The leather jacket is one of the staple fashion items in most people’s wardrobes that lasts almost a lifetime.
But not properly protecting your leather jackets can cause your leather jacket to fade, crack, and stain even the most well-made leather jacket – therefore shortening its lifespan.
One of leathers’ biggest enemies is moisture and if your leather jacket comes into contact with it and it’s not carefully dried, this can be a serious recipe for disaster.
So in this article, I’m going to show you 5 best waxes you can use on your leather jackets so that it’s well protected against its arch-nemesis – moisture.
So what are the best waxes for leather jackets? The 5 best waxes for leather jackets are:
- Obenauf’s Heavy Duty LP 4 Oz. (Overall Best Leather Wax For Leather Jackets)
- Sno-Seal 8 Oz. (Best Runner Up Wax For Leather Jackets)
- Paul’s Pail All Natural Beeswax 6 Oz. (Best Premium Wax For Leather Jackets)
- Nikwax Leather Restorer 10 fl. Oz. (Best Wax Spray For Leather Jackets)
- Otter Wax Leather Salve 2 Oz. (Best Scented Wax For Leather Jackets)
In order to learn more details about the 5 best leather waxes for leather jackets, how to buy it, and where to purchase it, keep reading this article.
Before we head over to the details, there’s one common question I need to address; which is Can leather Jackets be waxed?
Can You Wax Your Leather Jacket?
Yes! You can wax your leather jackets to help enhance its water and moisture resistance and also put a nice beautiful subtle shine on your leather jacket.
Leather waxes are able to do this due to the high concentration of hard waxes that allows it to help achieve optimal protection and shine.
So now that the most obvious question is out of the way, let’s now with a clear mind go-ahead to the details of this article.
Let’s first start by taking a look at some factors to consider when choosing the best wax for leather jackets.
Best Wax For Leather Jackets – Buying Guide
Here’s a quick guide on the most important factors you might want to consider when choosing the best wax for your leather jackets.
Paste Wax vs Spray Wax
Generally, there are two types of waxes available commercially that you can buy and use for your leather jackets.
There are waxes you can spray and the wax pastes. While the ones you can spray are quite easy and a lot faster to apply, the ones that come in the form of paste will offer your leather jacket far more even application and more importantly better protection.
So if you would like the most optimal water-resistance and protection, then you know what to go for as against the more subtle protection you get with the wax sprays.
Price
After doing a quick survey of over 20 different brands of leather wax commercially available both in brick & mortar stores and online shops, I find that the best quality leather wax will on average cost between $9 and $16.
So spoiler alert, most of the leather waxes I reviewed in this article are between the $9 dollar and $16 dollar mark – with the exception of some high-quality waxes that are packaged in smaller containers.
So you can be rest assured of high-quality leather waxes that will not ruin your highly cherish leather jackets.
All-In-One vs Special Waxes
Most of us love versatility so it’s no surprise how most of us are in love with the statement “killing two birds with one stone”.
Some leather waxes will act as leather conditioners, leather restorers, leather softeners, and at the same time leather protectors.
While this can be great, it will have its perks and cons. One huge advantage is you will be getting well-rounded protection or as it were an all-in-one application sort of protection.
On the other end, the degree of protection you would have wanted your leather wax to exclusively offer your leather jacket will not be quite as much like the special waxes will offer.
So if you would like to exclusively give your leather jacket supreme protection against moisture, then the waxes specially made for protecting leather is what you would want to go for.
Otherwise, you would love the well-rounded nourishment and protection from the products that are formulated to give your leather all-round protection – which in this case you will be killing 5 birds with one stone 😀
Easy To Use
Just like with all other products, you would want to be able to make a purchase and be able to make very good use of it just like any professional will do if you’re to patronize their services.
In this day and age of DIYing, it’s no surprise that most of us will resort to getting our own things fixed by ourselves and also the right way.
So you would usually want to go for products that you can easily apply or use in quick simple steps.
When it comes to waxes, there are numerous ways that have been shown to be the best ways to apply them.
I would like for you to focus on 3 basic ways of applying wax to leather jacket.
Using your hand to apply, spraying, or using a microfiber applicator to work the wax into the pores of the leather so it does its job.
All in all, get wax that you can apply in either of the three ways especially if you’re not a professional.
Either way, a complete set of instructions will come with any of the waxes I’m going to be reviewing in this article.
Simply take a quick look at the instructions that each comes with and make sure you’re well equipped or prepped to use the one you choose.
