Aero leather is a family business, based in Scotland, who are the manufacturers and sole distributors for the world famous Aero leather jackets. Every Aero garment is individual - a classic in its own right - each made by one highly skilled leatherworker taking a pride in his or her finished garment, not made on a time and cost saving production line.
Aero’s extensive range includes classic café racer and board racers styles of the 1930-60’s to military and flight jackets. What is instantly apparent is the quality of the hides used. After expensive research, Aero managed to source the only tannery based in the States still capable of producing this unique hide to the original specifications, although today quality hides suitable for this type of tanning are still very scarce.
Bolt is able to offer a bespoke jacket service offering a wide range of leathers, linings and styles to choose from as well as ensuring the perfect fit.
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An absolutely stunning example of the USAAF flight jacket. The 3/4 Shearing looks great and the reinforced arms and pockets makes this both a warm and sturdy jacket. Side fasteners taper the jacket nicely on the belt and storm cuffs lock the warmth in.
As Aero say
The rarest, most practical and most stylish of all WW2 Shearling Jackets, like the originals, our AN-J-4 is constructed from seal brown sheepskin with seal brown horsehide trim. After comparing our AN-J-4 jacket to the highest priced American, Japanese and European versions, John Lever, possibly the most highly respected authority on original WW2 Shearling Jackets and reproductions, had this to say about our AN-J-4: "Probably the best repro AN-J-4 available" - Sun 01 Mar, 2015 9:18 pm VLJ Forum (Read his review).
Double stitching features around both the pocket and flap, and the pocket has a button closure. Underarm gussets, lined inside with purple rayon satin as original Spec Sheets. The collar is reinforced with horsehide backing and features a throat latch on the front. The sleeves have storm cuffs again as the original USAAF Spec.. The back is 2 piece above a kidney panel and the side adjusters/buckles are black metal.
If you would like to enquire about a bespoke Aero Jacket, please email Boltmotorcycles@gmail.com to arrange a fitting.
The grizzly jackets are a personal favorite of mine and you will find various incarnations throughout our store. Aero Leathers are known for executing exacting details and their Grizzly is faithful to an original of the 1930’s classic as you’ll find. The combination of Moulton Fur with Horween Chromexcel horsehide is both practical and luxurious. We opted for an understated black fur on black leather which works beautifully with the brass zip and belt details.
As with all our Aero, if you would like a custom jacket in this style, please email Boltmotorcycles@gmail.com and we can arrange a fitting. As well as adjusting the fit we can go through a wide range of leathers, hard wear, linings and details to create your unique jacket.
This is Aero’s precise replication of the original 1936 Type C-3 Vest. Although lesser known than most USAAF Shearling Flight clothing, the Type C-3 was a very popular optional garment, perfect to wear under a Type A-2 or one of the lighter weight Shearling Flight Jackets such as the Type D-1 or Type B-6.
Like the original issue garment, our Type C-3 is made from short fleece lamb shearling, the seams are overbound in leather and the vest closes with a period style Talon zipper.
Aero are re-known world wide for their Highwayman jacket, a traditional straight zip motorcycle jacket originally designed for the American police. Their Premiere version refines the jacket to a slimmer fit, imparts some distinct design details like the speared collars, and uses the very best materials throughout. Being a slimmer jacket it doesn’t provide the movement of the original if you’re wearing it as motorcycle attire, it does look great though. This is a jacket we have stocked for many years and for our latest version we have opted for an Italian Badalassi Steer hide from the Carlo Tannery in Tuscany. This heavy weight leather, like the landscape of its origin is full of character and the traditional method of vegetable tanning will wear in beautifully creating depth.
if you would like a custom jacket in this style, please email Boltmotorcycles@gmail.com and we can arrange a fitting. As well as adjusting the fit we can go through a wide range of leathers, hard wear, linings and details to create your unique jacket.
As Aero say
We are immensely proud to introduce our "All New" 1930s Highwayman, a "back to the future" version of our original classic.
Back in the early 1980s when we first designed the original, and now legendary, Aero Leather "Highwayman" we had no idea how often it would be copied, there is hardly a leather company on the planet who hasn't made a version, some good, some awful but none have ever quite nailed it. Although we have often been asked for a slimmer version, we've always felt this would compromise the original cut, after all there's a lot more to designing a slim cut Highwayman than giving what is essentially a typical 1950s pattern a tweak here and there.
When our original was designed we set out to make a jacket that in every way looked as if it was an American Horsehide jacket designed and made during the 1950s, to change the profile would be to lose the authenticity of the jacket. The only way to achieve the slim cut look was to go back a further 20 years and design a new "Highwayman" as if it was an early 1930s jacket. We took our new Premier pattern block with it's high cut armholes, slimmed down sleeves and classic Pre War profile, made minor changes to the panel configuration, we raised and reshaped the back yoke, dipped the front slightly, substantially restyled the collar, fitted more typical 1930s button cuffs with period Corozo buttons instead of the standard 1950s false cuff used on our original, and finished off the 1930s make over by fitting a period style riveted Hookless grommet zipper and a Japanese made replica of the classic 30s looped pocket zipper.
Although we say so ourselves, the new Highwayman looks and fits exactly how we visualise it would have looked had it been designed in 1931.
