Leather is one of the highest quality clothing materials on the market. Everyone loves a new leather piece! Not only are the materials highly popular and always in demand, but it is also one of the most elegant fabrics with a very rich history. The next most popular leather item to leather jackets is a leather duster.

If you’re a fan of “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” then you’re probably familiar with what a leather duster is. If you’re not, then let’s go on a short, quick journey to find out everything you need to know about leather dusters.

A duster, in general, is a loose-fitting long coat. It is lightweight, full-length, and has a rich history behind it. Dusters were originally made for comfort and protection.

The original dusters were long coats made of linen worn by horsemen to keep their clothes clean and safe from the dust trail. These dusters were open up to half their length to allow for ease of motion while riding their horses.

Since linen is not water-proof and is very light, it did not offer enough protection against rain or mud. This led to the evolution of dusters to more sophisticated materials like waxed cotton. At that time, dusters were the official uniform for Texas Rangers.

With the introduction of automobiles, dusters became a popular item worn by both men and women to protect their clothing from dirt roads.

Dusters did not appear much in films until Sergio Leone re-introduced them in his famous wild-west movies. The main characters were seeing wearing dusters not only in Sergio Leone’s movies but in multiple other movies at that time. This was the major reason behind the revival of the dusters’ popularity in the early 20th century. Leather jackets were already taking over the markets at that time. This was a golden opportunity for mixing both trends together and introducing leather dusters to the fashion world.

Although a leather duster may be confused with a leather trench coat, the differences between them are many.

Leather trench coats were originally worn by the soldiers in the trenches in World War I. While dusters were made to provide comfort and protection, trench coats were made to be worn in war. This accounts for the major differences in the structures of both items.

Dusters do not have a lapel. This is to facilitate their complete closing up to neck level to ensure maximum protection from road dust. Trench coats, on the other hand, have a collar lapel. Dusters have an iconic flap over the shoulders to ensure extra protection again rain.

Since dusters were designed to ensure maximum comfort while horse-riding, they have slits up to half their lengths to facilitate movement. Trench coats, on the other hand, have slits open only up to knee level.

There’s also a great difference when it comes to the fit. Trench coats were made for a tighter snuggly fit, especially around the waist. They often feature a belt as well. Dusters are loose-fitting to provide more freedom while riding a bike.

Dusters often have leg straps to hold them in place while riding your bike.

As you can see clearly based on their differences, dusters were designed for comfort. Dusters never go out of fashion. When the winter knocks on your door, dusters always come to the rescue. Your leather duster provides you comfort, warmth, protection, and is a very elegant garment for every occasion.

If you’re a biker, a leather duster is the best item to wear on the road. It offers protection and doesn’t limit your movement in any way.

Leather dusters are highly durable and are chosen by many.

You’ll find it hard to find a material that lasts as long as leather. If you take good care of your leather garments, there’s a good chance they might outlive you.

To choose a suitable duster for you, you need to pick wisely.

First of all, you need to pick the right type of leather for you. Most dusters are made from lighter-weight leather. Lambskin leather and sheepskin nappa leather are my favorites when it comes to dusters. Goatskin and deerskin are always a good option too.

The right fit is also a very important factor when choosing a suitable duster for you. Although most dusters are designed to be loose-fitting, the shoulder width is very important. You should be able to move your arms freely while trying it on without the shoulder seams sagging way from your shoulder blades.

The suitable color is also very important. Dusters are mostly designed to protect your clothes, so you need to pick a color that matches your outfits. Mostly, black and brown are the best options.

The lining of your duster is also very important. Low-grade synthetics are used in lining the cheaper dusters. These are usually the first thing to fall apart. They breather poorly and ruin your overall experience. High-quality dusters will usually have separate linings in the arms and the body lining is usually of very high quality.

Choosing a custom-made leather duster is always the best option. Since it can be a relatively hard task to choose the right fit for your duster without compromising its design, choosing a custom made one will solve that problem.

It would also solve another problem, which is the length. Since dusters are designed to be full-length garments, many people find the ready-made dusters too long for them. Choosing a custom-made duster ensures that your duster is the perfect length for you.

You can also avoid the problem of loving a design only to find out it’s not available in the color that you want. You can choose from over 60 colors for your custom-made leather duster.

