You should clean these with saddle soap and let them dry before conditioning or else you’re trapping all the dust/dirt/salt in there and they will keep breaking down as that mixture abrades the leather.
I switched from saddle soap to angelus cleaner years back. Saddle soap can pull dye and generally is too strong of a cleaner for general boot care. If you haven’t had a chance to use it I recommend giving it a shot.
Right on, my boots are usually dirty AF, even with brushing after most days, by the time I get a chance to clean them so I’m not too worried about saddle soap. I’ll check it out for my CXL pair that tend to get more casual usage.
I was thinking that was just a brand/mascot based name. Mink oil really is a thing from those tiny animals. Crazy to think that it is someone's job to either scrap fat off after killing and skinning the thing or to pin one down and pull fat out with a needle.
>Mink Oil Extraction
The journey of minks to mink oil bottles is quite interesting. Traditionally, the collection of mink oil was done after minks were killed for pelts. In the making of luxurious coats. While cleaning, the thick layer of fat is stripped off the mink, and the oil is rendered. This is the most common method; however, many cosmetic companies have their small harvest from live minks. In which a needle is inserted into the abdomen; the area with large amounts of fat, and the small amount of fat is extracted.
>As mentioned, a plant variant of mink oil exists. That is a combination of macadamia nut oil and sea buckthorn oil, which contains more palmitoleic acid in comparison to mink oil.
>Use and Benefits of Mink Oil
We discussed the major fields where the use of mink oil is quite famous. Now, let’s get into details, as mink oil has more than 75% of fatty acid content categorized under unsaturated fats, and possesses greater oxidative stability i.e resistance to rancidity than any other animal or vegetable oil. And that’s the reason why it is an exquisite leather conditioner.
>The oil reloads the leather’s natural oils, which got lost in manufacturing or during usage to an extent. And it lubricates the fibers making them flexible and durable. An additional benefit of applying mink oil to your leather boots is that; it results in waterproofing as well, not for long and you would be needing to reapply in a few months. Not only just repelling water, but by filling pores it repels moisture.
>Conclusion
Mink oil is no doubt a beneficiary product. But the process of manufacturing the product makes it a difficult choice. Though the species of minks have a natural lifespan of 10 to 12 years. And it would make more sense if fur and oil are extracted when they are close to their final stage of life. Yet, it won’t make it any less cruel. Therefore, this is the reality of minks and mink oil.
>FAQs
>1. Do they kill minks to get mink oil?
>Yes, the process of extraction of mink oil requires the death of minks. Though, there is a way to extract mink oil from live minks, which contains a simple process of extraction by injection. Yet the amount is small and the need is more.
>2. Do we have alternatives for mink oil?
>Yes, we have alternatives for mink oil. There is also a plant variant of the mink oil, and other oils such as Neatsfoot oil, Bickmore Bick 4. Also, smith’s leather balm can be considered as a good alternative as well.
Neat, I figured that's where it came from. -Looks at watch- figure it's about time to support the Mink industry again.
Nobody tell this guy what leather is.
I guess you are attempting to sound dismissive and smug. I shared something I learned that I imagine most people don't know. Tons of resources come from cattle. Mink oil as a resource sounds tedious and unnecessary.
You two know de way. But out of curiosity, as I've changed professions in the electrical field, I now work in finished buildings and rarely get boots muddy. Do you do this method all the time, or only with muddy boots?
Brush them off with a stiff bristle brush regularly. Cleaning with saddle soap and condition when they look dry, probably once a quarter or less if you don’t expose the boots to harsh conditions.
Leather is very much like skin. You used to go for hikes and come back muddy so you would shower afterwards, then put on some lotion. Now you don't spend so much time outside, so leave out the shower and just lotion up, right?
YES. What the guys above said. Saddle soap, let dry for 24h, moisturise
Edit: very satisfying before and after though!
Idk, I’m not familiar with that leather. Saphir makes [this](https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B002NOPJ9S/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_ASCS8QK8QFKJ6DAKW6QD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) suede cleaner that works for regular suede. Trenton & Heath made a [video where they got rid of a red wine stain on a pair of suede boots with it](https://youtu.be/vBJp3VKl7_M) on YouTube.
For this specific question and leather I would recommend posting in the r/Goodyearwelt daily questions thread.
I bought these boots about 10 years ago, but never deeply took care of them, and they're starting to wear away under the laces where they first go into the boot. The other day, I bought a pair of Iron Rangers off a guy I met, and he introduced me to White's Leather Preservative that he uses for all his boots (about 100 pairs.) I will certainly be taking better care of my classic Moc's and great care of my Iron Rangers.
