Built from genuine merino sheepskin sourced from Turkey — full-grain leather on the outside, natural wool on the inside, the way shearling has been made for a hundred years. Not sherpa. Not polyester. Real sheepskin with the wool still attached to the hide.

This is the modern descendant of the B-3, the jacket the 8th Air Force wore over Europe at 25,000 feet in unheated bombers. We took the lineage and refined it for how a man actually dresses today: waist-length silhouette, clean shearling collar, no costume buckles, no exaggerated proportions. Just a serious cold-weather jacket built to be worn for decades.

The black leather has a subtle distressed finish that softens and breaks in over time, taking on character with every wear. The wool interior holds heat without bulk. YKK zippers, adjustable snap at the waist, two side-entry hand pockets, and a hidden interior chest pocket. Handcrafted in a limited run.

Features

• Genuine merino wool sheepskin shearling — full-grain leather exterior, natural wool interior
• Sourced from Turkey, where shearling has been tanned for generations
• B-3 aviator lineage, modernized fit
• YKK zippers throughout
• Adjustable snap button at the waist
• Two side-entry hand pockets
• One hidden interior chest pocket
• Limited production run

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you wear a black shearling bomber with a suit?

A black shearling bomber works well over a suit in cold weather, especially with charcoal or navy. The waist-length cut sits clean over a suit jacket, and the black tone keeps the look intentional rather than rugged. Stick to leather dress boots or clean leather sneakers — avoid pairing with worn workwear when going for this look.

Is black shearling more formal than brown?

Yes, marginally. Black leather reads more urban and dressed-up than brown across the board, and the same is true for shearling. A black shearling bomber bridges casual and business-casual better than brown, while brown shearling leans more rugged and outdoors-adjacent.

Will the black leather crack or peel over time?

Genuine full-grain leather does not crack or peel under normal wear — that's a problem with bonded or coated leathers. Real leather can dry out if neglected, so condition the jacket once a year with a quality leather conditioner. Avoid radiator heat and prolonged direct sunlight in storage.

What is shearling?

Shearling is sheepskin with the wool still attached to the hide. The skin is tanned on one side to create soft leather; the wool stays on the other side as natural insulation. It is a single piece of material, not two layers stitched together.

Is the wool interior real or synthetic?

Real merino wool. It grew on the sheep whose hide forms the leather exterior. Sherpa is a synthetic polyester knit made to imitate wool — this jacket does not use sherpa.

Is black shearling appropriate for everyday wear?

Black shearling is one of the most versatile cold-weather jackets a man can own. It works over jeans and a tee, layered with knits, with chinos and boots, or thrown over a suit. The black tone hides minor scuffs and is more forgiving in city environments than lighter browns.

How warm is a shearling bomber jacket?

Shearling is among the warmest natural materials made into outerwear. The original B-3 was designed to keep aircrews alive at 25,000 feet in unheated aircraft. For ground-level wear, this jacket handles serious winter cold without bulk.

• Turkish Merino Sheep Wool Leather (Wool fibers are 12 mm to 14 mm in Length)
• YKK Zipper

Features

• Classic Bomber Style Jacket
• Twin Side Entry Hand Pockets
• Adjustable Snap Button on the Waistband for Comfort
• Zippered Front Closure

How to Measure Yourself

Shopping online, as most of us do nowadays, you’ll want to know your measurements to help ensure a great fit. The sketch below shows where to take measurements to compare to clothing you already own. Keep in mind, however, those measurements will only be helpful if taken correctly. Tip: don’t let the measuring tape hang loose when you’re measuring, but avoid pulling the tape excessively tight. Here’s how to get accurate measurements:

Length: Measure from the bottom of the collar to the waist seam.

Shoulders: Measure between the top of the sleeve seams.

Chest: Measure the entire circumference of your chest. Begin with one end of the measuring tape 1 inch below the armhole at the fullest part of your chest. Then, keeping the tape level, wrap it around (under your armpits, around your shoulder blades, and back to the front) to get the measurement.

Sleeve: Accurately measuring sleeve length is tough to do yourself, so ask someone to help with this. Beginning with one end of the tape at the top of your arm, then down to your wrist. This entire length is your arm-length measurement.

How should a leather jacket fit?

Do the same rules apply to how a jacket should fit as to other jackets or outerwear? Not necessarily. Read on for details.

Leather will stretch over time, so you never want to start with a leather jacket that is too big. But that doesn’t mean you want a jacket that’s too small! It’s also essential to allow room for layers under your leather jacket. Here are a few specific tips for finding a leather jacket that fits just right:

Chest: Leather jackets ought to fit more snugly through the chest than a regular overcoat, but consider the types of layers you may want to wear underneath. If you live in a warm climate and will be layering over light clothing such as a dress shirt or t-shirt, we recommend adding 2-3 inches to your measured chest size. If you live in a colder climate and layering over heavier clothing such as sweaters, we recommend adding 3-4 inches to your chest size. If you land between sizes, we recommend sizing up to the next size available. Tip: you should be able to comfortably zip or button your leather jacket all the way up, even if you plan to wear it open.

Shoulders: Suit coat rules do not apply to leather jackets, so it's okay if the shoulder comes down your arm a few inches. However, even though the leather will give over time if the shoulder seam is higher than your shoulder, the jacket is too small.

Waist: The bottom of your leather jacket should not reach below the bottom of your belt/top of your thigh. This is likely shorter than other overcoats you've owned, but a leather jacket that hangs well below the belt is too big unless you're wearing a long leather trench coat.

Sleeve Length: The proper sleeve length on a leather jacket is consistent with pretty much any jacket: sleeves should end at your wrist.

https://buffalojackson.com/blogs/insight/how-should-a-leather-jacket-fit

Looking for even more fit advice?

In addition to our size charts, please click on our new app that asks a few personal questions about you to help with your size choice:

Need to make an exchange?

If you receive your purchase and need to exchange it for a different size, we now provide prepaid shipping labels on all exchange requests (excludes International request)