Actually peaked today. Managed to snag a deadstock pair of Factory Pilots (SKU 94025-323) in the New Khaki colorway at a local thrift for only 35 bucks. I’ve been hunting for an authentic set forever, but finding a True Gen 1 from the August 2007 batch is basically unheard of. Even the instruction insert is dated July '07. This is a literal time capsule!
- Pros: The protection is obviously legendary, and they look hard as hell.
- The Weird: The sizing is a bit wonky. Even though they fit my palms well (Size M), the fingers are running way longer than mine. Also, the long cuff is a bit of a watch-fighter, so I might have to rock the G-Shock over the glove (photo 3).
- Cons: We all know the drill with these OGs. The knuckle bite is real until they're fully broken in, and I’m definitely worried about the rubber wrist tabs getting brittle after sitting in the original Ziploc bag since '07.
Included a shot of the internal tags for the authenticity confirmation (photo 4). The Japanese labeling is a nice touch. Also threw in a side-by-side with my older, lighter pair that I've owned for a decade at the end. Based on the stitching and the hue of the material, I’m pretty sure I stumbled onto an earlier production run.
Did I actually score the ultimate legacy pair, or am I trippin? Let me know if any of you are still rocking '07 batches or if these belong in a museum at this point.