First pair of leather trousers, how to care/break em in

[kawakid]

Hi,

Been biking for a year now, have had 2pairs of textiles trousers, (summer & winter).

But never head leather trousers before, have already got leather jackets and gloves.

Anything I should do, need to be aware of, how long to break em in.

Both pairs of my gloves, took about 2 weeks of commuting to break em in.

I was thinking of just wearing them around the house for a while (as i'm in the car at the moment)

Cheers.
____________________
I've a twin and a 4.

[mchaggis]

Give them leather food, wax, Nikwax and then just wear them. You'll get used to them and they'll get broken in as you wear them. They shouldn't be quite as bad as a new pair of boots, they won't be grinding skin from your heels and chafing your calves for instance.
____________________
I must not be a troll...
Mmmm, Guinness
Discovering the delights of Hammerite and a 3/4" brush.

[kawakid]

Guess they're going to get sweaty (swetty?) in summer, what do most people do?

Thats what I like about my summer textiles, breathable, well nice.
____________________
I've a twin and a 4.

[mchaggis]

[numark1]

My leathers never broke in fully when i had them (dainese tribal) it's annoying becuase you can barely move.

Wear them around the house.

[kawakid]

Thats the thing, how tight should they be?

I can get them on, but to be honest, I'm on a diet after xmas, they're a size 36" waist.

They are tight, so your saying they should be tight.

Hmm perhaps I should have got a 34 and dieted down to that.

(my weight goes up an down, just been eating fruit and salad for last few weeks).
____________________
I've a twin and a 4.

[queen of string]

I wear mine to drive the car in when theyre new, seems to help.
____________________
"Eat food, not edible, food-like items. Mostly plants."

[Simple]

[Superlight]

They do need to be tight, but you need to be able to move.
What you don't want is a loose fit when you first put them on, cos that means saggy bum once they're broken in!
I used to wear mine around the house and watching TV when I first got them.

The quickest way to ruin leather is get it really wet, then dry it over a radiator. It'll go like cardboard! If (when) you do get 'em wet, they have to be dried out slowly, and then treated so they stay flexible. Nikwax is good stuff, it's waterbased so you can put it on wet leather and it stays soft as it dries.

Mine are about ten years old now, I think they've stopped getting more comfortable each time I wear them.
Which probably means it's about time I got some new ones!
____________________
You only need two tools: WD-40 and Duct Tape.
If it doesn't move but should, use the WD-40.
If it shouldn't move but does, use the Duct Tape.

[BFG]

This post edited many times as I was checking the info.

Old Nikwax and saddle soap, together with many other leather care products can rot and therefore seriously weaken stitching.
Not a problem for a horse saddle, but fairly disastrous when you're sliding along asphalt on your arse.

I use Grangers. I think new water-based Nikwax is OK. Needs checking. But bung that old tin out!
Saddle soap is still a no-no unless it says on the tin that it won't rot stitching!

[stinkwheel]

Best way to break them in quickly is to go out riding your bike on a showery day so they get damp and keep riding it until they are dry again. Give them some leather treatment when you get back and they will fit like a glove.

Leather treatment is probably best applied with your hands (the heat helps it penetrate into the grain), or even better, get a very good friend to apply it while you are wearing them

I use nikwax on my leathers and my combat boots. I have had the leathers for ten years with no apparent ill effects.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.