Can I wash a sheepskin B-3 jacket in a washing machine?

No. A washing machine soaks the shearling and agitates the leather face, which can shrink the hide, mat the wool, and strip the finish. For the leather exterior, use a lightly damp cloth on small marks. For real stains or a soiled lining, take the jacket to a cleaner who handles shearling and tell them it is a sheepskin flight jacket.

How do I dry a sheepskin B-3 jacket that got wet?

Blot off the water, hang the jacket on a wide hanger, and let it dry slowly at room temperature. Keep it away from heaters, hair dryers, and direct sun, because heat shrinks and stiffens sheepskin. Once it is fully dry, shake it out and run a soft brush through the shearling to bring the wool back up.

How should I store a B-3 jacket over the summer?

Clean it first, then hang it on a wide hanger inside a breathable garment bag in a cool, dry closet. Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture, and avoid crowding other coats against it so the wool is not crushed. Check it once or twice during storage to make sure no dampness or odor has developed.

Does the shearling lining wear out or flatten?

Shearling flattens where it takes pressure, mainly at the collar, cuffs, and seat of the sleeves. Regular brushing and storing the jacket on a shaped hanger slows this. Cockpit USA notes the shearling develops subtle antiqued highs and lows as the jacket ages, so some change in the wool is normal and part of the look.

Is a B-3 jacket good for riding in the rain?

A B-3 is not built for rain. Wet sheepskin gets heavy and slow to dry, and water can stain the nappa-finished leather face. It performs best in cold, dry riding. If you get caught in wet weather, blot the jacket and dry it slowly on a hanger away from heat before wearing it again.

How to Care for a Sheepskin B-3 Jacket

What a Sheepskin B-3 Is Made Of

Close-up of the throat latch and collar buckle on the Cockpit USA B-3 sheepskin jacket — Cockpit USA B-3 Sheepskin Bomber Jacket

A sheepskin B-3 jacket is a single hide with two faces: a nappa-finished leather exterior and natural shearling wool on the inside. Care starts there. The wool compresses and mats if it gets wet or crushed, and the leather face dries out if it is baked. The Cockpit USA B-3 also uses leather-welted seams, a double buckle throat latch, and a heavy front zipper with an interior wind flap, all of which need their own attention.

The B-3 was designed for extreme cold at altitude, which is why it is thick and heavy. That mass is also why you cannot treat it like a cotton coat. If you own the Cockpit USA B-3 Sheepskin Bomber Jacket or want to, this is the routine we recommend.

Everyday Care After Each Ride

Shake the jacket out and hang it on a wide, shaped hanger after every ride. Let it air in a room at normal temperature, never next to a heater. A soft brush run along the shearling lifts the wool and keeps it from matting at the collar and cuffs.

Wipe dust off the leather face with a dry or barely damp cloth. Keep the zipper and buckles clean and free of grit. If the zipper starts to stick, work it back and forth gently instead of forcing it.

What to Do When a B-3 Gets Wet

Blot the water with a towel and let the jacket dry slowly on a hanger at room temperature. Do not use a hair dryer, radiator, or direct sun, because heat shrinks and hardens sheepskin. Shake and brush the wool once it is dry to restore the loft.

A B-3 is not a rain jacket. Our guide on how to protect leather gear from rain and snow covers what to do before a wet ride.

Cleaning and Stains

Do not put a B-3 in a washing machine. For small marks on the leather face, a lightly damp cloth is the limit of what you should do at home. For stains, oil, or a heavily soiled lining, take the jacket to a cleaner who handles shearling and leather, and tell them it is a sheepskin flight jacket.

Avoid household stain removers on either face. They can strip the finish on the leather and leave the wool stiff.

Storing a B-3 Between Seasons

Clean it first, then store it on a wide hanger in a breathable garment bag in a cool, dry closet. Skip plastic, which traps moisture. Leave room around the jacket so the wool is not crushed by other coats.

Our guide to prepping leather gear for winter storage has a fuller checklist. If you are shopping, the sheepskin jackets collection shows every B-3 build, including the hooded B-3.

The Short Version

Brush the wool, dry the jacket slowly, keep heat away, and send real stains to a shearling-savvy cleaner. A B-3 that is hung, aired, and stored properly keeps its loft and its leather for years. Treat the routine as part of owning the jacket, not an afterthought.

For general riding practice and gear habits, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation publishes rider training and gear guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I wash a sheepskin B-3 jacket in a washing machine?: No. A washing machine soaks the shearling and agitates the leather face, which can shrink the hide, mat the wool, and strip the finish. For the leather exterior, use a lightly damp cloth on small marks. For real stains or a soiled lining, take the jacket to a cleaner who handles shearling and tell them it is a sheepskin flight jacket.
How do I dry a sheepskin B-3 jacket that got wet?: Blot off the water, hang the jacket on a wide hanger, and let it dry slowly at room temperature. Keep it away from heaters, hair dryers, and direct sun, because heat shrinks and stiffens sheepskin. Once it is fully dry, shake it out and run a soft brush through the shearling to bring the wool back up.
How should I store a B-3 jacket over the summer?: Clean it first, then hang it on a wide hanger inside a breathable garment bag in a cool, dry closet. Avoid plastic bags, which trap moisture, and avoid crowding other coats against it so the wool is not crushed. Check it once or twice during storage to make sure no dampness or odor has developed.
Does the shearling lining wear out or flatten?: Shearling flattens where it takes pressure, mainly at the collar, cuffs, and seat of the sleeves. Regular brushing and storing the jacket on a shaped hanger slows this. Cockpit USA notes the shearling develops subtle antiqued highs and lows as the jacket ages, so some change in the wool is normal and part of the look.
Is a B-3 jacket good for riding in the rain?: A B-3 is not built for rain. Wet sheepskin gets heavy and slow to dry, and water can stain the nappa-finished leather face. It performs best in cold, dry riding. If you get caught in wet weather, blot the jacket and dry it slowly on a hanger away from heat before wearing it again.