Compare the Hides
Which hide is right for you
We sell two bison hides, and the difference between them is feel, not quality. Both are first grade. Both are vegetable tanned in the same tannery by one artisan over 10 to 15 hours. Both work anywhere in the home. Here's what actually separates them.
Side by side
| Frontier Reserve | Frontier Select | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Extra Large, approx. 7.5' x 6.5' | Large, approx. 7' x 6' |
| Fur | Up to 7 inches, our longest coat | Up to 5 inches, dense and close |
| Hide | Supple, tanned soft enough to wear | Thicker and firmer, holds its shape |
| Weight | Approx. 16 to 18 lbs | Approx. 28 to 30 lbs |
| Feel | Plush, flexible, drapes easily | Structured, lies flat |
| Tends toward | Sofa, bed, worn as a robe | The floor, anchoring furniture |
| Grade | First grade, full winter coat | First grade, full winter coat |
| Tanning | Vegetable tanned in the USA | Vegetable tanned in the USA |
| Price | $2,995 | $1,995 |
Frontier Reserve is the softer one
The coat runs up to seven inches deep and the hide underneath is tanned supple enough to wear. It's the bigger of the two. It's the one people end up pulling across the bed in winter, wearing around the house, or draping over the back of a sofa. On the floor it's beautiful in a quiet corner, beside a bed, or in front of a fireplace.
Pick Reserve if softness is the point. Shop Frontier Reserve.
Frontier Select is the firmer one
The hide is thicker and holds its shape, and the coat is dense and close at up to five inches. It lies flat and stays where you put it, which is why it tends to end up on the floor, anchoring a seating area or under a coffee table. It drapes over a sofa and layers at the foot of a bed just as well. It just has more structure to it.
Pick Select if you want the hide to hold a room. Shop Frontier Select.
What they share
Everything that matters. Both are first grade American bison with a full winter coat, no sewn patches, no hair slippage. Both are vegetable tanned in the United States by a single artisan, plant-based tannins and time, no chrome. Both ship free, fully insured, with a signature on delivery. Both come with 14 days to live with it.
And both are one of one. Color, markings, and the way the coat lies are different on every hide we've ever handled.
Common questions
Can I use either one as a rug?
Yes. Both work on the floor. Select lies flatter and has a firmer hide, so it's the one to pick if the hide will get walked on every day. Reserve is softer underfoot and does best in a quieter spot. Either way, put a rug pad under it.
Can I use either one on a sofa or a bed?
Yes. Reserve is the one most people choose for that, because of the depth and softness of the coat. Select drapes over a sofa and layers at the foot of a bed too. It just has more structure to it.
Can it be worn as a robe?
Yes. Bison hides have been worn robe-style for as long as people have had them, and Reserve is tanned supple enough for it. Select is thicker and holds its shape, so it's less suited to wearing.
Will mine look like the photos?
Close, but not identical. Every hide is one of one, so tone and markings vary. We hand-select yours from current inventory to match the grade, coat, size range, and finish described on the product page. More questions answered here.
Still not sure?
Email care@hidefrontier.com and tell us about the room. We'll help you choose.