These hides are two of the most prominent and two of the most common leathers used for making warm clothes. They are one of the most durable types of leather which are used for wearing as a coat and for motorcycle gears like jackets and boots.
People often ask whether cow leather is thicker than sheep leather? Is cow leather stiffer than sheep leather. There are a few things which should be made clear and concise. Most people think that as Cow is a strong animal so its hide is much more durable and much more stronger than Sheep hide which is obviously not true as far as the leather is concerned. These leathers can easily be differentiated by the following reasons:
Comfort
Sheep hide is softer and way more comfortable than cow leather. Apart from that it gets softer, smoother and silkier with the passage of time. Cow leather can be tough and stiff if it is worn too often or if not used properly mainly because of its stringent and rough nature which could be a good choice for its users. Because of this toughness and rigid nature, people often prefer Cow leather because of its longevity.
Durable
Cow hide is without doubt way more durable as compared to its sheep counterpart because of its rough and tough nature and they are preferred by motor sport athletes such as Moto GP and F1 professional drivers. Sheep hide is subject to wear and tear and is more vulnerable as compared to other leathers. That is why people prefer cow hide. It mostly depends on the thickness of the jacket. A quality leather jacket made from Cow or Sheep Leather may well use the same level of thickness.
Maintenance
Cow leather is way more resistant to dirt and moisture than sheep leather. Sheep leather is a flame resistant material and is an insulator.
Jackets made from such Hides especially cow Hide jackets are high quality and usually quite resistant to wear and tear. But preventative care should be applied to ensure they are long lasting and don’t lose their quality.
Environmental Impact
Hide is a product with some environmental impact particularly due to the following reasons:
The impact of livestock
Air pollution due to transformation process
Use of chemicals in the tanning process
Softness
Some say Cow Hide is softer than sheep hide and some say sheep hide is softer than cow hide. But the fact of the matter is there is very little difference as far as softness and smoothness is concerned.