Vanson Leathers

Thurston Bros.' offerings of the best leather jackets in the world wouldn't be complete without the enduring American brand, Vanson Leathers! Vanson has the humble beginnings of a real American business success story--Michael van der Sleesen began making leather jackets for bikers in his Boston apartment in the early 1970s with the determination to create high-quality and safety-minded motorcycle apparel. That ethos continues today with Vanson continuing their commitment to construction methods and materials based on race-track experience and research. Vanson has been a key part of motorcycle road racing and drag racing since the 1970s, and they continue to suit up racers like Eric Wood, Donnie Huffman, and Eric Gulbransen...you'll even find Eric Buell riding the street in a Vanson Sport Rider jacket that matches his yellow Buell prototype motorcycle! This practice of taking race track experience and extending it to street gear is a process that Thurston Bros. truly relates to. We've used this process to develop one of our most popular jackets, the Vanson Comet PLU-3. This custom cafe' racer jacket has the safety construction of the very best motorcycle race suits on the market, yet the styling and fit of a classic 1960s motorcycle jacket!​

Purchasing a Vanson Comet PLU-3 or a Vanson Model B is like owning a piece of American motorcycle history. These jackets are still made in Fall River, MA through a process that​ starts with Vanson's ultra-secret tanning process of carefully selected premium cowhides and is finished by a skilled Vanson-trained artisan. The competition-weight cowhide that Vanson uses has a stiffness that molds to your body as it breaks in, bringing about more of the natural grain of the cowhide and characteristics that epitomize a vintage leather jacket.

​All of our staff at Thurston Bros. have worn and tested Vanson Leathers out on the road, and we can tell you, from first hand experience, that Vanson products are definitely "RUFF" STUFF!