Need help.. best way to waterproof shoes/boots

danger boy

Just got some boots and I want to treat them and have them repel water and snow... what product do I use for this? never done it before.

disneyjoe7

My first thought is Mink oil.

disneyjoe7

Found this interesting, I never done it, but something I heard living in New England I'm sure.




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Gadabout

Mink Oil works well for water proofing. As it is an oil, it will also soften. This might not mean much this year, but after a few years of treatments and you might find the leather is too soft for your liking.

Another option is Sno-Seal. Sno-Seal is bees wax based. I usually just follow these Sno Seal Directions for application and use a hair dryer to heat the boots. (I guess an oven would work too)

I have been using Sno-Seal for years and really don't have any complaints with the product. The oldest pair of boots that I have applied sno-seal too is about 12 years old. They have been resoled twice and the uppers are still in pretty decent shape.

Scott

I should also note that I only use Sno-Seal on true outdoor boots like hiking or work boots. I rarely apply water proofing to casual shoes and boots.

rebuy

There are also several spray on products you can find in the shoe dept of about any shoe area of a dept store.
The best way to apply them is to spray on the first coat let it dry and repeat. I always put 3 or 4 coats on my boots and my feet stayed dry all the time. If you're wondering how much water my feet were exposed to, I poured concrete 5 days a week, so I was always exposed to standing in water everyday, it was not just a casual thing.
Kiwi makes a spray and I forget who the other is but you can pick it up in any Wal-mart shoe dept. It always worked for me.

obieone

Mink oil was the only thing I saw work in New England as a kid. I tried some of that silicone crap, when Timberlands came out, but it never worked.

Tbone289

Sno-Seal is the stuff, and is better for your leather than mink oil.

Jstas

Mink Oil is good. Just make sure you work it in to the leather and let it sit for a day or two. Otherwise, it collects dirt and will ruin the look of your boots. Also, mink oil can darken the leather. The beeswax Sal mentioned usually doesn't darken the leather but since it's a wax and not an oil, it only sits on top of the leather. You need to reapply it every so often. The mink oil is more permanent.

There was a product I used to use from I. Goldberg but I can't find it and I think it may not be made anymore.

It was something like this: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Nikwax-Waterproof-Cream/1211020.uts?Ntk=Product_liberal&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch%2F%3FN%3D5101233%26Ne%3D5101233%26Ntk%3DProduct_liberal%26Ntt%3Dwaterproofer%26Ntx%3Dmode%252Bmatchallpartial%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts%26WTz_st%3DSearchRefinements%26form_state%3DsearchForm%26isLiberal%3DY%26search%3Dwaterproofer%26searchTypeByFilter%3DAllProducts%26x%3D0%26y%3D0&Ntt=waterproofer&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

It was cream based and much more forgiving and easy to use. Also, it let the leather breathe like the oils but without the darkening effects of the oil. Best of both worlds I guess you could say.

Keep in mind, if your boots are suede, you're going to end up matting the finish with any of these waterproofers. Mink oil would be best for the suede probably. Smooth leathers, any of the products.

Also, I learned this the hard way in the Boy Scouts, if you do this treatment, especially with Mink Oil, do not put your boots near a fire for a few days. Not only will the heat discolor them but, like in my case, set them on fire. Not the leather so much but I was sloppy with the application and my shoelaces wicked up the mink oil. Lit like a fuse. It was pretty dumb but I was 12. What the hell did I know?

exalted512

Jstas wrote: »

like in my case, set them on fire.

I literally started to LOL on that.

Jstas wrote: »

I was 12. What the hell did I know?

Probably about the same as you do now.
-Cody

mhardy6647

At the risk of piling on... Mink oil is what's in my mud room (in New England) for this task.

SDA1C

The stuff these guys sell is all you need. Looks like obenaufs is in there too.


https://webstore.technologyservicesmanagementgroup.com/stores/nicksboots/browse_items.asp?HSD=1&Sub_Department_ID=12

skipf

I lived in Oregon for 19 years and spent lots of time outdoors. Sno-Seal. I've tried everything and this is the best.

Jstas

exalted512 wrote: »

Probably about the same as you do now.
-Cody

That may be but I'm still WAAAAAY ahead of you!

exalted512

I could almost color inside the lines when I was 12, thank you very much.
-Cody

danger boy

i got some Sno Seal... gonna give that a try

danger boy

my hands are now water repellent :cheesygrin:

Tbone289

Make sure you heat the Sno-Seal up well. I usually place my boots in a low-temp oven (120 degrees or so) for a few minutes, apply the Sno-seal, then use a heat gun or hair dryer to "melt" the product into the leather.

danger boy

good idea Tbone. i set my boots in front of the fireplace for about 20 minutes.. they was nice and toasty, then applied the Sno Seal. I did not know they needed heat again.. i plan to apply another layer tonight.. i will do as you recommended this time.
thanks

deronb1

Tbone289 wrote: »

Sno-Seal is the stuff, and is better for your leather than mink oil.

+1 on the Sno-Seal. Used it while stationed in Germany on my Matterhorns. Good stuff. Put a healthy coat on, stick em the oven at 150 degrees for half n hour, then put another coat on. Let it dry and buff it out!

zane77

+1 on the Sno-Seal the only way we roll in Idaho

mrbigbluelight

Pie.

BottomFeeder

Sno Seal for this boy, too, Al.

danger boy

Sno Seal looks and feels like Vaseline