I haven't actually bought any Hideout products but recently they altered a Rukka Coriace suit for me. The alterations weren't cheap at £650 but they had to do quite a bit to it to make it fit me properly:
Jacket - widen the shoulders
Jacket - widen the body
Jacket - shorten the arms
Jacket - open out the cuffs
Trousers - open out the hips
Trousers - shorten the legs
Trousers - tighten the trouser cuffs
All whilst retaining the Gore-Tex liner/waterproofing.
The service was excellent. It took two months but that was over Christmas and I had said to Hideout that I wasn't in a rush to get the suit back.
I paid £1,000 for the Rukka (reduced from £2,000) so even with paying Hideout I'm still saving over the initial RRP. My only regret is buying the Rukka instead of just going to Hideout and getting a MTM suit in the first place. Don't get me wrong, the Rukka is a quality piece of kit but having seen Hideout's own waterproof kit I know what I'd rather spend my money on.
They make quality gear. My leather jacket is probably the best made I've ever owned. If they were more local to me for the made to measure stuff,I'd buy a lot more stuff from them.
Skub wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 1:34 pm
They make quality gear. My leather jacket is probably the best made I've ever owned. If they were more local to me for the made to measure stuff,I'd buy a lot more stuff from them.
They're kinda in the middle of nowhere which is why I wasn't in a rush, I tied it in with seeing my folks.
The other point I forgot to mention, you can't tell that my suit has been altered unless you compare side by side with an off the peg one - the workmanship on mine is superb.
I had some leathers altered by them about 20 years ago, good service and they did a good job, also commented that the off the peg Swift leathers they altered for me were well made.
I'd happily buy a set of made to measure leathers off them, but I'm not sure that I've stopped growing.
I've got two sets of Crowtree leathers that need altering, as they appear to have unaccountably shrunk. Neglect them for years and they shrink, apparently...
I've approached a couple of places that advertise leather clothing modifications, but as soon as I mention Crowtree they back off saying that their machinery can't cope. So I guess Hideout leathers are my best bet for alterations.
My 'real' leathers are Crowtree - Mrs. D is a native of Louth, where Crowtree were based, which is a big factor in why I ended up with them.
I got my old Alpinestars jacket modded at Hideout a couple of years ago. They took the padding out, slimmed it down a bit and removed the 'baggyness' from where the padding no longer was. It's my normal day-to-day jacket now. Really can't fault the workmanship.
I was chatting to the owner (Kate?) about Crowtree. Unsurprisingly she knew the owner (Alec?) after a fashion, must be a small world after all. She had good things to say about 'em. I get the sense Hideout would be able to work on Crowtree stuff.
I really fancy some hideout MTM textiles, but they're ££££.
Mr. Dazzle wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 4:47 pm
I was chatting to the owner (Kate?) about Crowtree. Unsurprisingly she knew the owner (Alec?) after a fashion, must be a small world after all. She had good things to say about 'em. I get the sense Hideout would be able to work on Crowtree stuff.
Yes, Alec and Linda Baumber were Crowtree Leathers. As you say, based in Louth in very modest premises, but the quality of workmanship and materials used was top notch. A mate and I rode down from Stafford for a fitting and then back again a couple of months later to collect them and wear our one-piece race leathers home. My god those things were tough. Both of us had bruising from the tight fit, but over the weeks and months they bedded in and became like a second skin. The leather was triple-skin at some points, and their leather was not thin.
Hideout, along with Crowtree, MW, BKS and some others I've forgotten were the 'indie' alternatives to the big names like Dainese, Kushitani etc. whose products were arguably better, but cost a lot less. I'm sure Hideout would be able work on my Crowtrees. I need to get in contact and make an appointment to visit with my leathers, I think.
Last edited by mangocrazy on Wed Mar 01, 2023 7:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Mr. Dazzle wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 4:47 pm
I really fancy some hideout MTM textiles, but they're ££££.
Yep, they're pricey but then I paid £2k for Rukka Nivala, Hideout textiles are only a bit more. Obviously it's a serious investment but even with WFH I'm still doing 10-15k miles a year.
ZRX61 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 4:56 pm
Are they still based in a Cambridge back street?
Nope, they're out past Ashdon (Saffron Walden) now.
I have Hideout one piece leathers that i had M2M in about 1999...
I can still get into them ( they are a little baggy TBH, and getting into one piece leathers, when you are 62, is different to when you are 39!
I think they were probably made from either rhino elephant hide. Took and age to wear in - but were very comfortable ( if not a tad hot). Hideout then perforated them in the front for me, and added a nice Hideout armadillo as a tramp stamp.
