Boot/ Shoe Care (Products, Methods, and Suggestions)

[GingerMagician]

Thanks guys.  Hopefully Cutlasshound is hooking me up with someone he knows after I posted on the Viberg thread.

As you say G, it doesn't look a complex job - just don't want to it botched at this early stage in the boots' life!

[Snowy]

After some serious hiking in the IHVB-03's I felt they were ready for a clean. Done in the hotel here, so just the brush in the hotel, but what a difference

before

after

[Anesthetist]

They look great! How are your feet faring?

[Bretro_]

Any recommendations out there on a product to use to seal up non-stained, natural finished heel/sole trim while still retaining the nice honey glow of natural leather (or at least for awhile till it tans from sun exposure)?

Got some Wescos coming my way soon and chose to get them unstained rather than their standard brown. Unlike Whites natural trim that is actually coted in a neutral finish of some sort, Wesco leaves the leather totally raw, and thus exposed. Maybe I'm over thinking it but I believe I am going to want to treat them a bit before tromping around in the wild. (Then again, this may all just be a byproduct of a long wait time on my boots )

Was thinking about a waxed based product like Aussie Cream or perhaps a silicon based sealant like fiebings trim kote in neuteal. Any thoughts?

[4c]

Hey Bretro!
A long wait time for a pair of nice boots has been known to addle a mans brain ;). Seriously though, maybe something like snow seal would work… Also I believe that White’s come stock treated with LP on the edge. I've been useing LP to keep my boots natural edge sealed from stains and as you can see they have darkened a lil... but it's a light patina and not a bad thing IMO.

[Bretro_]

Thx for that 4Cs. LP for me then

Btw- them BHs are looking sharp, bro!

[Snowy]

@Anesthetist:

They look great! How are your feet faring?

Averaging 4-5 miles a day wearing them without a single issue. Not a blister on the entire trip. Some of the walking's been quite technical/challenging which was testing on the legs, shoes/feet held up real well.

I'd say that after nearly a year of wear that they are approaching fully broken in.

[superfuzz]

I just ordered my first pair of horsehide (horse butt) engineers boots from Attractions Co. in Japan. What do you guys use to treat horsehide? I usually use Pecard's leather dressing on my cowhide boots.

[sam a]

^^^ i use bick 4 on my HH boots and all of my boots for that matter and i've been very pleased with the results.

[SilverKing]

Does anyone ever use conditioner on the INSIDE of their shoes/boots? I've heard stories where people's shoes didn't die from the outside in, but rotted from the inside out…

Thinking of that, a lot of people have very nice dress shoes and boots which are not exposed much to the harsher elements. Rather, the worst will be sweat and moisture from the feet.

Obviously, wooden shoe trees will help with this matter. Charcoal as well.

But what about using some sort of conditioner or cream on the interior?

[4c]

White’s suggests using LP on the inside…

[pillowPANTS]

My buddy just got a pair of canvas Sorels and wants to waterproof them. What would you guys suggest as the best wax/dubbin to use on canvas?
Also i am thinking about waxing my roughout vibergs. What should i use for them? Thanks

[mclaincausey]

@pillowPANTS:

My buddy just got a pair of canvas Sorels and wants to waterproof them. What would you guys suggest as the best wax/dubbin to use on canvas?
Also i am thinking about waxing my roughout vibergs. What should i use for them? Thanks

I've always admired the way this military reenactment group does it, they look great

http://90thidpg.us/Equipment/Projects/Dubbing/

[Carlmart]

on the interior: skin cream(very thin)

[Carlmart]

A small German label, recommended from Himalaya-expeditions (the owner is a top-leather-expert):
http://www.tierowa.de/html/ein_paar____2.html

[pillowPANTS]

Looks great for the roughout. U think that would be overkill on the canvas tho?

[Carlmart]

canvas? only careful with warm water and foam from curd-soap, but Mr. Meyer from Tierowa knows everything about  the protection belts, leatherjackets and shoes, sent him a mail

[Chris]

For your friend, I'd go with something designed to waterproof fabric- so Barbour thornproof wax, Fjallraven Greenland wax, Otter wax, or something like that.  One of those might work for your boots, too.  As I recall, Finn waxed a pair of suede Vibergs and they turned out pretty well.  Can't remember what he used, though.

[pillowPANTS]

Thx guys. I think hes gonna go with some Otter wax. Im gonna do a lil more reading before i decide to tackle my vibergs

[GingerMagician]

Ok, so the 'talk to a decent cobbler about a possible harder-wearing rubber heel piece' strategy didn't work with my IH x Viberg service boots.

@Cutlasshound hooked me up with his guy, but the heel has lasted less time than the original Cat's Paw (I think it was thinner, at 6mm).

Any recommendations for a decent, no-worse-than-average wearing 8mm+ heel?  So I can just walk in to a cobbler and say, "hello guv, stick a couple of XXXX on these for me please"…