Buying a leather jacket on a first impression seems like a piece of cake. You either physically visit a store or navigate a product page, spot a neat black leather jacket of a good quality, and reasonable price, with a nice cut. It certainly looks great. Possibly it even feels great. At least, that's what you thinking. Then someone just casually throws out the words 'faux leather,' 'PU leather,' or 'synthetic,' and you gradually lose all clarity.
There is no problem with the existence of fake leather jackets. In fact, these products have substantially improved their quality throughout the last years. The serious problem here is the ignorance of one’s expenditure on the product. A leather jacket made of genuine leather and a fake leather one may easily fool the view on the very first day. However, if you compare them after a few winters, you will find the differences in cracks, peeling, stiffness, smell, etc., i.e., the aspects that once changed you can no longer decline.
This article is not in any way intending to turn you away from cheap options or to promote expensive leather jackets. It is based on an understanding of the real versus the fake leather jacket in a common sense way. Hence, if you are holding a jacket, you know exactly what is what.
Why Is the Difference Between Real and Fake Leather Important?
Leather jackets aren’t like graphic tees you buy for one season. Most stay in rotation for years, sometimes close to a decade. That kind of expectation changes how you think about fit and longevity, making a proper size guide even more important.
Real leather ages while fake leather deteriorates. This is the main core difference between the two.
A real leather jacket gets more comfortable as the time goes. It wrinkles around the elbows, fits your body a bit more, and takes on the character. In contrast, a faux leather jacket usually gets the other way. At first, it becomes harder, and then cracks, and eventually flakes, especially at the points of the highest stress like the shoulders and cuffs.
It is primarily for that reason that men’s leather jacket buyers are more keen on this because the item of clothing usually turns into a wardrobe staple and a going-out outfit. The same jacket with different pairs of jeans, boots, and moods. You realize the true value of the leather when you just “wear” it.
What Is Real Leather Made from?
Real leather is made of an animal hide, most commonly a cowhide but also sometimes lambskin or goatskin. After tanning and finishing, the obtained material turns into the fabric of a real leather jacket.
There are grades of it anyway. The quality of real leather varies.
Typical Leather Types Used in Jackets
- Full-grain leather – the most robust and durable, with natural grain visible
- Top-grain leather – a few waxed and polished to obtain a smoother surface and more refined leather
- Genuine leather – real but from lower layers; durability varies
Many people are mistaken thinking that 'a genuine leather jacket' is of top-notch quality and it is just another marketing trick. It just means it’s real leather, not synthetic. The grade of leather is more important than the brand.
However, even the lower-grade real leather will be behaving differently compared to the fake leather after some time.
What Is the Meaning of "Fake Leather"?
“Faux” is a French word that means “fake” or “false.” Faux leather is a leather substitute made from plastic-based materials like polyurethane (PU) or PVC and is intended by manufacturers to imitate the appearance of real leather without the use of animal hides.
You might come across the following terms:
- Faux leather jacket
- PU leather
- Vegan leather
Some faux leather jackets appear to be of high quality at first glance. They have a very smooth surface. The color is uniform. They are also very light. Hence, the price is usually quite low, and this makes them attractive, especially if you are buying your first leather jacket for men.
The problem is that faux leather doesn’t let the skin breathe and doesn’t age well either. Once it starts peeling, it can’t be repaired an issue you’ll notice across many materials
How to Check a Real vs Fake Leather Jacket?
These are the ways that many people are interested in. Being at a shop or online, how can one figure that out?
1. Touch and Texture Test
Real leather isn’t flawless when seen or touched closely. There are always some irregularities. The grains might not be exactly the same. Besides, it is warm if you put your hand on it.
On the other hand, fake leather is very consistent. It looks almost too perfect. Generally, it is cooler if you touch it. Additionally, it might feel somewhat like plastic if you gently press it with your fingers.
If the material happens to look like vinyl, then most probably it is vinyl.
2. Smell Says More Than You Think
The smell of real leather is close to the smell of nature. It is earthy, natural, and thus hard to replicate.
Fake leather smells like chemicals. The odor is plastic-like. Sometimes, you might not immediately sense it until you put your nose close to the material; however, after smelling natural leather multiple times, it will be quite hard for you to be mistaken.
This test is quite effective.
3. Look at the Edges and Seams
Examine the areas of the jacket where the surface layer is not finished or the inside seams or the leather under the zipper flap.
- Real leather is fibrous and rough around the edges
- Faux leather is neat and its edges are sealed
If the fabric backing is visible beneath the layer of the surface, it is most probably faux leather.
4. Water Drop Test (If Possible)
Put just a tiny bit of water on the surface of the leather.
- Real leather will absorb water slowly, and the color of the material will darken and become visible
- Fake leather, on the other hand, will not soak the water as it just sits on it
If you are not comfortable performing the test at the store, you can always do it at home if you still have doubts.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Real Leather Jacket | Faux Leather Jacket |
|---|---|---|
| Smell | Natural, earthy | Chemical or plastic |
| Texture | Uneven, organic | Smooth, uniform |
| Aging | Develops patina | Cracks or peels |
| Breathability | Good | Poor |
| Lifespan | 5–10+ years | 1–3 years |
Does Jacket Style Change the Real vs Fake Decision?
