About
Cattail is a medium brown colorway of Seidel Grizzly leather, a thick oil-stuffed pull-up leather manufactured by Seidel Tanning Corp. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The cattail colorway features rich brown depth while maintaining the exceptional suppleness despite substantial thickness that characterizes the Grizzly line. This leather combines substantial weight with over-the-top suppleness, creating a material that requires minimal break-in while maintaining rugged durability.
About
Cattail is a medium brown colorway of Seidel Grizzly leather, a thick oil-stuffed pull-up leather manufactured by Seidel Tanning Corp. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The cattail colorway features rich brown depth while maintaining the exceptional suppleness despite substantial thickness that characterizes the Grizzly line. This leather combines substantial weight with over-the-top suppleness, creating a material that requires minimal break-in while maintaining rugged durability.
Originally developed as watch strap leather and modified for boot manufacturing, Grizzly leather in the Cattail colorway features the oil and wax infusion that provides water resistance and distinctive pull-up characteristics common to all Grizzly variations. The leather is used by heritage boot manufacturers for footwear applications requiring substantial thickness without extended break-in periods.
Physical characteristics and specifications
Thickness and construction
Cattail Grizzly features substantial thickness characteristic of the Grizzly line, typically around 7.5 ounces (approximately 3 millimeters). Despite this weight, the leather maintains exceptional suppleness through the oil-stuffing process. The material is described as thick durable cowhide tanned for an exceptionally supple temper, combining weight with flexibility. The leather is very soft and comfortable from initial wear, requiring minimal break-in despite being substantially thick.
Surface and finish
The leather features smooth leather with a matte finish rather than a glossy appearance. The cattail colorway presents as medium to dark brown with rich depth and natural grain beauty. The smooth surface maintains the characteristic feel of oil-stuffed material, with the matte finish resulting from the combination of oils and waxes infused during the tanning process. The brown tone exhibits depth that allows visible aging characteristics as the leather develops patina.
Performance characteristics
The leather provides easier break-in experience and responds quickly to wear due to its supple nature despite substantial thickness. Weather resistance is moderate but improves with protective treatments. The combination of thickness and suppleness creates leather that provides structural integrity without the extended break-in period typically associated with heavy-weight boot leathers.
Patina development and aging
Grizzly leather has a patina potential rated at seven out of ten, meaning the leather develops character changes through regular use. The cattail brown coloring is versatile and can become heavily patinated with regular wear. The oils and waxes saturating the leather contribute to patina development as they migrate and redistribute with use, creating color variations and character development over time. The brown base allows for visible aging characteristics that enhance the leather's appearance through use.
Manufacturing process
Cattail Grizzly is part of Seidel Tanning Corp.'s specialty leather line, focusing on oil-tanned, pull-up, and waxed finishes for which the Milwaukee tannery has established preeminence. The leather underwent modifications from its original watch strap application to accommodate the structural demands of footwear while preserving the suppleness characteristic of the original strap material.
The oil-stuffing process infuses the leather with a blend of natural oils and waxes that create the distinctive pull-up effect and contribute to water resistance. This process saturates the leather thoroughly, providing the suppleness that distinguishes Grizzly from other heavy-weight boot leathers while maintaining the durability required for footwear applications.
Applications
Cattail Grizzly is suitable for heritage boot manufacturing where substantial thickness and immediate comfort are required. The leather's combination of thickness and suppleness makes it appropriate for work boots, service boots, and casual footwear that benefit from minimal break-in. The medium brown coloring provides versatility across styling preferences while showcasing the oil-stuffed characteristics and patina development of the Grizzly line.
The leather's water resistance and durability make it suitable for boots intended for regular outdoor use or demanding work environments. The pull-up effect and patina development ensure that each boot develops unique character patterns as the leather ages and conforms to wear patterns.
Care and maintenance
Regular maintenance using boot protector or boot cream is recommended to maintain the leather's protective qualities and appearance. The leather responds well to horsehair brush cleaning for routine care. If bloom develops as oils surface, it can be buffed back to the original luster with a horsehair brush or will wear off naturally through use.
References
"Leather Notes: British Tan Grizzly". Truman Boot Co. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
