What's your boot Care?

[MtB]

Now that I've bought my new Lowa Combat GTX boots, I want to keep them nice and clean - and functional; and seeing as this is my first time buying boots of this kind, I'll probably go ahead and buy the specialised Active Creme and Water Stop that Lowa produces - at least once anyway...

So, now I'm wondering what all you other NBCers do to their footwear in order to keep them in tip top shape, what products you use, and how often you use those products.


Also, has anybody tried Wilmas Kängskosmorning?


Thanks to any and all respondents.
Apologies if there is another thread like this.

MtB

[paulthefish2009]

With my leather boots i first off let them dry out naturally in my porch,I then brush any lose mud etc off then give them a coat of "G WAX" followed by a buff up with good old "KIWI" parade gloss. Paul

[FishyFolk]

Brush them off when dry, and then smaer them in with Bees wax, melt it in with a hair dryer, polish off excess once or twice a season. Normal Kiwi the rest of the year....

[David_JAFO]

hello,
'Spit & Polish' Elbow Grease.. Kiwi Boot Polish, Beeswax, or Nikwax.
Regards
David

[Opal]

I use mink oil.

[Adam Savage]

With leather, I use paraffin wax (the stuff used for Barbour jackets/wax jackets) rubbed in, heated with a dryer, then rubbed in again. I'll sometimes give them a coat of Kiwi or Cherry Blossom, but only if they start to look a bit faded, as most of mine are suede finish, so don't need any buffing up.
I've tried Nikwax, and found it to be a complete waste of time. Followed the instructions to the letter, used their cleaner beforehand too, and still not waterproof.
Scotch guard, or similar tends to work quite well for most fabrics, but haven't tried it with boots yet, as I'm not sure on it's breathability.

[Martin]

These boots have a Goretex lining, which gives them their waterproof properties. Don't apply anything that will clog the liner. Clean them and apply some black shoe polish from time to time. Don't bother with Parade Gloss, unless you're planning on bulling them? Occasionally, remove the footbeds and give the insides a good clean with clean cold water to stop the Goretex from getting clogged from the inside.

Nice boots, by the way.

Martin

[cobra]

Hi I use sno seal on my boots and have done for a fair few years now. I cannot recommend it highly enough it is by far the best water proofer i have ever come across.

[Silverback]

bulling them?

Bulled combat boots ?............ Chippy as ! Highly polished maybe but not bulled.

You need to nourish the leather to prevent it from cracking over time, and make sure the stitching gets some protection too to stop it from rotting - boot polish will do the job just fine

If not bothered about them looking shiny then parrafin wax works and so does sno seal - I've had a pair of meindl burma NONE goretex for 10 years now and using parrafin wax has always kept my feet dry, except when it came in over the top ;)

[fish]

mallard grease.

[Silverback]

Crab fat..... ;)

[Opal]

Worm oil?

[AdrianRose]

I use a product called Mr JoJo its bloody amazing stuff.

Ade.

[Fraser]

I got Mink Oil with my new Meindl's but a local keeper told me that Sno Seal is the best stuff for use on leather/gore-tex boots.

[BJ]

just clean and dry with occasional wax on the leather ones and Nikewax leather and fabric on the fabric ones.

[biker-bri]

I got Mink Oil with my new Meindl's but a local keeper told me that Sno Seal is the best stuff for use on leather/gore-tex boots.
Hi Fraser, Don't use mink oil on boots too often , it contains a softening element similar to lanolin ( it my be lanolin for all I know ) if over used it will turn stiff
leather into chamois leather nice n soft but with no support.
Cheers Bri

[biker-bri]

With my leather boots i first off let them dry out naturally in my porch,I then brush any lose mud etc off then give them a coat of "G WAX" followed by a buff up with good old "KIWI" parade gloss. Paul
T^

cheers Bri

[Fraser]

Hi Fraser, Don't use mink oil on boots too often , it contains a softening element similar to lanolin ( it my be lanolin for all I know ) if over used it will turn stiff
leather into chamois leather nice n soft but with no support.
Cheers Bri
Ah right. I didn't know that. Thanks for the advice Bri T^ I got a wee drop of Sno Seal from someone so I'll try that next time and see how it goes. I'm so glad I saved up and got the Meindl's. What a fantastic boot.

[Martin]

'Goretex-and-leather' boots are waterproof from the inside. You don't want to impregnate the leather with anything which will stop the boots from breathing. If you do, the result will be hot, sweaty, wet feet.

I have Meindl Borneo non-Goretex boots and have never had wet feet in them, even after many miles over Dartmoor. My preferred boot now is the Salomon Goretex offering (I can't remember the model). These are Goretex and fabric and need nothing more than brushing under cold running water and a rinse on the inside.

Martin

[OakAshandThorn]

LL Bean Boot Guard leather dressing - did an excellent job in restoring my 50 year old Sorel winter boots. It does have some lanolin in it, so I won't apply it often (thanks for the tip, Bri ;) ).

[treefrog]

Bear fat is the most repellant and tenacious boot treatment you can imagine. Problem is, you then need to leave your boots in the woodshed when you come in at night because
the smell of them will peel the paint off your walls....

[steve1975]

Hi Fraser, Don't use mink oil on boots too often , it contains a softening element similar to lanolin ( it my be lanolin for all I know ) if over used it will turn stiff
leather into chamois leather nice n soft but with no support.
Cheers Bri

Could be the answer to my problem. I have a pair of British army assault boots. Had them since October. They seem to be from different pairs or batch. The right boot is quite supple but the left is stiff. Looking yo find a way to get them the same.

[sallyjoseph]

I always Clean, Polish, and Protect boot from dust.