The Lowdown
The Angel Jackets Dodge is comfortable, the leather is beautiful, the craftsmanship is impressive, and I think it looks great. Granted, this style jacket may not appeal to everyone, but if you like the design, you will love it. It offers just the right amount of storage, and, thanks to the “non-hoodie” hoodie, you get the benefits of of a second latyer under the jacket without the added bulk. This is a brilliant design, and at under $200, I’m calling it a win.
Overall
Pros
- Well constructed
- Comfortable AND functional design
- Gorgeous leather and quality hardware
- Plenty of pockets but not too many
- “Hoodie” is comfortable and warm but doesn’t add bulk
- Hoodie zips out for a cleaner look
- Nicely priced
Cons
This style jacket is not going to appeal to everyone, but if you like the design, you will love it
Some months ago, I reviewed a leather jacket from Angel Jackets and was impressed. The coat was nicely priced, and the design, fit, and quality far exceeded the price and my expectations. I was recently sent the Angel Jackets Dodge, a Men’s black leather bomber with a removable hood; I like it even more than my first jacket from the company.
Last year I began to explore the world of electric bikes and scooters. I realized that with my office just one mile from my house and more of my meetings within a five to ten-mile radius, there was no reason to take out my gas-powered car when an electric ride could get me to my destination just fine.
With spring approaching, I plan to continue this exploration and look forward to reviewing other e-bikes and e-scooters. Here’s the issue, though. My electric bikes have an “official” top speed of 28 miles per hour.
At speeds like that, it makes sense to add additional protection compared to what you might wear for a casual ride on a “traditional” pedal bike. That’s where a close-fitting, comfortable leather jacket that doesn’t restrict your movements comes in, and that is precisely what the Angel Jackets’ Dodge delivers.
The Angel Jackets Dodge sells for $319, but it is only $199 at this time. It’s worth noting that the company’s jackets seem to always be on sale, and the discounted price for many is under $200.
The Angel Jackets Dodge is made from 100% real lambskin leather. As was the case with the first jacket I got from the company, the leather is beautiful. It is soft, supple, and feels great. In the interest of full disclosure, when the coat arrived, it did have a bit of an unpleasant chemical smell, but that dissipated in a few days.
My first Angel Jackets coat was made from distressed leather, so I didn’t fully appreciate how beautiful the leather was. This time though, there was no such distress, and the black leather had what I can only describe as an almost glass-like finish.
I’m 6′ 1″ and hover around 200 pounds; the large version of this jacket fits nicely.
The front of the jacket has clean lines that give it a slick look.
Zippered pockets on both the left and right breast and zippered side pockets offer a decent amount of storage but not so much that you will be tempted to weigh yourself down. The zippers are nicely finished, and the pulls hide away, keeping clean lines even when items are inside.
There are two additional pockets inside the jacket; they lack zippers but are plenty deep.
The sleeves have seams running from the shoulder down to the wrist. The lines are perfectly straight, and the threads are thick, straight, and ready to produce years of wear.
Zippers at each wrist release a gusset. This is great if you want a bit most flexibility at the wrist, but more importantly, it allows you to put on gloves and then zip the jacket’s sleeves over the gloves.
The Angel Jackets Dodge’s back reveals the extensive craftsmanship that went into creating this coat even more clearly than the front. Various leather panels are sewn together in a manner that offers visual interest but, ultimately, creates a single protective panel of leather.
The lower portion is made of three pieces that drop slightly lower at the back so the jacket won’t feel like it is climbing up on you when seated on a bike.
Adjustable leather strips on each side have two snaps, so you can get a bit more or less snug fit.
Finally, the banded collar snaps closed to keep cold air out when riding at higher speeds. Its low profile design means it won’t interfere with a neck gaiter or balaclava.
In short, the leather used in the jacket is gorgeous. The design is both thoughtful and practical. The construction is top-notch. And the jacket not only fits well, but it FEELS excellent! Best of all, it is under $200!!!
All of that would make this jacket a home run. But there’s more to this jacket that adds even more value but does so in a manner that might surprise you.
Want to have an effortless style without the need to sacrifice functionality? Try our men’s black cafe racer leather jacket with a hood. It is made of 100% real lambskin leather with an internal polyester lining and quilted foam for superior softness and comfort. You can wear this biker jacket in different styles with a removable hood.
“You can wear this biker jacket in different styles with a removable hood.” That’s the secret sauce here… and it is a feature I didn’t expect to appreciate as much as I do. Let me explain.
When I first pulled the jacket from the packaging, I was surprised to discover that it was a leather jacket and a hoodie. Sure, the name includes the word “hooded,” but I thought it was a leather hood connected to the jacket’s collar.
But no, just behind the jacket’s zipper, there was a hoodie and its zipper; rising above the collar was a traditional cotton hoodie.
But looks can be deceiving, and, in this case, they are. You see, the “hoodie” is just a hood with “tails” that zip into the jacket and then can be zipped closed while wearing the jacket.
In other words, the “hoodie” has more in common with a dickie than it does with a hoodie.
“Why,” you might wonder, “would someone want this ‘non-hoodie hoodie’ design as part of their leather jacket?”
I can think of a few reasons.
First, the hood itself is incredibly comfortable. It is warm, and because it is not an actual part of the jacket, it moves more freely as you turn your head from side to side.
Second, if you zip the “hoodie’s” “tails” closed while wearing the jacket but leave the actual jacket unzipped, you get the warmth of the coat without the restricted movement that can be associated with a tight-fitting garment.
Layering a full hoodie under this jacket is possible, but the added bulk significantly limits movement. I know this because I tried putting one of my regular hoodies under the jacket, but it was too bulky.
Thus, by using this design, the company provides the benefits of a hoodie without the added bulk, weight, and restricted movement that would be introduced if they layered a “full” version under the jacket.
Best of all, if you don’t want the hoodie, you can unzip it and leave it in your closet until you do. In other words, you get the best of both worlds in a sleek, refined design at a price that remains accessible; I dig it.
Angel Jackets Dodge Features:
- 100% real lambskin leather
- Soft polyester lining with quilted foam
- Removable hood with adjustable drawstrings
- Four outer zippers, two inside pockets
- One extra inside pocket for a cellphone
- Available in black color
I looked into the Angel Jackets Dodge in response to my wife Raina not being thrilled that I’m enjoying riding electric bikes whose top speeds continue to increase. Having a comfortable leather jacket designed for riding was one concession to allay her concerns. I didn’t think of this as a jacket I would wear simply because I like it, but I do, and I’ve been wearing it pretty much every day, weather permitting.
The Angel Jackets Dodge is comfortable, the leather is beautiful, the craftsmanship is impressive, and I think it looks great. Granted, this style jacket may not appeal to everyone, but if you like the design, you will love it. It offers just the right amount of storage, and thanks to the “non-hoodie” hoodie, you get the benefits of a second layer under the jacket without the added bulk. This is a brilliant design, and at under $200, I’m calling it a win. You can check out their entire lineup here.
The Angel Jackets Dodge sells for $319; it is available directly from the manufacturer.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample
What I Like: Well constructed; Comfortable AND functional design; Gorgeous leather and quality hardware; Plenty of pockets but not too many; “Hoodie” is comfortable and warm but doesn’t add bulk; Hoodie zips out for a cleaner look; Nicely priced
What Needs Improvement: Nothing so far
Nice jacket!