What happens to leather when it gets wet?

[Disco]

Was just wondering if leather is waterproof or get's waterlogged?.....

And before you say google it I did and got this:

Well. leather on a cow is waterproof. rain doesnt soak through their skin. they just dont want to be cold......

Cheer's Dave....

[robracer]

Mate it just goes a little stiff after it dries, bit but that goes once you wear them again
The stiching will let the water through eventually

[Disco]

Cheer's Rob....So if there's chance of rain go the textile.....Only got rain pant's

[MrWasabi]

the oils from the leather will wash away too. And you may get white patches where the water evaporated from. Leather is not water proof. Cow skin is but leather has had the fat and tissue stripped out of it and been through processing. And what rob said the stitching will let water in.

[robracer]

Mate just get out there & ride, procrastinating about your wardrobe does not cut it
I am wearing a nylon jacket that is 12 years old with holes in it & new Alpine Stars Leather pants I dont give a toss if it rains or if my ballls get wet, I dont give a toss if it dont match, I just dont care about my wardeobe or yours...... JUSTRIDE BRO!

[hoffy]

yeah JUSTRIDE BRO !

[robracer]

Yeah putty loop next Friday

[Gosling1]

Putty Loop....mmmmmmm

Devo - If you treat your leathers with some leather-dressing (eg Ge-Wy) - that will help a lot with repelling water, but if you are caught in a hurricane....well the leather will get wet and you with it........

[Blurr]

yep just use the beez wax every couple of months and never have any dramas. Your water will always leak at the seams and kevlar expansion panels. I dont find thin textile jackets any better than leather in the rain.

Just worry about the cold more than the rain.

[the kid]

Treat your leathers like ya willy , every time they go stiff just rub some lube into em and they will go soft again in no time .

[Lone Wolf]

[smithy5]

You end up with wet leather.............................. HTFU.............

[seiko1]

My first leather jacket was a Brando back in the early eighties.
Rubbed a shirtload of dubbin into it when I bought it (extra on stitching)
and wore it in all types of weather including the floods in 1990 Qld and never got wet or had any
probs with it.
Still owned by a mate and he still wears it (looks like a real Brando now)

[Gosling1]

.....My first leather jacket was a Brando back in the early eighties......Rubbed a shirtload of dubbin into it when I bought it (extra on stitching).....

WTF ???? Don't be doin' that shit bro, doncha know that Dubbin rots ya stiching ???? That jacket should have fallen apart 25 years ago !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[photomike666]

My winter leathers have got wet more times that I can remember. I rode home from a UK bike show in 99, probably poured 1 litre of water out of each boot after 2 hours of riding in heavy rain. They get treated very rarely, maybe 5 times in the last 12 years, and after 1 high side (Car from side road) and 1 low side (diesel on freeway entrance), the most noticable damage is from carrying a rucksack.

As an aside, when are you more likely to slide along the road, it warm grippy conditions or wet slippery conditions? And which will offer best abbrasion resistance leather or textile?

Wear leather and get out there and ride; it's only water.