Water and leather

[Damo]

Can anyone give me a quick tutorial about leather and water. I know that naked cowhide like schott has open pores so it gets absorbs. Is it really that bad for leather? Havent some bikers out there worn these jackets for years, their jackets must have been in rain and their jackets are still good?

Are there other types of leather that hold up better in rain? Like horsehide? Is this because horsehide has smaller pores?

Water repellency must also depend on how the leather is finished as well? Is aero horsehide same as lost worlds horsehide?

 

[Seb Lucas]

As a rule water and leather are good friends. Nothing to fear. But yes if you're actually wearing the thing in the wet the story varies. Some leather and stitching styles will let in more water. Naked leather has (by definition) less of a top coat and can get soaked through quicker. Doesn't hurt the hide but may affect your comfort. Some of us wash our leathers in a machine with detergent to help break them in. I've done it more times than I can count without ever hurting a jacket. And it has generally made them nicer looking and easier to wear. Naked leather can benefit from a coat of dressing every year or two. Most leathers rarely need this treatment unless they are older than your Dad.

 

[Aether]

Further to what Seb has already said, quality leather jackets are fine being exposed to water. That's why biker, workwear and flying jackets etc were made out of leather - it's the original 'technical' fabic! What you have to careful of is how you dry the leather - too much heat and you'll end up with a brittle, dry and shrunken mess. And don't go overboard with the leather conditioner either, they don't normally need much (if any in the case of FQHH).

 

[Justhandguns]

Generally agree with you lads. To add on that, people who think that leather and water don't mix is down to their storage. It you have a soaked leather jacket, you should air dry it before putting it back into your wardrobe or storage. And most people also have problems with their jackets in the sub-tropic countries, I chatted with some fellow jacket enthusiasts in Hong Kong, in which they really have to 'care' for the leathers because the jackets have to endure some really humid and warm weather during the months of summers (and probably air-con hours). Different types of leathers also have their varying 'water resistance' characteristics, chrome tan leathers tend to do better than veggie than ones while some very soft lambs' skins get mould pretty easily, probably due to the way the tannery treat the leathers.

I had my Vanson and Eastman soaking wetting under the British rain from time to time but I still have not seen any sign of moulding (yet, fingers crossed!).

 

[Don Tomaso]

Stuff like FQHH is just great in the rain. Yes, it will get soaked eventually, but, given it has a nice wool lining, it won't let you be cold and shivering. Just the contrary, quality leather and wool keep you warm even when wet, opposite to many artificial fabrics that promise the same but cannot deliver. I've been in the pourring rain for hours, just had to, and everybody else was miserable, and the LHB kept me nice and warm, albeit a bit wet. Add a felt hat and you're good.
Just wear it until dry, if possible, this makes it break in very nicely indeed.

 

[Damo]

Thanks for the replies so far. I've read on the lost worlds website that their jackets are great for the rain. Does anyone know how they compare with aero FQHH regarding water?

 

[HoosierDaddy]

The Lostworld HH jackets that I have owned over the years all had a much heavier finish than Aero FQHH. There are pros and cons to that. Although rain may bead up and run off the LW leather it has a tendency to maintain a new look much longer rather than developing the broken-in character of an Aero jacket. To some this is of no matter...but then others prefer the fat/oil tanning of Aero's FQHH with somewhat waxy surface to help resist water.
HD

 

[tmitchell59]

Thanks for the replies so far. I've read on the lost worlds website that their jackets are great for the rain. Does anyone know how they compare with aero FQHH regarding water?

My year old Lost Worlds Test jacket sheds water better than any other leather I own. I did not buy it for that, but it does it very well. If this is a high priority LW is probably the best bet.

 

[Damo]

Originally I was under the impression that water was bad for leather jackets, not sure why I thought that, maybe I read it somewhere.

I try not to ride in the rain so its not a huge priority that my jacket is water repellent, I just thought it would be nice for those odd times you end up getting caught in the rain.

I would like to own a Brown FQHH jacket for riding and it seems that my choices are between a Lost Worlds or an Aero. I haven't seen either of their Browns in real life but over the web I prefer Aero's Brown over the LW. I also would like it to be the J107/Speed Demon type or a CHP.

Once again thanks for the input and keep it coming!!!

 

[avique]

I have both a brown FQHH from Aero and a LW in brown HH. While the LW is definitely more bulletproof it doesn't have the depth/character of the Aero FQHH.

 

[Damo]

I have both a brown FQHH from Aero and a LW in brown HH. While the LW is definitely more bulletproof it doesn't have the depth/character of the Aero FQHH.

Thanks for the info, any chance you could throw a couple pics of each up?

 

[Dumpster Diver]

70 Year old Sheepskin Jackets will Turn to Wet Tissue with not so much as a drop if they have Dry Rotted in any places whatsoever.

Cowhide Will Last and last for an Eternity, Just Ask My combat Boots That sit outside in Mud all year long, they will not go down.

 

[Smithy]

Not too much more to add as the other members have pretty much summed it up. Most tanned hides will hold up fairly well with water - you don't see too many cows, horses, goats, etc shrinking or falling apart after a downpour. Saying that suede tends to dislike too much water, so that's about the only one I'd be careful of if it's looking like more than a bit of drizzle.

At the end of the day, I wouldn't freak out if you're caught outside in a leather jacket and it starts to rain or snow. It won't do you or the jacket any harm, unless it's suede.

 

[nick123]

I'm not 100% convinced that it's a good idea to wear naked or veg tanned leather frequently out in the rain if you're not going to condition it often. I'm not an expert, so please correct me if I'm wrong for feeling this way.

 

[Peacoat]

I have a Schott Cafe Racer in naked steer that got a bit damp once while on the motorcycle in a light rain. The sleeves did shrink a bit. Almost too short now. Also, I have another naked leather cafe racer that was too large overall. I soaked it a bit in the bathtub, and it shrank to just the right size.

Because of my experiences with naked leather, I won't buy anymore naked leather for wear on the motorcycle. Fortunately, I have a bunch of other FQHH and steer with finishes that make them very water resistant. These are the ones I wear while riding. Don't want to take a chance on getting caught in the rain while wearing naked leather.

Hoosier Daddy uses a spritzer bottle to mist his FQHH jackets to help the break in process, so on a jacket properly finished, water isn't going to hurt it.

 

[jonbuilder]

Few years back I sent a good five hours in the rain wearing a 50s long horsehide jacket with a quilt lining. I kind of remember the jacket have a musty smell while it dried with took over a week, Also the brown leather die soaked into the liner.

 

[tropicalbob]

But Stuart's jackets LOOOOOOVE water! Can't get enough of it!

 

[Damo]

Gentlemen, thanks for the info. I will wear naked cow on dry days and my vanson chopper and my JL overdye for the other days. My next jacket purchase will be a FQHH when i save up some mooola..

@tropical bob, i needed to hear from Lost Worlds jacket owners how they actually performed with water. The website made it seem that water was scared to even come close to his jackets

 

[IXL]

^^ Even Chuck Norris is afraid to come close to his jackets.

 

[Big J]

Gentlemen, thanks for the info. I will wear naked cow on dry days and my vanson chopper and my JL overdye for the other days. My next jacket purchase will be a FQHH when i save up some mooola..

@tropical bob, i needed to hear from Lost Worlds jacket owners how they actually performed with water. The website made it seem that water was scared to even come close to his jackets

I got an LW in goat. No problems in a typhoon.