Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
* Thanks for having me, Ed! Check him out if you're buying American-made calfskin: gallunleathers.com
* The calfskin boots in this video are from my list of best dress boots: stridewise.com/best-dress-boots
* full article for easy reading: stridewise.com/calf-leather-vs-cow-leather
A lot of people don't know what to think when they see that a boot or shoe is made of calfskin: it must be weaker than the leather of an adult cow, right? Why would someone choose calf? The answers are no, and there are lots of reasons to choose calfskin — and not just for dressy footwear either. Genius leather tanner Edwin Gallun walks us through the big questions about durability, dressiness, and babies.
00:00 Gallun Leathers makes the best calfskin!
00:43 What is calfskin leather?
01:58 Is calfskin more durable than cowhide?
02:44 Why calfskin is smoother
03:33 is calfskin more expensive than cowhide?
04:24 best leather for formal footwear
04:48 box calf leather vs calfskin
05:37 what's aniline leather?
06:07 shrunken calf: how shrinking leather makes it tough and casual
07:21 is calfskin thinner than cowhide?
07:50 does calfskin scratch easily?
08:40 does calfskin leather stretch a lot?
09:06 why calfskin boots are better than cowhide (according to Ed)
* Thanks for having me, Ed! Check him out if you're buying American-made calfskin: gallunleathers.com
* The calfskin boots in this video are from my list of best dress boots: stridewise.com/best-dress-boots
* full article for easy reading: stridewise.com/calf-leather-vs-cow-leather
A lot of people don't know what to think when they see that a boot or shoe is made of calfskin: it must be weaker than the leather of an adult cow, right? Why would someone choose calf? The answers are no, and there are lots of reasons to choose calfskin — and not just for dressy footwear either. Genius leather tanner Edwin Gallun walks us through the big questions about durability, dressiness, and babies.
00:00 Gallun Leathers makes the best calfskin!
00:43 What is calfskin leather?
01:58 Is calfskin more durable than cowhide?
02:44 Why calfskin is smoother
03:33 is calfskin more expensive than cowhide?
04:24 best leather for formal footwear
04:48 box calf leather vs calfskin
05:37 what's aniline leather?
06:07 shrunken calf: how shrinking leather makes it tough and casual
07:21 is calfskin thinner than cowhide?
07:50 does calfskin scratch easily?
08:40 does calfskin leather stretch a lot?
09:06 why calfskin boots are better than cowhide (according to Ed)
