Goat, Steer, Cow or Buffalo hide. Which one and why?

Hobbes1 · Sep 7, 2020

Hello. I'm considering a custom jacket order and have to make a choice of one of these hides. All other things being equal, which would you choose and why?
If it matters, the jacket would be along the lines of a Highwayman style, not for MC riding.

Thanks in advance.

HoosierDaddy · Sep 7, 2020

It's according to which jacket maker you go with as their hides can differ. I prefer buffalo ..but Thedi's hide is my favorite. It has the buffalo's somewhat heavy grain but with a crisp finish. Goat is not appealing to me simply because of the pebbly finish that most often continually looks new for forever and a day..!! Steer can look good and grainy....but there are so many differences in hide (smooth, mismatched, flat or shiny). Cow can most often be 'blah' as mall jacket fashion. You didn't mention Horse Hide. There are several various kinds of HH from heavy to medium weight and battered finishes, tumbled and smooth.

Aeros 'battered tan HH.....

Thedi 'washed gray buffalo'....

Thedi Zip-Up Hektor Grey Washed Buffalo front.jpg

Thedi 'tan washed buffalo...

Seb Lucas · Sep 7, 2020

Are you asking to help establish what leather you want or just curious about the aesthetic preferences of other members? The question of leather weight and type of tanning may also be critical. The climate plays a role so I go with whatever is lighter - 2.5oz max. I am not really interested in the look of a hide when new. What matters is how it ages over time, so a flat finish without much 'character' is fine by me.

Pandemic · Sep 7, 2020

Don’t forget bison!

Lebowski · Sep 7, 2020

Hobbes1 said:
Hello. I'm considering a custom jacket order and have to make a choice of one of these hides. All other things being equal, which would you choose and why?
If it matters, the jacket would be along the lines of a Highwayman style, not for MC riding.

Thanks in advance.

Each leather from those is great. HH and capeskin are nice options too. And buffalo. Welcome to TFL.

belfastboy · Sep 7, 2020

Hobbes1 said:
Hello. I'm considering a custom jacket order and have to make a choice of one of these hides. All other things being equal, which would you choose and why?
If it matters, the jacket would be along the lines of a Highwayman style, not for MC riding.

Thanks in advance.

I have one of each. Each one has its merits. My favourite one is the water buffalo hide as the grain is amazing and has so much more interest than my smooth, grainless Naked Cow and FQHH.

torfjord · Sep 7, 2020

All have their advantages, it really depends on subjective preference. What kind of jacket do you want? Is it important that it develops lots of grain and character? Is it important that it’s comfortable and easy wearing? If you describe what it is you’re looking for, you will get better answers.
Also, as others have already noted, thickness and tanning method are equally if not more important than the animal the hide comes from. Which maker are you ordering from and where do they source their leather?

jacketjunkie · Sep 7, 2020

Ths thread is pointless without knowing from which company you are going to buy... each of these hides is a world of its own wth massive differences in grain, feel, characteristics and overall aesthetics depending on tanning.

jacketjunkie · Sep 7, 2020

JustinW said:
Don’t forget bison!

View attachment 259178

I wish Simmons Bilt still offered bison, I liked that hide a lot. Is that your jacket?

Seb Lucas · Sep 7, 2020

jacketjunkie said:
Ths thread is pointless without knowing from which company you are going to buy... each of these hides is a world of its own wth massive differences in grain, feel, characteristics and overall aesthetics depending on tanning.

I think that's mostly right. When someone says 'goat is great' for instance - there is thin, soft goat that never ages, there is thick, stiff goat that fades and wears quickly, there is goat that looks like plastic, there is goat which grains and burnishes beautifully over time - I've owned all of these. Veg tanned, both veg and chrome tanned, chrome tanned, if it's processed in Pakistan, it has different qualities to goat which comes from France, etc, etc....

Pandemic · Sep 7, 2020

jacketjunkie said:
I wish Simmons Bilt still offered bison, I liked that hide a lot. Is that your jacket?

That’s a photo I saved from another forum. He ordered this during the bison 20% off sale at a time I currently had a jacket in order elsewhere. I definitely had some jacket envy when his arrived!

Hh121 · Sep 7, 2020

just ask JL, he will get it for you, trust me.

Edward · Sep 7, 2020

Goat - for a lighter jacket fo wearing in warmer weather and/or one I want to stay looking "smarter" for longer.

Steer or Cow (or Horse) - for a bike jacket or half belt.

Buffalo - for a utility style like a work jacket or a Highwayman.

Hobbes1 · Sep 8, 2020

Thanks, all for your input.
I specifically avoided mention of maker in the OP simply because i was hoping for some responses that were.....broader....in scope vs. discussion of a specific jacket maker or tannery.

What i do not want is a jacket that looks forever new or plasticky and I dont particularly want pebbly grain. From comments here and my own observations and searching, it would seem buffalo might be my preferred hide as I want it to show wear and grain as it ages.
It will be chrome tanned, not veg and a lighter weight. HH isnt on offer. This is a company on the lower end of the price points that get discussed here so I also wanted opinions that were not influenced by that information.

Yahoody · Sep 8, 2020

I have a few of each.

Goat seemed the most practical for every day wear as it is lighter and breaths well. (nothing sheep)

I have cow and steer. It really depends on the cut/pattern of the jacket how much I like it. But all sorts of variations there for leather and quality.

Horse? Tough stuff and comfy once broken in some. The flight jacket I pretty much lived in for 6 years (nope not a pilot) is my favorite.

I ended up with a half dozen or so leather jackets after that first horse hide one. Never found one I appreciated as much. It is a Schott they don't seem to make these days. I still have it. I don't wear it often now a days. But just as good as I remember when I do.

All of them take a lot of wear to look worn.

El Marro · Sep 8, 2020

Hobbes1 said:
What i do not want is a jacket that looks forever new or plasticky and I dont particularly want pebbly grain.

That means you should probably forget about goatskin, it is usually pebbly and it looks new for a long time. I don’t know how many jackets you have but if you don’t already have one in steerhide then that would be my recommendation. It is widely available in many colors, weights, and finishes and it shows wear and grain as nicely as any hide I’ve seen.

belfastboy · Sep 8, 2020

Hobbes1 said:
Thanks, all for your input.
I specifically avoided mention of maker in the OP simply because i was hoping for some responses that were.....broader....in scope vs. discussion of a specific jacket maker or tannery.

What i do not want is a jacket that looks forever new or plasticky and I dont particularly want pebbly grain. From comments here and my own observations and searching, it would seem buffalo might be my preferred hide as I want it to show wear and grain as it ages.
It will be chrome tanned, not veg and a lighter weight. HH isnt on offer. This is a company on the lower end of the price points that get discussed here so I also wanted opinions that were not influenced by that information.

I would make certain of the grain on the hide. Buffalo and bison are two different animals. I have seen bison hide with zero grain. My jacket is water buffalo with big grain.

handymike · Sep 8, 2020

I really like the look of Buffalo for a “grainier” option. Goat- unless vintage and 80years old doesn’t really grab me unless Theodoros has done his “magic” on it...Steerhide from the 60s is outta this world, and my favorite hide of the jackets I own. The tumbled CXL that Aero does can look nice too.

Dr H · Sep 8, 2020

Capeskin or goatskin for lighter jackets; deerskin for winter weight.

Goat, Steer, Cow or Buffalo hide. Which one and why?

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Goat, Steer, Cow or Buffalo hide. Which one and why?

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One Too Many

This guy has numerous complaints from sellers.

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