Hermès Vache Hunter leather
The firm, natural cowhide behind many canvas bags.
Vache Hunter is a smooth, lightly satiny cowhide with a very firm hand. Hermès dates it to 1998 and describes it as 100% vegetable tanned, thick and dense; its name comes from an equestrian discipline. It is often the trim on canvas bags such as the Herbag and appears on the Evelyne Sellier, the Birkin Sellier, the Tablier Sellier and the Sabot, in natural tones like Naturel and Fauve.
A few things worth knowing
- Hermès dates Vache Hunter to 1998.
- Hermès calls it cowhide; some guides say male calf.
- It stiffens bags at first, then softens and patinas.
Vache Hunter at a glance
- Family
- Calf and cowhide leathers
- Since
- 1998
- Grain
- Smooth, slightly satiny cowhide
- Boutique price versus Togo
- Not published
- Resale versus Togo
- Too few comparable listings
- Share of listings
- –
Our ratings
- Scratch resistance
- 6/10
- Holds its shape
- 8/10
- Lightness
- 6/10
- Rain and water
- 5/10
- Easy care
- 5/10
- Color depth
- 5/10
- Patina
- 7/10
- Visible natural grain: no
- Embossed grain: no
- Structured look: yes
- Made for daily use: yes
- CITES paperwork to travel: no
Our take. These ratings are MyQuotaBag's editorial view, built from the sources listed below and from collectors' experience. They are not measurements. Resale versus Togo and share of listings are measured from public listings.
On this page
How it wears
Scratches. Disputed: "hard as nails" for one owner, "scratches like crazy" for a seller. Marks tend to close with time or rub away.
Water. It tolerates water but not soaking. Drops left for an hour raised a small blister that later blended into the patina.
Shape. Stiff at first, softening with use.
Patina. It patinas without becoming very shiny.
Care
Wipe drops quickly, as with any natural leather trim.
Who it suits
Relaxed daily use, especially on canvas bags.
Where the sources disagree
- Scratches. Very tough or easily marked, depending on the owner.
- Animal. Cowhide for Hermès, male calf for one guide.
- Patina. Owners see a gentle patina; Hermès describes the leather as stable, turning only slightly more satiny.
Vache Hunter resale prices
Median asking prices, October 19, 2026. US dollars, from public resale listings, not confirmed sale prices.
There are not yet enough comparable listings to compare Vache Hunter with Togo on the same bag, size and condition.
Too few listings of the same bag, size and condition in Vache Hunter to publish a median yet. The figure appears here as soon as five comparable listings are read.
Think of these figures as a snapshot of the market rather than a valuation of any particular bag. Explore resale prices by bag, size and year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Vache Hunter the same as Vache Naturelle?
No. Hermès describes both as vegetable tanned, but Hunter is firmer and stays stable over time according to Hermès, while Vache Naturelle has a transparent finish and darkens much more.
Does Vache Hunter patina?
Yes, gently, without the deep darkening of Vache Naturelle or Barenia.
References
- Hermès, product descriptions of Vache Hunter (Tablier Sellier bag, Sabot bag).
- Hermès International, Universal Registration Document 2022.
- PurseForum, owner discussions on Vache Hunter.
About this guide
MyQuotaBag brings together what is known about each Hermès leather, from brand material, tanneries, regulators, the press and collectors. It also says where the sources disagree. Ratings are our own view. Resale figures are public asking prices, not confirmed sales or valuations.
MyQuotaBag is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Hermès.
How to cite: MyQuotaBag, « Hermès Vache Hunter leather », Hermès Leathers, resale snapshot of 2026-10-19. https://myquotabag.com/leathers/vache-hunter/