Belstaff vs Barbour

KayJay85 · Dec 15, 2009

Looking for some insight from this board on the relative merits of each for a waxed cotton jacket. I am looking for one to deal with the rain in London and the waxed jacket looks like it would go great with my raw denim jeans.

Seems like a huge price difference b/w the 2 (see links below for example). Can you guys explain that to me?
Other than the price difference what is the connotation associated with each brand?

Thanks

http://www.barbourbymail.co.uk/newpr...StyleID=110565

http://www.grandprixlegends.com/moto...ket-black.html

sexonfabric · Dec 15, 2009

seems to be a huge number of these being worn in Belfast at the minute. They are seriously hideous looking items of clothing...

tonylumpkin · Dec 15, 2009

The Belstaff appears to be designed for riding (motorcycle I'm guessing) with protective inserts included for the arms and shoulders. It also includes the liner, which is additional with the Barbour. Factor in the inserts ( and the additional construction needed on the coat to hold them in place) and the liner and you probably account for the price difference. That said, I don't know the quality of the Belstaff, but would personally vouch for the Barbour. So if you don't need the protective elements, I'd go with the Barbour.

Get Smart · Dec 15, 2009

Belstaff has the whole "celebrities wear it" hype behind it which might be a part of the higher price they feel they can command.

In 2009 (10) Barbour seems more "legit", as it's still a British company and made in England. Even tho both brands have a long heritage and pedigree, it seems like each are going after different clientele. Belstaff is marketed for trendy fashion types, Barbour marketed to classic/traditional types. Nothing wrong with either but that seems to be the perception the companies want to give off.

bigbjorn · Dec 15, 2009

I'd get the International. It's the better jacket for casual wear, and the one McQueen wore, if you're into all that. For proper motorcycle wear, it's Aerostich, Vanson, and Alpinestars for me.

Racing Green · Dec 15, 2009

That McQueen pic is of a Barbour International. Don't own any Belstaff but i have 4 Barbours - International, Utility, Beaufort and Bush - which I love.

And yes they do go great with raw denim and nearly any decent footwear - brogues, desert boots, chukkas, adidas trainers for trips to the football etc etc.

Added plus is you see very few in Dublin as people associate them with British rule. It's only available in a tiny handful of shops and during the sales you have to fight off Italian tourists looking for a bargain.

KayJay85 · Dec 15, 2009

Thanks for the replies everyone

I am leaning towards getting the Barbour Intl. Any ideas on where I can pick it up at a bargain price?

Has anyone got any exerpience with their wool overcoats?
http://www.barbourbymail.co.uk/newpr...ategoryID=1971

Get Smart · Dec 15, 2009

Originally Posted by KayJay85

Has anyone got any exerpience with their wool overcoats? http://www.barbourbymail.co.uk/newpr...ategoryID=1971
no, but that's a proper looking coat (just needs a velvet collar to be perfect)

dave · Dec 15, 2009

if you could find a Belstaff made pre-96ish you'd be comparing apples to apples. if you compare new Barbour with a new Belstaff the Barbour is the hands down winner for actual useful wear. I tried them both out at the dallas motorcycle show this year and came home with the Barbour.

I have a vintage version of each as well and if you're prepared to pay vintage prices I would go Belstaff. they just seem to age better, although the Barbour is no slouch. when i was looking at them though my dad was with me (he owned both of my vintage items from new and raced enduro in both) and his 2Â¢ was "you know,you could always tell who you could beat by looking at their gear. all the real racers wore Barbours."

the Thornproof dressing is apparently worth its weight in the wild.

Pablo-T · Dec 15, 2009

SInce Belstaff was sold to the Italians, the prices have been hiked by around 80%; worse still, the London flagship stocks the novelty designs, few of the classics, and is staffed by arseholes. For this reason I'm coming round to the idea of a Barbour International, despite by inverse snobbery about the brand, which over the last few decades has been worn by people who own a Land ROver solely to transport their kids to school.

McQueen according to some reports owned a Belstaff, but most photos show him in a Barbour Internaitonal. There's some good info here:

http://40on2.blogspot.com/2007/04/if...an-update.html

Racing Green · Dec 15, 2009

Originally Posted by Pablo-T

McQueen according to some reports owned a Belstaff, but most photos show him in a Barbour Internaitonal. There's some good info here:

http://40on2.blogspot.com/2007/04/if...an-update.html

Good stuff Pablo, cheers. So to sum it up, when the Italians bought Belstaff they bought McQueen's Barbour to model their new line on. Tells you all you need to know.

demian19002 · Nov 13, 2010

clausc · Nov 13, 2010

^WTF, strange first post. Kvetch? Spam?

demian19002 · Nov 13, 2010

Originally Posted by clausc

^WTF, strange first post. Kvetch? Spam?

No it wasn't.
For those researching it is helpful.
This forum always came up on my searches.

But who cares. right?

"WTF"

so removed.
ciao

clausc · Nov 13, 2010

welcome to the forum.

Belstaff vs Barbour

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