It actually does. Different styles put different kinds of wear and tear on materials, which is something fit tips often point out.
Biker Leather Jacket
Biker leather jackets are made for the rough and tumble of the road, physically. Wind, movement, stretching at the shoulders, all that happens to real leather but it can take it. On the other hand, faux leather is very sensitive to such conditions, so it breaks down quicker because biker jackets are tight and structured.
Bomber Leather Jacket
Bomber jackets are more loose-fitting and casual. Here, faux leather might last longer although real leather still scores in both comfort and durability.
Racer Leather Jacket
Racer jackets are sleek and tight-fitting. The simpler the style the higher the chance the poor material will be noticed right away. Therefore, faux leather racers will show defects earlier than in other styles.
Leather Jacket Fit Guide Still Matters (Even With Real Leather)
Even the greatest leather jacket for men would not fool anyone in a wrong fit.
Real leather stretches a bit over time. Fake leather does not stretch at all.
This simply means that when purchasing leather jackets for men, you need to put more thought into the sizing. It is quite okay to be a little bit tight first. Too tight, however, is not.
Quick Fit Checkpoints
- Shoulders should align cleanly
- Sleeves end at wrist bone
- Chest snug but not restrictive
- Zipper closes without strain
A winter leather jacket might need room for layering. A fashion-forward racer jacket might not.
Black vs Brown Leather Jackets: Does It Affect Authenticity?
The color has nothing to do with whether the jacket is real or fake, but it can be helpful in some cases when figuring out the truth.
It is easier to produce black leather jackets that look like the real deal. Brown leather jackets reveal the texture more. The variations in the grain become more noticeable. The wear becomes more apparent as well.
If you want to get better at spotting real leather, you should probably use brown leather for practice.
Affordable Leather Jacket vs Premium Leather Jacket
Quality isn’t always guaranteed by a high price, though it’s usually easy to spot the extremes at both ends of the scale when browsing clothing.
If an extremely cheap leather jacket is advertising itself in such a way that it is '100% genuine' leather, then you have to be suspicious. The leather tanning, cutting, sewing, etc., are tasks that have to be paid for and hence real leather will never come cheap.
At the same time, you can probably find that some top leather jackets are not really worth their price. Branding is what can be accountable for the very high price really fast.
What to Look For Instead of Price
- Leather thickness
- Stitch consistency
- Lining quality
- Weight of the jacket
It is quite possible that a nicely made inexpensive leather jacket may be better in quality than a badly made lavish one.
Leather Jacket Care and Maintenance (Real vs Fake)
This part differentiates the two ones even more.
How to Clean a Leather Jacket (Real Leather)
- Use a damp cloth to gently wipe
- Apply leather conditioner once in a while
- Keep away from soaking or machine washing
Although real leather is in need of care, the fact is that it reacts to the care very well and pleasantly.
Faux Leather Care
- Wipe clean only
- Avoid heat and sun
- No conditioning needed
After the point where faux leather cracks, it is at its end. No fix.
Leather Jacket Buying Guide: Questions to Ask Before You Buy
Take a moment and ask yourself these questions before proceeding to the checkout:
- Is this something I want to keep wearing for a long time?
- Am I going to use this mostly in winter or just sometimes?
- Is the material quality in line with the price?
Choosing a leather jacket that mostly suits your lifestyle is much more important than just blindly running after the brand. Also, it is quite logical that you would want to ask which leather jacket is the best for your weather conditions, budget, and frequency of use so that you wouldn’t regret later.
Final Thoughts
One thing that a leather jacket should not necessarily have is perfection. However, it has to be real. Real leather is not perfect at first but it will reward you with time. On the other hand, fake leather can be perfect initially but abruptly and significantly reveals its defects later on.
Choosing either option wouldn’t be wrong. Yet, knowing the difference between them will spare you from feeling that you were cheating a year later. Especially when that jacket is the one that just happens to be the first you reach for because you don’t even think about it.
And that is usually the way it goes. One single jacket. Too many memories. Worn-out cuffs. Still holding up.
FAQs
1. How long does a real leather jacket last?
Provided that proper care is given, real leather jackets can last up to decade or even more, it of course depends on quality of leather and the frequency of use.
2. Is faux leather good for winter?
Faux leather provides only very limited insulation and its breathability is quite poor. So, it is okay for mild winters but insufficient for the extreme cold.
3. How can I tell if an online leather jacket is real?
Look for the detailed product description, close-up images of texture, info on the lining, and the return policy. Be wary of vague expressions.
4. Does genuine leather mean real leather?
Yes, but it is referring to a lower grade of real leather. Leather quality still varies extensively.
5. Which leather jacket style lasts the longest?
Leather biker and bomber jackets which are made from either full-grain or top-grain leather have the reputation of being the ones that take the longest to wear out.