Anyone ever bought a havana hobo and not liked it?

[I love HH!]

^^I keep my cell phone in the outer pocket - it's very accessible. (The old model didn't have that outer pocket which is one reason I didn't like it.) There is also a zipper pocket on the outside in which I keep some cash, my debit card, and my building access card. Everything I need is right there within easy reach, and I like that the rest of the stuff inside the bag is harder to get to, because it makes me feel more secure!

[Soon2bMrs.B]

^^Good point! You ladies are so helpful! It really sounds like the majority of people love this purse! Do the hh leathers scratch easy?

[hokka]

i like mine, too (newer version, with outside pocket, which i love. i don't think i'd like it as much w/o it) - and i'm not easy on my purses. i'd say mine has pretty tough leather. i've heard some of the older one are thinner?

[sep]

I only have 2 Havanas and I love them both! I love all of my HHs... I've sold a few because I just felt guilty about having so many bags... especially having so many bags I had never used... but they were all amazing! I don't know if I've just been lucky but every HH bag I've ever bought has been beautiful and arrived in perfect condition! I wish I could say the same for other bags I've bought...

[sep]

Originally Posted by Soon2bMrs.B

^^Good point! You ladies are so helpful! It really sounds like the majority of people love this purse! Do the hh leathers scratch easy?

Ladies... please chime in here but in my experience... I've had an HH with a scratch or two and I LITERALLY was able to rub it out by gently rubbing it with my finger... I don't know what kind of leather they use but I seem to be able to reeeeally easy rub a scratch out in like 10 seconds...

[Stormy Heart]

Originally Posted by sep

Ladies... please chime in here but in my experience... I've had an HH with a scratch or two and I LITERALLY was able to rub it out by gently rubbing it with my finger... I don't know what kind of leather they use but I seem to be able to reeeeally easy rub a scratch out in like 10 seconds...

It's not so much the kind of leather, but a soft penetrating wax in the finish that allows you to rub out scratches and scuffs. (These are high end leathers.) Pretty cool, eh.

(* Italian 'Vintage' calf, for example, has wax in a glaze finish; meant to 'distress' and show character marks, which won't rub out completely. I don't know if you can see the green lamb in my LP leaf pics but it's a French heavily soft waxed hide ~ marks can buff out totally.) All waxes add softness and weight.
My older Havanas are all thicker leather than the newer ones, and feel waxed to me. If beeswax is used, it contributes to the sweet leather smell.

HH leathers are all over the place in quality, some much nicer/pricier than others and we see a fair variety of them in Havanas. Hokka, I don't know which older ones you heard are thinner~ was it a certain color ? We could also take into account that hides are slightly thicker and thinner in different areas and an individual bag may been cut so that 2 owners of the 'same' bag are not looking at the same thing.
I have also observed that HH certainly cuts a hide to the max, so we have 'mismatched' panels most times.

To answer OP: There is only one Havana I felt disappoinment in. I was lusting madly for the color but it turned out to be one of the 'thinner' leathers (under 2 ounce). I prefer more substantial leather even if it's a bit heavier (2.75-3.5 oz)
It looks fine and acts like a Havana, though !

[treesrgreen]

Originally Posted by Stormy Heart

(* Italian 'Vintage' calf, for example, has wax in a glaze finish; meant to 'distress' and show character marks, which won't rub out completely. I don't know if you can see the green lamb in my LP leaf pics but it's a French heavily soft waxed hide ~ marks can buff out totally.) All waxes add softness and weight.

Stormy - I've been meaning to ask you this for a while - but I couldn't figure out the vocabulary...

I'm thinking that the Dominique is a similar leather to this??? (It has a glaze to it - but I think it was lambskin and not calf leather...) I have been using my burgundy Dominique to death - and I'm starting to think that there is something to do to maintain it... Have you any ideas???

[Stormy Heart]

Originally Posted by treesrgreen

Stormy - I've been meaning to ask you this for a while - but I couldn't figure out the vocabulary... I'm thinking that the Dominique is a similar leather to this??? (It has a glaze to it - but I think it was lambskin and not calf leather...) I have been using my burgundy Dominique to death - and I'm starting to think that there is something to do to maintain it... Have you any ideas???

Regular Lexol conditioner should be fine for a dark Dominique. (Any darkening you see at first fades but test anyow) If you want to restore a high shine, try a clear shoe wax polish over that (next day), let it set, then buff really hard. Use soft brushes before chamois for maximum shine.
* Bonus~ You'll have a weatherproof Dominique.

