These are the two leathers our customers ask us to compare more than any other pair. Both are cut and sewn by hand in our workshop in Târgu Mureș, Transylvania, and both make excellent driving gloves. The difference is not quality — it is character, and price.

What is the real difference between peccary and deerskin?

Peccary comes from a wild peccary, a hoofed mammal of the family Tayassuidae found in the Americas — not a wild boar, despite how often the two are confused. Ours comes from Peru. Deerskin comes from deer, and ours comes from Finland. Both are natural leathers with their own grain, but peccary's is more distinctive: hair follicles grow in groups of three, leaving small pore marks across the surface that no embossing convincingly copies.

Which leather is softer?

Peccary. It is soft from the very first wear, with no break-in period, and it stays supple even as the temperature drops. Deerskin is also soft, but it needs a little time to relax fully into the shape of your hand — a difference of days, not weeks.

Which is more durable?

Both are hard-wearing, and we would not call either the weaker choice. Deerskin is the leather we describe as our most hard-wearing overall, resisting scuffing well under daily use. Peccary is also tough, but the value of a peccary pair is less about outlasting deerskin and more about how it feels and looks after years of wear, since the grain only grows more distinctive with use.

Why does peccary cost more?

Three reasons, and none of them is a markup. Peccaries are wild, not farmed, so supply cannot expand when demand rises. Their hides are also small and irregular, so a larger share of each one goes unused and more hides are needed for the same number of gloves. Finally, our finest peccary pairs are sewn entirely by hand, which can take up to eight hours for a single pair — work that deerskin models sometimes share, but that peccary asks for more often.

Which is better for a first pair of driving gloves?

Deerskin. It is the leather we recommend most often to someone buying their first serious driving glove: forgiving, breathable, and priced for gloves you will wear often without a second thought. Once you know how a close-fitting driving glove should feel, peccary is the natural next step.

Can both be made to your measurements?

Yes. Any peccary or deerskin model can be made to your size, in the colours we work with, including left and right hands that differ. The workshop needs up to five days, and delivery within the EU takes 8–12 days from order to door. Made-to-measure pairs cannot be returned; standard sizes can be returned within 30 days. See how a bespoke order works.

How do you care for peccary and deerskin gloves?

The same way. If they get wet, let them dry at room temperature, never on a radiator, and brush off dirt once they are dry. A little leather balm once a season keeps deerskin supple; peccary needs no regular conditioning at all.

Both leathers are made into our driving gloves, unlined and cut close so nothing comes between your hand and the wheel. Look at our men's hand-sewn peccary driving gloves or women's hand-sewn peccary driving gloves for the softest feel, and our men's deerskin driving gloves with contrast stitching for the everyday choice. Our leather guide compares all five leathers we work with side by side.

Frequently asked questions

Is peccary the same as wild boar?

No. The peccary is a separate family of animal from the true pig and boar, found only in the Americas. Genuine peccary leather is recognised by hair follicles growing in groups of three, which leave an irregular pitted grain that farmed pigskin does not have.

Does peccary really need no breaking in?

That is our experience across the pairs we make and wear. It is soft from the first day, unlike some leathers that need several weeks of wear to stop feeling stiff across the knuckles.

What size should I order?

Men's sizes run from 7.5 to 10, women's from 6.5 to 8.5. Measure around the knuckles, excluding the thumb, and compare with our sizing chart. Unlined leather relaxes a little with wear, so if you fall between two sizes, take the smaller one.

Which is warmer, peccary or deerskin?

Unlined, neither is a winter glove on its own — both are three-season leathers at their best. For cold weather, choose a lined pair: our winter gloves come in both leathers, lined in cashmere or rabbit fur.

Can I order a colour that isn't listed?

Yes, in either leather. Tell us the model, colour and your hand measurements, and we will make the pair to order.

Free shipping across the European Union, delivered in 3–7 days with tracking included. Outside the EU: €30, free over €200 — €50 to Australia, New Zealand, India and Vietnam. Customs duties may apply outside the EU.