Legendary USA makes seven leather club vest styles, and the differences come down to leather weight, collar, closure, and pockets. The Dixon is the lightest at 2.5 oz cowhide, the Outlaw is the heaviest at 3.0 oz, the Reaper and Brotherhood sit in between, and the Club Style, Peacemaker, and Gunslinger are the side-lace and western options. All are cut and stitched in the USA.
The seven styles at a glance
Leather weight is measured in ounces per square foot, and one ounce is about 0.4 mm of thickness. A heavier hide is stiffer, warmer, and slower to break in, and a lighter hide moves easily and suits more months of the year. The figures below come from each vest's product page.
| Vest | Leather | Collar | Closure and back | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dixon | 2.5 oz (1.0 mm) lightweight cowhide | Not stated | Side lacing, wide front yoke | Lightest leather in the lineup |
| Club Style | Top-grain cowhide | Collarless | Side lacing, chevron back yoke with full lower back panel | 2 to 4 inch chest adjustment |
| Reaper | 2.75 to 3.0 oz (1.1 to 1.2 mm) medium-weight cowhide | 1 1/4 inch stand-up | Hidden main snap | Union-made, sized in actual chest measurements |
| Brotherhood | 2.75 to 3.0 oz (1.1 to 1.2 mm) medium-weight cowhide | Collarless | Hidden snaps on chest pockets, reinforced armholes | Union-made, sized in actual chest measurements |
| Outlaw | 3.0 oz (1.2 mm) Super Premium Deer-Touch cowhide | 1 1/4 inch stand-up | Hidden snap with cropped zipper front, one-piece back | Flagship traditional club vest |
| Peacemaker | Mid-weight cowhide | Not stated | Buffalo nickel snaps, side lacing, clean back panel | Western hardware, drop scoop hem |
| Gunslinger | Premium cowhide | Not stated | Buffalo nickel snaps, side lacing | Hand-braided leather cord accents |
Where the table says not stated, the product page does not specify the collar. Pocket layouts and exact cuts vary, so check each product page before you order.
Lightest to heaviest: choosing by leather weight
Pick the lightest leather that gives you the structure you want. The Legendary Dixon leather vest is the vest for riders in warm or mixed climates, because its 2.5 oz cowhide is the lightest in the lineup and was made for year-round use where a 3.0 oz vest would be too heavy. The Legendary Outlaw leather vest goes the other way, with 3.0 oz Deer-Touch cowhide, a one-piece back panel, and leather armhole binding.
In the middle, the Legendary Reaper club vest and the Legendary Brotherhood vest use medium-weight cowhide. Both are union-made in the USA by Workers United Local 73. The Reaper is Legendary USA's best-selling outlaw style vest.
Collar or collarless
A collar adds warmth and a more traditional silhouette, and a collarless vest is cooler and easier to layer. The Reaper and Outlaw have a 1 1/4 inch stand-up collar, and the Outlaw page says the collar guards against leatherneck syndrome on long highway rides. The Brotherhood and Club Style are collarless, and the Dixon, Peacemaker, and Gunslinger pages do not specify a collar.
If you wear your vest over a jacket or a hooded layer, a collarless cut tends to sit more cleanly. If you ride in a vest and flannel or a riding shirt, the stand-up collar is part of the look.
Hidden snaps vs side lacing
Hidden snaps give a clean front, and side lacing gives adjustability. The Outlaw and Reaper use hidden snap designs on the front, and the Dixon, Club Style, Peacemaker, and Gunslinger use side lacing that allows roughly 2 to 4 inches of chest adjustment. If your weight or layering changes with the seasons, lacing is the more forgiving choice, and our hidden snap vest buying guide explains the other side.
Lacing is not a fix for the wrong size. Measure first with the motorcycle vest sizing guide, because the Reaper and Brotherhood are sized in actual chest measurements instead of S, M, L, and XL.
Patches and back panels
Choose the back panel for the patches you plan to wear. The Outlaw has a clean one-piece back and the Peacemaker has a clean back panel, and the Club Style has a chevron yoke with a full lower back panel that leaves room for embroidery and patches. The Dixon has a wide front yoke that makes patch installation easier. For sewing instructions, see how to sew patches on a leather motorcycle vest.
Concealed carry and everyday pockets
The Reaper, Brotherhood, Outlaw, Dixon, Peacemaker, and Gunslinger all include concealed carry pockets, and the Club Style has twin front pockets and two inside vertical pockets for valuables. The Reaper, Brotherhood, Outlaw, and Dixon use the Pistola tethered or Cordura-lined pocket system. Check local carry laws before you ride armed, and read the concealed carry motorcycle vest guide for how the pockets are built.
What these vests are not
These are leather vests, not armored garments. None lists a CE rating, and a vest covers your torso but not your arms. If you want abrasion protection for a full slide, a jacket is a different category of gear, and a vest is a layer you add to it.
Which style fits which rider
For a warm-climate year-round vest, choose the Dixon. For a traditional club look with a collar, choose the Outlaw or Reaper. For a collarless club cut, choose the Brotherhood, and for an adjustable fit choose the Legendary Club Style vest.
For western character, choose the Peacemaker or Gunslinger. The buffalo nickel vest story explains that hardware. Compare the full range in Made in USA motorcycle vests, and for the larger decision process see the leather motorcycle vest buying guide.
For general rider safety and gear guidance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publishes motorcycle safety information.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the lightest Legendary leather club vest?
- The Legendary Dixon is the lightest, made from 2.5 oz (1.0 mm) lightweight cowhide. Legendary USA designed it for year-round use where the 3.0 oz Outlaw would be too heavy for the climate. It has side lacing and a wide front yoke for patches.
- What is the difference between the Reaper and the Outlaw vest?
- The Outlaw uses 3.0 oz Super Premium Deer-Touch cowhide with a one-piece back and leather armhole binding. The Reaper uses 2.75 to 3.0 oz medium-weight cowhide, is union-made, and is sized in actual chest measurements. Both have a 1 1/4 inch stand-up collar.
- Which Legendary vest is collarless?
- The Brotherhood and Club Style are listed as collarless. The Reaper and Outlaw have a 1 1/4 inch stand-up collar, and the Dixon, Peacemaker, and Gunslinger pages do not specify one. A collarless cut layers more easily over a jacket, while a stand-up collar suits the traditional outlaw look.
- Which leather vest has side lacing for adjustment?
- The Dixon, Club Style, Peacemaker, and Gunslinger have side lacing. The Club Style and Gunslinger product pages list 2 to 4 inches of chest adjustment. Lacing helps with seasonal layering, but it does not correct a vest that is the wrong size to begin with.
- Are Legendary leather vests armored or CE rated?
- No. Legendary USA leather vests are not armored and do not list CE ratings. They are leather layers that add abrasion resistance and wind blocking to your torso. If you want certified armor, wear a separately certified armored garment underneath.
- Which club vest is best for patches?
- The Outlaw has a clean one-piece back panel, and the Club Style has a chevron yoke with a full lower back panel made for embroidery and patches. The Dixon has a wide front yoke that makes patch installation easier. Choose based on where your patches go.