Best Waterproofing for Leather Boots
Contributors to this thread:General Topic
From: jingalls
09-Mar-20
I’ve tried a couple of bees wax based products. Not the greatest results. Looking for a low odor product. Any one use Snow Seal?
From: BOWUNTR
09-Mar-20
I've used snow seal on my boots since I was a kid. I know some boot manufacturers say not to. The key is getting the leather to absorb the wax... heat is key. Works great IMO. Ed F
From: Bou'bound
10-Mar-20
Mink oil
From: Mule Power
10-Mar-20
Obenaufs
From: Shawn
10-Mar-20
Foggy Mountain Bear Grease/Bees wax bar none! Shawn
From: BULELK1
10-Mar-20
I've always used Mink Oil.
Good luck, Robb
From: Olink
10-Mar-20
Obenaufs
From: MF
10-Mar-20
Montana Pitch Blend
From: WoodMoose
10-Mar-20
Obenaufs
From: Jethro
10-Mar-20
I use Sno-Seal. Prefer it over Obenaufs.
From: Thisismyhandle
10-Mar-20
Sno seal. Warm up your boots in the oven and rub it all over until it stops absorbing or you run out of sno seal. That stuff is the best.
From: PECO
10-Mar-20
I use saddle soap to clean them, then mink oil. Been doing it that way since I was in the Army in the 80's. Works great, and I don't have the patience to fool around heating boots in the oven.
From: Bake
10-Mar-20
I use my wife’s hair dryer (when she’s not home) to heat up my boots and work in the wax. I’m currently using a GWax product that Nick Muche recommended on a thread a while ago. I like it, but seems to wear off quickly, or be abraded off, on the part of the boot that is not covered by pants.
From: 35-Acre
10-Mar-20
Mink Oil
From: ESP
10-Mar-20
Montan pitch. Followed with a coat of kiwi spray
From: Teeton
10-Mar-20
I have used Obenauf's and snow seal and believe they are both good.. A couple of years ago I tried clear danner boot dress and have really liked the results. Way easier to put on than the wax based stuff. The bee's wax also seem's to hold the gritty dirt in all the cracks and seems.
Ed
From: xtroutx
10-Mar-20
Bear grease. Father used it and I started 50 years ago. Works well no reason to change.
From: bb
10-Mar-20
G-Wax is very good. I also like Hydro-bloc that Zamberlan sells
From: stagetek
10-Mar-20
On a similar thread here a few years ago, Nikwax was the brand a good many recommended. I bought some than, and have been using it with good results.
From: B&C
10-Mar-20
Try a toilet wax ring, heat up the boots and apply. It’s pure bees wax and inexpensive. It’s been sealing toilets for ages...I learned this from Uncle Barry!
From: Whocares
10-Mar-20
Oh Oh, we're gonna start seein men's room toilets in wayside rests pulled loose on freeways heading West starting late summer! You heard it here. Sure as hell wouldn't pull your home toilet up would you?
From: PECO
10-Mar-20
"Sure as hell wouldn't pull your home toilet up would you?" I sure as hell would not use a used toilet wax ring. I'll get a new one for a few bucks.
From: Whocares
10-Mar-20
But PECO, you don't understand! Us NR's have to steal used toilet bowl rings cuz of those high tag prices we have to pay!
From: HiMtnHnter
10-Mar-20
Obenaufs
From: LBshooter
10-Mar-20
Shawn X2 bear grease.
From: Shug
10-Mar-20
Montana pitch blend
From: Ambush
10-Mar-20
Obenaufs on the new Crispi's and it held up very well over a long, rough, wet season. I used Sno-Seal for years, with decent results but required more frequent applications. Was not impressed with Nik-Wax on leather. Quite a few boot builders advise against animal derivatives (animal grease, mink oil, etc.) on their leathers. Probably something to do with their tanning process or maybe adhesives.
