subject: Sporty style: do leather and leisure mix? [print this page] Sporty style: do leather and leisure mix?
Sports leather probably inspires visions of motorbike drivers or 1940s pilot's helmets and driving gloves. In all honesty, leather is fairly unsuitable for use in most sports especially in summer. But with leather's hard-wearing quality and durability as well as its iconic and long-standing style, perhaps there's a place for it in modern leisure pursuits. We explore leather and leisure: can they and do they mix?
Looking round the gym on my mid-year health kick, I can't see much leather. Fair enough; leather jackets and weights machines don't really mix. However, on the way into the gym, I can see plenty of leather holdalls over the arms of toned and muscular athlete types. Leather is a great material for sports holdalls, being strong, durable and long-lasting. What's more, it's stylish and classic and lends a trendy touch to your sports get-up which can often leave you feeling rather unsophisticated. However, it does need a little extra upkeep you should be careful not to expose your leather bag consistently to water, especially salt water if you're into seaside sports, so make sure to wrap up your wet swimming things in a plastic bag before putting it in your holdall. If you're concerned, try a leather protection spray, which will protect your bag from the elements.
It's not just about bags though. Leather hats are great for summer sports such as hiking and walking when you want to protect your face and head from the sun. Not just for Harrison Ford, the Australian leather hat has been spotted on new style icon and soon to be princess, Kate Middleton recently. Check out Barmah and Wombat authentic Australian leather hats for a sport summer style.
And finally, leather's unique strength and durability is still exploited in products for specialist and popular sports, including saddles for equestrian events, baseball gloves and handgrips in gymnastics. Motorcyclists and formula one racing drivers also make good use of leather for gloves and clothes.
It seems that leather still has its place in sports and our increasing knowledge and improving production techniques means that leather is now a popular choice for holdalls, rucksacks and hats as well as traditional sports items. Check out Just4Leather for some great Barmah and Wombat leather hats and quality holdalls.
