Dried or tanned reindeer hide: which should you choose?

2 hours ago

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What is the difference between dried and tanned reindeer hide?

A dried hide is nailed up and dried the traditional way, without tanning. A tanned hide goes through a process in which it is cleaned and softened. Dried hide is made for trips, cold and snow. Tanned hide is made for the home and the cabin.

How do they feel?

Dried hide is slightly stiff, with a feel you could compare to paper. Tanned hide is soft and supple.

Which hide should I take on trips, in a tent or in a hammock?

Choose dried. It is light, durable and water-resistant, and it gives plenty of warmth on the ground, in the tent and in the hammock in winter. A hide for outdoor use has to be either dried or impregnated. TrønderRein prefers dried because it weighs less and works better.

Which hide suits the living room, sofa or fireplace?

Choose tanned. It is soft and suits the sofa, the fireplace or the floor.

Can tanned reindeer hide handle snow?

Tanned hide can handle a little snow or damp, but it is not recommended. If it gets snow or moisture on it, wipe it off and hang it to dry right away. For trips, cold and snow, TrønderRein recommends dried hide.

How are the hides made?

The dried hides are nailed up under tension, following each hide's natural shape, and left to hang until dry. This is a traditional method learned from Sámi culture. All hides are scraped and brushed by hand in Mosvik. The tanned hides are graded by quality, and TrønderRein sells only 1st grade.

	Dried reindeer hide	Tanned reindeer hide
Use	Trips, cold, snow, tent, hammock	Home, cabin, sofa, fireplace, floor
Feel	Slightly stiff, like paper	Soft and supple
Properties	Light, durable, water-resistant, very warm	Soft, durable, 1st grade only
Sizes (along the back)	Calf 100–120 / Adult 120–150 / Large buck 150–170 cm	Whole hide approx. 120–150 cm, seat pad approx. 40×50 cm
Care	Hang it somewhere airy and dry. Can be wiped with a damp cloth, brushed and washed in snow	Shake, air and wipe with a damp cloth. No machine washing
Handles snow?	Yes, made for snow	A little, but not recommended. Wipe it off and hang it to dry right away
Price from	NOK 1,199	NOK 549