Geist or colourlock?
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DFB
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The owner of Giest once worked for ColourLock. The focus for Giest was on sustainable products that are safe for the user and the leather itself. Both Giest and ColourLock focus on leather and leather-like surfaces, so they are always going to be a better choice over a brand that have a lot of bases to cover.
There are two reasons why I like these two companies. First, they produce leather conditioners that can actually penetrate and therefore nourish automotive PU coated leather and vinyl, most others on the market simply sit on the surface and do absolutely nothing. Secondly, I love how they don't bring any glossiness to the table, just soft, natural looking leather and vinyl.
Out of the two, I have only used the one product from Giest, their leather conditioner. I found it a little oiler than the ColourLock equivalent, but it's still a very nice product and doesn't instill a greasy feel.
Personally, I prefer the ColourLock stuff. Either Mild or Strong leather cleaners are supremely capable, while being very safe. In most instances, Mild will have you covered. Below is a 50/50 of Strong teamed with the ColourLock brush.
There are two main leather conditions, Leather Shield and Leather Protector. Shield is used for abrasion and dye transfer protection and is best used on leather from 0 - 3 years old. After the 3-year mark, you switch to Leather Protector. You can still apply Shield over the top of Protector is you wish. Both do go on quite wet looking, but they dry and level down to a matte finish with incredible softness and no slickness. ColourLock tend to recommend applying Shield and Protector with a sponge, but I've found a microfiber applicator to level the finish much better. Any applicator will do, but I really like the Carpro or Gyeon finger mitts for this task.
They also offer artificial leather cleaners and conditioners. I bought the conditioner but never bother, you would otherwise be using four different products if you treated the real and artificial leather differently. A very German approach to things, but I find the normal stuff works just fine on artificial/vinyl.
One last thing, these products are unscented, so they don't bring any tacky fake leather scents to the cabin.
There are two reasons why I like these two companies. First, they produce leather conditioners that can actually penetrate and therefore nourish automotive PU coated leather and vinyl, most others on the market simply sit on the surface and do absolutely nothing. Secondly, I love how they don't bring any glossiness to the table, just soft, natural looking leather and vinyl.
Out of the two, I have only used the one product from Giest, their leather conditioner. I found it a little oiler than the ColourLock equivalent, but it's still a very nice product and doesn't instill a greasy feel.
Personally, I prefer the ColourLock stuff. Either Mild or Strong leather cleaners are supremely capable, while being very safe. In most instances, Mild will have you covered. Below is a 50/50 of Strong teamed with the ColourLock brush.
There are two main leather conditions, Leather Shield and Leather Protector. Shield is used for abrasion and dye transfer protection and is best used on leather from 0 - 3 years old. After the 3-year mark, you switch to Leather Protector. You can still apply Shield over the top of Protector is you wish. Both do go on quite wet looking, but they dry and level down to a matte finish with incredible softness and no slickness. ColourLock tend to recommend applying Shield and Protector with a sponge, but I've found a microfiber applicator to level the finish much better. Any applicator will do, but I really like the Carpro or Gyeon finger mitts for this task.
They also offer artificial leather cleaners and conditioners. I bought the conditioner but never bother, you would otherwise be using four different products if you treated the real and artificial leather differently. A very German approach to things, but I find the normal stuff works just fine on artificial/vinyl.
One last thing, these products are unscented, so they don't bring any tacky fake leather scents to the cabin.
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DFB
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I will also mention Carpro now have a dedicated leather cleaner and conditioner. The cleaner is ok, but the conditioner is too oily and both smell odd. So, overall, not a fan.
Another brand I would consider would be NV Cleanse and Nourish. These work in a similar manner to the ColourLock stuff, but simplified. Cleanse is a foaming cleaner like the ColourLock duo, while Nourish is a spray and wipe product that I find delivers such a lovely softness to leather, probably more so than the ColourLock stuff.
Another brand I would consider would be NV Cleanse and Nourish. These work in a similar manner to the ColourLock stuff, but simplified. Cleanse is a foaming cleaner like the ColourLock duo, while Nourish is a spray and wipe product that I find delivers such a lovely softness to leather, probably more so than the ColourLock stuff.
Setec Astronomy
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Thanks for those comparisons, DFB. One of the US vendors has the Geist 3 Plus kit on sale, I may give that a whirl, I wish I had added it into my black friday order.
JDGolden
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Nice comparisons here. Mainly posting this as a reminder to myself to come back and price compare these. I need something for my wife’s Honda Odyssey (6 months old). Was going to just get Blackfire Leather Complete again but kind of want to try something new.
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Coatingsarecrack
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I’be used a few ColourLock products (cleaner mild, Aniline protectant). Both were good but nothing special. Worked as good as anything else I’ve liked.
I prefer leather masters or Leather honey cleaner. Just been using and work well although as said ColourLock’s probably just as good.
Leather Masters Vital is great to use after cleaning but before sealant on older leathers.
I got Labocosmetica Derma Sealant to top as I’ve heard good things about their interior products…
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opie2
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Thanks for the info. Ive looked into leather masters a year or 2 ago but ended up going with leatherique. The entire spark for this thread was because some i know just got a new pickup and while i can recommend exterior products, when it came to the new leather, i told him i was not sure. He had just been using some meguiars leather wipes, but he wandered if there was something better. I knew there was better leather care out there but for new leather...i wasnt sure what to tell him.
And labo is one of those companies that beacuse all ive tried so farhas been a hit for me, it makes me want to try most of their product line.
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Coatingsarecrack
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DFB
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Just to follow up with my posts above, I think its important to note the ColourLock, NV and Geist product may differ in appearance to what you may be accustomed to. Warning, I'm pretty passionate when it comes to leather.
Leather that is shiny is often because the surface is dirty. However, traditional leather conditioners produce a slick, oily, shiny appearance with a squeaky feel, something I once fell into by using a variety of leather balms. That's why I now like the ColourLock stuff, they don't enhance gloss or slickness, rather they produce a soft, smooth, matte finish.
Thing is, some may find that a bit anticlimactic, as in you don't get that obvious before and after. In the pro sector, I could imagine customers would want to see that shininess, mainly because of a lack of education on what truly clean, protected leather looks like.
I mention this, because if you want to see shine after using these products, you will most likely be disappointed.
Leather that is shiny is often because the surface is dirty. However, traditional leather conditioners produce a slick, oily, shiny appearance with a squeaky feel, something I once fell into by using a variety of leather balms. That's why I now like the ColourLock stuff, they don't enhance gloss or slickness, rather they produce a soft, smooth, matte finish.
Thing is, some may find that a bit anticlimactic, as in you don't get that obvious before and after. In the pro sector, I could imagine customers would want to see that shininess, mainly because of a lack of education on what truly clean, protected leather looks like.
I mention this, because if you want to see shine after using these products, you will most likely be disappointed.
DFB
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Mild Leather Cleaner "is a gentle cleaner adjusted to the pH value of leather". Strong Leather Cleaner I can't find reference to, but the formula has citric acid in it. That doesn't necessarily mean its acidic though.I'm warned.
Apparently colourlock leather cleaners are acidic. And you get very little penetration if any from these conditioning products into treated leather.
As for Geist and ColourLock protectors not penetrating leather, if you had read what I said in my first post, you will have discovered that these products were designed to do this, unlike a lot of other leather products offered by less focused detailing companies. Another capable of penetrating modern automotive leather would be Koch Chemie Leather Star.
Setec Astronomy
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Have I ever mentioned you guys are a bad influence on me?
Coatingsarecrack
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Setec Astronomy
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I just got mine today.