As you probably know, leather jackets and other types of leather garments come from a number of different animals. Each type of skins has its own particularities and features; but did you ever wonder which species are considered the best or the most durable? For the sake of simplicity, here is what you need to know: 95% of finished leather garments in North America come from the following animals: Cow, Sheep, Lamb, Alligator, Snake, Ostrich, Deer, and Veal.
So when buying a leather jacket, which type should you look for? Well, that depends on what you are going to do with it. If you want a leather jacket to ride a motorbike or cruising around on a Harley, then I strongly recommend getting leather jackets made out of cowhide. Cowhide is thick, strong, and durable. In addition, it is a good insulator and will keep you warm when traveling.
If you need a jacket for everyday use, that is light and the focus is on comfort, then a lambskin jacket is an obvious choice. Lamb leather jacket is the most comfortable type of leather jackets you can buy. I tell people that a lamb leather jacket should feel like a glove when wearing it. Lamb leather is very thin and extremely supple, as a result the leather molds to the shape of your body. Other leathers like Veal and sheep are also good for this type of use. In most cases, veal and sheep leathers are processed in a special way to imitate the lamb leather feel and touch.
Other leathers like snakes, alligators, ostrich, and deer are considered exotic leathers and are usually used for accessories and special occasion apparel. For example, shoes, purses, gloves, and hats are the most common uses.