Jacket is Giving Me The Creaks

[tblay]

I've had leather items (jackets, briefcases, boots, etc.) that, when new, creaked a little while breaking in. After break in, the creaking went away. However, I picked up an 80s Langlitz on eBay, and it sounds like I'm walking on a Linoleum floor in clown shoes. Even just hanging it up makes me feel like someone is opening 100 screen doors in need of WD-40. I've never experienced creaking (or maybe squeaking?) like this with an older, well broken in item. Any recommendations for lessening the creaks?

Added: I'm sure it needs some conditioning, but I wondered if there were options beyond oiling it up.

 

[Gav]

Embrace the creak. I love the reassuring creak of leather when you reach for that hand rail on the packed commuter train.... That just announces "my jacket is better than all y'all"

 

[ton312]

LOL. My Vansons do that. I think it's just part o' the deal with thick heavy cowhide.

 

[tblay]

Oh, interesting. They still do it after years of use? I'm accustomed to boot leather that creaks at first and then stops.

This is goatskin, but pretty staunch, so maybe it's behaving similarly to that heavier cowhide.

 

[Monitor]

Haha, what Gav said. It's pretty cool when the jacket gets everyone attention like that. Some greasy leather lotion ought to help. For what it's worth, I have an 80's Langlitz as well and it does creak a little as well, but I don't really think about it. I think it's the part of the allure of Langlitz. In certain circles, at least. XD

Which one did you get??

 

[tblay]

It's their flight jacket. I have a Cascade for riding, and I wanted something I could wear, for instance, when camping or going out to the bars. I was able to find this for a great price on eBay, so I won't worry about treating it harshly. It's in great shape, but the creaking starts to drive me a little nuts after a while.

I'm going to see if I can at least reduce it via conditioning.

 

[Seb Lucas]

People here have used baby powder or talc to deal with this. Sprinkle it on and dust off.

 

[Guppy]

People here have used baby powder or talc to deal with this. Sprinkle it on and dust off.

I've never heard of such a thing. Seems odd to me.

 

[singer]

I do know of one product that can help with extremely loud leather creaking, and have used it myself.

It's called Leather Doctor Protector-B

It's main function is to reduce give the leather a non-stick, rub resistance. This reduces staining, because stains don't stick as well. Similar to a nano-protector product, but not the same (not a water resistant, or a weather-proofing product).

This also greatly reduces noise from friction. So you can use it on squeaky/creaky shoes, jackets, etc. (It can also be used inside shoes in the linings so they slip on and off more easily.)

It does work very well for noise.

It does not stain the leather. It's not a grease, it doesn't really penetrate the leather. It's not like a dubbin grease. More like an invisible Teflon-like coating.

The secondary function is to give the leather a certain surface feel. So the "B" in Protector-B imparts a "buttery feel." There are other versions for specialized leather types--such as "draggy feel," "waxy feel," "silky feel."

This line of products is aimed at professional leather restores--far too many options for the average consumer, and no marketing that that customer. Basically pro products sold by a leather chemist.

There is a B+ version that is leather scented. I have this one, but do not like the leather scent (wished is smelled like Shinki . I would go unscented. I've used it on some shoes.

What I would do is:

- If the leather is dry, first condition it. The lubrication will help some. But if the leather is in good shape, don't over-condition it to try to reduce the noise.
- If the noise still bothers you, you might consider trying the protector

Cons:

- Doesn't last forever, so have to keep re-applying. Not sure how often. Perhaps weeks or months.
- Lloud leather can sound cool
- Don't get the scented version

 

[Christopher Hansen]

My wife knows when I'm wearing horse as it seems to creak more than steer. She prefers the steer...

 

[morrison2951]

My Vanson HH Enfield will likely always creak! Built like a tank.

 

[ton312]

I too embrace it. Not all my heavy jackets do it but I feel the Vansons are the loudest and it does add an aire of mystique. I can see where it might be annoying but it does scream ultimate, beyond thunderdome badass.

 

[Seb Lucas]

I've never heard of such a thing. Seems odd to me.

I never said it wasn't odd. It's been reported as effective. I have never tried it. But I know that people have done it with squeaky shoes for decades. Dubbin, Pecards, Lexol, Vaseline, etc don't always work.

 

[AeroFan_07]

Interesting topic! I did a review on a Harley Davidson "basic skins" jacket a while back that I've owned for over a decade, and this is one feature I didn't mention. Even thought it's very long broken in, and truley soft, pliable, thick cowhide, it still creaks and squeaks when you move. Most of my others don't do this all that much, but seem more "settled" on your back.

What you say about boots has also been my experance, usually the thicker ones creak as they break in, then this tends to go away.

 

[navetsea]

yup my heavy black cowhide jacket creaks louder than when new.
with mine the problem lies in the panel connections of the sleeve, since the leather is heavy and thick this connection has some play, where a little bit of leather rubbing against each other in the stitched panel not the surface itself but on the small edges after the stitching, nothing can be done about it because it is inside the construction, so I let it be.

however this new equally thick or thicker grey cowhide doesn't

 

[robrinay]

Creaking leather is a comforting sound it shows the garment is changing shape to fit you perfectly and it shouts quality! Don't be irritated or embarrassed by it, accommodate it - change your mindset instead.

 

[BobJ]

I like the sound of creaking leather, like the creaking deck of an old sailing ship. My jacket only creaks when it is humid or damp. I'll be out walking and the jacket is being as quiet as a church mouse, and then the marine layer rolls in and I'm walking in the fog... and it starts creaking... and I crack a little smile.

There is an extensive thread here about creaking leather, and the conclusion was that it is the threads in the seams, rubbing against the leather, that causes the creaking. Makes sense, that's where I hear my jacket creaking, but I wonder if it could also be the leather against leather in the seam that creaks.

The baby powder or talc, that Seb mentioned, needs to get into the seams to stop the noise.

 

[robrinay]

I'm not sure about the talc suggestion given that it's a micro abrasive when pure and some brands contain other minerals which are a bit more abrasive. Abrasive = wear = not a good thing for threads.

 

[tblay]

Interesting thoughts. I'm not totally averse to the sound. I also find it comforting at times. But what I was hearing was much louder. For instance, I often wear shoes to work that have a Vibram Gumlite sole. When I walk down the linoleum hallway, it sounds like there's a flock of ducks following me. That was the magnitude of the creaking. Of course, it's all subjective, and maybe I was being hypersensitive.

At any rate, I put a light coat of Langlitz's "leather dressing" on last night. This morning, only the tiniest, most comforting of creaks remain. Thanks for all your input!

 

[Peacoat]

As Seb said above, some of us have used baby powder to stop the creak. But not all over the jacket. Sprinkle it on the seams as that is where your jacket is probably creaking. For me the baby powder didn't last long enough. So what I tried was some conditioner in the seams. Works great and lasts a long time.

When your jacket starts creaking again, try the conditioner in the seams and see how that works for you.