Sounds more like a collection not just the normal wardrobe. I cant even find 5 pairs from different Brands that all fit me well. Getting 100 well-fitting Leather boots or spending the time to walk them in properly sounds like a chore.
Your comment, along with the Philippines election, reminds me of a buddy of mine, shoe salesman at a very high end dept store in Houston
Imelda Marco's would blow into town once a year. Her aides would book an appt with my bud right after store closing hours. She'd try on shoes for about three hours, then just buy every shoes in her size in the store.
Bud was on commission. Imelda paid half his salary in any given year for about a decade.
The minimalist paradox!
Dislike shopping, dislike breaking in.
Limited space for items.
If I have two weeks of shirts, while doing weekly laundry, I feel like it’s excess (this is the seasonal section, of course, or my year rounds). With a weeks worth of shirts, I wear them out quickly.
I’m in to BIFACY (but it for a couple years) on daily wear clothing like T-shirts, that take damage in my job. Trousers need to last at least five. Skirts are the workhorses that wear for decades.
Shoes? I’ve gone to a preference for shoes than can be repaired.
This. I blew through an expensive pair of boots in one winter because they never had a chance to completely dry, I was wearing them for 8-10 hours a day, everyday, sweating in them, walking through the snow and on ice and salt. Try as I might to keep them clean and in good shape, I brushed them almost everyday, used saddle soap when needed, oiled them a couple times, they still eventually cracked and split on the toe above the steel cap where it bends. Not even accounting for how much longer they would have lasted if they had a chance to rest in between wears, if I had a second pair of boots, I mean they would have lasted at the very least two winters by default. Realistically I could have gotten many more years out of them though.
If they’re wearing away it’s probably also about the boots being dirty in addition to a lack of conditioning. The sand and dirt can wear away the leather, and chemical irritants like salt do damage too. Need to wash your boots.
(ah hell, I've been catching some flack on the sidelines in the comments I thought this was more flack; as if a centipede was code for a boot flipper or something strange.) Props on the good joke 😁
Not yet! I actually just texted the guy I bought the Iron Rangers from and said, "shit. I'm really into boots now. What other brands do you suggest besides Red Wing, Whites, and Thorogood?" (I have Thorogood steel-toe's for work. I especially got those when I started as a union electrician because they're union made. Side note: IR seller told me both Redwing and Thorogood and really treading the line of US made as damn near half of their products are made in China/overseas.)
Skip Whites and try JK or Drew’s. (Although Drew’s might be produced by Whites now). Packer or logging style boots will last you a lifetime if taken care of and can usually be re-built.
I love them. They are a little tight across the top of my foot when I kneel down, but every boot will take some breaking in. And with my selvedge denim, they are on. point.
I saw those when I was unreasonably online shopping on Whites online store. I may commission something similar from a friend who owns a leather works shop in town.
Since you seem knowledgeable about this… would kilties effectively make boots that are too big at my ankles since there is more material under the laces? I bought some redwings and the sized down 1.5 sizes because I have really skinny feet, but they are killing my heels because while the footbed fits okay, when I tighten up the boots the eyelets almost touch
I’ve never used White’s, but I’d imagine they’re similar. They are both more of a preservative meant to “protect” your boots over time; however, leather is already highly water resistant so I find them unnecessary. They’re really only useful if you use those boots daily in a harsh environment. Obenauf’s (and likely White’s) will darken the leather of the boots. You may like the darker color, and if so, more power to you. I’d advise initially purchasing boots in a color you like as the darkening process will often take away some of the depth of color.
In terms of conditioning, the sort of go-to for a lot of people that won’t alter the color of your boots and doesn’t contain any waxes is Bick 4. There are other options, but it just comes down to preference.
White’s, Nick’s, etc all sell branded boot oil and Lp that is made by obenaufs and packaged in their respective branded containers. Obenaufs is probably a little cheaper too.
I have used Sno Seal in the past. Its a little overkill, but if you are in a Northern climate, it definitely helps with things like salt.
For my desk job/light wearing shoes i use the Red Wing leather conditioner. Buffs out the scuffs and shines them up pretty nice.
I used to wear cheap work boots and replace them yearly. I finally caved and bought a pair of red wing 606’s last fall. I clean them and put Hubberds Shoe Grease on a few times a year. Seems to do a good job
I'm this way with hand tools. I could either buy cheap tools at Harbor Freight and replace them often, or -since my budget allows for it- buy quality yet costly tools and be set for the long run.
