Kangaroo leather is durable, lightweight, and retains a high tensile strength value. These characteristics make kangaroo leather an excellent leather choice for gear and personal items.
The molecular composition of kangaroo skin differs significantly compared to cow or goat skin composition. The collagen fiber bundles in cow and goat skin are arranged in a complex weaving pattern. Kangaroo fiber structure is formed from long uniform, threadlike molecules of collagen twisted together parallel with the skin surface much like a rope.
Goat skin has between 5% and 8% fat content and cow has a much more variable fat content. Fat takes up space in the cross-section of skin. When the fat is removed during the tanning process “voids” are left which can reduce strength in the leather made from these animals. The diet of kangaroo is usually poor and the living environment is harsh which results in virtually no fat within the fiber/skin structure of kangaroo.
Due to the unique molecular structure and insignificant fat content kangaroo leather maintains greater tensile strength than other leathers of similar width and thickness. For example, when kangaroo leather is split to 20% of its original thickness it retains 30% to 60% of the original tensile strength of an unsplit hide. In comparison, calf split to 20% of original thickness retains only 1% to 4% of original strength. Kangaroo leather is lighter and stronger than cow or goat. Kangaroo leather has 10 times the tensile strength of cowhide and is 50% stronger than goat.