About
Kobel Harness is a pit-tanned harness leather produced by Lederfabrik Gebrüder Kobel, a German tannery located in Kellinghusen. The leather is made from double croupons using traditional vegetable pit-tanning methods that the company has practiced since 1877.
About
Kobel Harness is a pit-tanned harness leather produced by Lederfabrik Gebrüder Kobel, a German tannery located in Kellinghusen. The leather is made from double croupons using traditional vegetable pit-tanning methods that the company has practiced since 1877.
The leather is used in heritage footwear, leather goods, and equestrian applications. German bootmaker Kustom Kraft uses Kobel Harness in several boot models, including the Kyle boot and Boondocker boot.
Production process
The leather undergoes pit-tanning, where hides are immersed in deep pits containing vegetable tannins and extracts for approximately 30 days. This process allows the tannins to penetrate slowly into the leather. The tannery selects double croupons, the most stable and valuable part of the cow hide, for production.
Following the tanning process, the leather receives hot-stuffing treatment. This involves placing the leather in rotating drums with heated oils and waxes, fully impregnating the hide through the core with animal waxes and tallows.
The finished leather has a thickness of 3.5 to 3.8 mm for harness applications and 4 mm for belt-grade material. The leather is barrel-dyed, which leaves the surface structure intact and natural.
Characteristics
Kobel Harness contains 20% fat compared to the industry standard of 8%, resulting from the intense greasing process. This high fat content creates a strong pull-up effect, where the leather develops a two-tone appearance when bent or folded as oils move within the material.
The leather exhibits water resistance due to the hot-stuffing process. The material is made from 100% cow hide and maintains a tough, durable structure. The vegetable tanning and hot-stuffing combination gives the leather its distinctive properties and visual characteristics.
Applications
The leather was originally developed for ox and horse harnesses. Current applications include belts, bags, shoes, and boots. The leather is used primarily in products requiring durability and moisture resistance.
Kustom Kraft, a German bootmaker based in Kiel, uses Kobel Harness in handmade boot production. The company offers models including the Kyle boot in Kobel Dark Brown Harness and the Boondocker boot in Kobel veg-tanned leather.
Available Colors
Kobel Harness is produced in several color variants:
References
"Belt Pit Tanned, Dark Brown". Manufactum. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
"Kobel Leather Company". Official Instagram. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
"Kustom Kraft Kyle in Kobel Dark Brown Harness". Patina Project. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
"Kustom Kraft Boondocker Boot in Tannery Kobel Veg-Tanned Leather". Patina Project. Retrieved November 3, 2025.
