Boot care
Contributors to this thread:Equipment
From: Sam
06-Feb-23
Admittedly my most expensive footwear is hunting related. What are some of the best ways of caring for them?
From: hawkeye in PA
06-Feb-23
Remove the insole and use a boot dryer after all day use, even if not wet. IMO.
From: HiMtnHnter
06-Feb-23
Condition the leather with whatever the maker suggests. I've used obenaufs or nikwax most commonly. Don't let the leather get to the point of cracking.
From: Whocares
06-Feb-23
A number of good products. Well rendered bear fat is very good. Also, don't dry them in the sun.
From: fdp
06-Feb-23
At least once a year remove the laces and thoroughly clean them. Take a small brush and make sure to remove all the dirt and grime from every seam, every nook, and every cranny. From the tongue, the welt, everywhere. All that grit acts just like sandpaper. Clean them good and then condition them. If you wear them more often then clean and condition them more often.
From: Supernaut
06-Feb-23
Good tips on the removal of the insoles and leather treatment.
I'll add changing the laces when they show any sign of wear.
From: Sam
06-Feb-23
Thanks men A few products have been mentioned, is Kiwi polish worth messing with?
From: fdp
06-Feb-23
Kiwi makes different products, but as far as the actual colored polish, no.
From: Fields
06-Feb-23
My tip... If I know I am going in extremely rocky country, or full of briars/brush/laurel, I wear an older, beat up pair of boots. I used a new pair of boots once and after a day of beating through rough terrain, they looked like they were 5 years old... ticked me off. I know you can surprisingly find yourself in rough country at any time, but when I know its coming, I adjust my footwear. One more, I like to keep my boots in a climate controlled room... My hunting room is in an unheated room above my garage, gets super hot in summer and cold in winter.. I ttry to pull some stuff out of it, especially in summer.
From: Supernaut
06-Feb-23
I like Montana Pitch Blend for my leather boot treatment.
From: trophyhill
06-Feb-23
I still do it tge ole fashioned way. Mink oil
From: WV Mountaineer
06-Feb-23
Mink oil or Montana pitch blend.
From: Muleysareking
06-Feb-23
When backpacking, take some newspaper to stuff in the boots overnite to dry them. Spread out the newspaper the next day to dry. works great. ......Mike
From: Sam
06-Feb-23
Awesome tips! My newest pair are Lowa Tibetan GTX, they have been a bear to break in, these will be going to SW AK in Sept. Should I oil / treat them with anything prior? The Nikwax mentioned earlier seems to have some waterproofing qualities.
From: Dale06
06-Feb-23
Don’t dry them close to a heat source that will get them hot.
From: fdp
06-Feb-23
Sam, Lowa has a whole section on their website related to caring for their boots.
From: Sam
06-Feb-23
Thanks FDP….. 42 bucks for the Lowa care kit:
From: kota-man
06-Feb-23
Follow company specific care instructions. Lots of products damage the glue on the rand of a boot, causing the rand to separate.
From: Quinn @work
06-Feb-23
Am I the only one who had to google what a rand is? Now I know. LOL.
From: WV Mountaineer
06-Feb-23
Nope. I had to Google it too.
From: Arrownoob
06-Feb-23
Animal fats like bear fat or deer tallow can degrade the stitching. Thats what Kenetrek says.
From: cb
06-Feb-23
I own 3 sets of electric boot dryers... one set of drop ins and 2 of the upright PEET dryers. The 1st one I probably bought 25 years ago... works just fine.
My feet sweat more than anything on my body.
I religiously put my boots on a dryer if I wear them more than half an hour...
From: azelkhntr
06-Feb-23
After the dry weather elk hunts I was cleaning up boots and one pair was feeling a mite stiff and dried out. Went looking for the conditioner and was all out. Went into the house and grabbed the spray can of avocado oil cooking spray and used that. Hunted last week in 4 inches of fresh snow and wet grass. Boots were supple and my socks were bone dry.
