Under the Hide

Intro: Why Leather Matters

At Crank & Stroker, leather isn’t a trend — it’s the core of everything we build.
We don’t source materials from big-box inventories or cut corners to hit price points.
We select our hides by hand, one at a time, to match grain, texture, and strength.

If it doesn’t pass, it doesn’t ship. It’s that simple.

There’s a lot of confusion in the market around leather terms.
We’ll clear that up — and show you why what’s under the hide matters most.

True Top Grain — Not the Fake Kind

We use true, uncorrected top grain leather — the kind that still shows real character from the hide.
That’s how it forms to your body, develops a deep patina, and lasts for years.

Most brands use corrected grain leather — heavily sanded hides with a fake texture stamped over the top to hide imperfections. It looks clean out of the box — and falls apart down the road.
When the coating breaks down, what’s underneath isn’t built to last.

We don’t correct leather.
We reject it.

Hand Selection: The C&S Difference

We don’t just say “premium leather” — we prove it through process:

• We hand-match grain and tone across each garment
• We scrap full panels that don’t meet our standards
• We’ve donated entire production runs rather than compromise
• We don’t buy what we can’t touch, inspect, or stand behind

This level of control is only possible because we own our manufacturing.
That means our standard is the only one that matters — and we hold to it with every piece we make.

Thread & Trim: Small Details, Big Impact

Leather’s only as strong as the seams that hold it.

That’s why we use bonded poly-core thread — built to perform in heat, rain, and real-world abuse.
We’ve tested dozens of alternatives. Most failed. Ours didn’t.

Every snap and zipper is authentic YKK hardware.
No off-brand trim. No zinc junk. Just gear you can trust with gloves on and grit in the wind.

Why It Feels Better

Uncorrected top grain leather has a different kind of flex.
It shapes to your body, breathes better, and never feels like a vinyl jacket trying to play tough.
It’s the real deal — from the first ride to the hundredth.

Final Word: No Shortcuts. No Excuses.

If it’s not the best, it’s not worth building. That’s the bar we set.
That’s the promise in every stitch.

You don’t need marketing gimmicks.
You need a vest or jacket that earns your respect — the same way you earned the miles behind it.

Explore all premium leather vests and jackets →