Thomas Koehle
Well-Known Member
I have known BRONSON since approx 2009 when i was still living and working in China and BRONSON was available in mainland China and maybe TAIWAN via TAOBAO only.
Since then i purchased quiet a lot of stuff from them and actually have never been disappointed.
Nowadays its pretty easy to order from them - most of you already experienced it already - no Mandarin language skills necessary anymore and delivery straight to your place within about a week from China to whereever you're located.
One of the latest items i bought where "1942 US Army Chino Trousers" coz i was looking for something else but just denims/jeans.
Due to the fact that i do not own either originals nore the high-end "copy" from "The Real McCoy" i compared it with some "Engineer Pants" i ordered from "PIKE BROTHERS" years ago.
As from comparison of the value/price the BRONSON version is listed with 82.- bucks, the PIKE BROTHERS version was approx 170.- bucks and the "TRM" version is listed (believe it or not) 525.- Euros equals 570.- USD
Quality-wise the fabric of both pants have similar weight - sewing as well as those small acessories as well as craftmanship are similar quality as well.
The BRONSON version in the background does not have those extra buttons for the suspenders and the D-ring (which wheren't a feature of the MIL-version anyway) other than that both pants look similar. As from a color-comparison the BRONSON version has a more "khaki-ish" tone than the PB pants
similar impression from the backside: the PB version has a "chinch back" sotosay and an extra button to close the left butt-pocket.
the internals of both pants show the main difference of both pieces: the BRONSON closure (what's that correct English word?) has 5 buttons whereas the PB has 4 buttons only. Means the waist of the BRONSON sits a thad higher than the PBs.
dimension-wise the leg-cuffs are similar on both pants
finally some fit-pics for comparison (Chambray shirt = BRONSON Chinos / red cardigan = PIKE BROTHERS Chinos)
Concerning sizing both pants run true in the waist - the BRONSONs are available in inseam 32 only oppose to the PIKE BROTHERs which have been available in inseam up to 36. Due to that i needed to let out the cuffs of the BRONSON which is standard for me on all BRONSON pants.
my personal conclusion:
PIKE BROTHRES never claimed their "Engineer Pants" as 1:1 copies or repros of any specific garment neither civil or military. Materials and craftmanship are at a similar level on both pants. The BRONSONs needed some time at the seamstress but the PBs where "ready to wear" right out of the box. If you want to achieve that "vintage look" matching your fligth jackets with wearing some "oldschool" pants i'd highly recommend those BRONSON Chinos.
They are absolutely worth those 80.- bucks without being "cheapos" and i cannot imagine those "TRM" pants are that much better to justify a pricedifference of almost 500.- USD
For everyone feel free to post your experience with BRONSON products. I will try to post some more "reviews" of the other gear i got from BRONSON.
Since then i purchased quiet a lot of stuff from them and actually have never been disappointed.
Nowadays its pretty easy to order from them - most of you already experienced it already - no Mandarin language skills necessary anymore and delivery straight to your place within about a week from China to whereever you're located.
One of the latest items i bought where "1942 US Army Chino Trousers" coz i was looking for something else but just denims/jeans.
Due to the fact that i do not own either originals nore the high-end "copy" from "The Real McCoy" i compared it with some "Engineer Pants" i ordered from "PIKE BROTHERS" years ago.
As from comparison of the value/price the BRONSON version is listed with 82.- bucks, the PIKE BROTHERS version was approx 170.- bucks and the "TRM" version is listed (believe it or not) 525.- Euros equals 570.- USD
Quality-wise the fabric of both pants have similar weight - sewing as well as those small acessories as well as craftmanship are similar quality as well.
The BRONSON version in the background does not have those extra buttons for the suspenders and the D-ring (which wheren't a feature of the MIL-version anyway) other than that both pants look similar. As from a color-comparison the BRONSON version has a more "khaki-ish" tone than the PB pants
similar impression from the backside: the PB version has a "chinch back" sotosay and an extra button to close the left butt-pocket.
the internals of both pants show the main difference of both pieces: the BRONSON closure (what's that correct English word?) has 5 buttons whereas the PB has 4 buttons only. Means the waist of the BRONSON sits a thad higher than the PBs.
dimension-wise the leg-cuffs are similar on both pants
finally some fit-pics for comparison (Chambray shirt = BRONSON Chinos / red cardigan = PIKE BROTHERS Chinos)
Concerning sizing both pants run true in the waist - the BRONSONs are available in inseam 32 only oppose to the PIKE BROTHERs which have been available in inseam up to 36. Due to that i needed to let out the cuffs of the BRONSON which is standard for me on all BRONSON pants.
my personal conclusion:
PIKE BROTHRES never claimed their "Engineer Pants" as 1:1 copies or repros of any specific garment neither civil or military. Materials and craftmanship are at a similar level on both pants. The BRONSONs needed some time at the seamstress but the PBs where "ready to wear" right out of the box. If you want to achieve that "vintage look" matching your fligth jackets with wearing some "oldschool" pants i'd highly recommend those BRONSON Chinos.
They are absolutely worth those 80.- bucks without being "cheapos" and i cannot imagine those "TRM" pants are that much better to justify a pricedifference of almost 500.- USD
For everyone feel free to post your experience with BRONSON products. I will try to post some more "reviews" of the other gear i got from BRONSON.
