I just bought a leather jacket on saturday and when I bought it they tried to sell me spray to keep it waterproof and protect it. I passed as it didnt make sense to me at the time. However, having never owned a leather jacket Im begining to wonder if I do need to spray it. Is it something I should worry about or not?
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Treat a new leather jacket?
- Thread starter Wasz
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I guess it depends what kind of leather it is. A few years ago I got a cow leather jacket and didn't treat it, and despite seeing a lot of wear over this time it has not faded or been hurt by water. I just recently got a brown lamb skin jacket and treated it this time with leather conditioning lotion and then the spray on water-proofer. I'm not convinced it's necessary, but it's one of those insurance things 
Just make sure you never leave it wet. If you come home and it was raining or snowing, take a paper towel/towel and wipe it off before hanging it up. It seems like cow skin is more durable than lamb skin, but if you make sure not to store it wet or stay out in rain or snow for a long time or leave it sitting exposed to direct sunlight it should be fine. If you do decide to get a spray or lotion, it should only be about $10.
Just make sure you never leave it wet. If you come home and it was raining or snowing, take a paper towel/towel and wipe it off before hanging it up. It seems like cow skin is more durable than lamb skin, but if you make sure not to store it wet or stay out in rain or snow for a long time or leave it sitting exposed to direct sunlight it should be fine. If you do decide to get a spray or lotion, it should only be about $10.
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My first double post...for shame 
Gollnick
Musical Director
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Smooth leather or suede?
The best explaination of suede that I've ever heard was, "The perfect thing for the man who doesn't have enough for his valet to do."
Smooth leather should be treated with mink oil. Get this wherever shoe shine products are sold, probabaly your groccery store. Use a soft rag for apply a small bit of it to the leather and work it in. Allow the jacket to hang openly for a day, buff off any excess and you're ready for the year.
Next spring, before putting it away, clean it with saddle soap and a bit of water. Allow it to hang and dry in free air for a day. Do the mink oil treatment including allowing a day of free air time and buff. Then allow another day or so hanging in free air before putting it away.
I'm about six years into my Coronado jacket and it barely shows any wear. Of course, that's in Portland where it only rains once per year. Of course it starts in October and doesn't finish until May.
The best explaination of suede that I've ever heard was, "The perfect thing for the man who doesn't have enough for his valet to do."
Smooth leather should be treated with mink oil. Get this wherever shoe shine products are sold, probabaly your groccery store. Use a soft rag for apply a small bit of it to the leather and work it in. Allow the jacket to hang openly for a day, buff off any excess and you're ready for the year.
Next spring, before putting it away, clean it with saddle soap and a bit of water. Allow it to hang and dry in free air for a day. Do the mink oil treatment including allowing a day of free air time and buff. Then allow another day or so hanging in free air before putting it away.
I'm about six years into my Coronado jacket and it barely shows any wear. Of course, that's in Portland where it only rains once per year. Of course it starts in October and doesn't finish until May.
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- Nov 28, 1999
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- 1,710
Mink oil is good, or a good leather cream worked in and let to dry is good also for leather jackets, both will keep the leather moisturized and supple, dry leather will crack, and if your jacket gets wet let it air dry away from a heat source (i.e. putting good leather boots that are wet by a fire or over a heater vent will only dry and crack the leather), I wear leather jackets most of the time and have owned quite a few over the last 20 years, usually where I do damage to the leather is by getting it snagged on sharp objects.