What is your all time favourite leather

[Yango]

I think I’d have to say, my Schott 141. U. S. sourced, drum dyed, hand cut, heavyweight, full aniline cowhide (naked leather).
It’s supremely comfortable, and in my humble opinion, cool as hell!

 

[zebedee]

Aero's Seal Goat would probably be a contender for its suitability in many weather types - its weight/thickness is pretty much the mutt's nuts in climates I live in.

 

[Edward]

For sheer wearability and comfort, Aero’s Kudu hide took some beating. Quite hefty but soft & pliable with stunning purple hues in certain light. Sadly no longer available.

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I remember when they launched the Pioneer, with that hide being the default option. Always looked nice but I've never handled it. As memory serves, it was dropped because the Kudu hides are, due to the nature of the animal, very prone to having lots of scars and markings, which made it inefficient when the market was always demanding unmarked panels. Something like that.

From everything I've handled and owned, I'm particularly keen on the following - in no particular order:

1] Aero's goat. Nice and sturdy, drapes well, doesn't age in too accelerated a manner. I like this in all shades; it could be a contender for a favourite all-round if it was available in a wider colour range. I'd love a J106 in that blue-black goat Aero used for a Levis contract way back when.

2] Horween CXL FQHH (black excepted; I prefer my black to remain black, not go brown)

3] The mid-weight steer Aero use, which is a standard hide for all their "Apprentice Made" jackets as well as being more widely available. Black stays black. As sturdy and thick as CXL, but a different drape. Very wearable.

 

[Yango]

Aero's Seal Goat would probably be a contender for its suitability in many weather types - its weight/thickness is pretty much the mutt's nuts in climates I live in.

Mutt’s nuts… lol.

 

[nick123]

ELC’s Italian horsehide they’re using for their Dubow A-2 is up there with the best I’ve seen. Not sure if anything beats 40s era goatskin though. I do have a feeling I’d change my current opinion if I owned a Thedi

 

[dudewuttheheck]

Shinki horsehide, Badalassi Carlo cowhide, and whatever deerskin that Freewheelers uses.

 

[Goel]

Horween elk is my favorite so far.

 

[torfjord]

I own and have owned many nice jackets but Thedi olive goat is my all time favourite. @nick123 get yourself a Thedi

 

[Worf]

Good Wear Capeskin. Only offered for a short time. I'm the 3rd or 4th owner of an A1 in this hide. Soft, supple and amazingly grained. It's been called a "grail jacket" by many on here. I've never taken a decent picture of the hide, but others on here have. Search and you'll find it.

Worf

 

[Monitor]

This. Whatever it is. I don't really care.

 

[Blackadder]

I am not sure there is one. It all depends on the usage/style. For example, the British leather used in British cars say a Jaguar XJ look very sharp brand new while the German ones say in a Merc S class of BMW 7 series look rather dull but after a few years the German ones would still look the same as if not been sat on while the British ones usually look rather worn out.
HH looks nice for motorcycle jackets but capeskin may look better for an A-1 or cossack style jacket. Lambskin and deerskin are the usual choice for blazer style.

 

[handymike]

1930s Horsehide...not too shabby.

 

[LeatherHunter]

The heavyweight yet soft Naked Cowhide of the One series Schott NYC.

 

[morrison2951]

1930s Horsehide...not too shabby.

Nice! And I'm partial to 1940's Wolf Horsehide.

 

[tmitchell59]

Not sure if anything beats 40s era goatskin though

Goatskin was a very popular fashion leather in the late 30s early 40s.

 

[Bigbawz]

Another vote for goat from me.
Seems hard wearing and holds the colour.
All those WW2 era flight jackets can't be wrong ?

 

[newtojackets]

I saw this vintage leather blazer from Costume National. While personally I don’t wear leather blazers, this leather may be the single nicest leather I’ve ever seen.

Does anyone know of any brand that uses a similar leather?

 

[TartuWolf]

There's quite a lot of variation of this leather, but I value Vanson Octagon very highly after having handled 3 jackets in this leather. Shame that it's no longer available. Would love to handle some of their Roma leathers.

 

[newtojackets]

I saw this vintage leather blazer from Costume National. While personally I don’t wear leather blazers, this leather may be the single nicest leather I’ve ever seen.

Does anyone know of any brand that uses a similar leather?

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Thoughts on similar leathers

 

[raf]

For me, Goatskin in a flight jacket (or similar) so long as "correct" leather is unimportant. Drum dyed is solid color throughout, and Seal Brown color is easy to touch-up if badly scratched. Relatively light and flexible for its strength/durability.

For Motorcycling, some form of steer/cow hide, but modern synthetics may be less expensive than an equivalent leather jacket.