CXL FQHH Medium vs Heavy weight (1.1mm vs 1.4mm)

[Canuck Panda]

I was always chasing thickest FQHH before. Didn't quite experience thinner FQHH until now. It makes sense. Very pliable, even when cold! Comparable to 1.1mm Shinki soft temper, so is Kelpie.

Anyone else got the thinner FQHH? Same experience or different?

 

[Spiney]

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I was always chasing thickest FQHH before. Didn't quite experience thinner FQHH until now. It makes sense. Very pliable, even when cold! Comparable to 1.1mm Shinki soft temper, so is Kelpie.

Anyone else got the thinner FQHH? Same experience or different?

No jackets but got some samples from Aero . I like it . I also really liked the look of the Kelpie but wasn’t keen on the feel. Almost rubber like .

 

[Monitor]

I always believed that Horween horsehide Aero is using would benefit from being of lighter weight. There's just too much wax and oil in this thick hide and it's too heavy, doesn't crease nor drape as well and it cools down the jacket even more on a cold day.

 

[Al 916]

My Cafe Racer is a lighter weight, very slight nap on it which the guys at Aero tell me indicates very little wear (so far) I believe this is quite a few years old.

Very easy to wear in all temperatures.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Nice brown CXL. I am gonna ask if I can get brown and black FQHH in thinner hides too. The thicker CXL FQHH just don't break in like the CXL Steers and could really benefit from being thinner.

From a numbers point of view it's only 0.3mm or so, like a hair in thickness but the wear-ability difference is huge.

 

[Dbrn]

Any opinions on how this thinner CXL Horse compares to the CXL Steer?

 

[Monitor]

Any opinions on how this thinner CXL Horse compares to the CXL Steer?

Compares in what way?

 

[willyto]

I always believed that Horween horsehide Aero is using would benefit from being of lighter weight. There's just too much wax and oil in this thick hide and it's too heavy, doesn't crease nor drape as well and it cools down the jacket even more on a cold day.

The thick seams don't help either. Bulky and stiff seams.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Any opinions on how this thinner CXL Horse compares to the CXL Steer?

I only have one CXL Steer right now and it's those super heavyweight ones, closer to 5oz than 4. But even at that thickness, it feels like CXL steerhides breaks in faster than the heavy FQHH. Generally speaking I just find thicker horsehides very hard to break them in to the point it's easy to put on and off. A while back I took the opportunity to buy a small lot of 2mm Horween horsehides at discount and now I am kicking myself in the ass... 1.1mm FQHH makes much more sense.

 

[Al 916]

Personally I like the heavy and the mid. It really depends upon my mood, other clothes and of course the weather.

I live in the (currently rather wet) Shires of SE England, I don't ride anymore and tend towards FQHH (I do like steerhide however I somehow find the horsehide more 'Bronze than Brass' if that makes sense (deeper))

 

[Dbrn]

Compares in what way?

Lately a few people have posted about preferring CXL steer over horse because it has some of the desireable appearance qualities, but is less stiff, drapes better, and isn't as hard to wear. I guess I'm wondering if this thinner Horse might be similar to steer in those ways.

 

[Dbrn]

I only have one CXL Steer right now and it's those super heavyweight ones, closer to 5oz than 4. But even at that thickness, it feels like CXL steerhides breaks in faster than the heavy FQHH. Generally speaking I just find thicker horsehides very hard to break them in to the point it's easy to put on and off. A while back I took the opportunity to buy a small lot of 2mm Horween horsehides at discount and now I am kicking myself in the ass... 1.1mm FQHH makes much more sense.

So I guess the steer is too think to try and compare to the thin HH for 'ease of wear'. That's really what I was wondering, but it seems like apples and oranges.

 

[Monitor]

Lately a few people have posted about preferring CXL steer over horse because it has some of the desireable appearance qualities, but is less stiff, drapes better, and isn't as hard to wear. I guess I'm wondering if this thinner Horse might be similar to steer in those ways.

Oh, I see. In general, thinner hide doesn't necessarily include all or any of the benefits of a softer hide. 2 mm+ leather can have more drape than a really stiff, 0.9 mm thick hide & thinner CXL Horween HH that I have seen was just like that. But having more give, it does tend to look better. Though it doesn't appear to be more like Horween cowhide, no.

 

[Canuck Panda]

So I guess the steer is too think to try and compare to the thin HH for 'ease of wear'. That's really what I was wondering, but it seems like apples and oranges.

