I've always used neatsfoot oil.  I bit the bullet and ordered my $2,000 custom saddle.  While the leather is high quality, I still always feel that I should give it a good oiling to help the break in process and protect the leather some before the horse dirt gets all over it.  Is there a product out there that will do better than neatsfoot oil at protecting and speeding up the break in process?  It's black, so darkening doesn't matter....however anything that would reduce the amount of black dye that will likely be coming off onto my pants for years to come would be helpful. 

Amanda

We use the BIC 4 products on saddlery. Many of my friends use them on leather coats and custom leather automotive interiors. They will not discolour light products or harm a dyed leather. Best? I don't know, but it makes the leather supple and long lasting.

http://www.acetack.com/bic416oz.html

Like Gard, I've been using the BICK 4 for ten years or more.  Great Stuff.

My saddles are all light in color, So I wanted to avoid the darkening from Neatsfoot is the reason I switched to it.

I was always told that mice like the olive oil....I don't think I'll spend the money to flavor my leather for them!

Amanda

Another vote here for Olive oil, I've been using it on my saddles for over 18 years, it will darken light leather but you won't have that issue.  One really good oiling and you'll be done for a long, loooooong time.  I've got some reins, I haven't oiled in over 12 years, and they were oiled once.  My saddles (including my Hermes) just love this treatment!

I take a large plastic bag and stuff the leather goods inside, pour oil in, zip, shake and forget.  Two days later, remove the leather and clean it really well to remove excess and you are done for years to come.  I reuse oil in the bag and just top off when needed...this keeps it really cheap.  I also don't splurge on EVOO and go for the Olive oil in the large jug on the bottom shelf.  (Sam's or Costco also carry this.)

Mice, if you've got mice they won't care what flavor oil you used.

I use peanut oil as recommended by my saddle maker. And have used olive oil too. These oils will not rot the stitching and penetrate very well into the leather making it very soft and supple.

Olive oil and peanut oil are both good choices.  I have never had a problem with rodents chewing the leather on my saddles as a result of using olive oil.

Marla

I really like Bick 4.  It is tricky to find sometimes though, and I wish it came in a larger container. 

Have to agree with To Much Trouble, about oil attracting dust....makes alot of sense...Thanks for the info, amazing how such simple things as that just slip you mind....And putting pepsi or coke out in a dish will kill mice and rats...This is gonna sound cruel but, if you have a possum or coon problem it works well too...My Dad mixes pepsi with granular fly bait (he used this in his dairy barn when he used to milk cows for fly control) and the coons and possums eat it up and die...just don't put anything in it that your pets will be tempted to eat...I know someone that had a possum and coon problem and used cat food instead of the fly bait and he killed off quite a few of his barn cats and didn't mean to do it...Needless to say he felt pretty awefully about his stupid mistake...