Crankalicious Epic Hide Leather and Vinyl Cleanser

Crankalicious Epic Hide Leather and Vinyl Cleanser is a gentle but still effective and versatile cleaner. It's designed for genuine and faux hides – shoes, saddles and bar wrap are obvious candidates. I've tested it on various types of hide and synthetic surfaces with very good results, prior to 'feeding' and sealing with Crankalicious Leather Lacquer.

• Pros: Good results, seems kind to natural and faux hides
• Cons: Slower acting than some, pricey compared with the alternatives

Traditionally, leather cleansers have tended to contain strong solvent, which gobbled grime, stray tar and other contaminant very effectively but over time would also rot stitching. Crankalicious wouldn't give much away but confirmed it works to the same principles but is water-based. Aside from dirty, dog-eared saddles, it reckons Epic Hide is gentle enough for kangaroo leather shoes and even helmets.

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Epic Hide is designed to be rinsed off with clean water, and I've applied it to saddles, bar wrap and so on when giving bikes a sudsy bucket wash. Delivery is much the same as a bike wash: give the bottle a quick shake, flick the trigger spray open and fire from 30cm. (A couple of shots is all you'll need for saddles and bar tapes.) Work it into the hide and watch as the elixir starts dissolving the dirt.

In common with bike washes and degreasers, repeat applications may be necessary. One was sufficient for some well-used though generally loved Specialized shoes. However, the ingrained patina commonly cultivated by bar tapes will need at least two coats, delivered in rapid succession.

Once you've got things clean, or clean enough, rinse through with a damp cloth. By and large, this is enough, although more heavily soiled kit benefited from a more liberal, tepid water rinse.

Performance

Results have been generally impressive. Impacted road salt, mud and oily spatter lifted from my Lake winter booties, given repeated applications (four squirts in total). It works quickly, too, although no faster than other, water-based cleaners: my Lakes were cleaned, rinsed and drying within eight minutes. It was much the same story with my Quoc Pham touring shoes and my somewhat neglected workshop boots.

Glossy patent coverings, such as some Specialized shoes and my long-serving Specialized Toupe saddle, only required the most cursory of licks before being rinsed and ready.

I'm very endeared to silicone-based handlebar coverings, although caring and cleaning is tricky, but four squirts of Epic Hide and a gentle rub down with a dimpled towel removed ingrained chain lube and other grime very convincingly.

Value

You can buy water-based cleaner/feed from a saddlery/tack shop that will do both cleaning and protecting jobs to a decent standard. I've used such products for years and they tend to be faster-acting than Epic Hide, and can also be bought in bigger quantities, thus cheaper: a litre for around £8.

They're not something I'd use on a helmet, though, and I'd say the Epic Hide has a slight edge when it comes to shifting bugs and oily, petrochemical-infused contaminant. By the same token, while good on careworn, slightly distressed looking hides, it won't rescue really crusty saddles, shoes or cracked toe-straps.

Conclusion

Epic Hide Leather and Vinyl Cleanser does what it promises and to a high standard, extending the life of expensive shoes, saddles, bar tape and accessories. Nonetheless, it is relatively expensive and not obviously superior to motorcycle and equestrian products that I've used for many years, though it is much kinder to genuine hides than household alternatives. You can also buy it in sachet form (Kwipes), priced from 85p.

Verdict

Does what it promises to a very good standard, but not obviously superior to some cheaper motorcycle/equestrian products