Buffalo Leather: A comprehensive guide by LeatherBlues

Leather is an awesome material and every leather type has some very unique qualities that are really amazing. One of the widely used types of leather is bovine leather and to be more specific buffalo leather. In this article, we will discuss buffalo leather, its types, and much more. We will even compare it with cowhide leather which is also a popular choice. After reading this article you will know much about buffalo leather and can make a more informed decision if planning to buy a new leather piece.

All you need to know about buffalo leather

Buffalo leather is also called English saddle leather and as the name suggests is a type of leather that is derived from buffalo hide. The commonly used hide is sourced from Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and African buffalo Buffalo Hyde as they offer some very unique properties and one of the most significant ones is softness. Buffalo skin is very subtle as compared to any other bovine leather.

People often confuse bison leather with buffalo leather which is very popular among North American people as buffalo is not native to America and Europe. However, Bison leather, from North American bison, is a totally different type of leather.

In addition, buffalo skin is an excellent insulator and that’s why it is widely used to make winter clothing like winter jackets, winter shoes, etc. It can very well protect you from the biting cold as it has excellent thermal adaptation quality as buffalo hide is more breathable and that also helps in absorbing and releasing moisture easily.

Moreover, the Buff leather is very strong and durable, it is also soft and flexible. Due to its stable fiber composition, it provides outstanding resistance against wear and tear.

What type of leather is buffalo leather?

Buffalo leather is a kind of bovine leather and just like other bovine leather types, it possesses high strength and durability but it is also soft and flexible which makes it very comfortable to wear.

Buffalo leather is a specific type of leather made out of water buffalo hides known for its dense fiber structure which makes it ideal for heavy-duty applications such as wallets, belts, boots, furniture, and motorcycle gear.

Is buffalo leather for you?

If you like durable yet comfortable to-use products then buffalo leather is made just for you, especially the clothing made out of buffalo skin. It can easily last multiple decades and can even last a lifetime if taken care of properly.

In addition to strength and durability, its appearance will only get better with time which makes it a timeless classic that can never go out of style.

Buffalo leather vs. Cow leather

If we compare buffalo leather with the most popular kind of leather that is none other than cow leather then please excuse me for the spoiler but buffalo leather is the clear winner. As we have already discussed in the article buffalo leather is more durable and stronger than cow leather there are some other points of comparison that are important to discuss.

Softness- Cowhide leather is known for its strength and durability but did you know that buffalo leather is much stronger and more durable than cowhide? This is not it as it is very soft and flexible as compared to cow leather which can initially feel very stiff and difficult to break in. Buffalo leather is also dust and water-resistant to a higher extent than cowhide leather.

Grain pattern- Both buffalo leather and cow leather offer different kinds of grain patterns that can be desirable to people according to their personal choices. Buffalo leather has a large and prominent grain pattern giving it a classic rustic look however, cow leather can have a wider variety of grain patterns, from smooth full grain to pebble grain patterns.

Price- Buffalo leather is more expensive as compared to cow leather due to its perceived rarity and exceptional strength.

Thickness and size of hide- Buffalo leather is typically thicker than other types of leather, such as cowhide. This makes it ideal for applications where strength and durability are important. Another, plus with buffalo leather is that the skin of water buffalo has more usable space as compared to cowhide due to the size of the animal.

Buffalo leather vs Buff leather

Buffalo leather is often confused with buff leather and some shopkeepers even deliberately tell people that buff leather is nothing but buffalo leather. Well, maybe there are some personal reasons to do so but we will not get into that but informing you about which is what is within the scope of this article and I think it is my duty to only provide you with the right information when it comes to leather.

The term “buff” leather can be deceiving in the modern leather industry as it refers to a finishing process that is called buffing in the leather industry. Buffing is the finishing process to make animal skin more smooth and even rather than the source of the leather. Leathers made out of the skins of various animals can undergo buffing and can be called buff leather which is a broad term,

However, buffalo leather refers to a specific type of leather that is derived from water buffalo and has all the properties that are discussed in the previous section of the article.

Types of buffalo leather

Buffalo leather is a versatile leather and it can be used to create other types of leather with some modifications. Some broad types such as full grain buffalo leather, top grain buffalo leather, and genuine buffalo leather are very common and we are not going to discuss that in this article. However, you can read about them in another article. In this section, we will briefly discuss some special types of buffalo leather such as pull up buffalo leather, water buffalo leather, and Italian buffalo leather. Here is the overview:

Pull up buffalo leather

Buffalo skin can be used to create this amazing and my personal favorite leather is Pull up leather. The highest quality full grain buffalo leather is often used to create pull up leather. After coating the buffalo leather with aniline dye, they are coated with wax and oil to create pull up leather.

Further pull up leather is of two types wax pull up and oil pull and you can read more about them in our another article.

Water buffalo

There are three types of buffalo types (as they say but I only consider two of them) or leathers that are called buffalo leather such as Asian water buffalo, American bison leather, and African cape buffalo.

Asian Water Buffalo is the most desirable of them as it is way more breathable and thicker than the other types. Due to this it also commands the highest price in the market

Italian buffalo

Italians are known for their finest craftsmanship and artistic approach to things. When this Italian craftsmanship is combined with the water buffalo leather then emerges the premium quality Italian buffalo leather.

In other words, Italian buffalo leather is the type of buffalo leather that is imported, tanned, and finished in Italy. Italian buffalo leather is used to make high-quality luxury leather goods and they are used around Europe.

Conclusion

In conclusion, If you ask me if real leather has any alternative, I would say that real leather holds a special charm that cannot be replicated by any artificial material. Leather’s natural essence and the uniqueness of each skin give it an irreplaceable character. While some cheaper options like vegan leather and faux leather are available, can they replace real leather? In my view, nothing can replace the authenticity of natural leather.

If you have any doubts, feel free to ask in the comment section, and for more information on leather products, you can check our other articles or you can contact us. LeatherBlues is known as one of the best stores for real leather products. Explore our amazing collection of leather garments and services.

Related topics: How to make leather jackets soft: Do’s and don’ts

Best leather to make leather jackets: A complete guide

How should a leather jacket fit a woman? Tips and advice

How leather is made? From rawhide to luxurious leather material.