I did a track day in them 2 years ago
Christ are they heavy!
I think I paid around 900 quid then - all done via MJK in Flitwick. MJK leather would have been about 600 quid
I bought bargain Hideout leather jacket from eBay - I think the Hideout cost was around 700 GBP, I paid 80 GBP. In theory it should have fitted - but it is way too tight. Kate said she would ( and could ) alter it for 250 GBP - which I will probably get done this year.
There stuff is brilliant - not necessarily on point with fashion - but it crashed well, when I did.
Beancounter wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 5:45 pm
but even with WFH I'm still doing 10-15k miles a year.
How's that even possible!
15k is probably a stretch thinking about it but 10k easily.
One day a week in the office is 80 miles. One day on site can be anywhere between 100 miles to 300 miles. Then there are bike trips, last year was about 2,000 miles with social rides on top.
Mr Moofo wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 6:15 pm
I have Hideout one piece leathers that i had M2M in about 1999...
I can still get into them ( they are a little baggy TBH, and getting into one piece leathers, when you are 62, is different to when you are 39!
I think they were probably made from either rhino elephant hide. Took and age to wear in - but were very comfortable ( if not a tad hot). Hideout then perforated them in the front for me, and added a nice Hideout armadillo as a tramp stamp.
I did a track day in them 2 years ago
Christ are they heavy!
I think I paid around 900 quid then - all done via MJK in Flitwick. MJK leather would have been about 600 quid
I bought bargain Hideout leather jacket from eBay - I think the Hideout cost was around 700 GBP, I paid 80 GBP. In theory it should have fitted - but it is way too tight. Kate said she would ( and could ) alter it for 250 GBP - which I will probably get done this year.
There stuff is brilliant - not necessarily on point with fashion - but it crashed well, when I did.
MJK are a Dutch company, Flitwick Motorcycles were their agent in the UK (probably still are), a mate bought a set of MTM from them 25 years ago, they measured me up and told me there was no point me buying MTM, I was an exact fit for 42" otp leathers, wish that was still true today
Mr Moofo wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 6:15 pm
I have Hideout one piece leathers that i had M2M in about 1999...
I can still get into them ( they are a little baggy TBH, and getting into one piece leathers, when you are 62, is different to when you are 39!
I think they were probably made from either rhino elephant hide. Took and age to wear in - but were very comfortable ( if not a tad hot). Hideout then perforated them in the front for me, and added a nice Hideout armadillo as a tramp stamp.
I did a track day in them 2 years ago
Christ are they heavy!
I think I paid around 900 quid then - all done via MJK in Flitwick. MJK leather would have been about 600 quid
I bought bargain Hideout leather jacket from eBay - I think the Hideout cost was around 700 GBP, I paid 80 GBP. In theory it should have fitted - but it is way too tight. Kate said she would ( and could ) alter it for 250 GBP - which I will probably get done this year.
There stuff is brilliant - not necessarily on point with fashion - but it crashed well, when I did.
MJK are a Dutch company, Flitwick Motorcycles were their agent in the UK (probably still are), a mate bought a set of MTM from them 25 years ago, they measured me up and told me there was no point me buying MTM, I was an exact fit for 42" otp leathers, wish that was still true today
It wasn't Flitwick Motocycles - but guy in the main street who acted as an agent for both Hideout and MJK
Mr Moofo wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 6:15 pm
I have Hideout one piece leathers that i had M2M in about 1999... Their stuff is brilliant
Things have changed since 1999. A little . Their stuff is still brilliant but no longer made from rhino or elephant hide. Hideout’s current cowhide is wonderfully supple — it makes Astars and Dainese leathers feel cheap!
Hideout’s kangaroo gear is impressively light — their ‘roo trousers feel more lightweight than Kevlar jeans. I tried on a pair of Hideout’s kangaroo pants, but the price made me jumpy
Dainese’s latest small print recommends replacing their leathers every five years, whereas Hideout gives their leathers and textiles a lifetime guarantee. The difference speaks volumes.
Hot_Air wrote: ↑Fri Mar 03, 2023 7:26 pm
Hideout’s kangaroo gear is impressively light — their ‘roo trousers feel more lightweight than Kevlar jeans. I tried on a pair of Hideout’s kangaroo pants, but the price made me jumpy
Their site doesn't seem to mention which animal the trousers were made from?
. Their stuff is still brilliant but no longer made from rhino or elephant hide. Hideout’s current cowhide is wonderfully supple — it makes Astars and Dainese leathers feel cheap!