Taking care of your hunting boots..

[rainrshine]

I tried a search here for boot care and didnt come up with much. I'm just curious if any of you guys do anything special to your hunting boots after getting a new pair. There are all sorts of special dressings and waxes out there to put on your boots. Even if you have gortex or waterproof boots do you guys still like to add anything else???

Rainrshine

[Chromaflage]

I would say that it depends on the material. If they are Gortex, typically you don't have to do much. Leather, however is a different story. I use mink oil - just like you would for a baseball glove. Rub it in real well and let sit for a day or two.

Also, I would not suggest buynig a new pair of boots and immediately wearing them on a hunting trip. I would wear them for a few days - a little at a time, so they have an opportunity to conform to your feet. Otherwise, after a couple hours of hiking in the woods, it could be murder on your feet. Also, socks may be an issue - more of personal preference, but I've gone hunting with guys that go out and buy all new stuff and save for opening day only to find that their feet are totally uncomfortable.

For what it's worth.

ORS

[rainrshine]

ORS, great advise thanks for your .02. I am not hot on the idea of just taking them out of the box and into the woods myself either but what if they are the kind that are not really made for the pavement? I dont want to ruin them right away. I suppose I could just put them on and go for a walk in the park :grin: Or better yet bring along the old ones just in case they do bother my feet right away Thanks

[Lured In]

I am brutal on my hunting boots and usually wear them nearly year round for different things. My preference is for all leather with a Goretex bootie. I have tried most boot dressings including waxes, mink oil and silicone types. While I love the way mink softens the leather, I have found that it will also tend to dry out the leather as it evaporates, necessitating doing it often. Silicon works well, but doesn't penetrate as well as mink.

So that leaves me with wax dressings. My favorite is Sno-Seal. Heat your boot with a hair dryer, apply a liberal amount of Sno-Seal and melt it in with the hair dryer. Let the boot cool for 10-15 minutes (or while doing the other boot) and repeat. After the second application, I will let it cool and then apply another thin coat to the boot without melting it in. Let that sit for a couple hours and rub off what remains on the outside. It softens the leather nicely and keeps the leather from absorbing water. Additionally, my experience is that it last longer than either mink or silicone, and won't dry out the leather. (You can also use this method for mink and silicone)

Good luck.

(EDIT: The reason for sealing a GoreTex boot is not specifically for waterproofing. Your feet will get colder if the leather is soaked, even if the GoreTex keeps your foot dry. Also, when hunting in snow, the wet leather will freeze if your boots are insulated and then you get REALLY cold feet. :shocked: )

[ 10-13-2003, 02:12 PM: Message edited by: Lured In ]

[Tagster]

This might sound really dumb, or you will feel stupid doing it, however, I learned this in the army.

Get in the shower with your leather boats on. Let them get good and wet, then take a short walk.

The water will help the leather conform to your feet sooner than regualr use. Make sure that they are dried completely, then seal with your favorite.

I also recommend a silk bootie under wool socks. No blisters.

Tag