Toxicity And Safety
This is probably a no-brainer but it’s prudent I sort of state the obvious. Try limiting your choice to leather waxes that are free from harmful toxins.
Our leather jackets have a lot of contact with our skin and others who’re often around us.
From those awesome friends who love to give us that huge bear hugs to pets and children who like to lick us out of fondness and love.
So do not put yourself at risk by going for something that contains toxic substances that can harm you, your pet, children, or loved ones.
Like all of the leather waxes highlight in this post, you will be guaranteed natural-based waxes with no added harmful chemicals.
Best Waxes For Leather Jackets – Reviews
Here’s a quick review of the best waxes for leather jacket. This review is to help make your buying experience easy while getting the very best wax that’s going to fit your specific needs and budget.
1. Obenauf’s Heavy Duty LP 4 fl. Oz. (Overall Best Leather Wax For Leather Jackets)
The Obenauf’s Heavy Duty LP is my overall best wax you can use for your leather jacket protection.
As the name implies, the Obenauf’s is a heavy-duty leather protector that was originally made for firefighter, to fight off corrosive materials and acids.
Today, it’s formulated with rich natural oils and beeswax formula, this product is going to offer your biker, racer, etc jackets protection against water, fire causing substances, heat, and abrasion.
There’s no doubt this leather wax is going to give your leather jackets the best of the best conditioning, protection against moisture, snow, salts, etc. that jacket usually comes into contact with.
Although Obenauf’s wax is tagged a heavy-duty leather wax, it’s not very waxy and you will barely be able to tell after you have used it on your leather jacket.
This is because it comes off more as a liquid or a light oil than the paste-like substance you will have in the Obenauf’s container.
The best thing about the Obenauf’s Heavy Duty LP is that it’s very easy to apply and if allowed to properly dry (usually overnight), it will most likely not change the texture or the look in terms of darkening it as most other waxes will drastically do.
Pros:
- Contains natural oils the keeps the leather jacket lubricated and conditioned for a long time
- Dry to touch
- Application is super quick
- Can be applied on a variety of smooth and nubuck leather items
- Lasts longer from usage
- You’re going to get a bang for your buck
- Very easy to apply and require no heat
- Resists scuffs and abrasion
- Does not rot or tear up stitches on leather goods
- Resists mold and mildew growth
- Protects leather against water, sweats, salts, manure acids, and all sorts of leather damaging compounds
- Impacts a nice-looking patina
- Made in the U.S.A
Cons:
- Generally more expensive
- Noticeably darkens leather
- Waterproof is not as good as the one by Sno-Seal
- Not suitable for use on Suede
If you’re interested in the Obenauf’s Heavy Duty Leather Protector, you can check it out over here on Amazon for any additional information you may require.
2. Sno-Seal 8 fl. Oz. (Best Runner Up Wax For Leather Jackets)
The Sno-Seal leather wax is my best budget pick for this review. The Sno-Seal brand has been around since 1933 and is made in the U.S.
The Sno-Seal is a much heavier wax, especially when compared to the Obenauf’s Heavy Duty LP. But it’s a lot cheaper and budget-friendly.
One of its chief ingredients is beeswax which makes it pretty waxy when it’s applied on leather.
Although it’s a lot waxier than you would expect, you will be able to have very good wax penetration with the Sno-Seal on your leather jacket.
You will be able to particularly achieve this if you heat up the surface of the leather jacket slightly before and after your application – as indicated on its instructional guide.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Its protection lasts long
- It doesn’t clog or obscure the breathability of the leather jacket
- It doesn’t soften your leather jacket
- It has no grease in its ingredients
- Made from pure bee’s wax, not any other animal products
- Remains flexible even during cold temperatures
- Made in the U.S.A
Cons:
- It’s pretty waxy after application
- It will darken the surface of lighter colored leather
- Requires heat for best results
If you’re interested in getting Sno-Seal to help protect your leather jackets, you can check it out over here on Amazon for additional information and pricing since they’re always changing.
3. Paul’s Pail All Natural Beeswax 6 fl. Oz. (Best Premium Wax For Jackets)
The third review item on my list for the best wax for leather jacket is Paul’s Pail All Natural Beeswax.
Like all the other products review in this article, Paul’s Pail All Natural Beeswax is made in the USA. Except that this product is handmade with a 150-year-old special formulation.
Because this is a premium quality product it’s been specially formulated for use on only natural leather goods such as your premium quality jackets, shoes, boots, saddles, gloves, to mention a few.
