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Insight · Leather Care
How to Break In a Leather Jacket
The short answer
The best way to break in a leather jacket is to wear it, often, and move in it. Wear it on errands and long drives, roll it up, do arm circles in it. Body heat and movement soften the leather and shape it to you, usually within a few weeks of regular wear.
Skip the shortcuts. Soaking a jacket in water or throwing it in a hot dryer can shrink, stiffen, or crack the leather. A light coat of conditioner is the only help it needs.
Congratulations are in order! You’ve invested in quite possibly The Staple of all clothing staples–the leather jacket. It smells new, and it looks great, but much like bringing home a new baby from the hospital, you might find yourself with that “now what?” feeling.
Even before you launch into all the possibilities of what to wear with it, you might be asking: How do I break in my new leather jacket? Don’t worry; we know a lot about leather.
It’s a bit intimidating to nail down the “dos and don'ts” of how to handle leather. We know your aunt “swears by coconut oil and puts hers in the dryer.” (Please, don’t do that.) This is worth getting right, so here are 4 easy steps to get you started.
1. wear it.
Honestly, let’s just keep it simple, shall we? That new leather jacket will mold perfectly to your chiseled physique like body armor the more you wear it. Never underestimate what good ‘ol Father Time can do for breaking in a leather jacket.
2. ROLL IT INTO A BALL.
We know it sounds silly, but this is one of the best ways to loosen up the leather and create the broken-in look and feel you want. Simply use your hands to tightly crunch your leather jacket up into a ball. Release and repeat.
3. MOVE IN IT.
The more you move in it, the more flexible your leather jacket will be. Obvious, right? But just because it’s obvious doesn’t mean it has to be boring. Here are some suggestions that will have you breaking in your leather jacket in no time. (Buckle up, it might get weird.)
ARM CIRCLES
Loosen up those shoulders and get to those windmills! 1 minute forward, 1 minute backwards. For you overachievers out there, add another minute of going forward with one arm and going backward with the other–it’s still just as difficult as you remember from 4th grade. As your deltoids start cramping your jacket will loosen.
PUSHUPS
Drop and give us twenty. (Yes, with your jacket on.) After a solid set (or three) of pushups, you’ll notice the stiffness in the shoulders and arms of your leather jacket softening and breaking in as it adjusts to your movements.
FIGHT CLUB
The first rule of breaking in a leather jacket is… wait. Nevermind. Pull on your jacket, find a punching bag, and throw some punches. The more your jacket moves with your body, the better it will feel.
4. LOVE IT.
Real leather is a natural surface that can get dirty and dry out. Just like soap and lotion help keep your hands clean and not too rough, using proper cleaners and conditioners will keep your leather feeling soft and looking great. Proper care can even add years to the life of your jacket. Try something like our all natural Leather Cleaner and regionally sourced Leather Conditioner. Having both on hand will help keep all your leather goods in top shape.
Are you loving your leather and want more? That new jacket would look great paired with our leather satchel messenger bag or one of our leather wallets! Check out all of our leather goods right here.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to break in a leather jacket?
It depends on the leather. Soft lambskin feels broken in within days. Thicker cowhide or buffalo leather can take a few weeks to a couple of months of regular wear before it molds to your shoulders and elbows.
How do you soften a stiff leather jacket fast?
Wear it as much as you can and move in it. Roll it into a loose ball for a few minutes, work the elbows and shoulders, and apply a light coat of leather conditioner. Movement and warmth do most of the work.
Do leather jackets break in?
Yes. Quality leather softens, creases at the elbows, and shapes to your body with wear. That broken-in character is a big part of why a good leather jacket gets better with age.
Should you get a leather jacket wet to break it in?
No. Soaking a leather jacket is old advice that often backfires. Water can leave spots and pull oils out of the hide, leaving it stiffer once it dries. If yours gets caught in the rain, let it air dry away from heat.
Does leather conditioner help break in a jacket?
A little. A thin coat of conditioner keeps the leather supple and helps it flex, but too much can darken the leather or leave it greasy. Condition lightly and let wear do the rest.
Will a leather jacket stretch as I break it in?
Slightly, mostly through the shoulders and elbows, but not a full size. Buy a jacket that fits close from the start rather than counting on it to stretch.
Can I put a leather jacket in the dryer to break it in?
No. High heat dries out the natural oils in leather and can shrink or crack it. Keep leather away from dryers, radiators, and direct heat.
Xan Hood founded Buffalo Jackson Trading Co. in 2009. He designs our leather jackets and outerwear in Matthews, North Carolina.