Waterproofing Leather

[WickedOne]

Last week while riding to work wearing my leather jacket and leather pants I got completely wet (through the jacket, pants and boots). So I went into Motomail in College Hill, Auckland on Saturday to price some wet weather gear to wear over my leathers due to the shyte weather we are currently having. There are some good looking options there but generally I would be looking at about $150.00 at least.

I then found an aerosol can of leather waterproofing spray made by "Revit" for $30 and thought I would give it a try and see how it worked. The instructions say to spray the stuff onto the leather and allow to dry before wearing. (twice for best results).
I sprayed my jacket, pants and boots twice very well - paying special attention to the seams. (finished the can after two coats).

I wore my gear this morning in the pissing rain (Silverdale to Auckland City) and did not have a drop of water on me!!!! I am so impressed by this product. I can't say how long it will last but will update this post at some stage. They have a spray for synthetic materials as well.

[The Pastor]

Dubin! - Where did you get the can from?

[WickedOne]

I have heard that Dubin can "rot" the stiching on leather (don't know if this is true or not). I got it from Motomail at 41 College Hill, Ponsonby, Auckland City.

[kevie]

I then found an aerosol can of leather waterproofing spray made by "Revit" for $30 and thought I would give it a try and see how it worked. The instructions say to spray the stuff onto the leather and allow to dry before wearing. (twice for best results).
I sprayed my jacket, pants and boots twice very well - paying special attention to the seams. (finished the can after two coats).

Sounds like a similar stuff I used to use on my gloves in Hammie, havent found it down this way but worked really well, sprayed gloves at start of winter and one treatment lasted the winter (aprox 3-4 months). was pretty good stuff.

[Colapop]

There's a thread somewhere here about waterproofing leather. Be careful using cans of spray waterproofers they tend to seal the leather and not let it breathe which is not good at all.
Just search Waterproofing leather or leather care. BabyB is the one to talk to. She knows the lot in regard to leather...

[ZeroIndex]

My dad has this can of spray.. Waproo.. says it 'repels water yet still permits the leather to breathe.. gonna put that on my gloves and boots soon..

[buellbabe]

Hmmm I am also in the market for some wet weather over-trou. Bought jkt and trou from Motomail a couple of yrs ago and the jkt is great but the trou leaked 2nd time I wore them and wouldn't ya know it I couldn't find the receipt ( as i had bought them 6 months earlier in a sale... ) grr! Won't be getting cheap over-trou again...
In years gone by I have used Dubbin on my leathers and its so-so but really you should use a proper leather product cos yes it does rot the stitching...
Actually I have been looking at gear in Kathmandu and Snowgum cos alot of the hard-core alpine stuff has all the design features you want on a bike and its hard-wearing...

[XTC]

Why don't they make leather gear with a waterproof breathable liner?

[WickedOne]

Why don't they make leather gear with a waterproof breathable liner?

I think you would get water between the liner and leather and that probably would be really difficult to dry. The last thing you need in your jacket is mould!!!

[oldrider]

The day after ANZAC day we traveled home from Southland in really heavy rain sleet and snow.
Mrs O/rider stayed warm and dry but my old gear decided to let the wet stuff in and I ended up sitting in very cold wet pants.
I started to mumble and complain about quality of modern equipment and gear when herself reminded me that we bought this lot over 20yrs ago!
That's not too bad when you consider the only part that I have treated has been the leather jacket and that was with "Backhouse" weather proof dressing.
To treat the jacket I melted the dressing on the barbecue and painted the product on with a paint brush, left it to soak for a couple of days then wiped off the residue with a soft dry cloth.
Seemed to work OK on the jacket but I never did the leather pants.
Following the ANZAC wetting I bought a "Sno-Seal" spray for the rain suit and tube of "Sno-Seal" paste for the pants gloves and boots, all have had one application but have yet to be tested.
I will let you know how it went after they have been through another big wet.
Should be plenty of opportunities soon looking at the weather forcasts. Cheers John.

[babyB]

Wickedone: i don't know anything about "Revit waterproofing" product. haven't heard of it either

Colapop: yep ya have to be very careful. if aerosol waterproof shouldn't block the pours if done right though

but here is what i do know and is also my opinions
i looked in to "Waproo waterproofer (aerosol spray)" (being a common product) some time ago.
First of all this only offers "effective protection against moisture"...best results come if 'impregnate leather etc before using' then at regular intivals..now you still need to condition your leathers! oh & its also recommended for 'smooth leathers' (none of my riding gear has smooth surface except me boots).

ok so here my opinion...I wont touch the stuff with a barge-poll!!!!!! and this is why
because it is highly flammable liquid, insoluble in water, incompatible with oxidizing agents......Basicly i dint want this stuff in my gear if (god forbid) i fall & flames are involved or fuel, nitro, etc.......example ya leathers have been grazed & not been sealed. this solvent treatment is now absorbed & reabsorbed into the leather rather than sitting on the surface...i dint want to risk hot-spots in my leathers.

unless someone cleaver out there wants to test my thoughts on this & prove me wrong by all means do so...but it probably wont change my mind
i don't like my hands in solvents so cant be good for animal skins either

go through my old posts there is info on leather care (in several different threads)

becouse i look after & treat your protective/second skin... 95% of my products are water soluble

[WickedOne]

[QUOTE=babyB][SIZE=2]Wickedone: i don't know anything about "Revit waterproofing" product. haven't heard of it either

Hi BabyB, thanks for your comments. I have tried to find the Revit stuff online but it isn't on their website (http://www.revit.net.

I'll dig the can out of the trash and post up some more about it tomorrow. It isn't sounding good for aerosol waterproofing for my leathers in future.....

[Lou Girardin]

Actually I have been looking at gear in Kathmandu and Snowgum cos alot of the hard-core alpine stuff has all the design features you want on a bike and its hard-wearing...

Except that it's not designed to withstand 120+ speeds while in a seated position.
That'll find leaks anywhere in non-bike gear.

[buellbabe]

No matter what you say...Gortex is still gortex!!! The BIKER trou I got were rooted after 2 rides. I have full confidence in the overtrou I bought yesterday.

[WickedOne]

[QUOTE=Wickedone]

[SIZE=2]Wickedone: i don't know anything about "Revit waterproofing" product. haven't heard of it either

Hi BabyB, thanks for your comments. I have tried to find the Revit stuff online but it isn't on their website (http://www.revit.net.

I'll dig the can out of the trash and post up some more about it tomorrow. It isn't sounding good for aerosol waterproofing for my leathers in future.....

I found the can but not much info on it unfortunately. It only says "Fully protects all types of leather against water and stains, while maintaniing the breathability of the leather. Designed for motorcycle garments."

It is also highly flamable and dangerous to the environment!!! may think twice about using it in the future. (It has, however, worked VERY well).