This guide will show you how to reproof your waterproof leather, suede, nubuck leather and fabric walking boots to ensure your feet continue to stay dry.
All of the products needed to restore the water repellency to your boots or shoes are available from our range of clothing and footwear reproofers. If you’ve reproofed your boots and they continue to allow moisture in, it may be time to replace them. Shop our range of walking boots.
Reproofing Leather Boots
Over time and without proper care, leather can dry out and crack as natural oils and moisture are lost.
Dubbin can help restore waterproof properties whilst conditioning and softening the leather. Do not apply dubbin wax to suede or nubuck leather boots. Dubbin is designed for smooth leather and can ruin the ‘furry’ feel of nubuck and suede and is also likely to stain.
Use a hairdryer to gently heat your boots up, this will help them absorb the dubbin. Be careful not to position the hairdryer too close to the boots and always use a low heat, the boots only need to be warmed slightly.
Apply a small amount of dubbin wax to a cloth and rub over the leather sparingly. If the wax is too hard to rub onto your boots, use a hair dryer to soften it.
Repeat as necessary.
Leave to dry naturally for 30-60 minutes. Don’t be tempted to apply direct heat to the boots to dry them quicker, this can cause the leather to crack.
Buff wax off with a dry cloth.
Conditioning Leather Boots
A leather boot conditioner will help keep your boots supple but it’s important not to overdo it as leather walking boots are designed to be supportive and not too soft. Only condition when you feel the leather is getting dry or cracked, not every time you wear your boots.
Conditioning leather boots tends to work best when they are damp as the product will absorb better. As the water evaporates, it will pull the conditioner deep into the leather’s pores.
How to condition leather boots:
Using a very small amount of conditioner either on your fingers or a clean cloth, work a light even coat into your boots, including the welts and seams.
Let it sit at room temperature for a few minutes.
Remove any excess conditioner with a cloth and allow to dry naturally. Do not apply a direct heat source.
A Spray on Proofer will help you restore the water repellency of fabric walking boots.
Fabric boots can be harder to clean than leather boots but it’s worth making the effort to ensure they are cleaned properly. Dirt particles left in the fabric can cause the fibres to decay and reduce the lifespan of your boots.
Fabric boots can be re-proofed whilst wet or dry. You may prefer to clean and dry out your boots, apply the reproofer the following day and leave to dry overnight again before next use. Although this takes a little longer, you will be able to see where you have sprayed the proofer on much easier than spraying on to wet boots.
Whether you apply to wet or dry boots, once the proofer has been applied, leave to air dry completely before wearing.
