Best leather boot waterproofing product

[Rugergunsite308]

I have finally run out of Sno Seal and am in need of a leather waterproofing product to condition my new Lowa boots and to keep my Tacovas looking spiffy for church. Before I hit Bi-mart for more Sno Seal, I was curious if anyone had recommendations for an even better leather waterproofing product.
Thanks!

[Sakko300wsm]

Kenetrek boot wax - works great

[hughjorgan]

Nikwax or Lowas water proof spray.

[jackelope]

Obenaufs has always worked great for me.

[Griiz]

I use kenetrek boot wax until my boots start wearing and leaking. Then I switch to snowseal. It seems to have more wax in it and works the best as a water proof agent. The others I have tried seem to have less wax, soak into leather more as a boot conditioner.

[vandeman17]

nikwax for me

[CarbonHunter]

I haven’t waxed a pair of boots in years. I buy them with good goretex and usually by the time the leather is starting to fail the lace guides and the soles are wore out so I just buy a new pair. Not the pretties boots but they keep my feet dry.

[Stein]

I have three or four cans on the shelf and they all seem to do just about the exact same thing.

[fowl smacker]

Obenaufs

[Okanagan]

I have used all mentioned here plus quite a few others.  If you really want to waterproof leather boots, pure beeswax is the best.  It is harder to apply, but lasts many times longer than commercial boot products.  I have never considered what it looks like, so for pretty boots you may want something else.   

Liquid Nikwax is surprisingly good.  Obenauf's is good.  Snoseal is way down the list if you are talking SE Alaska, Vancouver Island or the Olympic  Penninsula, but it will do for east of the Cascades, where I grew up.  I went through my SnoSeal phase in the 70's.

Beeswax protects boots from cuts and abrasions more than I would have expected of a mere boot treatment.  Pure beeswax does not have any solvent or other softening ingredient added, which makes it harder to apply.  Clean boots or new boots, hot sunshine or low double boiler and hair dryer.  A hassle but worth it to me about once a year. 

[boneaddict]

Sno seal has never let me down, and I’ve hunted some of the roughest country imaginable

[Ghost Hunter]

I had snow seal, bees wax, and mink oil.  Melted them all down and blended it.  Ratio was strong on ss, light on mink oil.  Works for me.

[hughjorgan]

FYI for your LOWAS Ruger….

DON’T use oil or fat-based care products
DON'T use any wax based products
DON’T speed-dry near a heat source or direct sunlight
DON’T expose to farmyard waste, acids or petroleum-based products
DON’T store in damp, closed areas
DON'T use regular shoe polish on nubuck or split-leather

https://www.lowaboots.com/pages/boot-care

[Dan-o]

I just use mink oil.
No particular brand.  Whatever is available. 

And I tend to put on 2 really thick coats within a couple days of each other. 

[EnglishSetter]

No bear grease?

[C-Money]

Obenaufs has always worked great for me.

  Me too...

[pianoman9701]

Awesome product. Been using it on my Lowas for years. I warm it up and apply with one of those sponge trim paint brushes. Made here in the Couve. https://bee-natural-leathercare.webflow.io/shop#!/Rain-&-Snow/c/41383437

[Mtnwalker]

FYI for your LOWAS Ruger….

DON’T use oil or fat-based care products
DON'T use any wax based products
DON’T speed-dry near a heat source or direct sunlight
DON’T expose to farmyard waste, acids or petroleum-based products
DON’T store in damp, closed areas
DON'T use regular shoe polish on nubuck or split-leather

https://www.lowaboots.com/pages/boot-care

  Always check mfg recommendations on high end boots. How they cure their leather, what type of adhesive they use on the Rands etc. can all make a difference

[pianoman9701]

Interesting. The bees wax has been working great for me on the Lowas. I even got them refurbished a few years ago in Germany with no problems.

[Rugergunsite308]

Thanks Guys,
This has been really interesting to read over. I like hearing about the homemade recipes. I've still got a gallon of bear grease for cooking, maybe it'll do boots too? Since these Lowas are my first expensive pair of hunting boots, (I've always been an on-sale Rocky or rubber boot kind of guy) I'll probably just order up Lowas own boot care stuff so as not to void the warranty. For my other boots, a local beeswax boot care seems like a cool way to support a local business. Thanks Pianoman!

[GASoline71]

I haven’t waxed a pair of boots in years. I buy them with good goretex and usually by the time the leather is starting to fail the lace guides and the soles are wore out so I just buy a new pair. Not the pretties boots but they keep my feet dry.

This.  I have a 30 year old pair of Irish Setter Rainier's that are Gore-Tex lined.  I have never put any kind of boot dressing or water seal product on them.  They still keep my feet as dry as they day I bought them.  I will admit that I have ONLY worn them while hunting.  They have been resoled twice.

Gary

[The Gobble-stopper]

Thanks for reminding me that I am out of boot grease. Last time I went to the local sporting goods store, I couldn't find the brand I have used forever. I could not remember the name. Nor could I find the empty can. I remembered it was bees wax and pine tar based.I typed that in and shazam... It popped up in an Amazon ad. It's called Huberds boot and shoe grease. Super great stuff! They have been making this for 100 years. I have used it for over 55 years, never a leak and no rotting of seam threads. I had one pair of boots that lasted 21 years of good solid use. All the tread was gone but the leather and shape stayed in tact. And it smells good, makes me want to eat my boots. A good old out doorsy smell.

[Tinmaniac]

Toilet bowl wax.

[huntnnw]

Obenaufs is not a waterproofer unless you are buying their silicone spray. The paste and oil is to keep your leather hydrated and not dried out and prolong the liftime of the leather . A true waterproofer is a silicone base