Hickory ~ Wolf Oak ~ Worg Mahogany ~ Dire wolf Yew ~ Hill hound Bear family would also work good Hickory ~ Black bear Oak ~ Brown bear Mahogany ~ Grizzly bear Yew ~ Dire bear Aeon Blues
As for class-specific armors I would suggest the following: Mage - Malar Monk - Dire Tiger Rogue - Dire Wolf
The Hood of Shadows, worn by Assassins and Rogues at level 9, takes four malar hides. I'd very much like to see that changed. No way is it worth half a malar bag. Perhaps 4 dire wolf hides and a couple of essences of vanishing would work? And while we're on the subject of changes in leathercrafting, I'd like to see a change in the level requirement for the Cape of the North. Level 12 seems much too high a requirement for "improved saving throw cold +5". I wonder whether the benefit was reduced some time in the past without a similar reduction in level?