Yes, You Can Wear Leather When It's 80 Degrees Out (2024)

FAQs

Yes, You Can Wear Leather When It's 80 Degrees Out? ›

Whilst light cotton and breezy linen tend to be the go-to fabrics when temperatures start to rise, leather certainly deserves a spot in your summer wardrobe rotation too. If just the thought of wearing leather in 80-degree heat makes you break into a sweat, fret not.

Since leather ignites into flames at around 212° Celsius (413.6° Fahrenheit), it's best to keep leather at a cooler temperature to keep it from being completely ruined. For me it is anything above 60 degrees OR if the humidity is high.

Here's how exposure to these harsh heat conditions will affect your leather shoes: Natural leather will get dry, crack and even shrink. Fibers within the leather are affected by the steam and water vapor that develops internally, and will then become brittle and stiff once it cools.

In colder climates, it's usually a good idea to keep your leather jacket on until it warms up a bit - usually around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In warmer climates, you can probably take it off sooner.

Remember, being a natural material, leather is extremely porous. This means it can easily absorb moisture - but it also easily releases moisture. UV rays draw moisture from the leather, leaving it dry and wilted. More than that, UV rays dislocate vital natural oils from the leather that cannot be replenished.

Most leather jackets are suitable for temperatures from 20–70 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the lining type. A leather jacket with a lighter lining like cotton or polyester will be better for warmer temperatures, whereas heavier linings like fur and thermal quilting may be more suitable for colder temperatures.

Exposing natural leather to temperatures of 130-170°C for extended periods does not do any structural damage. Leather can resist short-time exposure to temperatures up to 200°C. Extended exposure to temperatures above 200°C results in pyrolysis (the material decomposes, or burns, which is obviously irreversible).

Choose pieces that dry faster in this season but without your style taking a hit. Leather pants and a high-low sweater are a great choice, along with ankle length boots that add the comfort you need.

It's a temperature that strikes an even balance between warm and cool. Naturally, it's best to find an outfit that's breathable and full-coverage to ensure no chills and sweats. Jeans, cardigans, t-shirts, and light sweaters should be considered.

Too much exposure to sunlight can have severe effects on your leather jacket, but this does not mean that you should not wear it. Ultimately, prevention is the best way to protect the leather from direct sunlight.

How do you protect leather from heat? ›

The only true way to prevent the fading of leather from sunlight is to keep it out of the sun. Try to place semi-aniline and aniline leather furniture out of direct sunlight whenever possible, and follow the closed blinds tip above if you do have to place these leathers in a sunny spot.

Common misconception, but no. Top-Grain leather is porous and breathes, adjusting to your body temperature. Your leather will be room temperature, but then once seated, it will actually give a cool feeling in summer, and a snug warmth in winter.

Leather seats and steering wheels can get so hot they can cause burns. To avoid a hot seat, you can sit on a towel or use a cloth seat cover for the summer months. Watch the buckles. Metal seat belt buckles can also get extremely hot in the sun.

As I mentioned earlier, while leather is incredibly fire-resistant, it's not entirely inflammable. The autoignition point of well-maintained leather is between 200–212° C (392–414° F). It will shrink when heated to around 199° C (390° F), after 10 minutes or so.

Apart from the obvious benefits you enjoy from a comfort perspective, prolonged and excessive exposure to heat and sunlight can cause your car's leather interiors to be damaged over time.