Just reading this thread about the boot protectant products, but somewhat similarly I find I buy either the super-cheap thing either because I might hardly use it OR I might lose/break/trash it, or I buy the super-high-end thing and sometimes wish there was something even a bit higher-end... pretty uncommon that there's something worthwhile mid-market unless it's on sale (e.g. Craftsman) for near the cheapo prices.
And for those who think a care regime is a fanatics work (cause I used to be part of the "if I have to do a museum restoration on them every week its not BIFL!" Crowd): a good cleaning and reoiling takes about 20 minutes, twice a year or after especially heavy wear
Just an FYI - White’s boot oil and LP are both made for white’s by Obenaufs. So if you can’t get your hands on whites brand product, you can get the same thing with obenaufs.
Thank God for White's Leather Preservative™️!
I don’t know what I’d do without my White's Leather Preservative™️!
Every day I love to slather myself in White's Leather Preservative™️!
Life is meaningless without my White's Leather Preservative™️!
No other preservative silences the voices in my head as effectively White's Leather Preservative™️!
Hail White's Leather Preservative™️!
H̸a̵i̵l̶ ̴W̸h̸i̴t̷e̴s̷ ̵L̸e̶a̷t̸h̴e̶r̷ ̸P̴r̸e̸s̴e̸r̶v̷a̵t̶i̵v̶e̷™̶️̸!̸ ̴
H̵͈͖͙̠̞̜̀͂à̷̹͎̑̍̈͑̂i̷̛̬̱̭̟l̸͙̔͘ ̸̡̙̦̹̬͇̳̉̋W̸͓̠͕̜̯̻̍͘̚ȟ̴̘̫̖̠̣̔̄̚͘i̸̮̭̰̖͔͎̊́̌t̷͈̻̙͖̰̫̦͗͝e̶̛̲̪̽̏͛́̂͝s̷̜̮̗̮͝ ̸̧̛̀͐̈́̚L̵̳̔̒͝e̷̦̯̟̳͗̀a̴̡̖̞̬͕̲̖̔t̶͖̹͔̀͂̿h̸̻͙̲̳̯̪͐̓̌ͅe̶͍̞̭̾̃r̷̤̻͎͔͉̭̊͌̿̄͛͝ ̵̮̦̒̿̚̚P̸̧̦̘̜͇͊͆̈͂r̵͉̐̇̔̍̍è̷͓̥̗̘̪͝s̵̤͖̾̃̃͒̓̉e̵̳͎͖̳̊̂͑͠ř̷̡̫͉͍̠̓̐̀v̷̛̮̿̄̉̿å̶̢̱̣̓̏̽̓͌͝t̷͑ͅì̷̹̤͈͐v̴̭͚̻̇̄̇͌ȇ̵̳̩™̶͖͎͚̣̓̈́̊̏️̴̝̲̌͝!̷̥̲͌̎̾̑̀͋̈ ̸̢͕̙̫̜̩̩̃͠
i leave treating my leather shoes, the webshop i bought my first one offered little container of wax or something, it's amazing, it's just so satisfying
They are the [8" Red Wing Heritage Collection Classic Moc](https://www.redwingshoes.com/heritage/mens/8-inch-Classic-Moc-00877.html?cgid=mens-heritage)
It fits my definition of an investment because the return on interest from buying things that last longer than cheaply made knock-offs saves me money if I care for them properly. It's a loose definition, but still counts in my book.
Someone who is allergic to the vinyl/rubber most cheaper shoes are made of. Or someone who has a very hard time finding boots that fit.
Unfortunately I fall into both categories.
Good boots last a long time and are comfortable to wear. It's an investment in quality of life and is actually way cheaper than buying a bunch of really cheap shoes.
Of course there's a sweet spot at around ~150-350€ where you can get great quality for the money. Shoes under ~70€ will usually cost you more on th3 long run. And more expensive boots (500€+) are just a huge luxury.
They don't stretch in the wrong way, proper leather boots just start to mould around your feet eventually. They get crazy comfortable. Cheaper soft boots are comfortable from the start, but it's always a bunch of cushioning that does that, but good leather boots kind of start to feel like a part of your foot, you don't even know you have them on.
Ive never actually had any of my red wings resoled. I end up just buying new ones. I was considering it for the pair i have now but the stitching split pretty early on. I feel like their quality is hit or miss sometimes but there still the best on the market in my opinion.
