Caring for leather?

[Guess Who]

I have just bought some leather gear and was wondering what I needed to do look after it.

[steve_t]

Are u on facebook?

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?ui...444&topic=8511

[NZsarge]

Just for starters when you want to clean the leathers use good quality baby wipes and they have a lot of nice conditioners but use only good ones as the cheaper ones may contain some acids. I use Silk thick baby wipes (aloe vera and lanolin).

[Guess Who]

Yes I am on facebook. thanks for that link.

[vifferman]

NikWax Leather Restorer for the win.
Tried this, that, the other thing, and the other other other recommended thing. In fact, they're all still sitting in my cupboard, in various stages of emptiness/fullness.
All crap. Nikwax for me - spray a bit on, wipe it around, job's done.
The only other thing I use is SnoSeal - boots only.

[YellowDog]

So long as you keep them clean (as above) and avoid them getting grubby, they'll last for years.

[SMOKEU]

A damp rag seems to do the trick.

[superman]

NikWax Leather Restorer for the win.
Tried this, that, the other thing, and the other other other recommended thing. In fact, they're all still sitting in my cupboard, in various stages of emptiness/fullness.
All crap. Nikwax for me - spray a bit on, wipe it around, job's done.
The only other thing I use is SnoSeal - boots only.

SnoSeal not that great on leathers? I just bought a pot

[vifferman]

SnoSeal not that great on leathers? I just bought a pot

It's OKish, but it's much harder to apply than NikWax, and whereas Nikwax will make the leather supple AND waterproof, SnoSeal doesn't really soak in, and strangely enough doesn't actually seem to waterproof as well either. Don't despair - save it for boots, use it on your gloves, whatever. It does work somewhat, but Nikwax is more betterer.

Here's the story: I've been riding bikes and wearing leather apparel since 1973. In that time, I've tried everything and anything I came across, searching for something that would be easy to apply, and make the leather gear water-resistant without being sticky or greasy. I started off with a saddle treatment ("Saddeline" or summat like that). Then I tried Renopure, SnoSeal, and a couple of other things that were so crap I can't remember their names. I started thinking, "If only there was something I could just spray on, then wipe with a soft cloth...." I even thought seriously about dissolving some of the stuff in the cupboard in a solvent, but couldn't think of any solvents that wouldn't be bad for the finish on my jacket and gloves.
Nikwax seems to be it. From the texture and smell, I reckon it may just be an emulsion of lanolin or similar. Whatever - it does the trick. My leather jacket is actually showerproof. I also use it on my gloves, even though there's supposedly a dedicated product for that.
It's one of those rare things you buy that just makes you go, "Wow - this stuff really works! I wish I'd found it 20 years ago...."

[davebullet]

I also use Snoseal on leather (jacket, gloves and boots). It takes a while to soak in. I would only recommend it for shiny / gloss finished leather - not nappa / suede finished leather.

Where can you get NikWax from?

[BuzzardNZ]

Nothing. I still have a leather bike jacket that's over 20 years old and in good nick, never done shit to it.

[vifferman]

Where can you get NikWax from?

In Woollungtin? Dunno. Motomail have it (or can get it), and I bought mine from AMPS a few years ago. I suggest you ask around some of your local shops.

[vifferman]

Nothing. I still have a leather bike jacket that's over 20 years old and in good nick, never done shit to it.

Fairy muff.
Trouble is, mine cost $1100, so I want it to last. Plus I bought it because it's a 4-seasons jacket, so I want it to be waterproof. While it has a Goretex liner, that's just dumb - if you ride in the rain, you want the water to stay on the outside as much as possible.

[Owl]

I just use non-alchoholic baby wipes for cleaning and purchase tanners oil for conditioning. I like tanners oil, cause it's about $10 for a litre, soaks in quickly, non-greasy/shiny and leather lets you know when it wants no more.

[far queue]

I use and recommend Bone Dry