We are headed into the toughest time of year for leather boots which is fall and winter. The cold weather and moisture can be dangerous for leather. The danger is even worse when you live in a dry and cold climate. Let’s remember one fact. Real leather western boots are made of animal skin. No matter how that hide has been cured, dyed and treated, it is still a natural product. It is subject to the same wrath of Mother Nature as any natural product. As a result, you need to give your boots a fighting chance.
So you have a great pair of western boots right? You paid a good portion of your hard earned pay for them I would assume? Now here is the most important question; how long do you anticipate them lasting? If you said 1 or 2 years, you are probably 90 accurate. The fact is that most boots don’t last much longer before their looks get unbearable. Why you ask? There is one simple answer. Not giving them the right care and protection.
There are many ways to care for and protect your leather boots. You can polish and clean them consistently. You can add decorative boot accessories like boot tips and heel guards. During the coming winter months, the absolute beast thing you can do is treat your boots with a high quality water proofer or silicone treatment. A western boot owner must protect their boot leather from snow, water, ice, and salt.
Using a high quality product is essential. Having a product with the right chemical composition to “bond” with your boot leather is important. I always compare good quality waterproofing and silicone treating to waxing your car vs. adding a clear coat to the paint. Why doesn’t the paint on cars seem to deteriorate like they used to? Because all the car manufacturers now use “clear coat” paint on top of the regular paint placed on the car. The same thing applies to boot leather. Cheaper products will act as a temporary “wax” but will quickly rub off, deteriorate, and simply evaporate. Good quality water proofers will “bond” themselves to the leather and last through the entire winter season. My recommendation is to use a high quality brand like Fiebings.
So you are not convinced you need to take action? “I don’t wear my western boots out into the weather that much”, you say? Let me give you another great reason to spend a little on insurance that can save you a lot. Did you realize the acid in a Coca Cola is strong enough to clean the battery acid build up off your car battery? What do you think will happen to your unprotected leather boots when someone spills a Coke on them? What will happen when you are at your favorite night club, dance hall, or party and someone spills wine or beer on your $500 pair of fashion western boots? OUCH! I have seen it happen and mourned for the victims. Just last year I saw a custom tooled pair of Lucchese boots get permanently stained by a wine spill. The sad thing is the owner did not even realize it until the next morning. That was a $1300 pair of boots that could have been protected for $15 or less.
Author Resource:
Lisa is the owner of http://www.kickbootaccessories.com . She has been involved in western wear, western boot care, and western couture for years. She also spends time as a western interior decorating adviser. She enjoys writing and blogging about women's western and western men's western wear accessories.
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