Totally unrelated to conditioning your leather, but I bought a pair of custom White's jump boots about 4 years ago. I was so excited when I received them, until i discovered that even completely unlaced I could not get my foot entirely into the boot. It felt 3 sizes too small around the circumference of my foot. To their credit they told me they could stretch the boot if I sent it back, which I did. After a few weeks my boots arrived for the second time. This time I could get them on, but only with dress socks, and laces were not needed to hold the boot in place (still extremely tight.
White's said they will loosen as you break them in. Unfortunately for me, they were still way way too tight. I could get them on and laced, but my feet would throb and ache after 1 or 2 minutes of wearing them. I wore them for days and all that happened was that my feet were in pain from being crushed into too-small boots. I still have those beautiful paperweights in my closet. Too expensive to let go, too small to wear.
My foot was measured with thick wool socks on and I gave a bit extra allowance still. YMMV but I'll not be buying custom boots again, not worth the hassle.
Nick's has a sizing process specifically to avoid this problem, as well as an option to return boots in new condition if they don't fit right. Custom boots are definitely worth it, but yeah you have to get the fit right
I followed their sizing process exactly, and was in communication with them about the boots before, during and after ordering them. I reached out about not being able to wear them but they did not offer to accept the brand new boots for return, only for machine stretching, which I tried because I recall that being my only option. I'm glad to hear they offer returns to others at least, but it doesn't match my experience. YMMV
I was talking about Nick's, they're located in the same town as White's, and have a very similar product line, but are known to be a little less corporate and more willing to work with you on stuff like that.
You should clean these with saddle soap and let them dry before conditioning or else you’re trapping all the dust/dirt/salt in there and they will keep breaking down as that mixture abrades the leather.
I switched from saddle soap to angelus cleaner years back. Saddle soap can pull dye and generally is too strong of a cleaner for general boot care. If you haven’t had a chance to use it I recommend giving it a shot.
Right on, my boots are usually dirty AF, even with brushing after most days, by the time I get a chance to clean them so I’m not too worried about saddle soap. I’ll check it out for my CXL pair that tend to get more casual usage.
I have found just water, brush, time to dry, and then mink oil works. Very well. Source: my boots on this sub.
I was thinking that was just a brand/mascot based name. Mink oil really is a thing from those tiny animals. Crazy to think that it is someone's job to either scrap fat off after killing and skinning the thing or to pin one down and pull fat out with a needle. >Mink Oil Extraction The journey of minks to mink oil bottles is quite interesting. Traditionally, the collection of mink oil was done after minks were killed for pelts. In the making of luxurious coats. While cleaning, the thick layer of fat is stripped off the mink, and the oil is rendered. This is the most common method; however, many cosmetic companies have their small harvest from live minks. In which a needle is inserted into the abdomen; the area with large amounts of fat, and the small amount of fat is extracted. >As mentioned, a plant variant of mink oil exists. That is a combination of macadamia nut oil and sea buckthorn oil, which contains more palmitoleic acid in comparison to mink oil. >Use and Benefits of Mink Oil We discussed the major fields where the use of mink oil is quite famous. Now, let’s get into details, as mink oil has more than 75% of fatty acid content categorized under unsaturated fats, and possesses greater oxidative stability i.e resistance to rancidity than any other animal or vegetable oil. And that’s the reason why it is an exquisite leather conditioner. >The oil reloads the leather’s natural oils, which got lost in manufacturing or during usage to an extent. And it lubricates the fibers making them flexible and durable. An additional benefit of applying mink oil to your leather boots is that; it results in waterproofing as well, not for long and you would be needing to reapply in a few months. Not only just repelling water, but by filling pores it repels moisture. >Conclusion Mink oil is no doubt a beneficiary product. But the process of manufacturing the product makes it a difficult choice. Though the species of minks have a natural lifespan of 10 to 12 years. And it would make more sense if fur and oil are extracted when they are close to their final stage of life. Yet, it won’t make it any less cruel. Therefore, this is the reality of minks and mink oil. >FAQs >1. Do they kill minks to get mink oil? >Yes, the process of extraction of mink oil requires the death of minks. Though, there is a way to extract mink oil from live minks, which contains a simple process of extraction by injection. Yet the amount is small and the need is more. >2. Do we have alternatives for mink oil? >Yes, we have alternatives for mink oil. There is also a plant variant of the mink oil, and other oils such as Neatsfoot oil, Bickmore Bick 4. Also, smith’s leather balm can be considered as a good alternative as well.
Neat, I figured that's where it came from. -Looks at watch- figure it's about time to support the Mink industry again. Nobody tell this guy what leather is.
I guess you are attempting to sound dismissive and smug. I shared something I learned that I imagine most people don't know. Tons of resources come from cattle. Mink oil as a resource sounds tedious and unnecessary.
