What leather conditioner do you use?

Peacoat · Jan 1, 2019

I had long suspected that all the formulas, were the same, and someone may have posted this information before. In marketing it is called market segmentation. But it does let an owner of a motorcycle jacket know it will work for his jacket.

I just checked my tub of Pecard to see if it is labeled "original," and it is not. It's not labeled at all (except for "PECARD Never Leak.") So I must have gotten it before they started market segmentation.

Bamaboots · Jan 1, 2019

It's all similar to boot/shoe conditioners. No need to buy the one for exotics.

navetsea · Jan 2, 2019

maybe all same formula but different ratio depending on what the main goal, I imagine for biking use they would be more waterproofing than antique variant which is probably the mildest of all.

Seb Lucas · Jan 2, 2019

Yep, Pecards is just one product - the owner of the company has been open about this on Club Obi Wan.

Retromoto · Jan 4, 2019

Garrison products are my choice, I love them all.
http://garrisonleathercare.com/products.html

zebedee · Jan 4, 2019

Renapur. Renapur for everything leather.

Seb Lucas · Jan 4, 2019

I use Pecards, Renapur and Lexol depending on my mood. I have to say it doesn't seem to matter what I use but Lexol is easiest.

patrick_b · Jan 4, 2019

For shoes both calfskin and shell cordovan, I’ve tried a variety of products over the years and eventually settled on Bick 4. It’s the only product that doesn’t seem to darken leather. Lexol conditioner is pretty benign in that regard as well. For cleaning leather, nothing beats Lexol in the orange container. It’s inexpensive, not harsh and works well.

Peacoat · Jan 8, 2019

Board member @Smithy has long recommended R. M. Williams, an Australian conditioner. Unable to find it locally, I was able to find it on Amazon. It came a couple of days ago, and I am impressed. I don't use conditioner on my jackets (except on the inside of the collar), but I use it for saddles, bridles and other tack.

Williams is a creme that goes on easily, probably more so than Pecard, and makes the tack soft and supple. I also use a combination of Lexol and a bar of glycerine saddle soap. May switch to Williams and see if it keeps the leather supple longer than Lexol and saddle soap.

And @patrick_b is correct, Lexol in the orange container is excellent for cleaning leather.

ERDM · Feb 4, 2019

I have to admit that this subject is maddening. I've been all over the internet and back and so far in my reading I've seen people say the following with seemingly equal certainty:

- You should never ever condition leather.
- Don't even worry about it if it's younger than the average coffee shop employee.
- Only condition it when it stiffens up, dries out or cracks.
- Condition it every year.
- Every 6 months.
- Vanson says 3 times a year (or more).

Added to that, it seems like nobody agrees on what to use when/if you do condition the leather. And it's not just "I don't really think that's the best thing to use." but "Don't use that or you'll ruin your jacket forever!!!"

Basically no matter what you do or don't do, someone is assuring you that you're making, or about to make a terrible, irreversible mistake.

I just want to take care of my jackets.

zebedee · Feb 4, 2019

Someone should do an experiment over ten years- get two new jackets, wear them equally often, condition one every six months and never condition the other one at all.

Personally, I'll sparingly apply Renapur to the collar and cuffs every two or three years. I don't reckon it makes that much difference.

ERDM · Feb 4, 2019

zebedee said:
Someone should do an experiment over ten years- get two new jackets, wear them equally often, condition one every six months and never condition the other one at all. Personally, I'll sparingly apply Renapur to the collar and cuffs every two or three years. I don't reckon it makes that much difference.

I'm actually surprised that nobody has done such an experiment. I mean heck, we've now spent nearly 100 years measuring how fast pitch flows. I'd say the longevity and care of leather goods is more practical a subject than that.

Peacoat · Feb 4, 2019

ERDM said:
I have to admit that this subject is maddening. I've been all over the internet and back and so far in my reading I've seen people say the following with seemingly equal certainty:

- You should never ever condition leather.
- Don't even worry about it if it's younger than the average coffee shop employee.
- Only condition it when it stiffens up, dries out or cracks.
- Condition it every year.
- Every 6 months.
- Vanson says 3 times a year (or more).

