Boot/ Shoe Care (Products, Methods, and Suggestions)
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Do you recommend any specific saddle soap?
I actually grew up on a ranch, so have I spent much of my life around boots and saddlery. We always used "Joseph Lyddy" saddle soap, but to be honest I'm sure any good saddler will stock a good saddle soap. The brand names tend to be regional so depending on where you live you might have to look beyond the common brand names. But don't worry… there are plenty of good products out there. I currently live in Germany and have been using "Bense & Eicke (B&E) Sattelseife". If I get time, I'll try and research the +/- of different saddle soaps.
What is the specific name of Saphir´s wax?
Again, some products are harder to find in some regions, but I think Avel / Saphir is available in most places. I am currently using the "Saphir Medaille D'Or Cream" (renovator/conditioner) and the "Saphir Medaille D'Or Wax / Pate de Luxe". I also use the "Collonil 1909 Wax Polish". The renovator cream is exceptionally good and can be thinned with a bit of water when using it, as a little goes a long way. Both the waxes are great and I can recommend both. I use neutral color wax in most cases. I also have a few good color creams around for when boots need a touch up. Again, Saphir and Collonil.
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Thanks again, ordered some neutral Saphir wax, the renovateur stuff and saddle soap (Grison was the one they had in the Onlineshop i found). I already have horsehair brushes and shoe trees.
Pretty interesting that you do same regime even with oiled leather like Red Wing uses. I always thought it had to be saturated with oil as it was oiled in the first place. -
i bought both the Obenauf's oil and the LP when I got my 1ks…but I ended up not using either before wearing them. (I had been reading the SF Wolverine thread, but I was skeptical of the amount of stuff they were using by the time I got my boots)
After I wore them for a month or so I applied a light coat of the Oil (not the LP) and the boots soaked it up and felt pretty good after that. Haven't even touched the LP yet.
I think that (perhaps) a lot of internet-informed hipsters (not excluding myself here) feel that their boots are delicate and finicky because of the high price tags. In reality, it seems like leather is extremely resistant and tough...I've seen pictures of unbelievably destroyed boots brought back to life.
I find it interesting that a population that embraces so fully the idea of doing nothing to jeans for months on end is so obsessive about the treating of boots.
(that being said...I did use the oil and LP on my wife's Frye Harness boots...because she wants to use them as winter boots and wants them to be sealed up. Her call.)
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The dose makes the poison they say. For me it´s just about avoiding doing things that are counterproductive for the fabric, like never soaking unsanforised denim or over-saturating leather. If "less is more" is the way to go (apart from obsessively brushing them with horsehair ;)) - fine!
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i bought both the Obenauf's oil and the LP when I got my 1ks…but I ended up not using either before wearing them. (I had been reading the SF Wolverine thread, but I was skeptical of the amount of stuff they were using by the time I got my boots)
After I wore them for a month or so I applied a light coat of the Oil (not the LP) and the boots soaked it up and felt pretty good after that. Haven't even touched the LP yet.
I think that (perhaps) a lot of internet-informed hipsters (not excluding myself here) feel that their boots are delicate and finicky because of the high price tags. In reality, it seems like leather is extremely resistant and tough...I've seen pictures of unbelievably destroyed boots brought back to life.
I find it interesting that a population that embraces so fully the idea of doing nothing to jeans for months on end is so obsessive about the treating of boots.
(that being said...I did use the oil and LP on my wife's Frye Harness boots...because she wants to use them as winter boots and wants them to be sealed up. Her call.)
+1
Couldn't agree more!The dose makes the poison they say. For me it´s just about avoiding doing things that are counterproductive for the fabric, like never soaking unsanforised denim or over-saturating leather. If "less is more" is the way to go (apart from obsessively brushing them with horsehair ;)) - fine!
+1 (here, too!)
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its a small community, still growing and finding itself. however, they just posted a leather care thread that also rallies against the styleforum crane's method. aligns pretty well with what's been said here.
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Look awesome Rafa.
What happened to the insets on the sneaks G?
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Very cool. She has the red inset version as well right?
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I wore mine today, thanks for the inspiration
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Jesus thanks for reminding me, allegedly another polar vortex is en route. Enough with the vortices, Old Man Winter. St. Thomas can't come soon enough.
I am only half-serious, because at least this weather lets me exercise The Heavy.
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Anyone know of any good cobblers in NYC? My Red Wing 877's have nearly 0 sole.