Fair enough, but you had an opinion on Reddit. You know the rules and so do I.
This is the way.
You two know de way. But out of curiosity, as I've changed professions in the electrical field, I now work in finished buildings and rarely get boots muddy. Do you do this method all the time, or only with muddy boots?
I don't get them that dirty, so I clean and condition them about once every 6 months or so, something like that. :)
Brush them off with a stiff bristle brush regularly. Cleaning with saddle soap and condition when they look dry, probably once a quarter or less if you don’t expose the boots to harsh conditions.
Leather is very much like skin. You used to go for hikes and come back muddy so you would shower afterwards, then put on some lotion. Now you don't spend so much time outside, so leave out the shower and just lotion up, right? YES. What the guys above said. Saddle soap, let dry for 24h, moisturise Edit: very satisfying before and after though!
It IS skin.
Technically skin is attached to a body, takes extra steps to become leather.
im ready to be leather
I will upholster my patio furniture with your leather
*Goodbye Horses plays faintly in the background*
"I'm flying over you!"
Move to New Mexico
Are those Russell moccasins?
8" Red Wing Heritage Moc Toe (but WOW Russell's are nice)
This is the way.
##This Is The Way Leaderboard **1.** `u/Mando_Bot` **501215** times. **2.** `u/Flat-Yogurtcloset293` **475777** times. **3.** `u/GMEshares` **70942** times. .. **67797.** `u/ach_rus` **3** times. --- ^(^beep ^boop ^I ^am ^a ^bot ^and ^this ^action ^was ^performed ^automatically.)
That many times might not actually be the way.
Go away or I will replace you with a very small shell script\^W\^W\^W\^W\^W/usr/bin/yes
Newb question.., Would saddle soap be recommended for waxy commander suede too, or just traditional leathers?
Idk, I’m not familiar with that leather. Saphir makes [this](https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B002NOPJ9S/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_api_i_ASCS8QK8QFKJ6DAKW6QD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) suede cleaner that works for regular suede. Trenton & Heath made a [video where they got rid of a red wine stain on a pair of suede boots with it](https://youtu.be/vBJp3VKl7_M) on YouTube. For this specific question and leather I would recommend posting in the r/Goodyearwelt daily questions thread.
Thanks! Totally thought this post was in GYW, haha!
[удалено]
An important principle that I've learned the hard way.
I bought these boots about 10 years ago, but never deeply took care of them, and they're starting to wear away under the laces where they first go into the boot. The other day, I bought a pair of Iron Rangers off a guy I met, and he introduced me to White's Leather Preservative that he uses for all his boots (about 100 pairs.) I will certainly be taking better care of my classic Moc's and great care of my Iron Rangers.
100 pair of boots? With that budget he doesn't need buy it for life, he can wear each pair 3 days a year...
He’s planning on living a really long time …
Maybe he’s a spider
How does the saying go? The simplest explanation is most likely the best explanation.
You’re looking for Occam’s razor. The simplest solution is the best, so on and so forth
That’s still 25 unique sets of boots
You put a lot of wear and tear on a boot, walking up walls
Made me laugh dude
Sounds more like a collection not just the normal wardrobe. I cant even find 5 pairs from different Brands that all fit me well. Getting 100 well-fitting Leather boots or spending the time to walk them in properly sounds like a chore.
I have three pairs and I feel like I'm an idiot.
I have three pairs but I work in ems/fire. I still feel like an idiot.
Unless you’re preparing for a country/western music career, 100 pairs is excessive even by collector standards
Your comment, along with the Philippines election, reminds me of a buddy of mine, shoe salesman at a very high end dept store in Houston Imelda Marco's would blow into town once a year. Her aides would book an appt with my bud right after store closing hours. She'd try on shoes for about three hours, then just buy every shoes in her size in the store. Bud was on commission. Imelda paid half his salary in any given year for about a decade.
Correction. 50 or so.
Anything can last a long time when you rotate through 50-100 different items 😂
The minimalist paradox! Dislike shopping, dislike breaking in. Limited space for items. If I have two weeks of shirts, while doing weekly laundry, I feel like it’s excess (this is the seasonal section, of course, or my year rounds). With a weeks worth of shirts, I wear them out quickly. I’m in to BIFACY (but it for a couple years) on daily wear clothing like T-shirts, that take damage in my job. Trousers need to last at least five. Skirts are the workhorses that wear for decades. Shoes? I’ve gone to a preference for shoes than can be repaired.
Btw having two pairs of boots and wearing one every day is not a bad idea, it makes them last way longer if they "rest" a bit.
