Looking for a new motorcycle jacket with retro flair? California-based Iron & Resin just launched its new Moto Collection, but be warned—handmade equipment never comes cheap.
There are three new jackets in the Iron & Resin collection: The Enduro, the Ranger, and the Scrambler.
All three jackets are made of 12-ounce Halley Stevenson waxed cotton, imported from Scotland. All three jackets come with CE 1-rated shoulder and elbow protection. All come with a CE 2-rated back protector. Although the waxed cotton is weatherproofish, Iron & Resin also included a lightweight membrane layer to shed more water and wind. Inside the jacket, there’s a flannel liner.
Basically, then, it’s all classic riding jacket stuff, the same general style and construction we’ve seen from the pre-WWII British scene (with the exception of the weatherproof membrane, that’s a more recent idea). This gear should provide a little road rash resistance, and should be fairly rainproof, but don’t expect modern breathability either.
The jackets all look very similar, but the Enduro is three-quarters-length, very similar to the Barbours that Steve McQueen and his ISDE contemporaries favoured. The Ranger is a bit shorter, with no belt, but with the classic slanted map pocket. The Scrambler is the shortest, a waist-length jacket.
All the jackets are similarly expensive, as well. The Enduro is currently selling at $465 US (pre-order pricing, a 15 percent cut from normal MSRP). The Ranger is $390 US, the Scrambler is $425 US (again, both priced 15 percent lower for pre-orders). That’s pricey, but again, Iron & Air does say these jackets are hand-made (but on the website, it’s hard to find out exactly where they’re handmade).
The official line from the marketeers is “Iron & Resin is the brainchild of several friends who, after decades of collective experience building successful clothing brands, decided to turn back the clock and start anew. We started this brand because we were tired of the disposable garbage so many brands were peddling to us. The result is a small, hand built collection of goods that draws heavily upon the founder’s own lifestyles and experiences.” Does that make these jackets worth the money, or should you save for a better-known (but less hip) entity like Aerostich? It’s your cash. Iron & Air does ship to Canada, though, if you decide to buy.
