Which is better for carving and tooling?

The Leather Unlimited side. Vegetable-tanned leather holds stamped and carved impressions, while the chrome-tanned Denver Side is too soft and springy for that work.

Which is better for wallets and linings?

The Denver Side. At 3 to 4 oz. it is thin and soft, and its waxy finish suits small goods. The Leather Unlimited hide is larger and better saved for bigger projects.

Both are durable cowhide. Vegetable-tanned leather tends to darken and stiffen with age, while the Denver Side scratches and creases into a patina. Longevity depends more on use and care than on the tannage.

Is the Leather Unlimited hide worth stepping up to?

Yes if you carve, tool or need one large hide for belts and straps. If you make small soft goods, the Denver Side is the more practical pick.

Can I dye the off-white hide?

Yes. Vegetable-tanned leather takes dye well, and the natural off-white base makes color changes predictable. The Denver Side already comes in several colors, so dyeing is optional.

How much variation should I expect between hides?

Expect some. The Denver Side page warns of brands, range marks and significant color shift. The Leather Unlimited hide is sold as A Grade, which means fewer visible defects.

Tandy Leather Denver Side vs Leather Unlimited Oak Cowhide Side

Buy the Denver Side for small goods: it is thin, soft and easy to sew into wallets, linings, bags and shoe uppers. Buy the Leather Unlimited side for tooling and carving, where a large vegetable-tanned A-grade hide gives you room to lay out big patterns. The Denver is chrome-tanned, so it takes dye and creases well but is not suited to stamping and carving. Owners of both note that natural hides vary, and the Denver page itself warns of brands, range marks and color shift between hides.

Choose the Denver Side if you want a soft, waxy, distressed chrome-tanned leather for wallets, bags, linings or light shoe work.
Choose the Leather Unlimited side if you plan to carve, tool or stamp leather and need a large vegetable-tanned A-grade hide.

Prices

Tandy Leather Denver Side: $169.99 at Tandy Leather, Inc. (last seen Nov 9)
Leather Unlimited Oak Cowhide Side: $210.95 at Walmart (last seen Nov 13)
Difference: the Tandy Leather Denver Side is $40.96 cheaper than the Leather Unlimited Oak Cowhide Side at the latest prices (Nov 9 and Nov 13)

	Tandy Leather Denver Side	Leather Unlimited Oak Cowhide Side
Tannage	Chrome tan	Vegetable tan
Thickness	3 to 4 oz. (1.2 to 1.6 mm)	Selectable weights at checkout
Hide size	18 to 24 sq. ft.	25 to 30 sq. ft.
Surface	Waxy, distressed, slight pull-up	Natural off-white, smooth for carving
Tooling and carving	Not suited to stamping	Made for carving and tooling
Color choice	Several rich colors	Off-white only
Grade and consistency	Brands, range marks, color varies by hide	A Grade, sold by the hide
Best use	Wallets, linings, bags, light uppers	Belts, holsters, carved panels, straps

Spec	Tandy Leather Denver Side	Leather Unlimited Oak Cowhide Side
Weight/Thickness	3 to 4 oz. (1.2 to 1.6 mm)	—
Average Size	18 to 24 sq. ft. (1.67 to 2.23 sq. meters)	—
Tannage	Chrome Tan	—
color	—	Off-White
Hide size	—	25-30 square feet
Grade	—	A Grade

Tandy Leather Denver Side vs Leather Unlimited Oak Cowhide Side

Prices

Tandy Leather Denver Side vs Leather Unlimited Oak Cowhide Side

Prices

Leather Unlimited Oak Cowhide Side

What separates them

Price history

Prices at every store