Waterproofing

With the winter months ahead I was wondering what you guys may use to waterproof your boots........I know they sell waterproof footwear but I cannot seem to let go of my well worn in work boots.....has anyone used a certain product they have been happy with?.........and on the flip side something that is just not worth it?..............Thanks...............

 

Work provided me with Rocky boots. They are gortex and work great. I've stood in 5" of water and had dry feet all day.

 

i don't buy boots w/o goretex anymore, so leakage isn't an issue for me...that said, i do use mink oil on my boots, which is supposed to condition & waterproof leather. last pair of boots before the latest ones were some Redwings. they were part leather and part cordura. i like the ones with at least some cordura, as they seem to "breathe" better. anyways, i wore them for about five years without ever treating them and didn't have any leakage issues (thank you goretex), but they looked like hell. so when the eyelets started cutting my laces,(ya, the string eyelets wore over time and got sharp), i went to the boot store for some new ones. bought another pair of redwings and a tin of their mink oil. i went ahead and treated my new pair, then did my old trustys. the 5 year old leather didn't look new when finished, but it sure made an improvement. they softened up and actually started beading water again.

a story from just this past weekend...i got the "new" boots last year, and had not treated them since i bought them, so i decided to re-treat them this past saturday. later that evening, i had them on while visiting a friend who's seen my wear them before and he's like "didja get a new pair of boots?"...he was seriously asking.

i'd reccommend the mink oil. i've also had good results with Dr. Martins shoe balm. looks to be the same color and consistancy of the red wing brand mink oil, and works like a charm on my Doc Martins.

i've also heard good things about this stuff, but no experience myself:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P9GCB2/187-3752921-1432947

it sucks to have to replace old boots...i feel your pain. i still wear my older pair of boots, but had to go with leather shoestrings to avoid them being cut by the eyelets. even the leather will still break, but takes much longer than the regular bootstrings.

 

The basic silicone sprays (Camp Dry, etc) work alright for rain and puddles and such, but if you're going to be standing in / walking through water, you can't beat boots with GoreTex (or similar) waterproofing built in.

 

Sno-seal. Works great. On my current pair (Redwing Pecos w/ Gore-tex) I use the oil that came with them. Had them for two years now. Only reason i don't use the Sno-seal on these is because I have not run out of Redwing oil yet.

 

I got to the local shoe store (or even walmart) and buy a spray can of 'water protectant' stuff. It's a clear spray and seeps into the leather and dries.

It works pretty good for general water exposure. Anything else, you should get yourself some galoshes.

 

aquaseal safe for gore tex boots

 

Thanks for the help guys................I will look into these products....like I said, I hate giving up my well worn/in boots............if I have to get new ones I am looking @ some wolverine harrison boots..............


http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_06784249000P?keyword=Wolverine+Gore-tex+boots

 

i use camp dry for almost everything. works pretty well.

 

never had issues with wolves. i actually bought these for that reason

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_067T0222000P?vName=Shoes&cName=Mens&sName=Work+&+Safety

i had a full 8 hour shift in the rain and walked like 6 miles in them and had dry feet when i got home. the only thing is, no water in, no sweat out. these made my dogs smell the worst. make sure to put some foot powder before every use

 

on all my boots, i use a good amount of mink oil....gotta work it in really good, but it does the trick. i usually go double on the seams and toe area....and oil them about twice a year.