I don't know about points 2, 4, 5 and 6, but points 1 and 3 (bolded) are with certainty just plain wrong. If you follow the advice in #1, you will get the results noted in #3, and that is exactly what you don't want. Leather that has stiffened up or dried out can be rehabilitated. But leather that has been allowed to dry out and crack is beyond redemption.

The advice in point #6 seems excessive. I don't know the context in which Vanson gave that advice, but never heard that frequency of conditioning recommended before.

I remember from one of your posts that you are going with Aero this time. Aero says its hides won't need conditioning until they are 20 to 25 years old. It will take them that long to start to dry out. I would follow that advice.

If your jacket gets heavy wear, it might be a good idea to apply Pecard to the inside of the collar every few years. This is the first area in which I see cracks appearing on jackets that haven't been conditioned. Inside the cuffs is another area that touches the skin and is more inclined to premature wear. It probably won't make any difference to you, but the guy who owns it 20 to 30 years from now will appreciate it.

If you go the Aero route, and I think that is an excellent choice, use Carrie or Wade at Thurston Brothers (they are vendors here). Going through them removes the biggest fear of ordering a high end custom jacket. With them you are almost guaranteed a good fit, and it won't cost you anything extra.

Good luck in your next purchase.

ERDM · Feb 4, 2019

Peacoat said:
I don't know about points 2, 4, 5 and 6, but points 1 and 3 (bolded) are with certainty just plain wrong. If you follow the advice in #1, you will get the results noted in #3, and that is exactly what you don't want. Leather that has stiffened up or dried out can be rehabilitated. But leather that has been allowed to dry out and crack is beyond redemption.

The advice in point #6 seems excessive. I don't know the context in which Vanson gave that advice, but never heard that frequency of conditioning recommended before.

I remember from one of your posts that you are going with Aero this time. Aero says its hides won't need conditioning until they are 20 to 25 years old. It will take them that long to start to dry out. I would follow that advice.

If your jacket gets heavy wear, it might be a good idea to apply Pecard to the inside of the collar every few years. This is the first area in which I see cracks appearing on jackets that haven't been conditioned. Inside the cuffs is another area that touches the skin and is more inclined to premature wear. It probably won't make any difference to you, but the guy who owns it 20 to 30 years from now will appreciate it.

If you go the Aero route, and I think that is an excellent choice, use Carrie or Wade at Thurston Brothers (they are vendors here). Going through them removes the biggest fear of ordering a high end custom jacket. With them you are almost guaranteed a good fit, and it won't cost you anything extra.

Good luck in your next purchase.

I was planning to go with Aero but the price was just too steep for me to manage at the moment. Instead I ended up purchasing a very nice used Vanson Model B from the classifieds here. (Although that doesn't mean that I won't end up with an Aero jacket at some point. I definitely still want one)

The Vanson "3 or more times a year" context is here on their 'Cleaning and Caring for your Vanson Leather' page in which they're describing when and how to use their proprietary in-house leather balm:

Vanson Leather Balm has been specially formulated to make your top grain or cowhide garment water-resistant…but your leather will not be harmed even if soaked through – unless you dry it with heat or in direct sunlight. Instead, simply hang it on a chair or garment hanger and let it air dry at room temperature. Repeated soaking will, however, start to leach out the fats and oils used in the tanning process…and that’s when you should give it a good treatment with Vanson Leather Balm. On the other hand, if your leather jacket never gets wet, you should still treat it with our Balm at least three times a year to keep the leather nourished and pliable.

The model B has fabric on the inside of the collar. Would oils and sweat still be a problem, and if so would that be a problem to which periodic removal of the fabric is the only way to service the inside leather of the collar?

Anyway thanks for the info and the input. It definitely helps!

