goatskin hides products explained ~ and their advantages to cowhide leather

Goatskin is a tanned and sometimes cured, same as is cow leather, yet they have very distinct differences. Each hide or skin, have their own specialty uses, advantages and even disadvantages. So we will elaborate….

The first fact you might note is its price. Goatskin costs approximately 25% less than that of a full grain cowhide leather. Goat skin have their own unique uses, advantages and special features. For example. goat hide is much better suited for the crafting of a variety of products, as opposed to cow leather, such as driving gloves, bomber jackets, skirts and pants, wallets, just to name a few popular products. It is because the goats’ hide is much thinner and much more supple to work with than that of cow leather. The nimble and pliable nature of the goats’ skin allows for a more exacting fit, like for driving gloves. It is a very lite weight with a soft and buttery feel. Goatskin is also more water resistant than its counterpart, due to the lanolin naturally in the animals’ skin. Experts rank goat skin among those top hides used worldwide. Sighting calf hide, lamb skin and goat skin hides being the most sought-after leathers around the globe.

Cowhide on the other hand is a bit more durable therefore, it is usually selected by the crafter when making items such as belts, riding gear, outerwear, etc. Cowhide is often difficult for the crafter to work with since it is twice the weight of the goats’ hide, very stiff and hard to stitch. It does not have lanolin properties nor the rich look and feel of a goat skin product.