[dcblam]

Originally Posted by Stormy Heart

It's not so much the kind of leather, but a soft penetrating wax in the finish that allows you to rub out scratches and scuffs. (These are high end leathers.) Pretty cool, eh. (* Italian 'Vintage' calf, for example, has wax in a glaze finish; meant to 'distress' and show character marks, which won't rub out completely. I don't know if you can see the green lamb in my LP leaf pics but it's a French heavily soft waxed hide ~ marks can buff out totally.) All waxes add softness and weight. My older Havanas are all thicker leather than the newer ones, and feel waxed to me. If beeswax is used, it contributes to the sweet leather smell. HH leathers are all over the place in quality, some much nicer/pricier than others and we see a fair variety of them in Havanas. Hokka, I don't know which older ones you heard are thinner~ was it a certain color ? We could also take into account that hides are slightly thicker and thinner in different areas and an individual bag may been cut so that 2 owners of the 'same' bag are not looking at the same thing. I have also observed that HH certainly cuts a hide to the max, so we have 'mismatched' panels most times. To answer OP: There is only one Havana I felt disappoinment in. I was lusting madly for the color but it turned out to be one of the 'thinner' leathers (under 2 ounce). I prefer more substantial leather even if it's a bit heavier (2.75-3.5 oz) It looks fine and acts like a Havana, though !

Stormy Heart
thank goodness you're here to give us some great info about leather.....it's not so simple, 'eh?
you're explanations are just fab.....thanks so much - much appreciated!

[Stormy Heart]

Originally Posted by dcblam

Stormy Heart thank goodness you're here to give us some great info about leather.....it's not so simple, 'eh? you're explanations are just fab.....thanks so much - much appreciated!

You're sweet.

[Sybaryte]

Originally Posted by dcblam

Stormy Heart thank goodness you're here to give us some great info about leather.....it's not so simple, 'eh? you're explanations are just fab.....thanks so much - much appreciated!

Agreed!

[mishka]

Originally Posted by Stormy Heart

Regular Lexol conditioner should be fine for a dark Dominique. (Any darkening you see at first fades but test anyow) If you want to restore a high shine, try a clear shoe wax polish over that (next day), let it set, then buff really hard. Use soft brushes before chamois for maximum shine. * Bonus~ You'll have a weatherproof Dominique.

I'm curious about what to do about my light Dominique! It is so beautiful and I wore it out for so long, my jeans stained it. I wanted to clean it, but wasn't sure what to do! I've been secretly and embarrassedly looking for another one exactly the same! <hangs head in shame>

[Stormy Heart]

Originally Posted by mishka

I'm curious about what to do about my light Dominique! It is so beautiful and I wore it out for so long, my jeans stained it. I wanted to clean it, but wasn't sure what to do! I've been secretly and embarrassedly looking for another one exactly the same! <hangs head in shame>

You guys !
Lexol makes a leather cleanser that can take tar off and baby your purse at the same time. It should work on denim color transfer.They make a conditioner especiially for light colored leathers, too !
Lexol has saved my hide many times ! After cleaning, give a spray stain repellant, then the clear wax job for your Ivory Dominique.
I hate to hijack OP's thread. If someone wants to starts a HH Care thread we can consolidate some of our tips there. We have one over in LPland but HH leathers are different: we can customize the hints, clues, & proven HH tricks.
signed,
yours truly,
Ask Stormy

[mishka]

Originally Posted by Stormy Heart

You guys ! Lexol makes a leather cleanser that can take tar off and baby your purse at the same time. It should work on denim color transfer.They make a conditioner especiially for light colored leathers, too ! Lexol has saved my hide many times ! After cleaning, give a spray stain repellant, then the clear wax job for your Ivory Dominique. I hate to hijack OP's thread. If someone wants to starts a HH Care thread we can consolidate some of our tips there. We have one over in LPland but HH leathers are different: we can customize the hints, clues, & proven HH tricks. signed, yours truly, Ask Stormy

I don't know why I didnt think of Lexol, after riding horses and using it on my saddle for so many years! I'm going to definitely try that! Thank you so much!

[mlinky]

You too? When I'm on a purse ban it usually means I had a vet bill. I've always cleaned my saddle with Murphy's Oil Soap, so that's my go-to for bags. I bet Stormy has some great ideas for specific HH bags. Let's start that thread.