Hi

I am just wondering how best to look after my Gaerne boots. I wash them after every outing but just leave them to dry naturally.

Should I be applying wax or dubbin to the boots to prelong their life or is that likely to screw up the waterproofing?

Any advice welcomed!

Mike

Wax them and make sure you work it into all the stitching, especially that holding the sole on.

Any recommendations on what kind or make of wax?

I think membrane makes boots waterproof not wax. Wax just make leather looks happier

Leather absorb constantly...after you wax it, it can absorb also wather.

Seal skins or similar will go some way to keeping your feet dry.

Leather soap, Snoseal or such will feed the leather and keep it supple.

To muchDubbin is supposed to rot the boots/stitching.

In my experience....

Wax creates a top layer of protection on the leather as well as maintaining the suppleness of the leather. If you don't wax eventually the leather will dry out and crack. I could liken this top level of protection to that of 'proofing' a waterproof jacket, it causes the water to run off before it even gets to the material.

If you keep a boot well waxed even when the waterproof membrane goes - which it will - the boot will still remain water proof.

Wax shouldn't be confused with dubbing which in my experience makes leather too soft, good for an italian loafers not good for a boot thats supposed to be supporting and protecting you. Also I've seen over application of dubbing cause seperation of the fibres in the leather which can also cause cracking.

A good wax I've used is Grangers G-Wax which is available from most walking shops.

The rotting stitching idea comes from when most boots were made using cotton threads which do indeed rot, these days mostly man made threads are used, such as nylon, due to their better strength and water repellent abilities. These don't rot with dubbing or wax.

Garene make some waterproof polish which is really good stuff.

Are the gaerne boots made with cotten stitching? Can I apply wax to the sole stitching without worrying about rotting the stitching?

Nah it won't be cotton in this day and age, wax away! I don't think wax rots cotton stitching anyway, only the petrochemical based dubbing. The grangers G-Wax is vegtable oil and beeswax i think, as natural as you like!