kinda new to leather jackets, what is the highest quality veg tan fqhh on the market in your opinion

[sshmuck]

as i said in the title, ive been seriously into quality made leather jackets for about a year or two now. i have very limited experience with fqhh as i only own one truly nice leather jacket and its steerhide. i do hobbiest leather work so i know what good leather feels like, and ive worked with veg tan horse butt culatta that was insanely nice but i don’t know what the best source of fqhh is. i know there are tons of debates on the best shell cordovan and how each tannery is different, is there that kind of info for fqhh? if so i expect i can find it here.

 

[Aloysius]

Are there debates? I figured Horween was head and shoulders ahead of the rest when it came to shell.

As to FQHH you'll find fans of many different leathers. My personal fave is actually chrome tanned.

 

[El Marro]

I’m a big fan of the natural veg tan horsehide from the Comipel tannery. This leather is used by both Aero and Simmons Bilt and zi have a jacket made by the latter from this hide.
it’s thick enough to be substantial and yet has a nice drape and feel from the very first day. It starts out a freakishly pale color, and turns darker with wear and exposure to the sun. I turned mine outside. Every chance I got for the first few weeks I owned it because I wanted to get past the pale phase before I spilled coffee and salsa on it.

 

[sweetfights]

I’m a big fan of the natural veg tan horsehide from the Comipel tannery. This leather is used by both Aero and Simmons Bilt and zi have a jacket made by the latter from this hide.
it’s thick enough to be substantial and yet has a nice drape and feel from the very first day. It starts out a freakishly pale color, and turns darker with wear and exposure to the sun. I turned mine outside. Every chance I got for the first few weeks I owned it because I wanted to get past the pale phase before I spilled coffee and salsa on it.

The Comipel natural horsehide is very special. I own a jacket made of this leather and it is top shelf.

 

[Aloysius]

Meanwhile I loathe it. I think it looks bad new but even worse as it "ages".

This is actually a perfect illustration on how varied opinions about FQHH are, compared to the case with shell where pretty much everyone agrees that, say, Horween is better than Shinki.

 

[El Marro]

Meanwhile I loathe it. I think it looks bad new but even worse as it "ages".

This is actually a perfect illustration on how varied opinions about FQHH are, compared to the case with shell where pretty much everyone agrees that, say, Horween is better than Shinki.

But have you smelled it? It has a nice sweet smell. That makes me smile every time I put it on.

 

[Aloysius]

But have you smelled it? It has a nice sweet smell. That makes me smile every time I put it on.

It would have the same wonderful smell if it were dyed rather than part of this “natty veg tan” fetish that the raw denim/workwear guys started, lol.

 

[handymike]

Are you looking for natural colored hides or dyed (black/brown/ cordovan, etc)?
Horween makes a great product that Aero uses, but I find it too much for a jacket in my Southern California climate. I have Shinki Hikaku for one jacket that is very nice, but in general I find FQHH a bit stiff- I prefer Steerhide in temper. Thedi uses a very nice HH that is softer than any others I’ve had experience with. Victoria Tannery in Italy does some nice looking hides, but I haven’t had a jacket in one of those yet.

 

[MrProper]

I'm not that knowledgeable and only know Horween, Vicenza, Comipel and Shinki from Greg. I like them all, but if I could only choose one, it would probably be Horween, followed by Vicenza, Comipel and then Shinki.
Of course, that's completely subjective.