Understanding Chromexcel vs Cavalier Chromexcel
Chromexcel is Horween's original pull-up leather.
But do you know the difference between Chromexcel and Cavalier Chromexcel?
OILS & WAXES
Cavalier and Chromexcel are both hot stuffed, but they use different blends of oils and waxes.
Oils used in hot-stuffing
COLOR VIBRANCY
The different oil and wax blends allow Horween to achieve different types of colors. Cavalier has brighter, more vibrant colors, while Chromexcel colors are more earthy.
THE FLESH SIDE
Cavalier is always mill-dyed, whereas Chromexcel is produced on a natural back. Both Cavalier and Chromexcel are hand-stained.
Chromexcel can also be mill-dyed, but the standard is the natural back.
Mill-dying (dyed in a drum) allows the color to penetrate through the entire piece of leather so the flesh side will be the same color as the grain side.
Color & re-tannage drum
Cavalier’s flesh side is dyed because it’s colored inside the drum before it’s hand-stained
Hand-staining allows the grain side to have color and the flesh side to remain natural.
Hand-staining
Chromexcel’s flesh side is natural because finished with hand-staining
Both Chromexcel vs Cavalier Chromexcel Are:
Combination Tanned:
Chrome tanned base with a vegetable re-tannage
Corrected Grain:
Slightly buffed to prepare the grain for finishing
Hot-stuffed
Hand-stained
Extremely durable
Strong pull-up
Great options for shoes, bags, and accessories