Colin G · Feb 4, 2019

Anything specific for shearling or just use the regular stuff like Pecard's ect?

Carlos840 · Feb 4, 2019

ERDM said:
I have to admit that this subject is maddening. I've been all over the internet and back and so far in my reading I've seen people say the following with seemingly equal certainty:

- You should never ever condition leather.
- Don't even worry about it if it's younger than the average coffee shop employee.
- Only condition it when it stiffens up, dries out or cracks.
- Condition it every year.
- Every 6 months.
- Vanson says 3 times a year (or more).

Added to that, it seems like nobody agrees on what to use when/if you do condition the leather. And it's not just "I don't really think that's the best thing to use." but "Don't use that or you'll ruin your jacket forever!!!"

Basically no matter what you do or don't do, someone is assuring you that you're making, or about to make a terrible, irreversible mistake.

I just want to take care of my jackets.

I tried the "you should never condition leather" with one of my first pairs of Frye boots, guess what happened?
They stiffened, dried and cracked, and then it was too late to save them, they are now dead.

Jackets might not need conditioning as often, but the same thing will happen if you never condition them at all.
I think the best thing is to use common sens.
If your jacket isn't used very much and never sees rain, you might be ok for 20 years before it needs conditioning.
If you ride 10000 miles a year on your bike, and your jacket sees rain and sun all day everyday, then maybe Vanson's advice of conditioning 3 times a year isn't that bad after all.

It's all about finding out what works for your use of your leather goods.
Personally i have not conditioned any of my new jackets (the oldest is 6 years old and still nothing), but have conditioned a few i bought second hand. Either after i had washed them, or because they felt dry.

Lebowski · Feb 4, 2019

Pecard leather dressing (uncolored neutral version).

dannyk · Feb 4, 2019

Vanson makes riding gear. And I mean riding gear as in they make racing gear, and gear designed to be ridden in extensively. Obviously we all know they have some fashion, casual and rock and roll gear. But at its core Vanson still designs jackets to be worn heavily and beat up. They probably say 3 times a year because their main clientele will be racers and riders who ride a lot. If as mentioned about youre putting a few thousand miles on your bike per year, with all the bugs, mud, dirt, pebbles, sunlight, and rain/water 3 times a year is a good idea. But also like stated above if youre one of us collectors, where even if you ride a lot you have so many jackets that get rotated they never see that much action just use common sense. If its dirty clean it, if it feels a bit dry then throw some Pecards on it.

Monitor · Feb 4, 2019

Carlos840 said:
I tried the "you should never condition leather" with one of my first pairs of Frye boots, guess what happened?
They stiffened, dried and cracked, and then it was too late to save them, they are now dead.

Jackets might not need conditioning as often, but the same thing will happen if you never condition them at all.
I think the best thing is to use common sens.
If your jacket isn't used very much and never sees rain, you might be ok for 20 years before it needs conditioning.
If you ride 10000 miles a year on your bike, and your jacket sees rain and sun all day everyday, then maybe Vanson's advice of conditioning 3 times a year isn't that bad after all.

It's all about finding out what works for your use of your leather goods.
Personally i have not conditioned any of my new jackets (the oldest is 6 years old and still nothing), but have conditioned a few i bought second hand. Either after i had washed them, or because they felt dry.

Seconded. I never conditioned my boots before and they all began cracking after two or three years tops while showing signs of drying after one year of extensive wear. They'd literally develop holes at the creases after a while.
I've began taking care of my now five years old no name engineer boots and I still wear them. The leather is holding up great and I don't see why they wouldn't last me another 10 years.

On the other hand, I never noticed any significant effect of any leather condition on any of my leather jackets. Lexol is the best product I've used so far 'cause the leather really soaks it up but it sometimes leaves off this residue that I don't have a clue how to get rid off.

ksozay · Feb 4, 2019

Carrie recommended Dr. Jackson’s hide rejuvenator. Purchased off Amazon. Has always worked very well. Saved a few old dry vintage jackets and made them wearable again.

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