Vegetable Tanned Leather Break-in

[Raymundo]

My jacket of choice is a russet brown horsehide A-2. The repos that I have seen and touched have leather that felt as stiff as cardboard and were not comfortable to wear. Makes me wonder how stiff the horsehide jackets were when newly issued during WWII. Anyway, is there any known method of softening up these jackets other than wearing them every day for three or four years? I know chrome tanning softens leather but every horsehide jacket that I have come across was vegetable tanned like the originals. Any ideas for quick break-in without destroying the jacket?

Thanks,

Ray

 

[gimmesomeshelte]

Ray-

The fastest way to break in a jacket is to 'wear it wet.' Some people sponge on very warm water. I prefer to wear my jackets in a drizzle. Please note, however, that you can over do it. I've heard jacket linings shrinking when the got too wet.

Paul-

 

[greyhound68]

Ray,
Did you buy one yet? What brand did you get? The Monarch A2 I got from RMNZ was soft when new. It was a darker brown than russet. The hot water treatment does soften the leather I have used it but you must be careful not to get the lining too wet as it can damage it.

 

[scotrace]

Mine is veg tanned russet horse. Wearing it often and in the occasional drizzle is softening it up at a nice pace, and it also makes the grain appear.

YMMV

 

[Raymundo]

Greyhound 68,

I have not bought a horsehide jacket yet. Still looking. I did send back a US Authentic horsehide A-2 because it was long in the body and sleeves. Leather was veg tanned and pretty stiff.

Ray

 

[greyhound68]

Ray,
Would highly recomend RMNZ or Aero. Great customer service from both. I have 4 RMNZ jackets and love them.

 

[Rundquist]

I recently replaced a bunch of my leather jackets (like 5). Two of them are made out of what is referred to as “Indian vegetable tanned goatskin”. The “Indian” part refers to the skins coming from India. Anyway, I have been wearing these two jackets much more than the ones made out of chrome tanned goatskin, not because I like them more but because I’m trying to break them in. And horsehide is much harder to break in than goatskin to boot. If you are having reservations about breaking in a veg-tanned jacket, then by all means go with something else. Chrome tanned hide jackets might not have been as abundant as veg tanned hides during WW2, but they were available and used from what I understand. Another idea that has been floating around is that cowhide was never used on A-2’s. That one sort of goes hand in hand with the idea that cowhide is somehow an inferior leather. I’ve seen quality-tanned cowhide that was pretty much indistinguishable from horsehide. Cows were around during WW2, so you know cowhide was used. From what I understand most of the best preserved original A-2’s are the goatskin ones anyway. Cheers

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Hi Ray!
Five or six years ago,when accumulating my first HH jackets...I was advised to use a spray bottle filled with hot tap water to mist jacket...and wear untill dry. My wife picked up a small plastic spray bottle for me. It worked! I spray the new horsehide untill quite wet..then wear it around the house. HH seems to develop a waxy "feel" when wet... uniquely molding and shaping to the body as it's worn. When dry..it has "relaxed",somewhat,and formed to your shape. May require several spray treatments.
There is also the more extreme "Hot Water Treatment". Working a small section at a time,hold collar...then parts of sleeves...followed by sections of the body, under very hot tap water untill quite wet(careful not to"soak" lining or knits). Massage or fold and wrinkle leather back and forth to soften and relax. I usually start with shaping the collar while wet. This can be time consuming,so,I usually do it in steps..(collar...pocket flaps...forarms..upper arms,back,bodyetc. It can seem "strange" to do this to a nice new crisp "expensive" A2,but.."if it's a keeper", it takes the jacket beyond the new "Cadet" look...and makes it more of an "old friend" with charactor. How extreme amounts to how many times the process is performed. Also,some manufacturers HH "takes" to this treatment better than others.
If you like a more "new" look...just use a spray bottle a few times to help the HH relax. If you desire the jacket to crease...marble with more grain..and develope a wellworn appearance..HWT!
HD

 

[Raymundo]

Thanks guys! Those water treatments and even being out in a drizzle would definitely help "relax" the veg tanned leather. I was wondering if Pecards or some other leather conditioner might help soften the leather as well.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Well,I must say that I haven't noticed "leather conditioner" actually helping to break-in new HH. Perhaps if the surface was lightly rubbed-in with Pecards,and then messaged or flexed back and forth..it might help it to relax. I'm not much on applying conditioner to new HH. It can quite easily be overdone attempting to protect the leather. I would rather moisten the HH with water and apply conditioner if the leather seems somewhat dry after several of these treatments. I rarely add conditioner unless the finish begins to lose the waxy surface feel. It is quite a temptation to add conditioner to a new leather jacket...but Ken(at Aero) always suggested..wait a few years.
If the HH is wet...and flexed it will soften,mold,and relax the leather. Water evaporates. Conditioner does too somewhat,but always leaves a residue that can build up. My 2 cents...let it breathe.
HD