others (personal opinion of course). the clip fasteners look great when all fastened, but less so when the outer flap isn't fully closed. (i'd also worry about scratching up my car when reaching across to clear snow/ice/etc. as for the logos on some of the variants...i also dislike it, but have heard that they are typically very easy to remove (i think someone on the forum had actually taken the logo off one as well) The differences in cost would largely be based on the brand's name and that all of the deck jackets I've listed are made in Japan. *EDIT* The Pike Bros N1 is indeed made in Turkey after having checked their website, hence, the lower cost. As for the metal clip fasteners, i'm not overly concerned about them scratching up my car when removing snow and ice, only because in those instances i'd be wearing my parka. Even if I was wearing the N1 to scrape ice off my windows the only area where i'm likely to lean over and touch my car is when scraping the windshield and that's it. |
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Post by davelewis on Oct 24, 2017 17:02:43 GMT -6
I think the sleeve lining comes down to personal preference and practicality, no? Some of the guys over at the IHUK forum were talking about this because the IHM-14 has quilted sleeves which makes getting your arms in and out pretty easy when you have a thick flannel shirt on, so it has a practical advantage. Some complained about non-quilted sleeves making their arms/elbows sweaty because it was too warm. I don't really have a preference with regard to the way the sleeves are lined. I'm more concerned about lining in the neck and body of the jacket, which all of these jackets have. Totally a preference thing. I wear mine all the time with a UHF, and never really thought about it when donning, of doffing. As far as it being too warm in the sleeves, I've never had that problem, unless wearing it when its not temperature appropriate. Any way you go, they'll all do the job, just get one that fits well, and you'll be good to go. |
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Post by disheveled on Oct 24, 2017 17:44:00 GMT -6
I'm with Dave that the fit will be the most important part, hence the importance of a return policy!
But I didn't practice what I preach, and imported direct from Japan to save $.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2017 3:06:23 GMT -6
I like the Pike's one as well, and I was considering it, along with the MFSC indigo one.
But, when Giles found a navy IHM-10 buried in the mountains of goodness at IH, I had to get it.
I haven't tried on any other the other options, but I can attest to the overall warmth of the IH N-1. It's warm enough, that I sold of another heavy coat, because it's no longer needed.
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Post by gaseousclay on Oct 25, 2017 9:05:06 GMT -6
I like the Pike's one as well, and I was considering it, along with the MFSC indigo one. But, when Giles found a navy IHM-10 buried in the mountains of goodness at IH, I had to get it. I haven't tried on any other the other options, but I can attest to the overall warmth of the IH N-1. It's warm enough, that I sold of another heavy coat, because it's no longer needed. The true test for me would be whether or not an N1 can withstand subzero temps. I don't know that they were designed for this purpose or that I would actually wear an N1 when it dips below 0, but it would be good to know. |
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Post by davelewis on Oct 25, 2017 14:08:57 GMT -6
I like the Pike's one as well, and I was considering it, along with the MFSC indigo one. But, when Giles found a navy IHM-10 buried in the mountains of goodness at IH, I had to get it. I haven't tried on any other the other options, but I can attest to the overall warmth of the IH N-1. It's warm enough, that I sold of another heavy coat, because it's no longer needed. The true test for me would be whether or not an N1 can withstand subzero temps. I don't know that they were designed for this purpose or that I would actually wear an N1 when it dips below 0, but it would be good to know. I've found the whipcord shell is pretty windproof, but for myself, if I was out in subzero temps, I'd layer a wool base, under a submarine sweater before throwing on the jacket, of course YMMV. If I encountered super cold temps on a regular basis, I'd have me an Irving sheepskin, or B3, or something along those lines, but we just don't get that cold here in the PNW. |
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Post by gaseousclay on Oct 25, 2017 14:23:46 GMT -6
During the harshest winters, i'm talking January and February, having a hooded parka is almost a necessity to keep wind/snow at bay and to keep your face from turning into a popcicle. We frequently get hit with Alberta Clipper's here in the Midwest so it starts to look and feel like Planet Hoth at times. I think an N1 would best suit temps between 10 and 30 degrees with suitable layering, but that's just a guess. I wear my North Face parka when there's heavy snowfall or windy conditions.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2017 16:55:51 GMT -6
The desire (need) for a hood for the chicago winter wind is what ultimately kept me from picking up the n-1
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2017 4:10:12 GMT -6
The true test for me would be whether or not an N1 can withstand subzero temps. I don't know that they were designed for this purpose or that I would actually wear an N1 when it dips below 0, but it would be good to know. I've found the whipcord shell is pretty windproof, but for myself, if I was out in subzero temps, I'd layer a wool base, under a submarine sweater before throwing on the jacket, of course YMMV. If I encountered super cold temps on a regular basis, I'd have me an Irving sheepskin, or B3, or something along those lines, but we just don't get that cold here in the PNW. I might be wrong, but I believe IH also places a windproof layer internally in their N-1's... I feel like I remember that being said before as to why they are so warm and cozy. |
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Post by davelewis on Oct 26, 2017 9:07:09 GMT -6
I've found the whipcord shell is pretty windproof, but for myself, if I was out in subzero temps, I'd layer a wool base, under a submarine sweater before throwing on the jacket, of course YMMV. If I encountered super cold temps on a regular basis, I'd have me an Irving sheepskin, or B3, or something along those lines, but we just don't get that cold here in the PNW. I might be wrong, but I believe IH also places a windproof layer internally in their N-1's... I feel like I remember that being said before as to why they are so warm and cozy. I believe you are right on that. |
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Post by DigDug on Oct 26, 2017 9:49:19 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2017 11:52:46 GMT -6
This Toys McCoy's looks damn good, as well! Probably costs $1000 though  |
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