Mister Freedom Campus; Sunshine vs Natural hide option

[coolhandluke_7]

I'm currently considering purchasing a MF Campus (keyhole) in size 40, but am hung up on whether to pay the additional $175 for the tanned "sunshine" version.

For those that have purchased a sunshine model of the Campus, Ranch Blouse, etc. What were your thoughts?

My main concerns would be whether or not the Pecards treatment has been applied carefully or if there's a high likelihood that the corduroy collar backing, interior cuff lining, and parts of the interior have staining from leather conditioner.

It tends to take me a great deal of time to build any sort of patina on my jackets, boots, and denim, so I'm assuming that this might be a good shortcut. Would I be paying $175 more for a jacket that is essentially used though?

 

[l0fielectronic]

I have a Natural Ranch Blouse and its taken about two years for it to reach a colour that I'm more comfortable wearing, probably because we don't often get the kind of sun needed here in the UK.

If you don't want to be wearing a white/yellow - pink/peach coloured jacket for some time then the Sunshine upcharge lets you skip that step. The downside I would think is that you are giving up some of the patina as the jacket hanging in the sun and then being treated won't have some of the creases and wear a two year worn jacket will.

I did treat mine with Pecards a few months back and I didn't take any extra special care on not getting it on the corduroy backed collar and cuffs. I've just looked and there is no sign nor stains from it I can see anywhere so I don't think that should be an issue.

I do think the 'fun' with this jacket was wearing it from new and trying to live with wearing an off white jacket for a while.

 

[Boyo]

Get the sunshine version if the additional cost isn't a major factor in the decision. i was shocked when saw how white the jacket is right out of the box.. its really not wearable.. you'll need to leave it out in the sun anyway.. the pre tanned version allows you to wear the jacket on day 1.

 

[coolhandluke_7]

Thanks @l0fielectronic and @Boyo.

I've also considered the Bison version of the jacket, but is seems like it is much less popular. Any thoughts on that particular hide option?

https://christopheloiron.com/mister...son-veg-tan-cowhide-leather-2025-made-in-usa/

 

[Boyo]

The bison is very nice as well, no tanning needed or massive color change expected with that one

 

[Pandemic]

I have the bison colour and love it. Too new to report on colour change with wear but it’s definitely good to go out of the box.

 

[coolhandluke_7]

I have the bison colour and love it. Too new to report on colour change with wear but it’s definitely good to go out of the box.

View attachment 806845

The Bison does look great! I was a little turned off by some of the lighter colored Bison examples that I found on Instagram, but I believe they were from the prior (2024?) batch.

Have you owned the natural version as well?

 

[Pandemic]

The Bison does look great! I was a little turned off by some of the lighter colored Bison examples that I found on Instagram, but I believe they were from the prior (2024?) batch.

Have you owned the natural version as well?

Yep, the bison topcoat is nice and breaks in beautifully very quickly. I expect some interesting colour variations as it darkens in some areas and lightens in high wear spots. No experience with the natural version though

 

[coolhandluke_7]

Yep, the bison topcoat is nice and breaks in beautifully very quickly. I expect some interesting colour variations as it darkens in some areas and lightens in high wear spots. No experience with the natural version though

Thanks @Pandemic. If it's not too much trouble, could you please share a few more photos of your Campus?

@marker2037, if you also have any photos of your Campus in Bison to share, it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Pandemic]

Thanks @Pandemic. If it's not too much trouble, could you please share a few more photos of your Campus?

@marker2037, if you also have any photos of your Campus in Bison to share, it would be greatly appreciated!

I found a couple of pics from March, when it was still very new:

 

[coolhandluke_7]

I found a couple of pics from March, when it was still very new:

View attachment 807359

View attachment 807360

Thanks! Your Bison looks so much better than the others that I've seen. I'm glad that they darkened up the russet color on this most recent batch.

@Entropindigo just hooked me up with a natural Campus that he has outgrown, but I may seriously consider also picking up a second in Bison, if I'm happy with the pattern and fit.

 

[Tom71]

I am slightly surprised by the apparent bias toward the pre-tanned version. Isn´t `painting the canvas` what unfinished hides are all about?

While I agree that out-of-the-box" untanned and unfinished hides are a difficult sight, that changes literally within a few hours. Even if you don´t get to put in enough actual wear, you can always leave the jacket over a chair etc. outside. Even an overclouded sky willl do the trick, albeit - of course - slower than direct sunlight.

 

[barnabus]

I am slightly surprised by the apparent bias toward the pre-tanned version. Isn´t `painting the canvas` what unfinished hides are all about?

While I agree that out-of-the-box" untanned and unfinished hides are a difficult sight, that changes literally within a few hours. Even if you don´t get to put in enough actual wear, you can always leave the jacket over a chair etc. outside. Even an overclouded sky willl do the trick, albeit - of course - slower than direct sunlight.

I don't think there's anything looks much cooler than a fully patina-ed natural hide jacket.

Absolutely the story of the wearer's adventures.

 

[l0fielectronic]

I am slightly surprised by the apparent bias toward the pre-tanned version. Isn´t `painting the canvas` what unfinished hides are all about?

While I agree that out-of-the-box" untanned and unfinished hides are a difficult sight, that changes literally within a few hours. Even if you don´t get to put in enough actual wear, you can always leave the jacket over a chair etc. outside. Even an overclouded sky willl do the trick, albeit - of course - slower than direct sunlight.

My Natural Ranch Blouse took a lot more than a few hours to get even close to a non yellow/white/peach colour. More like two years and that was with some leaving it out in the sun all day when not wearing, so while I agree with what you are saying I can certainly see the attraction of skipping ahead.