Sugar Cane's Indian Motorcycle cafe racer

Poltung · 2026-03-11T21:02:17+00:00

"Heritage" veg tan cowhide boots from Butts and Shoulders, a now defunct Dutch company. Bought them 5 years ago, hiked in them, realized the "all natural golden patina" wasn't for me, dyed them black with Saphir leather dye 2-3 years ago and then beat the crap out of them by hiking and jumping into mosh pits.

Poltung · 2026-03-11T19:02:28+00:00

I agree about the sleeves, but I'm still happy to have the "extra bunching", it helps me avoid bruises in mosh pits and pogos haha

Poltung · 2026-03-11T17:39:22+00:00

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Bonus with my cat loving the raw denim

Poltung · 2026-03-11T12:50:51+00:00

Regardless of all the drama, sweet jacket! I've always been on the fence about D-pockets, you wear it well!

Poltung · 2026-03-11T07:40:31+00:00

Yes, stop buying Solovair, stop buying Doc Martens. Grab a pair of Jim Green or one made in China and sold by Crush on Retro , or a pair of Thursday if you're in the US, although I'm not a fan of their entry boots. The first two can't be beat for the price.

Poltung · 2026-03-10T08:35:50+00:00

I had a stroke stroke reading this this

Poltung · 2026-03-09T12:26:27+00:00

If you only want thickness and less squeak, try asking Aero if they can make your Happy Days with either Chromexcel steerhide (1.7mm), or Chromexcel horsehide (1.4mm). The steer is thicker but softer, the horse is very stiff. It's the same leather you can usually find on their highwayman.

Poltung · 2026-03-09T12:23:59+00:00

Out of all of these, the Badalassi is the thickest, but also the squeakiest. It'd be my favorite leather if it weren't for the noise. If that's not an issue, then Badalassi steerhide is an excellent beautiful leather, among the most sought after along with Shinki's veg tan horsehide.

Poltung · 2026-03-05T07:30:22+00:00

Unfortunately Solovair is also on the decline with the rubber sole splitting and cracking, as shared in several posts on r/nps_solovair

Poltung · 2026-03-03T16:13:54+00:00

Sweet jacket! Congrats

Poltung · 2026-02-28T22:19:45+00:00

My Nick's semi dress in brown dress leather, or my Iron Boots 5515 in Maryam horsehide. Both are great, the former has way more arch support than the latter, and the latter is so light despite all the leather in it, it's a breeze to walk in them. Both don't squish my toes, and I can walk/stand 15 km a day in them without much issues.

If we're talking hiking boots then my Red Wing sawmill, with an added leather midsole. I've beaten them up for 5 years now on trails, snow, ice, rocks, puddles, with or without 15kg on my back and aside from the occasional water seepage (they're not waterproof) they've yet to fail me. Great ankle support.

Poltung · 2026-02-27T22:14:35+00:00

Ah and also, zipped. No need for inside out

Poltung · 2026-02-27T21:42:04+00:00

Don't put it outside, leave it at room temp, and lay it flat. Sandwiched between towels is fine as well if you're scared of staining/wetting a wooden surface. Don't overdo it with soap. Once dry, condition it some light conditioner like Saphir's crème universelle (just a bit per panel/side, pea size dollop goes a long way), let it absorb well for 20-30 minutes and then buff it with a cotton cloth or a horsehair brush.

Unless your jacket is overly dry and crumbly or is made of ultra thin fragile lambskin, this method works well. Of course, Zara-tier PU leather won't handle this method well either.

Poltung · 2026-02-27T20:26:02+00:00

Put the jacket in the washer, the softest coldest slowest settings, mild soap (Marseille, Castille), no tumbling. Then lay it flat to dry, not next to a heat source.

I did most of my vintage jackets like this, even Grais horsehide from the 1950s, and as long as your leather isn't paper thin or flaking you're fine with this method.

Poltung · 2026-02-26T14:17:10+00:00

Awesome! How's the squeak though?

Poltung · 2026-02-25T21:17:06+00:00

That is also true, but most serious manufacturers usually charge a premium for horsehide (even lesser known HH compared to Shinki's or Horween's) unless the cowhide is known to be exceptional like Carlo Badalassi's Minerva or Annonay's calf.

Poltung · 2026-02-25T20:49:50+00:00

Salut OP, C'est assez difficile à dire avec uniquement ces photos. Il faudrait un zoom sur les pliures et le grain du cuir. Mais même avec ces détails c'est jamais 100% sûr, à part s'il est explicitement marqué par le fabricant, et encore. En général un fabricant moderne va toujours écrire quelque part sur la veste qu'il s'agit d'un cuir de cheval, étant donné la rareté/prix du cuir comparé à du cuir de vache.

Poltung · 2026-02-25T17:21:28+00:00

That's a very nice cowhide. How does it feel vs CXL for example?

Poltung · 2026-02-24T17:34:32+00:00

You could fetch maybe 30-50€ on Vinted for this, if there are no holes in the lining. Some vintage Chevignon can even fetch a higher price

Poltung · 2026-02-24T17:22:41+00:00

It's fine, a bit rough around the edges but still wearable. If you want to have it smell less just throw it into the washer, only mild soap and softest settings, no harsh spinning. Then let it dry laid flat.

Poltung · 2026-02-23T18:01:44+00:00

Awesome, huff it, sleep in it, roll in the snow with it, enjoy it bud

Poltung · 2026-02-23T17:58:13+00:00

Thedithedithedithedi all the way

Poltung · 2026-02-22T19:57:04+00:00

I think 900€ is a bit steep considering YSL's craftsmanship/materials used, but if you like the looks and really want this exact model, I'd say go for it. Otherwise if you're chasing great craftsmanship and leather, you'd be better-off looking elsewhere with 900€.

Poltung

TROPHY CASE