Can You Wear a Leather Jacket in the Rain? (Detailed Guide)

Leather jacket owners have this concern: Can you wear a leather jacket in the rain with no fear of it getting ruined? While you must not take your leather jacket intentionally out when it’s raining or when you know it’ll rain, it’s okay if it rains unexpectedly.

Leather is a natural material and porous, while it’s water resistant to some extent, it’s not waterproof, meaning that your leather jacket can repel water for only a very short period. Read on to find out how getting soaked can harm your leather jacket, how to prevent this damage, and more.

What Happens if a Leather Jacket Gets Wet?

When leather gets wet, it absorbs water, leading to bad odors, discoloration, stiffness, shrinking, and eventually becoming brittle and prone to cracking as getting wet strips leather’s natural oils, which helps it stay supple and flexible.

How Fast Does A Leather Jacket Get Wet?

How fast a leather jacket will get wet depends on its leather type. If genuine leather is treated with better water-resistant properties in the manufacturing process, such as through the application of waterproofing agents or silicon-based treatments, it will be more resistant to water and will take time to let the water penetrate the jacket.

Untreated natural leather, with minimal water resistance, is especially vulnerable and gets soaked faster. Faux or vegan leathers, on the other hand, are more water resistant than natural leather.

What To Do If Your Leather Jacket Gets Soaked In The Rain?

Don’t worry, if you sequentially follow these steps below, you can save your leather jacket. However, never use direct heat sources to dry your wet leather jacket, like hair dryers or placing the jacket near radiators, as they can damage it.

1. Act fast: Remove Water Immediately

Blot Gently: Use a clean, dry cloth to gently blot the water from the jacket’s surface. Avoid rubbing, as it can cause discoloration or damage to the leather.
Avoid Wringing: Do not wring or twist the jacket to remove water, or it will stretch, crease, or cause permanent damage to the leather’s structure.

2. Air Dry Properly

Hang appropriately: Place the jacket on a wide, padded hanger to maintain its shape.
Choose the right environment: Allow the jacket to air dry in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area. Remember to keep it away from direct sunlight, radiators, hairdryers, or any direct heat sources
Use fans wisely: To speed up drying, position a fan to circulate air around the jacket.

3. Maintain Shape: Stuff The Jacket

Purpose of stuffing: Stuffing the jacket with cloth or paper helps retain its shape during the drying process.
How to stuff: Gently fill the sleeves and body with acid-free tissue paper or clean, dry cloths. Avoid overstuffing, which can distort the jacket’s form.
Benefits: This practice will protect your leather jacket from shrinking, getting wrinkles, sagging, or causing unwanted creases as it dries.

4. Condition The Leather

When to apply: Once the jacket is completely dry to the touch, apply a high-quality leather conditioner.
How to apply: Use a soft, lint-free cloth to apply the conditioner evenly, following the product’s instructions. Conditioning replenishes the natural oils lost during exposure to water and restores moisture, suppleness, and flexibility.
Benefits of conditioning: Regular conditioning prevents the leather from becoming dry, stiff, or cracked and potentially recovers damage from soaking.

Tips for Protecting Leather Jackets in Rainy Weather

If you’re outside wearing your leather jacket and there is a sudden rain and you have an umbrella, you must use it and protect it from getting soaked. If you don’t have an umbrella, you can go to a nearby shelter and keep your jacket in a plastic bag and then in a backpack. If you still don’t have a backpack or umbrella and can’t find shelter, head back home as fast as you can to protect your leather jacket from getting wet further.

Must Use Waterproofing Spray:

You can help protect your leather jacket from water effectively by applying leather waterproofing spray before going outside, especially when wearing your jacket in rainy weather. This creates a barrier to prevent water from seeping into the leather and makes them more water resistant.

Condition Your Leather Jacket Regularly:

Even if not exposed to rain, regular or weekly cleaning and conditioning of your leather jacket will maintain its luster and durability.

Choose A Treated Or Wax Leather Jacket

If you haven’t invested in a leather jacket, then you must invest in waxed or chrome-tanned leather jackets. Wax leathers have a protective barrier that protects it against water penetration to an extent and chrome-tanned leather goes through a process that stabilizes its fibers, making it more resistant to water absorption and less prone to water spots. These types of leather jackets are more durable and will give better protection in rain.

Types Of Leather And Their Water Resistance

When deciding to wear a leather jacket in the rain, it’s important to understand the water resistance of different types of leather and which kind of leather jacket you have. Some leathers are more water-repellent than others and require specific care.

Full-Grain Leather

Full-grain leather is the highest quality leather and has as much of the original hide’s natural characteristics and strength as possible. While it’s durable, it’s the least water-resistant.

Full-grain leather absorbs moisture more easily, which can lead to damage if exposed to rain. If you own a full-grain leather jacket, use a protective spray to safeguard it in wet conditions.

Top-grain leather’s surface is uniform and smoother than full-grain leather without imperfections because its outer layer is sanded down. It is generally more water-resistant than full-grain leather.

Waxed or Oiled Leather

Waxed or oiled leather is treated for water resistance. The wax or oil treatment protects the leather from moisture and wet weather.

Synthetic Leather (Faux Leather)

Synthetic or faux leather is artificial leather made from polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride thermoplastics.

Faux leather made from polyurethane which is called PU leather, is more water resistant than genuine leather, while Polyvinyl Chloride leather (PVC Leather) is generally waterproof.

Plant-Based Vegan Leather

Vegan leathers that are made of plant-based sources like cork, cactus, and even pineapple mimic the same look of leather while being biodegradable and sustainable. Most plant-based leathers are strongly water resistant, while some like pineapple leather are not water resistant at all.

Alternative Fabrics To Leather For Rainy Days

Leather jackets are stylish, trendy, and amazing, but at the same time, they’re expensive, if there’s rainy weather out there and high chances of rain, you can also invest in these alternative material jackets to wear in rainy wheather that are strongly water resistant.

Nylon

Nylon is another excellent choice for rain protection, it dries quickly, is water-resistant, lightweight, and doesn’t absorb much moisture, which makes it more durable than leather in rainy conditions.

Polyester

Polyester is a practical option for rainy days due to its water resistance. Unlike leather, it dries entirely within 2 hours and is affordable.

Should You Wear Your Leather Jacket In The Rain?

No, you shouldn’t, you don’t want to shorten the lifespan or damage your expensive leather jacket. However, unexpected rain can happen when you’re outside, so you must immediately go home while protecting your jacket from getting soaked and immediately dry it. We strongly recommend investing in alternative rain jackets for rainy days.