The Best Products for Restoring Old Leather Saddles

Old saddles are often cracked, dry, water-damaged and sometimes nearly unusable. Restoring the old leather is something that can be done at home, but it requires patience, time and many coats of product before the leather is supple again. There is no one "best" product for restoring old saddle leather; in fact, many people use a few products in conjunction with one another. However, there are a few types of product that are the best candidates for getting that old saddle working again.

  1. Glycerin "Saddle" Soap

    • This is the standard soap used by riders over the world to clean their saddles after every ride. It comes in both liquid and solid forms and is probably your first step in restoring an old saddle. The soap opens the leather pores, releasing dirt trapped inside. With an old saddle, you are going to have to repeat this process and scrub a little harder than you would normally. However, the soap alone won't render the leather supple again.

    Leather Conditioner

    • There are many brands of leather conditioner, but all perform the same purpose. They restore the essential oils the leather needs to be flexible and resilient. Leather conditioner is concentrated, so you need very little. You have to be careful about overconditioning, but since you are working with an old saddle, the leather is probably thirsty for several applications of product.

    Saddle Oil

    • Saddle oil comes in both artificial and animal-based forms. The natural products are better for your leather than the artificial ones, which often include petroleum and may rot linen stitching. Saddle oil will help restore a saddle that isn't rotted, but it can't do anything about dry rot. A dry-rotted saddle is essentially unsalvegeable. Oiling is the last step in the restoring process, and you don't need more than two coats. Oil always has the possibility to darken your leather or cause stretching, so use it sparingly.

    Antibacterial Products

    • If your saddle is covered in mildew or has been visibly attacked by bacteria in another way, you will need to use antibacterial products on it before you start the cleaning process. Wiping the leather with a bleach and water solution before you begin is a simple way to ensure that you kill any bacteria before you begin. Your restoration process will not be effective if the bacteria are allowed to live and continue destroying your leather.