Horween makes really good leather but so do plenty of other tanneries in the USA like Seidel and Wickett & Craig. What I think sets Horween apart is the diversity that they can produce. There chrome, veg and cordovan are all really good. Wickett & Craig might make a veg tan easily as good than Horween's veg but that's all they do. Also no one makes a cordovan as good as Horween. I don't care if Shinki takes a full year to make their shell when it looks and feels like plastic.
I have a pair of Oak Street using Horween leather and it is amazing stuff. How it changes color by putting slight pressure on it, and watching it go back to the original color is fun. Soft and comfortable as well.
@Stridewise I'm pretty sure it was a chromexcel that wasn't that much different from standard. I think the roughout side was a bit more processed so it would be more uniform. Maybe I'm wrong but a standard natural chromexcel roughout would be close enough if that's the look you're going for and don't want to make a special order to Horween.
@@Stridewise it is just Roughout Natural Chromexcel. Please watch episode 15 of the Full Grain Podcast. In 1942, the demand was 15-18 Million sqft per month (each cowhide is 40-48 sqft, 20-24 sqft per side). They released the Chromexcel formula to 8 other tanneries to mass produce boots.
@@Stridewise It was a coincidence that I was wearing them. Almost had the Kudu boots on instead. I really like CXL. But I won't give up premium calfskin for dressier shoes and boots. And I think Nick Horween is smart enough to mention his big customers whenever he can. AE, Alden, Rancourt, etc.
I would highly suggest their new Cypress. It's Latigo leather that has been finished like Horween Dublin. CXL isn't bad but it has a lot of stretch. Ashland is showing off some Blue colored Cypress, Truman has some boots in Brown, and Nick's just finished an MTO for a limited edition in Grey. Then again some people love a stretchy leather. Each to their own.
@@Vultain you know what, that actually sounds awesome. I’ve been wanting to get some Dublin in natural but maybe I’ll wait a bit for this new leather. I’ll save black boots for calf leather. Thanks !
I like horween but they need to work on their quality control. Far too many chromexcel shows have terrible loose grain. But overall wickett and craig is a higher quality tannery in my opinion
@@Stridewise Okay, let me know. I work with them day to day. They are a customer of mine and use services at the company I work for. I know all the executives and lead "tanners" at Wicket & Craig.
Horween makes good products, mostly. However, Chromexcel is overrated. I have a collection of shoes and boots made of various types of leather and tanning processes but never had the chance to try Chromexcel, until I finally found and ordered a pair of of boots on sale at Allen Edmonds. As expected, the texture was a bit too smooth and supple to my liking. That's fine with me because it would be one variety in my footwear collection. Then I wore that pair of boots for a whole day. When I took them off, with the warmth and moisture, they emit a smell they made me a bit nauseous. I love the feel and smell of leather and I guess, despite all the hype, Chromexcel leather is an exception.
I'm not fond of CXL. But it's usually one of the best smelling leathers. Something is wrong there but I doubt it's the leather. Although different people have different chemistry based on genetics and diet so who knows?
@@Vultain I do have a sensitive sense of smell. I can smell minor gas leaks and pesticides when most people can't. They say I would be difficult to poison. On top of the smell of leather I smell an undertone of chemicals. I thought it might be the chromium part but perhaps, like in the other replies, it was something else in the boots. Not too serious. I'll still wear them but I'm not gonna sniff them 🙂
i mean i mena its by no means bad but idk why people say its the best leather in America. other then their shell, its mostly just chrome tan.... like its iight....
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Horween makes really good leather but so do plenty of other tanneries in the USA like Seidel and Wickett & Craig. What I think sets Horween apart is the diversity that they can produce. There chrome, veg and cordovan are all really good. Wickett & Craig might make a veg tan easily as good than Horween's veg but that's all they do. Also no one makes a cordovan as good as Horween. I don't care if Shinki takes a full year to make their shell when it looks and feels like plastic.
All shells feel like plastic to me. Horween is just ‘nicer’ and it’s hard to put my finger on it- even as a leather craftsman
@@robdubent Horween feels like real leather with a plastic coating. Shinki feels like plastic made to look like leather.
I have a pair of Oak Street using Horween leather and it is amazing stuff. How it changes color by putting slight pressure on it, and watching it go back to the original color is fun. Soft and comfortable as well.
I love Oak Street's stuff so much, very good combination of leather and boot!
Pull up leather baby. Only Horween does it right.
Horween in Chicago, where I was born and raised…. Horween has been famous for their leather as long as I can remember…. Nice video Nick!
So cool! This makes me excited to see how my Horween, black cherry, Canada West boots turn out
Canada West are super legit! Good choice
Their “Marine Field Shoe” leather was important during WWII.
Surprised I don't see more brands using that today!
@Stridewise I'm pretty sure it was a chromexcel that wasn't that much different from standard. I think the roughout side was a bit more processed so it would be more uniform. Maybe I'm wrong but a standard natural chromexcel roughout would be close enough if that's the look you're going for and don't want to make a special order to Horween.
