Horween Deer-Touch Cowhide Rider Jacket

GREAT JACKET, GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE

Fortunately I live near one of Schott's stores so I was able to try on a lot of different jackets to see how they fit and I was able to choose the right size and cut; my wife initially bought a "relaxed" cut jacket as a gift and it was HUGE on me. I exchanged it for this "slim" cut jacket and it fit perfectly with room to layer. The Schott people were great helping me exchange this gifted jacket for one that worked better and I had a great experience with the exchange; no hiccups.

Also, going to the store in-person let me ask questions about the care and maintenance of various models and look at the color of the jackets. If you don't live near a store, definitely reach out to customer support. They're super quick to answer emails and you're talking to a real person giving you knowledgeable answers. It's nice to have that kind of hand-holding these days.

On to the jacket... this jacket already feels lived in, so it's a heavy-weight leather jacket but incredibly soft right from the store; no break-in period required. I think it'd be great from 30-60 degree days. This is a great jacket.

Why four stars? I love that Schott does almost all of their manufacturing in the US but they almost seem to purposefully hide (no pun intended) where their leather comes from. I found out from customer support that a bunch of the leather they use for jackets is imported from other countries so if you want a truly "Made in USA" jacket vs. a jacket that is cut and sewn in the US with imported leather, definitely tell their shop employees or customer support people that you're looking for US-sourced leather and they can tell you which jackets they have that are truly "Made in USA".

Schott should do a better job labeling this information on their products in-store and on their website so you know what you're buying upfront.

Their website has a "Made in USA" section and jackets say "USA" but besides for that... no other information.

I'm happy with my purchase and Schott was great letting me exchange a jacket or two to get one actually "Made in USA", but it took me asking some questions and a couple of tries to find this amazing beauty.

FROM CBGBS TO NOW

I’ve been wearing leather jackets most of my life, and I don’t say that lightly. My relationship with leather started in the mid-80s when I was a punk kid playing gigs in New York. Christmas Eve, 1986, CBGBs — that was the first time I saw a truly great leather jacket in the wild. From that moment on, leather wasn’t fashion, it was armor.

Before that, I wore Empire leathers. After that night, Schott became the standard — the holy grail. Since 1987, Schott has been my benchmark. I own everything from their leather pea coat to multiple Perfectos. I’ve never felt the need to look elsewhere.

Until now.

This Horween leather rider is the real deal. The 3–4oz veg-tanned cowhide is thick, substantial, and confidence-inspiring, but it breaks in immediately. It has that rare combination of strength and softness — rugged without being stiff, supple without feeling precious. Calling it deerskin-soft isn’t exaggeration, it’s accurate.

The design is exactly what I want at this point in my life. No extra BS. No unnecessary details. Just a clean rider silhouette, solid hardware, bi-swing back that actually works, and adjustable side tabs that let you dial in the fit. The black-and-white plaid wool lining feels classic and intentional, not decorative. Everything has a purpose.

Fit-wise, it’s spot on. I’m 5'10", 150 lbs, and the Medium fits perfectly — tailored without being tight, structured without restricting movement. The proportions feel right standing, riding, or sitting.

This jacket feels grown, confident, and timeless. It doesn’t try to prove anything. It just shows up and does the job — which is exactly what great leather should do. In my 50s, that’s what matters most.

This is Horween at its best, and easily one of the finest leather jackets I’ve owned.

EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS

I have a brown Schott Bomber Jacket that I absolutely love and was looking for something in black. I consequently sent for several Schott jackets in black that I hoped would work.. They are all marvelous, but shared a common characteristic, just amazing quality, but too heavy. I am not done looking and am hoping I can find something not so heavy. I wish that Schott offered more jacket styles in a lighter leather material.

Response from Schott NYC: We recommend trying the styles 246 and 562. They are similar styles with lighter weight leathers. The 246 is a lightweight lambskin and the 562 is a lighter pebbled cowhide.

LOVE IT

This is by far the nicest jacket I’ve ever owned. I’m 6’2” and weigh about 195 with broad shoulders and fairly long arms and the XL fits very perfectly.
The color is more of a dark grey than black (which is not a negative, just pointing it out) The jacket is very well made and feels very warm. The lining looks fantastic. It is heavy but not overly so; just enough to make you realize you’re wearing a quality jacket. The buckles on the sides are nice in case you are thinner like me and want the bottom to fit a little closer to your waist to keep the wind out. Thank you Schott for making such a fine product! I am a first-time buyer but after seeing this beauty I’ll be buying more in the future

THE BEST OF THE BEST

Read the other reviews, they're all right. This jacket is so nice, It's soft, yet built like a tank. Built like a tank, yet you can move easily around in it. It looks great when wearing it and is very stylish. I highly recommend this jacket. You won't regret it.

HAPPY OLD GUY

I have simple tastes, I am always satisfied with the best and this jacket takes the cake. I am 72 years old and have had many bikes and leathers over the years, but nothing compares to this jacket. If you’re on the fence just pull the trigger, don’t wait like I did. I am 5’10” , and around 200 lbs, and XL fit is perfect. Thanks

AMAZING!

I looked far and wide for a jacket like this. I prefer the look and feel of a nice, substantial cowhide - this jacket takes it to another level with a buttery soft touch.

It's a beast - weighing in at nearly 6 lbs! An amazingly made jacket meant to last a lifetime and be passed on....

Love it!

ALL OF THESE 5 STAR REVIEWS ARE LEGIT

I bought this jacket around late 2023 I thought I’d give my review.

Leather-Dark grey! Very unique for a leather jacket. I really like it. It’s very soft, almost like wearing a weighted blanket. Definitely a nice weight to it. Smells good oc🙄.

Fit-I purchased a small. I’m 5’10”. Weight 148-157 pounds(I weigh myself everyday at work). It fits great, I only like to wear a T-shirt under my leather jackets so the fit is slim but not restricted. My chest size is 38 maxed out while taking a deep breath lol.
Slightly longer in the front. I have a slightly shorter than average torso and longer than average arms. But this fits perfectly.🤷‍♂️

Price-Don’t look just buy it u won’t regret it. Just look at the reviews….everyone is happy with this jacket. I also read mostly all the reviews before I bought it an some don’t like the buckles on the side, I don’t really care for them either, wouldn’t go out of my way to get them removed. If anything it makes it look even classier.

HIGH QUALITY JACKET

Well-made jacket. I love the design. The leather is absolutely beautiful. It's got some weight to it which is nice.

I'm a woman (5'2" with a relatively short torso and wider hips) and I usually wear a women's medium or large and can typically fit into a men's small. With this being a men's style, I initially ordered a small, but found that the jacket was much too tight in the hip area (couldn't zipper), so I exchanged for a medium. Very happy with the fit. I can comfortably wear a lightweight sweater or sweatshirt under this.
There's some excess material around the shoulders, but I would expect that with it not being cut for women. However, I find most women's jackets are too restrictive in the shoulders, so the extra room is welcome.

LITTLE UPDATE

A quick update regarding my first review -

For anyone who is digging this 693 but dislikes the bottom side belt buckles the way I did - I just took the jacket to a well reviewed leather tailor in town. He took both of them off - super clean, quick and easy. Charged me $30.

To me personally, this jacket is perfect now.
Clean, elegant and smooth without all the epaulettes, belts and buckles.

Absolutely loving it!