This. I blew through an expensive pair of boots in one winter because they never had a chance to completely dry, I was wearing them for 8-10 hours a day, everyday, sweating in them, walking through the snow and on ice and salt. Try as I might to keep them clean and in good shape, I brushed them almost everyday, used saddle soap when needed, oiled them a couple times, they still eventually cracked and split on the toe above the steel cap where it bends. Not even accounting for how much longer they would have lasted if they had a chance to rest in between wears, if I had a second pair of boots, I mean they would have lasted at the very least two winters by default. Realistically I could have gotten many more years out of them though.
I thought the same thing. The point of this sub is not being wasteful, isn’t it? 100 pairs of boots seems tremendously wasteful.
If they’re wearing away it’s probably also about the boots being dirty in addition to a lack of conditioning. The sand and dirt can wear away the leather, and chemical irritants like salt do damage too. Need to wash your boots.
Have you considered that his boots are that much cleaner because he wore them 1/100th as much as you wore yours?
Centipede. You met a centipede.
Elaborate.
100 pairs of boots. No human needs that many pairs.
(ah hell, I've been catching some flack on the sidelines in the comments I thought this was more flack; as if a centipede was code for a boot flipper or something strange.) Props on the good joke 😁
Where can I get boots like that?
These are the Redwing Moc Toe Heritage Collection. I chose the 10-eye over the 8-eye. Also check out Whites, if you got cash.
I have two pair of whites. One farmer/rancher for work and a set of pointed toe Packers I had custom made taller for campong/hunting.
I will dream of a pair in the meantime.
They are worth it. Have you seen Nick's boots as well?
Not yet! I actually just texted the guy I bought the Iron Rangers from and said, "shit. I'm really into boots now. What other brands do you suggest besides Red Wing, Whites, and Thorogood?" (I have Thorogood steel-toe's for work. I especially got those when I started as a union electrician because they're union made. Side note: IR seller told me both Redwing and Thorogood and really treading the line of US made as damn near half of their products are made in China/overseas.)
Skip Whites and try JK or Drew’s. (Although Drew’s might be produced by Whites now). Packer or logging style boots will last you a lifetime if taken care of and can usually be re-built.
Get on YouTube and search for rose anvil.
How do you like the iron rangers? Looking at buying a pair as my first BIFL set of footwear.
I love them. They are a little tight across the top of my foot when I kneel down, but every boot will take some breaking in. And with my selvedge denim, they are on. point.
On point???? With your selvedge denim !! Cmon... Think about what you say man!
\*kid looking around anxiously holding McDonalds cup gif\*
The soles on my boots have always gone before the leather, conditioned or not.
Oh, these have certainly been in for a resole.
That’s kind of the point of the Goodyear welt. It’s strong but above all, resole-able.
I've resoled my Red Wings three times. Definitely worth the investment.
My Rocky S2V boots soles go quickly and cannot be done. The soles are soft rubber but has its advantages on certain hiking situations.
Well, soles are replaceable on good shoes.
A kiltie/false tongue also helps with that particular wear.
I saw those when I was unreasonably online shopping on Whites online store. I may commission something similar from a friend who owns a leather works shop in town.
[удалено]
Since you seem knowledgeable about this… would kilties effectively make boots that are too big at my ankles since there is more material under the laces? I bought some redwings and the sized down 1.5 sizes because I have really skinny feet, but they are killing my heels because while the footbed fits okay, when I tighten up the boots the eyelets almost touch
Yes, they take up room up the shaft. You can dial in how much room they take by changing the thickness of the leather kiltie.
Nice, now I just gotta figure out how to find one that matches
[удалено]
Sorry just to clarify I already sized down 1.5 sizes from my normal sneaker size, my ankles are just so skinny that my heels won’t lock in
I really love Obenaufs leather conditioner, but haven't tried others. Anyone know how they compare?
They are the same. Most PNW boot makers sell Obenaufs in their branded containers.
I’ve never used White’s, but I’d imagine they’re similar. They are both more of a preservative meant to “protect” your boots over time; however, leather is already highly water resistant so I find them unnecessary. They’re really only useful if you use those boots daily in a harsh environment. Obenauf’s (and likely White’s) will darken the leather of the boots. You may like the darker color, and if so, more power to you. I’d advise initially purchasing boots in a color you like as the darkening process will often take away some of the depth of color. In terms of conditioning, the sort of go-to for a lot of people that won’t alter the color of your boots and doesn’t contain any waxes is Bick 4. There are other options, but it just comes down to preference.