Unlike the Sno-Seal, Paul’s Pail All Natural Beeswax softens leather when it’s applied.
This product is able to act as a softener because of its all-natural blend of animal oils with beeswax. This gives this wax conditioner a soft buttery consistency.
Because of its unique ingredients, Paul’s Pail All Natural Beeswax not only acts as a softener and protector but also acts as a leather conditioner and leather restorer.
So if you have a leather jacket that has dried out and stiffened over time, you should be able to restore it to nice flexibility feel and look with the Paul’s Pail All Natural Beeswax.
One word of caution is that this product will darken suede leather so it should not be used or can be used if you do not mind your suede leather darkening a shade or two.
Pros:
- Premium quality wax conditioner for premium quality leather goods
- Non-Toxic
- The protection by this wax conditioner can last up to 6 months
- Has no added chemical dyes or perfumes
- Versatile all-in-one leather wax conditioner
- No added petroleum ingredients which usually is unnatural to leather
- A little goes a long way
- Provides supreme water-resistance
- Has great consistency for even application
- Easy to apply even with hands
- Restorers the leather jacket color to a nice solid intense look
- Great for softening old leather jackets and other leather goods
- Made in the U.S.A
Cons:
- Pricey
- Has strong smell which will usually disappear in a couple of hours
If you’re interested in the Paul’s Pail All Natural Beeswax, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
4. Nikwax Leather Restorer 10 fl. Oz. (Best Wax Spray For Leather Jackets)
As said before in the buying guide section, wax sprays will generally make waxing your leather jacket a whole lot easier while offering it the best protection.
This and many more are what the Nikwax Leather Restorer has to offer. The Nikwax Leather Restorer will do a couple of important things for your leather jackets, shoes, bags, etc.
One of the basic things this wax will do for your leather jacket is to create a solid barrier against dirt and water.
This feature will allow the leather item it’s sprayed on to maintain solid protection that will often cause water to bead on the outer surface of the leather jacket without getting into the lining parts of the leather jacket.
Another great feature of the Nikwax Leather Restorer is that it can be applied on either wet leather or dry leather and it will still be able to offer your leather jacket instant protection and durable water-resistance and repellence.
The waterproofing quality the Nikwax is going to give your leather jacket is not like most others on the market in terms of breathability.
This product will offer your leather jacket a durable waterproofing effect while still maintaining the superior breathability of the leather material.
On top of all the great features, this leather wax product has to offer is the fact that you will be able to use the Nikwax on leather jackets made from finished or smooth leather, suede, nubuck, and even fabric.
Pros:
- Spray on application so its very easy and very quick to apply
- Renders leather waterproof instantly
- It reduces sweat absorption
- Great for leather powersports gear
- Removes bad odor
- Maintains breathability
- Cleans leather
- Best for all leather clothing or apparel
- Restorer suppleness in dry leather
- It’s evironmentally safe and biodegradable
- It’s water based
Cons:
- Waterproofing quality good but nothing like the paste-based waxes
- Scent is not very pleasant
- Leaves behind a bit of white residue
If you’re interested in the Nikwax Leather Restorer, you can check it out over here on Amazon!
5. Otter Wax Leather Salve 2 fl. Oz. (Best Scented Wax For Leather Jackets)
The best thing about the Otter Wax Leather Salve is not the fact that it’s only small but it’s a good quality leather wax conditioner made in the US and very safe for use on all kinds of leather jackets.
It contains a natural blend of waxes like carnauba wax and Shea butter so that it gives your leather jackets a supple, lustrous feel, and shine.
Another important reason why you would want to choose the Otter Wax Leather Salve is that it contains no artificial dyes or chemical dyes and because of this you would be able to use it on any type of leather no matter the color.
The Otter Wax Leather Salve is indeed an all-natural formula with 100% environmentally friendly ingredients.
It also contains conditioning ingredients that would help to offer your leather jacket deep conditioning.
Pros:
- Water-resistant
- It’s affordable
- Easy to use
- Non-toxic
- Environmentally friendly ingredients
- No silicone and petroleum substances
- Gives leather a lustrous sheen
- Doesn’t leave the leather jacket oily
- Really nice fragrance
- Made in the U.S.A
Cons:
- It takes some time to be able to work it nicely into the leather
- Only available in a neutral tone
If you’re interested, you can check out the Otter Wax Leather Salve 2 Oz. over here on Amazon.
You can as well check out the sweet-scented 5 Oz. Otter Wax Leather Salve over here on Amazon!
