I’m running out of my current Bickmore bottle of leather conditioner, which I love for bridles and such, but I’d like something more moisturizing for my saddle. I live in SoCal, where it is always dry dry dry, and I can never seem to give my saddle enough to drink! Recommendations for deep conditioners that don’t leave an overly waxy or greasy residue? I don’t like the idea of a conditioner leaving some kind of gunk or finish on my saddle other than leaving it soft and supple, and if it’s oil-based, I wouldn’t want it to darken the leather either. So many choices out there, I’m willing to spend money on a quality conditioner but I have no idea what to buy!
I personally like Belvoir conditioner.
This is what I use on new reins as well as shoes, boots, and purses. It doesn’t change color of the leather at all, but penetrates nicely. I have used it on very dry saddles, usually in heavier quantities,and it’ll soak in and dry with absolutely no residue or tackiness. You can find it in many shoe repair shops and in the handbag area at Nordstrom’s.
https://www.amazon.com/Cadillac-Boot-Leather-Lotion-2-pack/dp/B00B621Z5K?th=1
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Not darken the leather, be a deep conditioner, and leaving no residue leaves you with very few options. I am not sure there are conditioners that don’t darken leather. It’s a natural byproduct of conditioned leather.
Personally, I am a big fan of Belharra products for cleaning/conditioning, but it will darken a light saddle. Any conditioner will.
Tad Coffin’s Balm is good too. As is good old Neatsfoot Oil.
Higher Standards! I just got this stuff for the first time and it’s fantastic.
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I agree with tbchick84. Higher Standards is awesome!
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Thank you everyone! I couldn’t find the Higher Standards on Amazon, so I think I’m going to try the Cadillac conditioner and see if I like it.
I feel compelled to point out that the “waxy” residue is what keeps the saddle from drying out again. Sealing in the conditioner is what keeps moisture in, not just slapping conditioner on it all the time.
I have the Cadillac stuff, but I use it on boots. I don’t see the point of trying it on a finer leather like bridle leather as it wouldn’t seal in any moisture and I would just be applying it every day.
I also really like the higher standards soap but don’t like the conditioner. It smells like chocolate and isn’t very conditioning.
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I feel the same way about Higher Standards leather conditioner. I like the soaps very much.
I’ve been on the hunt for a new leather conditioner. My Effax Leather balm has been ok, but I don’t like it as much as I used to.
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Shocked no one has said Effax Lederbalsam yet - the best!
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@soloudinhere you do make a good point, and I actually have that snowproof wax paste from SmartPak that I apply on my boots to seal in the moisture. Unfortunately, it is so sandy and dusty down here in SoCal that dust seems to cover any waxy surface and it’s awful :no: I’ve also heard other people say that certain conditioners attract gunk just like that, so that’s what makes me wary of waxy conditioners…
The belvoir is not waxy…most of the higher end conditioners like belharra, belvoir, etc just soak in and you wipe off any excess.
My favorite method for deep conditioning is to warm a dish of neatsfoot oil in the microwave, brush it on the leather and work it by hand. Then I’ll wipe off any excess, and seal it with Stübben glycerine soap. However, as continually humid as Virginia is, I only have to that about twice a year. It was a very different story living in Montana! I felt most conditioning products like Lederbalsam or Horseman’s One-step left the leather feeling fatty and gross when used regularly in this humid climate.
I love, love, love my Higher Standards–cleaner and conditioner, but I figured the OP wouldn’t want the (mild) residue. As for when/where to use this, I’ve found it’s particularly good for rehabbing bridles that haven’t been used in years/decades. Or if you order a pair of plaited reins and they show up and are only so-so leather. The Cadillac, used liberally, can turn meh into marvelous. I often use it with a toothbrush or a cloth, in decent to heavy amounts, for a few rounds of cleaning/conditioning depending on how dry or abused the leather is. Then once it no longer needs intensive care, I’ll swap to Higher Standards. But YMMV of course. 
I love the hadfields conditioner. I usually never buy the “official” tack company products but I’m very (bordering on unhealthily) attached to that bridle, so I splurged.
It doesnt darken, but leaves the leather so rich and soft. It doesn’t take much, smells lovely, and leaves no residue. The only downside is Hadfields e-store has been down for a while.
For those who love Higher Standards… what am I doing wrong? I bought both the soap and conditioner and was totally unimpressed… felt like I couldn’t get enough onto a tack sponge and then onto the leather to be any kind of use. I kept it in the heated barn bathroom over the winter thinking maybe it was freezing, but that did nothing. I wanted so badly to love it the way everyone else seems to, but I felt like it was a waste of money!
I second Effax lederbalsam, especially for soft buffalo on saddles. The Voltaire rep who just came out said he hadn’t seen a 2011 saddle look nearly as good as mine did, with respect to the condition of the leather. I am also in Virginia, so I don’t use it as often this time of year, but in the winter it’s my favorite.
Are you referring to the soap or conditioner? The soap has no problem getting sudsy with a little bit of water. The conditioner, I feel that I really have to dig at. It’s hard and doesn’t go on a sponge so well. I used a soft microfiber cloth and just dug in with my hand. Or I have to press hard to get some out. It kind of annoyed me. Just get creative and force some out. Even if it’s a chunk.
I never tried to warm it up or anything.
The higher standards conditioner is ok. Love the soaps through. My favorite leather conditioner currently is Oakwood. and Belvoir. I use the One Step to knock the everyday crud off.
I am in love with Skidmores original leather cream. I just cleaned my old TexTan saddle with regular saddle soap and followed with a very liberal amount of the Skidmores cream, and it turned out great. I have had the saddle for about 13 years and have never thought the leather was great quality, and it has ALWAYS squeaked. It seemed a little dry, so I decided to just lube it up, and the squeak is finally gone. The leather has a decent sheen and once everything soaked in, it didn’t feel greasy.
The saddle was dry enough that it can probably use another treatment, so that is going to be in my immediate future.
All of the other tack I have conditioned with this is in great shape. I’m pretty impressed.
I just ordered some Belvoir after reading through the thread again. I’m curious and it was 14 Euro, so not crazy expensive.
I’ve been using Fairfax Rapide Gel (it’s more of a cream) on my Fairfax Gareth but I’m not hugely impressed. I think it could be a little more moisturizing but there is no residue at all. It’s also been very dry here so I think that also takes a toll on the leather.
