READERS COMMENTS

I work at an outdoor retailer and am the "Shoe Guy"...I too agree with the fact that waterproofing should be done on an "as needed" basis. I live in Maine and I couldn't even imagine waxing my boots once a year. That being said..I'm not completely sold on nikwax products. They are water based. Good ol' Sno-seal works just fine for me even for year 'round use.
Posted: Oct 29, 2008 Joe C.

I've hiked all over the country and the most important tip about boots is to keep them clean I think. Some places, the Adirondacks ESPECIALLY, have such acidic soil that your boots will rot off your feet quickly if any of that peat soil remains on them!
Posted: Oct 29, 2008 John N.

and an interesting item to clutter your laundry room when not in use.

Apparently Tom H is not married....good idea tho
Posted: Oct 17, 2008 Bill C

The frequency of cleaning and of the application of wax depends on the frequency of use! My father was a shoe manufacturer for 43 years, and the day he died he had three pairs of shoes each of which he had worn twice weekly for 25 years, and they were still very serviceable, having been cleaned carefully after every use, and occasionally re-soled. Whenever they got wet, he dried them with an old towel, then stuffed newspaper in them, and the leather never cracked. Change the newspaper every couple of hours.
Posted: Oct 12, 2008 Rob Sharman

I waterproof once, the day I bring them home. It may be because of the dry climate in Colorado though. By the time the soles are shot, and need a retread, the uppers are usually worn also, so no need for a cobbler retread, just a trash can.
Posted: Oct 10, 2008 Rick

You can't buy a new pair of new feet nor even a few toes. Keep your feet dry first. Let the cobler worry about the two minutes it takes to say, "no can do". You needed new boots when you got those.
Posted: Oct 10, 2008 Ziggy T

In the Pacific North West if you only waterproof once a year then you are only going on one hike. With our wet underbrush I have had boots give up the ghost in hours not days. I have waterproofed often and never had a cobbler tell me he couldn't resole my boots.
Posted: Oct 09, 2008 Diarmaid Harmon

I would add boot trees to the list, especially if you have steel shanks-as leather dries it can bend the sole of your boot, causing the toes to curl and will ruin boots by changing the fit. I was once told by a boot maker in Colorado to never use newsprint in a wet boot.
Posted: Oct 09, 2008 Dave H

I agree with waterproofing WAY more than once a year ! Maybe the very first year when they were brand new they only needed to be done once, but after that, it is an "as needed" kind of thing !
Posted: Oct 09, 2008 Norine

"Waterproof sparingly" ?? This might make the cobbler's job easier, but I didn't buy these boots for his convenience. I'll do what it takes to keep the leather clean, healthy, soft, and water resistant. And that will include more than one single application of wax per year.
Posted: Oct 09, 2008 Mike

why does applying waterproofing build up onto the sole as mentioned causing a problem making "them impossible to repair"? Without weatherproofing often, I will have problems keeping dry!
Posted: Oct 09, 2008 robert

I've discovered that forced-air dries even faster and just as safely as the newspaper trick. Build an "antler" of PVC fittings hooked to the outlet of a cheap bathroom ceiling fan. You'll have a drying rack that will accomodate several pair of ootwear at a time and dry your boots in an hour or so, and an interesting item to clutter your laundry room when not in use.
Posted: Oct 09, 2008 Tom H

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