Horween Natural Chromexcel Strips

Natural Chromexcel Strips undergoes Horween's proprietary chromexcel production process, which requires at least 89 separate steps taking 28 working days and utilizing all five floors of Horween's facility. The process involves both chrome and vegetable tanning using techniques and formulas developed over 100 years ago by the Horween family.

The distinctive characteristic of the chromexcel process is "hot-stuffing," where the hides are impregnated with oils, waxes, and greases that are solid at room temperature. This process provides the leather with its signature pull-up effect and creates the foundation for exceptional aging characteristics. The final step involves a coat of Neatsfoot Oil, establishing the leather's conditioning baseline.

Natural Chromexcel Strips exhibits the signature pull-up effect where oils and waxes disperse and lighten when the leather is pressed or pulled. This characteristic creates dynamic visual effects as the leather responds to use and stress, with areas of flexing showing lighter tones against the natural background color.

The leather features an incredibly smooth texture with little visible grain, even after several years of wear. This smooth character allows the natural patina development to become the primary visual characteristic as the leather ages, rather than relying on pronounced grain patterns for visual interest.

Natural Chromexcel Strips develops exceptional patina over time, starting from its natural beige-tan color and evolving into complex brown tones. The aging process can transform the color to what many describe as "burnt sugar" after significant wear, with the overall appearance becoming increasingly rich and complex.

The leather develops highs and lows from creasing and individual wear patterns, creating character that becomes genuinely unique to each wearer. Scuffs and areas of heavy wear become darkened and set in over time, while the natural patina develops gradually throughout the leather's surface. This aging process makes the leather look better with age than when new, a characteristic particularly valued by heritage boot enthusiasts.

Natural Chromexcel Strips is particularly well-suited for heritage boot construction due to its exceptional durability and aging characteristics. The leather's refined yet rugged finish provides an excellent foundation for traditional bootmaking methods while ensuring long-term performance under heavy use conditions.

The leather's full aniline, hand-rubbed finish offers superior comfort and durability, making it ideal for boots that will be worn regularly. The natural color provides versatility in boot design while ensuring that the leather itself becomes the primary visual element as it develops patina over time.

Natural Chromexcel Strips maintains softness and color for generations while developing increasingly distinctive character through use. The leather's ability to adapt and change over its lifetime creates boots that become genuinely unique to their wearer, reflecting individual usage patterns and care practices.

The combination of traditional tanning methods, natural coloration, and exceptional aging properties makes Natural Chromexcel Strips an excellent choice for heritage boot collectors seeking leather that will improve with wear while maintaining structural integrity throughout decades of use.

Natural Chromexcel Strips benefits from regular conditioning to maintain its oil and wax content. The recommended approach involves conditioning with products like Venetian Balm every few months to keep the leather hydrated and support continued patina development.

Since the final production step involves a coat of Neatsfoot Oil, this product remains the primary recommendation for conditioning, as it matches the leather's original treatment. Regular conditioning deepens the color while maintaining the leather's flexibility and pull-up characteristics.