The first sample (pictured) is constructed in our new Vegetable tanned Goatskin, one of the most typical leathers used for such a jacket back in the day. That said by 1930 Front Quarter Horsehide was fast becoming the leather of choice in USA for such jacket so our new 1930s Highwayman will also be available in our legendary Chromexcel Heavy Front Quarter Horsehide, a leather exclusive to Aero and not available from any other jacket manufacturer. Recommended lining for period accuracy would be Tartan or Alpaca Wool but whatever the body lining choice, we recommend that the sleeves are lined in cotton drill for ease of wear. The two deep hand-warmer pockets are lined in heavy moleskin for durability and comfort.
The original and legendary Aero Leather "Highwayman" leather motorcycle jacket. Often copied but never equalled.
Made using the very best of materials which sets an Aero Highwayman apart from its clones. Since 1986, when Aero leather first acquired the old style chrome tanned heavy American Chromexcel front quarter horsehide, they have strived to honour the styling and techniques of US manufacturers from the mid- 1900's.
The US tannery aero work with has produced this leather using same tried and tested methods for over 100 years, hence the use of this horsehide as first choice for Aero, every time!
One thing that sets this motorcycle jacket apart and something we are loving at Bolt London is the Black Chromexcel Heavy Front Quarter Horsehide, a leather not available from any other leather jacket manufacturer: Black and Lined in heavy duty Cotton Drill. The two deep hand-warmer pockets are lined in heavy cotton for durability, as is the zip breast pocket, which completes the classic look. The back features two -panel back sections: a shallow "V" shaped yolk being the only design feature on the back.
The strap and buckle side adjusters ensure a snug fit at the waist. As with most Aero Leather jackets they use a genuine Talon centre zipper. The sleeves are finished off with a traditional American style cuff. The overall effect of this hybrid jacket has proved popular with both sexes due to its easy on the eye and non pretentious styling.
Sizes 44” and 46’” that we have in stock are from their blue label production and priced slightly cheaper. This takes a more traditional approach which uses more of the hide and may show some of features of the leather - creasing, marks and so forth.
At Bolt Motorcycles we like wearable jackets, made with love and quality in mind. This is why we love Aero Leather, one of the best and toughest leather jacket manufacturers in the world.
Aero make leather jackets built to last and with timeless style as they are carefully handcrafted in Scotland, since 1981.
This is Classic cafe racer motorcycle jacket is made of brown horse hide leather. This four pocket version has two additional zip-up side hand warmer pockets. It comes as a slimmer fit than the standard bike jacket and it is based on the style of the popular swinging 60's Cafe Racer jackets.
The Aero Cafe Racer Black motorcycle jacket is crafted from Chromexcel leather, giving it a vintage look with grain and character. Resilient and durable, Chromexcel leather requires low maintenance and will allow this leather jacket to soften and age well.
The term ‘Cafe Racer’ originated among motorcycle enthusiasts in the early 1960s in London, where the bikes were used for short rides between popular cafes. The Cafe Racer bikes were lightweight, and optimised for speed, representing status and rebellion.
It’s an authentically styled Classic cafe racer motorcycle jacket with two additional side pockets , bi-swing back, neat stand collar with single stud fastening, Talon centre zipper, zipped cuffs, double kidney protection panel and is fully lined in green cotton lining.
Get your hands on this timeless piece.
The jacket in the legendary photo of Elvis astride his Harley. Since we found a sharper print of the photo we've been able to fine tune our original version to incorperate one or two details not visible our first print.
This all time classic features a right hand, zip closing, hand-warmer pocket with heavy lining, a deep breast pocket with zip above a large "D" pocket with zip entry, a single pillion pocket, studded epaulettes on the shoulders and swing gussets in the back for extra movement.
The sleeves have adjustable Talon zip cuffs to provide extra wind resistance and the jacket is fastened by a 1950s style Talon centre zip set at an angle, brass fittings, a belt with heavy brass buckle, with heavy cotton drill lining throughout and double leather kidney protector panel.
The Wool and leather Half belt is a style that came about when access to leather was scarce which led to the winning combination of wool and leather. The jacket has many similarities to the Donkey Jacket with the leather shoulders, although the half belt back gives it a far smarter appearance. We had ours made in a black Melton wool and finished with a medium weight Horse-Hide details.
• 1950s style
• Standard fit
• Zip closure
• Sloped front yoke
• Two moleskin lined handwarmer pockets
• Single point rear yoke
• Split panel vented back
• Buttons cuffs
• Side adjusting straps
The type III is an original denim. jacket style from the 1950s and one that looks great in leather. We wanted to match the classic silhouette with a leather that would quickly gain character and depth. We chose a mid weight Kelphi Horsehide that works well with the cut of the jacket. Button closures and an olive lining finish the jacket.
As Aero say ;
Like Jerky and Vicenza, ‘Kelpie’ is also a full grain midweight horsehide. What makes it unique in our midweight horsehide range is its full aniline (non-pigment) finish. Married with a blend of classic waxes, this fully translucent and slightly shiny finish protects the leather, but leaves the dye to accentuate all the natural markings and variations in the hide, leaving a beautiful mottled effect throughout and resulting in one of the most dynamic and interesting leathers we’ve worked with.
Unlike the other midweight horsehides, it is also combination tanned (mostly veg tanned then a couple of hours with chrome tanning agents to help lock in the waxes and colour) leaving the leather with a fairly soft temper and with a comfortable suppleness from the start.