From: pirogue
10-Mar-20
Found this boot and bowstring conditioner last month, while Javelina hunting. 3 feet above ground. Doesn’t get any easier to obtain.
From: Bowfinatic
11-Mar-20
Mink oil
From: Olink
11-Mar-20
Most boot manufacturers strongly recommend not to use mink oil, especially with Gore-Tex boots. Also, the OP asked for a low-odor option. Sno-Seal would stink up my whole house when I applied it to boots and hit them with the hair dryer to melt it in.
From: Missouribreaks
11-Mar-20
Montana pitch blend, lightly heated with hair dryer.
From: Mr.C
11-Mar-20
yep bear fat rendered down
From: Tlhbow
11-Mar-20
Used mink oil forever. Picked up some obenaufs last year. Use neet boot dryer's fro absorbing all conditioners.
From: Buck Watcher
12-Mar-20
I was a Sno-Seal guy for decades - then they changed their formula. I think they now use less beeswax, but don't know for sure. Now I use Obenhauf's Heavy Duty LP. This winter I bought a pair of leather, Thinsulate lined gloves. I thru them in the dryer for a few minutes. I took them out, put them on and worked the Obenhauf's in the best I could. Then I used to a hair dryer to finish it off. I used them most of the winter ice fishing. I even put my entire hand under water for a 5 count, no leaks.
From: deerslayer
12-Mar-20
I was using obernaufs until last year. Rendered down my bear fat and gave it a whirl. Works great! That’ll be my go-to from now on. I’m going to hunt bears, might as well make more use of them and save money on waterproofing oil. Plus, I find I use it much more because I have so much it and it’s free.
From: Drahthaar
12-Mar-20
Bear Grease, heat boots with hair dryer. Forrest
From: Huntschool
12-Mar-20
"Mink Oil" which I cant call anoil. Its like Snow Proof. Have been using it or Snow Proof on my LL Bean boots for over 60 years. I like it. Rub it on, add some hot air and rub it in again.....
From: Whocares
12-Mar-20
Those are old boots!! Must be good stuff!
From: Scooby-doo
12-Mar-20
Warm boots in oven and again Foggy Mountain Bear grease/bees wax. Surprised more have not used it. Absolutely the best! Shawn
From: Huntschool
12-Mar-20
Whocares:
I would love to say the same pair but..... NOT.... Thanks for the brevity. Made my day.
From: Buck Watcher
14-Mar-20
"Warm boots in oven ..................."
Be careful to much heat can shrink the soles. The leather will look just fine. I know first hand. Best way to wp boots for me is put them a black rubber mat (back of entry rug) in the sun in the summer time.
From: arlone
16-Mar-20
I use Sno-Seal and use a hair dryer to warm the leather. Seems to work fine.
From: Nick Muche
16-Mar-20
I’ve heard bear grease will ruin the leather with time. Any truth to that?
From: 320 bull
16-Mar-20
I use Obenauf's. They say its not recommended for boots with a rand but I have had no issues. They all stink so that is just something you have to deal with IMO. I tried silicon spray that was recommended by a good friend. Was really easy to apply but after 2 years I developed squeaks in the boots. I would rather stink than make noise.
From: Kurt
16-Mar-20
Sno Seal. Once a year I set my boots that are all cleaned up and the laces pulled out in the hot summer sun for a few hrs. Rub in SS applying very liberally. Let sit in the sun. Apply a second coat when the first is soaked in....let sit in the sun again till soaked in. You might need a third coat on new boots, but shouldn’t on previously SS’d boots. Carry a small quantity of SS with you on back pack trips, or long back country hunts as you might have to touch up the toe area that gets maximum abrasion. (And maybe touch up the lower part of boots at home occasionally between hunts). I carry SS in my backpack in an empty re-purposed tiny Burt’s Bees or a Carmex container. SS is good bowstring wax too.
I got a lifetime supply of SS online.several years ago. They sold it in a quart size metal paint can container for very little more $ than the small plastic screw top can.