You can find a large variety of leather dusters both online and in stores. Most of the famous leather brands have a line for dusters. Dusters come in a wide price range that can fit every budget. Here’s a quick review of my favorites!

1. Allstate Leather Duster Coat With Zip-out Liner

Price: $225

This is a premium quality buffalo skin duster. It comes with a cape for extra protection. The cape is removable, in case you’re not into capes. Its backside is split which allows for free movement, you can ride your bike effortlessly in this duster. It has inner straps on the legs to ensure it stays in place no matter how much you move. Its design is a signature design that Allstate has been making for years. It comes with a warranty.

The only drawback for this duster is that it’s heavy, which cancels out the original idea of dusters being created for comfort and easy movement.

1. Black Korel Real Black Men’s Leather Duster

Price: $179.99

If you’re a Van Helsing fan, this duster is for you! This black, Gothic-style duster by Black Korel is very unique. It is made from soft-cow leather and is lightweight. Lightweight leather is very comfortable because it prevents the wearer from feeling hot and sweaty. Soft cow leather is also very breathable and, although lightweight, it provides enough warmth in winter. It comes with a removable shoulder cape that’s held in place with studs. It has 2 back slits that can be shut with studs, too. The coat is double stitched for extra durability.

The downside of this duster, like most ready-made dusters, is that it comes in only 3 different lengths. While this may be an advantage when compared to other readymade dusters which come in only one length, this can be completely avoided if you can order a custom-made one.

The Gothic style may also be considered out of fashion by many.

1. The Jacket Maker Maverick Brown Leather Duster

Price: $385

This sheepskin leather duster is very stylish and elegant. It is the best to wear over your dress shirt on a rainy day. It comes with a soft and supple quilted viscose lining. It has a removable shoulder cape and a long back vent with 2 snap buttons. They offer free shipping rom 7-10 days if you order through their website.

This duster is on the low-end expensive side of the spectrum.

1. Overland Montgomery Lambskin Leather Duster

Price: $795 (Was $1,595)

This snap-front leather duster is one of a kind. It is very elegant and can be worn in every occasion. It is made from heavy-duty, highly-durable lambskin leather. The longer you wear this duster, the more authentic and charismatic it becomes. They offer free shipping all over the US.

This duster is pricey, so it requires a high budget.

Leather dusters are a classic! They go with almost everything in your wardrobe.

Whether you’re going for the original cowboy look or for a mysterious look, you can style your duster with almost anything!

You can wear your leather duster on a pair of jeans and a casual shirt over cowboy boots and a matching belt for a charming cowboy look leaving your duster unbuttoned.

Bikers, however, choose to wear their dusters closed up to the neck since they choose dusters for protection on their road trips.

Whatever clothes you decide to wear with your duster, you can be assured they will remain clean and dry.

Leather is a natural material and taking care of it can be lengthy but worthwhile. If you manage to take good care of your leather garments, they can stay for decades. Leather gains characteristic fold and bumps over time, which makes your duster even more charismatic. Leather is often affected by humidity and water, but since leather dusters are mostly worn on rainy days, you will need to take extra care of them. Here are a few tips:

• Use a leather protector to make your leather duster waterproof. Choose a product that keeps your duster shiny, mainly a silicone polymer or an acrylic copolymer spray. Apply such products twice a year or as much as the product recommends.
• Make sure to hang your duster in a well-aerated place and let it dry as soon as you can.
• Use a leather conditioner to restore the oil to the leather to prevent cracking and dryness. Do not use this unnecessarily. Only use it when you feel that your duster is becoming dry as excess conditioner can clog the leather pores. Do not buy cheap conditioners as they contain wax which ruins leather and takes the shine away over time.
• Use leather polish occasionally to regain the shine. Use this very occasionally and blot the excess shine.
• Do not store your duster in heat or in sunlight. This causes cracks in the leather.
• Store your leather duster on a hanger. Do not fold it to avoid creasing.
• Dust your leather duster with a soft brush to give it a quick cleaning.

Leather dusters have their audience. Bikers are the number one fans for leather dusters. Having a leather duster is a huge plus if you’re always on the road. They’re comfortable, loose-fitting, and offer protection from dust and rain. Custom made leather dusters offer you the perfect fit and length. Most leather dusters are affordable and can fit every budget. It is important to understand how to take good care of your leather duster to ensure maximum durability.

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