Aren’t you relieved when choosing a quality leather jacket, among myriad styles, shades, lengths and fit, the one thing you don’t have to think about is the type of leather selected in the manufacturing process? Is it cowhide, buffalo hide, sheep nappa? Is it full grain, half grain, and does it matter? Well, yes it does, but not so much that you must worry about it.

The science that determines the type of leather your jacket is made from depends on the style and the expectations of its performance. If you ride the highways with the wind rushing through you as you ride your motor bike you will need a barrier against that, and other potential hazards. So, the decision was made at the start, but you’ll know it’s right when you see it and feel it.

A quality, fit for purpose, leather motorcycle jacket is made from full grain cow or buffalo hide. Both tanned and oiled so that strength is combined with suppleness, along with lightweight, comfortable separate linings that are smooth for your body. The full grain hide insulates the body with a wind proofing, allied with its thick, robustness to protect the frame from injury.

Of course, the suppleness and strength of the leather varies from animal to animal. Differing species of cattle, sheep, goat, and swine retain natural qualities fit for differing purposes. Budget is obviously a consideration when manufacturing a leather jacket.

The Leather Buying Guide: All you need to know when yo buy a leather jacket

Goat hides and pig skins tend to be at the budget end of the scale, which isn’t always a bad thing. It means you can purchase style at a more affordable price. However, beware, sometimes that means the feel, or the quality of the hides used may impair your overall enjoyment in wearing it or compromise the length of service it will give you.

It isn’t necessarily always the case, though. Pig skin, when selected properly, and processed using quality tanning materials, and tailored well, can offer a most pleasing appearance for an economical cost. If you are looking for something that little bit special, you usually find your leather jacket made from either cattle or sheep hide. Historically, the most satisfying quality hides have been sourced from France, or Britain.

This has something to do with the climate. In less hostile climates (where excessive heat is not omnipresent) or perhaps, countries with greener landscapes, the skins of the animals tend to be more naturally oily, to cope with the conditions. This lends a helping hand to the tanning process and produces skins and hides that already have a suppleness, and therefore a far more luxurious appearance and fee to them.

Improvements in the science and technology of tanning and manufacturing means that most skins, in the modern era, can be produced to exacting standards. But every little advantage that nature bestows cannot be discounted. For example, if you are looking for a quality top grain leather jacket, Napa leather is something you might wish to look out for.

Napa is a skin/ hide from a calf, lamb, or kid goat. It is extremely soft and luxurious to the feel, and when combined with a superior topcoat and lacquer, it looks the part, and feels the part too.

A black leather blazer made form sheep napa will feel like silk and bare the appearance of chic elegance in a coat. If is made from a full grain leather, a full skin, not a split one, it will give you many years of service, and it will also age well, providing you treat it with the respect it deserves.

Cow/calf napa too can lend such characteristics whilst being a tad more practical in the wear and tear department, due to its strength. This type of skin/hide is perfect to use in the crafting of a long leather jacket. Such a design will better keep its shape due to the greater molecular rigidity of the skin used. However, being a nappa, it will still afford you the most in luxurious comfort, and at the same time offer even greater levels of service and endurance.

Well, aren’t you glad you didn’t have to think about all that? That by the time you decide to purchase a quality men’s leather jacket, everything is sorted. All you need to do is choose your style, the occasion, and click. Now, what was that skin called, again? Don’t worry. That’s already been done for you! Have a good life instead.