Matt's Back on Denimhunters (with a Brutally Honest Weirloom Review)

It’s been another full week here on Denimhunters:

I kicked off a new giveaway, we updated one of our most essential winter buying guides, and I even managed to squeeze in a little story about a new drop connected to it.

But the real highlight this week is something closer to home; someone with a long and very special connection to Denimhunters has written a review of my jeans 🥹

Before we get to all of that, a word about this month’s sponsor of the newsletter:

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOSO

Denim So Heavy It Defies Reason (But I Love It!)

Last week, SOSO dropped something so heavy it should come with a warning label.

Their “Breaker of Arms” 33 oz. denim jacket is the heaviest denim jacket on the market—almost three times thicker than a standard denim jacket.

They only offered ten of these, and—unbelievably—one is still left. If you’ve been thinking about it, there’s really no time to waste.

It comes in two versions:

• Classic indigo, available as both jackets and jeans

• Double indigo, available as both jackets and jeans

If you’ve ever wondered what denim this heavy really feels like, this is your chance to find out.

The N1 Deck Jacket Guide Just Got A Full Refit

We’ve been steadily updating our core buying guides over the past weeks. And the timing of this probably couldn’t be better for this one; it’s getting colder, and you need a proper jacket.

What kind of jacket? An N1, of course.

We’ve just given our N1 Deck Jacket buying guide a complete overhaul. Originally built to keep U.S. Navy sailors warm on icy decks in the North Atlantic, the N1 has become a timeless essential for anyone into rugged, heritage-inspired outerwear.

In the updated version, we cover everything from the jacket’s WWII origins to the details that make it special—Bedford cord shell, alpaca lining, throat latch, storm flap—and we round it off with the best versions you can buy today.

The new list includes:

• Buzz Rickson’s – the best all-round reproduction of the original

• Iron Heart – a tougher, rider-focused take that’s become a scene favourite

• Real McCoy’s – a stitch-perfect Japanese rebuild that nails every detail

• Plus Dehen, Tellason, and Cockpit USA for different budgets and climates

If you’re after a winter jacket that looks sharp and feels indestructible, start here.

Finally, An N1 Jacket You Can Wear All Year

Just as we finished updating our N1 guide, Iron Heart dropped their new lightweight N1 this week—and I couldn’t resist writing about it.

Available in khaki and black, it looks like the classic, but swaps the heavy alpaca lining for breathable Ventile cotton, turning the deep-winter deck jacket into something you can wear most of the year.

Time For Your October Indigo Invitational Update

November’s here, which means it’s time for the second monthly update in this year’s Indigo Invitational. If you’re competing—especially if you’re in a pair of Weirloom jeans—make sure to submit your progress (and tag @weirloom if you post your fades on Instagram).

Bryan’s also launched the official Year 5 tees, made together with Iron Heart from Utilitees T-shirts. They come in black or white, each with the new anchor-and-piston crest, and they’re available for pre-order until November 7.

A Decade Later, Matt’s Back On Denimhunters

This one’s special. My old friend and former Denimhunters partner, Matt Wilson (or Matthew, as he prefers now), has written (and filmed) a review of the WL-001 ‘Second Edition’ jeans.

I sent him a pair, mainly because I wanted his honest opinion. He’s always been straightforward with me, and this review is no exception. It’s completely independent.

He digs into the decade-long story behind the jeans, our shared denim history, and what makes this pair different.

Redcast and Samurai Revive A Forgotten Dye

Something else that’s been in the making for quite some time is the new collaboration between Redcast Heritage and Samurai Jeans. Two years of development, endless dye experiments, and countless failed samples have led to this: a 21 oz. selvedge denim overdyed with Yamamomo, a natural dye extracted from the Japanese bayberry tree.

The result is a brownish-indigo tone unlike anything else—rich, organic, and slightly unpredictable. No two pairs are the same, and only 200 exist, each individually numbered and finished with details that tie the two brands together.

The jeans launch today (Friday, October 31) at 6 pm CET (10 am PDT / 1 pm EDT).

Iron & Resin Giveaway: You Can Still Enter

If you missed it earlier this week, we’ve teamed up with Iron & Resin and Heddels to give away a full cold-weather starter pack worth more than $800. It includes four of Iron & Resin’s best pieces: the Remington Jacket, Wincha Shawl Collar Sweater, Lotus Shirt, and Lancaster Pant.

Entries close Monday, November 3, so if you haven’t thrown your name in yet, now’s a good time.

That’s it for this week. Plenty to read, watch, and maybe even buy—enjoy the weekend, and I’ll see you next Friday.

Thomas