Made In The USA: Hillside Leather

I have a really good motorcycle jacket. It's a high-viz Fieldsheer "High Temp". Without the liner, it's livable in ninety-degree weather. With the liner, it's comfortable down to thiry-five degrees on an unfaired bike. There's just one little problem: it's made overseas. In Pakistan, to be precise. I have no issue with Pakistan --- I've raced for the "Pakistan Express" NASA team in the past and I count multiple ex-pat Pakistanis among my friends --- but obviously I'd like to have a USA-made motorcycle jacket. And it would be even better if the jacket could be made from horsehide, of course.

Enter Hillside USA. They are far from the only American source for motorcycle jackets --- Ronnie Schreiber will be furious with me if I don't mention Reed, from Detroit, and there are others --- but they're relatively cheap and they are willing to put a fair amount of effort into getting you sized correctly. When you're buying a horsehide jacket, the size has to be absolutely right because horsehide does not stretch.

Last month I got my "trial fit" jacket. I sent back corrections and now I have my very own horsehide Cafe Racer coat. It was thirty-seven degrees outside this morning and I rode the CB1100 in to work with no trouble. I suspect it's going to be hot in the summer but it isn't like I'm throwing the Fieldsheer out. I should also point out that the jacket has to weigh five pounds, possibly more. Putting it on is like suiting up for a joust.

Hillside also makes a very nice Cordura vest but I'm still working out the sizing on that one. Those of you who think no motorcycle ride is complete unless you're carrying a pistol will note with approval Hillside's right-hand-draw pistol pocket that makes it easy to draw and shoot from the bike.

No, I'm not riding around with a Glock. I understand that "Sons Of Anarchy" was fictional and I don't expect to attend any biker rallies in Waco anytime soon. But the pocket also works well for a phone. Just make sure you don't "draw your phone" in front of any trigger-happy cops, okay?