Does anyone know of a leather conditioner similar to CWD or Voltaire that I can buy at a regular tack store? I love the CWD stuff, but hate to call the rep for that.
Also, it’s expensive.
Any recommendations?
FWIW I already have some Higher Standards and Effax.
I loved the Equipe Soft Clean & Soft Grease. The grease is the conditioning product. You can buy it in some stores.
Amerigo grease is also similar, but I like Belvoir just as much as my CWD balm.
I used my CWD saddle soap and conditioner til it ran out, then switched to the Effax products and have been happy with the result. I think the Effax Leather-Combi cleaner works better than the CWD soap did, and the Lederbalsam seems to work well for the conditioner.
I’ve been using the Antares conditioner when I’m out of the CWD product. It’s not cheap, but it’s available from Smartpak https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/antares-leather-conditioner-5845
[QUOTE=NotAtTheBarn;8951782]
I’ve been using the Antares conditioner when I’m out of the CWD product. It’s not cheap, but it’s available from Smartpak https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/antares-leather-conditioner-5845[/QUOTE]
Ditto on the Antares conditioner, it’s quite nice!
Belharra is sold at some tack outlets and IMHO better smelling and better working than the others. I love it but it is expensive!
I actually really like the Tad Coffin balm ($27), it smells funny (like spiced milk) but it works really well and leaves no residue, which is my #1 pet peeve.
I actually like the Antarès conditioner better than CWD. The smell is nice and mellow, too.
[QUOTE=Madison;8951584]
I used my CWD saddle soap and conditioner til it ran out, then switched to the Effax products and have been happy with the result. I think the Effax Leather-Combi cleaner works better than the CWD soap did, and the Lederbalsam seems to work well for the conditioner.[/QUOTE]
This is exactly what I did. I was going to switch to the Passier lederbalsam, which is very similar to the Effax but a little less solid if that makes sense, but decided to stick with what I have since I’ve seen good results.
I loved the CWD stuff but went back to effax when I ran out and have been very happily using Effax for years. Unlike some I’m not a fan of the Passier conditioner.
I adore the Passier Lederbalsalm, it lasts forever and I use it on literally everything. Effax is right behind along with Leather Therapy’s Restore & Conditioner. Liquid, not a soft solid but works wonders.
My favorite conditioners besides the CWD are the Higher Standards balm and Akene (available from Beval).
[QUOTE=Cabaret SK;8951521]
I loved the Equipe Soft Clean & Soft Grease. The grease is the conditioning product. You can buy it in some stores.
https://malvernsaddlery.com/saddles/leathercare[/QUOTE]
I have used Soft Clean and like it a lot, I haven’t tried the Grease. I mostly use Effax and Higher Standards, also like Belvoir’s #1 step liquid cleanser.
Something to consider: Seriously consider the tanning process for your saddle and stay with a conditioner that is suited to the particular leather. Usually, the saddle maker sells the right conditioner for the saddle, and some saddles/tack will go out of warranty if you use other products.
For example, the leather on German Stubben saddle requires different conditioner than, say, English leather such as Albion.
Thanks, J-Lu, I am considering that very thing.
Many of the suggestions involve ordering expensive products online and shipping, something I was hoping to avoid.
I’m going to try my Effax on the saddle. I am lucky to have the CWD office nearby. I’m conditioning my saddle once a week, so I’m running through product like crazy, and wanting to save a little money if possible…
Nobody mentioned Oakwood. I bought it for my Freedman saddle and for a layered leather saddle that I just sold. Freedman recommended Oakwood. Just out of curiosity, does anyone have an opinion on it or think some other product is better for solid leathers ? Layered leathers? Saddleseat cutbacks have huge flaps and tend to bubble if they are layered leather. People still use oil, which is part of the prob, but that huge flat expanse of glued leathers is a challenge even if properly cared for.
[QUOTE=TC3200;8956103]
Nobody mentioned Oakwood. I bought it for my Freedman saddle and for a layered leather saddle that I just sold. Freedman recommended Oakwood. Just out of curiosity, does anyone have an opinion on it or think some other product is better for solid leathers ? Layered leathers? Saddleseat cutbacks have huge flaps and tend to bubble if they are layered leather. People still use oil, which is part of the prob, but that huge flat expanse of glued leathers is a challenge even if properly cared for.[/QUOTE]
I’ve used Oakwood… I think it’s good for rougher leathers. It’s very greasy, but it’s also very penetrating and does an excellent job… I use it on my Dublin river boots to keep them conditioned, looking nice and keep the water repellent qualities going. Used it on a dumpster girth I found a few times too to bring it back from the brink. A+
I think for layered leather it would be just fine.
I tried it a few times on my bridle leather but didn’t like the residue it left; perfectly fine for boots but I am majorly OCD about dust/debris accumulating on my bridles - someone else probably wouldn’t have a problem with the slight residue it left but for me it was a no-deal for pretty things that go on my pony’s face 
I guess I should have said my saddle is buffalo. Does that make a difference?
That’s a good question. I have L&R buffalo saddles, a couple of cutbacks and an Elan cc, all of them brown. I have also owned Schneider’s Joseph Sterling buffalo saddles. I just used Lexol pH cleaner on them, Lexol NF that’s non-darkening, and some 100% neatsfoot oil sparingly whenever they seemed dry. If they faded badly, I re-dyed them.
L&R’s site recommends (or used to recommend) Oakwood but it would be a job to apply it sparingly enough, rub it out thin, and then take a toothbrush to the saddle to clean out all the pores and grainlines, then rub it down again to remove residue so that dirt won’t stick. :eek: I’ve deep-cleaned a few L&R buffalo saddles from Arizona, and they had dust glued all over them, probably because it stuck to some greasy residue.
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