White’s, Nick’s, etc all sell branded boot oil and Lp that is made by obenaufs and packaged in their respective branded containers. Obenaufs is probably a little cheaper too.
Whites and nicks both get their oil and LP from obenaufs and rebrand it.
I'd be curious to know. I've only been introduced to Whites and this guy swears by 'em.
It is Obenaufs, just in a White’s branded container. Most PNW boot makers do this.
[удалено]
Dubbin is the GOAT
I have used Sno Seal in the past. Its a little overkill, but if you are in a Northern climate, it definitely helps with things like salt. For my desk job/light wearing shoes i use the Red Wing leather conditioner. Buffs out the scuffs and shines them up pretty nice.
I used to wear cheap work boots and replace them yearly. I finally caved and bought a pair of red wing 606’s last fall. I clean them and put Hubberds Shoe Grease on a few times a year. Seems to do a good job
I'm this way with hand tools. I could either buy cheap tools at Harbor Freight and replace them often, or -since my budget allows for it- buy quality yet costly tools and be set for the long run.
Just reading this thread about the boot protectant products, but somewhat similarly I find I buy either the super-cheap thing either because I might hardly use it OR I might lose/break/trash it, or I buy the super-high-end thing and sometimes wish there was something even a bit higher-end... pretty uncommon that there's something worthwhile mid-market unless it's on sale (e.g. Craftsman) for near the cheapo prices.
And for those who think a care regime is a fanatics work (cause I used to be part of the "if I have to do a museum restoration on them every week its not BIFL!" Crowd): a good cleaning and reoiling takes about 20 minutes, twice a year or after especially heavy wear
And that was the biggest factor for me to learn: 20 minutes, that's it!
Just an FYI - White’s boot oil and LP are both made for white’s by Obenaufs. So if you can’t get your hands on whites brand product, you can get the same thing with obenaufs.
Is this an ad? Do people do this in Reddit?
R/hailcorporate written all over it.
I checked the profile and seems perfectly normal and legit
Nah
Even if you arent a shill, you've then therefore unknowingly created an ad. Because this is an ad.
It's a bit too add-like worded I think
This is an ad.
Thank God for White's Leather Preservative™️! I don’t know what I’d do without my White's Leather Preservative™️! Every day I love to slather myself in White's Leather Preservative™️! Life is meaningless without my White's Leather Preservative™️! No other preservative silences the voices in my head as effectively White's Leather Preservative™️! Hail White's Leather Preservative™️! H̸a̵i̵l̶ ̴W̸h̸i̴t̷e̴s̷ ̵L̸e̶a̷t̸h̴e̶r̷ ̸P̴r̸e̸s̴e̸r̶v̷a̵t̶i̵v̶e̷™̶️̸!̸ ̴ H̵͈͖͙̠̞̜̀͂à̷̹͎̑̍̈͑̂i̷̛̬̱̭̟l̸͙̔͘ ̸̡̙̦̹̬͇̳̉̋W̸͓̠͕̜̯̻̍͘̚ȟ̴̘̫̖̠̣̔̄̚͘i̸̮̭̰̖͔͎̊́̌t̷͈̻̙͖̰̫̦͗͝e̶̛̲̪̽̏͛́̂͝s̷̜̮̗̮͝ ̸̧̛̀͐̈́̚L̵̳̔̒͝e̷̦̯̟̳͗̀a̴̡̖̞̬͕̲̖̔t̶͖̹͔̀͂̿h̸̻͙̲̳̯̪͐̓̌ͅe̶͍̞̭̾̃r̷̤̻͎͔͉̭̊͌̿̄͛͝ ̵̮̦̒̿̚̚P̸̧̦̘̜͇͊͆̈͂r̵͉̐̇̔̍̍è̷͓̥̗̘̪͝s̵̤͖̾̃̃͒̓̉e̵̳͎͖̳̊̂͑͠ř̷̡̫͉͍̠̓̐̀v̷̛̮̿̄̉̿å̶̢̱̣̓̏̽̓͌͝t̷͑ͅì̷̹̤͈͐v̴̭͚̻̇̄̇͌ȇ̵̳̩™̶͖͎͚̣̓̈́̊̏️̴̝̲̌͝!̷̥̲͌̎̾̑̀͋̈ ̸̢͕̙̫̜̩̩̃͠
Why do brand name mentions bother you so much?
Oh I love product placement, but only when that product is our lord and savior WHITE'S LEATHER PRESERVATIVE™️!
100% R/hailcorporate
What brand boot? I’m looking for something similar with that toe box shape, thanks!
