Does anyone have a PHD in lowa bootcare?

[Raul29]

I am trying to work out how to care for their full leather boots and the lowa guide is very confusing.

http://www.lowa.de/english/worth_knowing/service/care.php

1) Water or Shoe clean spray to clean the shoe
2) Stop spray
3) Active cream (rub in or polish with a brush)
4) Stop spray again

No shops sell the stop spray anymore which according to the guide "impregnates" and closes the pores of the leather to stop it absorbing water. Yet the active cream is described as follows: "provides routine care and impregnation", so why is the stop spray needed?

 

[Raul29]

I have also read using black shoepolish on them isn't a good idea as it hurts breathability.

If I just rub the active cream into them and use black wax like leder-gris black wax or black nikwax to try and keep the colour and cover scuffs will I be treating them ok and not hurting breathability?

 

[luckylee]

mate, i have always used brasure wax, and a product called sheratons leather balsam, and these products have always worked fine for all my leather walking boots i have bought, i'm currently using these products on my scarpa hikng boots, with no problems.
the leather balsam from sheratons, is also ver good for your knife sheaths

 

[Raul29]

Do waxes like brasure wax and nikwax make them shine or do you need to add something like kiwi polish on top after waxing?

 

[Shewie]

On my soon to be retired civvy Lowas I've always used Nikwax Leather Conditioner and then a wax polish very few months. Best to clean them with water and a soft brush and then leave them to dry at room temperature.

 

[treefrog]

Do waxes like brasure wax and nikwax make them shine or do you need to add something like kiwi polish on top after waxing?

I use Altbergs Ledergris on my boots as it can be buffed up to a good shine.

 

[oetzi]

There are more different instriuctions available as are people who actually take care of their boots.
I am lazy and dont like to waste money, so my oldest pair off all-leather hiking boots, still in good working condition, is from 1989.
I do this:
-remove laces and insole,
-clean with brush and water,
-stuff with newspaper, really tight!, and let the leather dry,
-apply a thin layer of Snoseal on each boot, more on the toe-box, less on the heel,
-repeat, depending on how dried-out the leather appears, this is much a seat-pf-the-pants affair.
leave it to soak in, then polish with another brush and/or use a hair dryer to CAREFULLY melt the wax a bit.
This being the maximum of treatment.
Alternatively,
-I may leave the laces in when the boots are not too dirty and douse them off only
-and dry them only without new wax, when it seems appropriate,
-but I always stuff them with newspaper.
Different wax may need different ways, for example the new Nikwax Wax is best applied on the wet leather, since its water based.
Some people add a waterreppelent spray, I dont bother.
Likewise with the optical apearance of "nubuk" etc, I dont bother.
Clean, stuff and wax and your are on the safe side

BTW, I mhad customers who claimed to never having done anything to care for their shoes and they last.
The oddes application for care i was told, was a piece of bacon rind as the only way to literally "regrease" the boot and the customer was happy with it.

 

[IntrepidStu]

Ive tried Looooads of product on ALL my boots (lowa included) and am now back on KIWI shoe polish. It does what it needs to, if you clean them properly.

 

[luckylee]

Do waxes like brasure wax and nikwax make them shine or do you need to add something like kiwi polish on top after waxing?

no mate, you can buff that to a great shine if you want to mate, i have found it very good, one other thing a member mentioned on here, that also helps is to put newspaper in your boots after you have cleans them and polished them when you get back from your hike.

 

[Lynx]

I'm learning the hard way about looking after "waterproof" walking boots. I own a pair of Hi Tek boots and they are very comfortable but I bought them in June and have been using them every weekend since; until recently in nice dry weather. Now the weather has changed I suddenly find in my ignorance that I should have been caring for them on a regular basis. Now I keep getting wet feet! I have tried a range of Nikwax products and treated them several times and whilst there is some improvement there is still some damp getting through. I think I will buy some of this Altbergs Ledergris as this looks like it could do a better job. Does this seem a good idea? Any other tips for restoring waterproofing?

 

[The Lord Poncho]

I second the tip mentioned above about using a hairdryer. I clean with water and a cloth, dry, apply a generous layer of some form of non softening beeswax type stuff (usually G Wax) really rubbing it in with a cloth, then use a hairdryer on a gentle heat all over. This has the effect of melting the wax and opening up the pores in the leather making it absorb right in. Try to ensure that you don't have a thick layer of wax on the outside of the leather when everything is dry as this quickly flakes off.

Once a year i apply a good quality shoe polish just to improve the appearance of the leather.