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    Iron Heart Fall/Winter 2025 Collection Preview - Now Live

    Boot/ Shoe Care (Products, Methods, and Suggestions)

    Footwear
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    • S
      Snowy
      Joined:

      After some serious hiking in the IHVB-03's I felt they were ready for a clean. Done in the hotel here, so just the brush in the hotel, but what a difference

      before

      after

      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • AnesthetistA
        Anesthetist
        見習いボス
        Joined:

        They look great! How are your feet faring?

        IG: bluehandsslim

        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • Bretro_B
          Bretro_
          Raw and Unwashed
          Joined:

          Any recommendations out there on a product to use to seal up non-stained, natural finished heel/sole trim while still retaining the nice honey glow of natural leather (or at least for awhile till it tans from sun exposure)?

          Got some Wescos coming my way soon and chose to get them unstained rather than their standard brown. Unlike Whites natural trim that is actually coted in a neutral finish of some sort, Wesco leaves the leather totally raw, and thus exposed. Maybe I'm over thinking it but I believe I am going to want to treat them a bit before tromping around in the wild. (Then again, this may all just be a byproduct of a long wait time on my boots 😃 )

          Was thinking about a waxed based product like Aussie Cream or perhaps a silicon based sealant like fiebings trim kote in neuteal. Any thoughts?

          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • 4c4
            4c
            Banned
            Joined:

            Hey Bretro! 😃
            A long wait time for a pair of nice boots has been known to addle a mans brain ;). Seriously though, maybe something like snow seal would work… Also I believe that White’s come stock treated with LP on the edge. I've been useing LP to keep my boots natural edge sealed from stains and as you can see they have darkened a lil... but it's a light patina and not a bad thing IMO.


            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • Bretro_B
              Bretro_
              Raw and Unwashed
              Joined:

              Thx for that 4Cs. LP for me then

              Btw- them BHs are looking sharp, bro!

              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • S
                Snowy
                Joined:

                @Anesthetist:

                They look great! How are your feet faring?

                Averaging 4-5 miles a day wearing them without a single issue. Not a blister on the entire trip. Some of the walking's been quite technical/challenging which was testing on the legs, shoes/feet held up real well.

                I'd say that after nearly a year of wear that they are approaching fully broken in.

                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • S
                  superfuzz
                  Joined:

                  I just ordered my first pair of horsehide (horse butt) engineers boots from Attractions Co. in Japan. What do you guys use to treat horsehide? I usually use Pecard's leather dressing on my cowhide boots.

                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • S
                    sam a
                    Joined:

                    ^^^ i use bick 4 on my HH boots and all of my boots for that matter and i've been very pleased with the results.

                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • S
                      SilverKing
                      Joined:

                      Does anyone ever use conditioner on the INSIDE of their shoes/boots? I've heard stories where people's shoes didn't die from the outside in, but rotted from the inside out…

                      Thinking of that, a lot of people have very nice dress shoes and boots which are not exposed much to the harsher elements. Rather, the worst will be sweat and moisture from the feet.

                      Obviously, wooden shoe trees will help with this matter. Charcoal as well.

                      But what about using some sort of conditioner or cream on the interior?

                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • 4c4
                        4c
                        Banned
                        Joined:

                        White’s suggests using LP on the inside…

                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • pillowPANTSP
                          pillowPANTS
                          Joined:

                          My buddy just got a pair of canvas Sorels and wants to waterproof them. What would you guys suggest as the best wax/dubbin to use on canvas?
                          Also i am thinking about waxing my roughout vibergs. What should i use for them? Thanks

                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • mclaincauseyM
                            mclaincausey
                            見習いボス
                            Joined:

                            @pillowPANTS:

                            My buddy just got a pair of canvas Sorels and wants to waterproof them. What would you guys suggest as the best wax/dubbin to use on canvas?
                            Also i am thinking about waxing my roughout vibergs. What should i use for them? Thanks

                            I've always admired the way this military reenactment group does it, they look great

                            http://90thidpg.us/Equipment/Projects/Dubbing/

                            Think it, be it.

                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • C
                              Carlmart
                              Banned
                              Joined:

                              on the interior: skin cream(very thin)

                              last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • C
                                Carlmart
                                Banned
                                Joined:

                                A small German label, recommended from Himalaya-expeditions (the owner is a top-leather-expert):
                                http://www.tierowa.de/html/ein_paar____2.html

                                last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • pillowPANTSP
                                  pillowPANTS
                                  Joined:

                                  Looks great for the roughout. U think that would be overkill on the canvas tho?

                                  last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • C
                                    Carlmart
                                    Banned
                                    Joined:

                                    canvas? only careful with warm water and foam from curd-soap, but Mr. Meyer from Tierowa knows everything about  the protection belts, leatherjackets and shoes, sent him a mail

                                    last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • ChrisC
                                      Chris
                                      Raw and Unwashed
                                      Joined:

                                      For your friend, I'd go with something designed to waterproof fabric- so Barbour thornproof wax, Fjallraven Greenland wax, Otter wax, or something like that.  One of those might work for your boots, too.  As I recall, Finn waxed a pair of suede Vibergs and they turned out pretty well.  Can't remember what he used, though.

                                      last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • pillowPANTSP
                                        pillowPANTS
                                        Joined:

                                        Thx guys. I think hes gonna go with some Otter wax. Im gonna do a lil more reading before i decide to tackle my vibergs

                                        last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • GingerMagicianG
                                          GingerMagician
                                          Joined:

                                          Ok, so the 'talk to a decent cobbler about a possible harder-wearing rubber heel piece' strategy didn't work with my IH x Viberg service boots.

                                          @Cutlasshound hooked me up with his guy, but the heel has lasted less time than the original Cat's Paw (I think it was thinner, at 6mm).

                                          Any recommendations for a decent, no-worse-than-average wearing 8mm+ heel?  So I can just walk in to a cobbler and say, "hello guv, stick a couple of XXXX on these for me please"…

                                          Simon

                                          @Megatron1505:

                                          > You're not even bloody ginger  >:(

                                          last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • ChrisC
                                            Chris
                                            Raw and Unwashed
                                            Joined:

                                            White's uses Quabaug heels.  They seem to work pretty well.  I don't know if they're easily available, but maybe your local cobbler can try them.

                                            last edited by 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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