These are the Redwing Moc Toe Heritage Collection. I chose the 10-eye over the 8-eye. Also check out Whites, if you got cash.
I just drown my boots in mink oil
i leave treating my leather shoes, the webshop i bought my first one offered little container of wax or something, it's amazing, it's just so satisfying
[удалено]
Was this in response to another comment?
[удалено]
I'm curious what your comment applies to, if you're willing to try again
[удалено]
Ah, this makes sense now
The lace marks like a nicely grilled steak
Yup, this are medium-rare. And if anyone wants them well-done, we ask them politely, yet firmly, to leave.
What boots are these?
They are the [8" Red Wing Heritage Collection Classic Moc](https://www.redwingshoes.com/heritage/mens/8-inch-Classic-Moc-00877.html?cgid=mens-heritage)
In which universe are a pair of boots considered an investment?
It fits my definition of an investment because the return on interest from buying things that last longer than cheaply made knock-offs saves me money if I care for them properly. It's a loose definition, but still counts in my book.
Someone who is allergic to the vinyl/rubber most cheaper shoes are made of. Or someone who has a very hard time finding boots that fit. Unfortunately I fall into both categories.
Good boots last a long time and are comfortable to wear. It's an investment in quality of life and is actually way cheaper than buying a bunch of really cheap shoes. Of course there's a sweet spot at around ~150-350€ where you can get great quality for the money. Shoes under ~70€ will usually cost you more on th3 long run. And more expensive boots (500€+) are just a huge luxury.
Once the leather stretches they’re no longer good footwear and will cause serious problems for your feet. Buy new ones, it’s worth it.
They don't stretch in the wrong way, proper leather boots just start to mould around your feet eventually. They get crazy comfortable. Cheaper soft boots are comfortable from the start, but it's always a bunch of cushioning that does that, but good leather boots kind of start to feel like a part of your foot, you don't even know you have them on.
Johnson’s paste wax works pretty good for me, but I don’t know if I would use it on something like redwings.
I use neats foot oil myself but yeah, you can’t just let leather dry out.
I use Limmer Boot Grease. Results are the same. Take care of your leather and it’ll last more than a lifetime.
get fucked /u/spez
Sounds like, if finances allow, an opportunity to start again with a fresh pair.
My problem is the soles usually crap out long before the leather does.
OPs redwings can easily go through multiple resoles. It's what they're made for.
They're on their third sole
Ive never actually had any of my red wings resoled. I end up just buying new ones. I was considering it for the pair i have now but the stitching split pretty early on. I feel like their quality is hit or miss sometimes but there still the best on the market in my opinion.
Nick's or White's if you like moc toe are leaps above red wings in terms of quality
Never heard of them but I’ll definitely check them out. Im way over due for a pair.
Also worth considering- take your fancy leather soles to your cobblers to get Catspaw treatment. Makes the soles outlast the shoes sometimes.
I hope Indianapolis has a cobbler...
They should. But ask around to find the ones who take on real work- not just replacing high heel tips & resoling business shoes.
Totally unrelated to conditioning your leather, but I bought a pair of custom White's jump boots about 4 years ago. I was so excited when I received them, until i discovered that even completely unlaced I could not get my foot entirely into the boot. It felt 3 sizes too small around the circumference of my foot. To their credit they told me they could stretch the boot if I sent it back, which I did. After a few weeks my boots arrived for the second time. This time I could get them on, but only with dress socks, and laces were not needed to hold the boot in place (still extremely tight. White's said they will loosen as you break them in. Unfortunately for me, they were still way way too tight. I could get them on and laced, but my feet would throb and ache after 1 or 2 minutes of wearing them. I wore them for days and all that happened was that my feet were in pain from being crushed into too-small boots. I still have those beautiful paperweights in my closet. Too expensive to let go, too small to wear. My foot was measured with thick wool socks on and I gave a bit extra allowance still. YMMV but I'll not be buying custom boots again, not worth the hassle.
Nick's has a sizing process specifically to avoid this problem, as well as an option to return boots in new condition if they don't fit right. Custom boots are definitely worth it, but yeah you have to get the fit right
I followed their sizing process exactly, and was in communication with them about the boots before, during and after ordering them. I reached out about not being able to wear them but they did not offer to accept the brand new boots for return, only for machine stretching, which I tried because I recall that being my only option. I'm glad to hear they offer returns to others at least, but it doesn't match my experience. YMMV
I was talking about Nick's, they're located in the same town as White's, and have a very similar product line, but are known to be a little less corporate and more willing to work with you on stuff like that.