Can You Wear a Leather Jacket in the Rain? What to Do If It Gets Wet
Can you wear a leather jacket in the rain? The short answer: a light shower won't ruin a good, finished leather jacket, but getting it soaked again and again will shorten its life. Suede and nubuck are much more sensitive. Here's how different leathers handle water, exactly what to do if your jacket gets wet, and how to protect it.
What water does to leather
Leather is skin, so it absorbs water. The problem usually isn't the rain itself but the drying afterwards. As water evaporates, it can carry some of the leather's natural oils with it. Dry it too fast, or with heat, and the leather can stiffen, shrink, spot or even crack. Treated the right way, a wet jacket usually recovers completely.
How different leathers handle rain
| Leather | In light rain | Tips |
|---|---|---|
| Finished cowhide | Handles it well | Wipe it and let it dry naturally |
| Waxed or oiled leather | Good water resistance | Water tends to bead on the surface |
| Lambskin | Fine for a short time | Softer leather marks more easily |
| Aniline or "naked" leather | Prone to water spots | Blot quickly; spots usually fade evenly as it dries |
| Suede and nubuck | Best avoided | Use a suede protector spray and carry an umbrella |
| Shearling | Keep it dry | The wool side takes a long time to dry |
What to do if your leather jacket gets wet
- Blot, don't rub. Press a clean, dry towel over the surface to soak up as much water as you can. Rubbing can mark the leather.
- Hang it properly. Use a wide, padded hanger so the shoulders keep their shape. If it's very wet, you can loosely fill the sleeves and shoulders with a dry towel, changing it as it gets damp.
- Dry it slowly at room temperature. Keep it away from radiators, heaters, fireplaces and direct sun, and never use a hair dryer or tumble dryer. Let it dry overnight, or longer if it was soaked.
- Condition once it's dry. Rub a little leather conditioner into smooth leather to put back the oils the water took out. Skip this step for suede and nubuck.
- Flex it gently. If any areas feel stiff after drying, gently work them with your hands.
Water spots? Lightly moisten the whole panel from seam to seam with a barely damp cloth so it dries evenly. The mark usually blends away.
Wet suede? Blot it, let it dry naturally, then brush the nap back up with a suede brush.
Snow and road salt
Brush snow off before it melts into the leather. If white salt lines appear, wipe them with a cloth dampened in equal parts water and white vinegar (test a hidden spot first), then wipe with a clean damp cloth, let it dry and condition.
How to protect a leather jacket from rain
- Condition regularly. Well-conditioned leather is more supple and a little more water resistant. Two to four times a year is plenty for most jackets.
- Use a water-repellent spray made for leather, or a suede protector for suede and nubuck. Test it on a hidden spot first and reapply as the product directs.
- Carry an umbrella in heavy rain, and choose a different coat for a full day outdoors in a downpour.
- Never store it damp. Let it dry completely before it goes in the closet, and use a breathable garment bag, never plastic, to avoid mildew.
Choosing a leather jacket for a wet climate
If you live somewhere rainy, a finished or waxed cowhide jacket is the most forgiving choice. Heavier leathers such as steerhide and buffalo also shrug off weather well. Save suede for dry days.
Browse our men's biker jackets, cafe racer jackets and trucker and workwear jackets.
Keep reading
- How to clean a leather jacket at home
- Lambskin vs cowhide: which should you buy?
- Our leather care guide
Written by the White Buraq team. Our family workshop has made leather goods by hand since 1998.