@@Stridewise it is just Roughout Natural Chromexcel. Please watch episode 15 of the Full Grain Podcast. In 1942, the demand was 15-18 Million sqft per month (each cowhide is 40-48 sqft, 20-24 sqft per side). They released the Chromexcel formula to 8 other tanneries to mass produce boots.
It must have smelled amazing in there! Great video!
Super interesting! I love who they picked as president, seems like a genuine boss that's passionate about his product
he's a great guy, and so humble he refused to watch himself in the video haha
Thanks for the Video, Horween is just so awesome, learning about leather is very cool!
It really is!
Ahhh! You finally made it to chicago!… sorry about the weather. Come back in the summer.
Don't worry Jason I like boot weather!
Horween should be a national treasure
CXL. Good stuff. I'm got my AE Higgins Mill in CXL on my feet now.
Excellent boot, hope you were glad to see them in the video!
@@Stridewise It was a coincidence that I was wearing them. Almost had the Kudu boots on instead. I really like CXL. But I won't give up premium calfskin for dressier shoes and boots.
And I think Nick Horween is smart enough to mention his big customers whenever he can. AE, Alden, Rancourt, etc.
I wonder if Rancourt really is a big brand
@@Stridewise I don't know. I assumed it mattered to him.
Yeah, love Horween CXL leather on my Wolverine 1000 Mile boots.
I've had the worst luck with Chromexcel. Owned half a dozen pairs made from it and none have had nice grain break. The shell has been great though.
Horween makes great leather.
I have 6 pairs of boots and yet I don’t have a pair in horween leather. Maybe I might need to get a black CXL pair this fall.
I would highly suggest their new Cypress. It's Latigo leather that has been finished like Horween Dublin.
CXL isn't bad but it has a lot of stretch. Ashland is showing off some Blue colored Cypress, Truman has some boots in Brown, and Nick's just finished an MTO for a limited edition in Grey.
Then again some people love a stretchy leather. Each to their own.
@@Vultain you know what, that actually sounds awesome. I’ve been wanting to get some Dublin in natural but maybe I’ll wait a bit for this new leather. I’ll save black boots for calf leather. Thanks !
I have Caswell's Lisbon boots in black CXL on right now - amazing!
once again great video!
once again thank you!
Where's Nick Horween? Did he leave the company?
No he's there! He just keeps to himself haha
I like horween but they need to work on their quality control. Far too many chromexcel shows have terrible loose grain. But overall wickett and craig is a higher quality tannery in my opinion
Great video!
Thanks!
Do wickett & Craig next!
their place is so hard to get to! but i may
@@Stridewise road trip, I’ll drive 😆
@@Stridewise I could get you in contact with the Production Manager. 😃
@@DavidNoCool it's more the getting there than the getting in that i'm worried about but i might be able to pull it off
@@Stridewise Okay, let me know. I work with them day to day. They are a customer of mine and use services at the company I work for. I know all the executives and lead "tanners" at Wicket & Craig.
That's why footballs do not look or feel the same 😂
I live in Chicago, would love to tour their facilities at some point...any idea if they give public tours?
I don't think they do! Worth asking them though.
They do have tours for about an hour and half a time, and 10 dollars for one person, but the earliest chance is in early 2024.
I feel like you need to do some collabs clothing or shoe related
I know right, I'm hoping to do something with Oak Street this year
Horween makes good products, mostly. However, Chromexcel is overrated. I have a collection of shoes and boots made of various types of leather and tanning processes but never had the chance to try Chromexcel, until I finally found and ordered a pair of of boots on sale at Allen Edmonds. As expected, the texture was a bit too smooth and supple to my liking. That's fine with me because it would be one variety in my footwear collection.
Then I wore that pair of boots for a whole day. When I took them off, with the warmth and moisture, they emit a smell they made me a bit nauseous. I love the feel and smell of leather and I guess, despite all the hype, Chromexcel leather is an exception.
I have five pairs of CXL shoes and never experienced this issue. Maybe it’s the lining that Allen Edmonds used on your pair.
@@CSK3RMIT Same for me. Either the liner, the footbed, the glue, or something else. CXL smells fantastic.
I'm not fond of CXL. But it's usually one of the best smelling leathers. Something is wrong there but I doubt it's the leather.
Although different people have different chemistry based on genetics and diet so who knows?
@@Vultain I do have a sensitive sense of smell. I can smell minor gas leaks and pesticides when most people can't. They say I would be difficult to poison.
On top of the smell of leather I smell an undertone of chemicals. I thought it might be the chromium part but perhaps, like in the other replies, it was something else in the boots.
Not too serious. I'll still wear them but I'm not gonna sniff them 🙂
@@bouncingBrain they say he would be difficult to poison guys
good man
good video
good taste
good everything
what a comment!
@@Stridewise a good comment
i mean i mena its by no means bad but idk why people say its the best leather in America. other then their shell, its mostly just chrome tan.... like its iight....
Haha nah Dublin and Essex are two 100% veg tan leathers they do, CXL is combination tanned. etc