I will take a photo of the steer to compare when I get home. The one I have is a 4.5oz plus Navy CXL SH from Johnson, it would be same as Aero's CXL SH. But I believe Aero orders theirs at about 4oz thickness. I have a tumbled CXL steer version in the works and I will add it to the compare. But I think it'd be very close to all other CXL SH in pliability, maybe just more grainy.
CXL SH works in the heavier weights. They break in rather fast and stay rather pliable despite the thickness. But they weigh a lot, like in pounds. Expect a 7lb ish jacket or more for the bigger sizes.

 

[Damon141]

I only have one CXL Steer right now and it's those super heavyweight ones, closer to 5oz than 4. But even at that thickness, it feels like CXL steerhides breaks in faster than the heavy FQHH. Generally speaking I just find thicker horsehides very hard to break them in to the point it's easy to put on and off. A while back I took the opportunity to buy a small lot of 2mm Horween horsehides at discount and now I am kicking myself in the ass... 1.1mm FQHH makes much more sense.

It would probably cost you quite a bit if possible but I always see the leather companies asking if you would like it split. Is it possible for someone to split your hides for you if you had a desired thickness?

I know as long as I’m stuck in Florida with short and mild winters that a thick hide isn’t even an option for me if I wanted it, though if I ever moved to a cold climate I would surely own one just to give my shot at breaking it in.

 

[Dbrn]

Oh, I see.

Thanks M! Just two questions about your post (sorry, I can be slow):

In general, thinner hide doesn't necessarily include all or any of the benefits of a softer hide.

You're contrasting thinness and softness here. So does that mean that a thicker hide is usually softer? And by softer do you mean to the touch, or more like pliable/drape?

2 mm+ leather can have more drape than a really stiff, 0.9 mm thick hide & thinner CXL Horween HH that I have seen was just like that.

Just like the .9mm hide that is still stiff?

 

[Aloysius]

I know as long as I’m stuck in Florida with short and mild winters that a thick hide isn’t even an option for me if I wanted it, though if I ever moved to a cold climate I would surely own one just to give my shot at breaking it in.

On the contrary, CXL is worse in colder climates because the waxes inside freeze, turning a jacket into a straitjacket.

 

[Canuck Panda]

It would probably cost you quite a bit if possible but I always see the leather companies asking if you would like it split. Is it possible for someone to split your hides for you if you had a desired thickness?

I know as long as I’m stuck in Florida with short and mild winters that a thick hide isn’t even an option for me if I wanted it, though if I ever moved to a cold climate I would surely own one just to give my shot at breaking it in.

You've read my mind. Johnson has a guy that does the whole hide splitting and that's probably is what I would do. I was planning on splitting them down to 1.4mm before but now I've got this Aero 1.1mm version I am really digging it.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Aero's heavyweight CXL FQHH on the left and my own heavyweight CXL Steer on the right. I think Aero orders their CXL Steer at about 4oz. I've got one of their tumbled CXL SH on order, I think it will hit the sweet spot in robust/wear-ability.

It wasn't very scientific but I left both jackets out in the cold for the same 15 minutes before bringing them in and see how long it takes each to feel warmed up and pliable. Heavy CXL FQHH is not much different than heavy CXL Steer in that little experiment. Although the Steer feels heavier by pounds because it is thicker. So I can see where the more pliable feeling would come from. I would expect the steer to take more time given its increased thickness but they took about the same time to become pliable. Both took about the same time or less it takes my car to warm up in cold mornings. But some mornings I am in crappier mood and sitting in cold car was enough.

This would be where the current median weight CXL FQHH shines. It requires no warm up. The Cherry version I have also feels a bit more oily than the other heavier weight FQHH. My own CXL Steer feels waxier. Horween has a range. I like all thickness of CXL. I am a CXL crazy fan.

 

[Dbrn]

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Aero's heavyweight CXL FQHH on the left and my own heavyweight CXL Steer on the right. I think Aero orders their CXL Steer at about 4oz. I've got one of their tumbled CXL SH on order, I think it will hit the sweet spot in robust/wear-ability.

It wasn't very scientific but I left both jackets out in the cold for the same 15 minutes before bringing them in and see how long it takes each to feel warmed up and pliable. Heavy CXL FQHH is not much different than heavy CXL Steer in that little experiment. Although the Steer feels heavier by pounds because it is thicker. So I can see where the more pliable feeling would come from. I would expect the steer to take more time given its increased thickness but they took about the same time to become pliable. Both took about the same time or less it takes my car to warm up in cold mornings. But some mornings I am in crappier mood and sitting in cold car was enough.

This would be where the current median weight CXL FQHH shines. It requires no warm up. The Cherry version I have also feels a bit more oily than the other heavier weight FQHH. My own CXL Steer feels waxier. Horween has a range. I like all thickness of CXL. I am a CXL crazy fan.

Great overview - thanks Tom!

In this pic the horse looks much shinier and oilier than the steer. Is that an accurate difference, or just in this photo?