Vegetable vs chrome tanned
Tanning turns hide into leather. The method changes how the leather feels.
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What tanning does
Britannica describes leather as animal hide or skin treated to preserve it. That treatment is tanning.
Vegetable tanning
Vegetable tanning uses extracts from plant parts such as bark. Britannica says it can take weeks or months, and gives a firm, water-resistant leather.
Chrome tanning
Mineral tanning uses mineral salts, and chromium salt is the most widely used. Britannica says it produces a soft, pliable leather and can take days or even hours.
Patina
Patina is the change in color and sheen that leather can show with wear and care. How much depends on the leather and its finish.
Responsibly made leather
The Leather Working Group is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder group that sets standards for responsibly made leather. A maker may say its leather comes from an LWG certified tannery; that is the maker's claim to check.
FAQ
General information only. Follow the boot maker's care instructions and the directions on any care product. Test a product on a hidden spot first, because some products can darken leather.
How the sole is attached
Welted, stitched, or cemented.
