These three steps will keep your leather boots supple, waterproof, and looking sharp for years.
Boots. I’ve known a few. If you love and treat them right, they will give you the warmth, comfort, and support you need—like a rescue pit bull. The process of cleaning leather boots takes 30 minutes total, but it does take a few days because of the drying process. I like to clean my boots in batches at least once each year. These Schnee’s Beartooth boots are my supermodel in the following photos, and they’ve lasted a good 15 years of hunting and hiking around western Montana. It’s real simple: love your boots and they’ll love you back. Here’s how.
Step 1: Clean and Dry Your Boots
First, run and hide from the kids in the basement or garage, lock the door, and turn on your favorite podcast. Remove laces, insoles, and any caked-on debris like mud. This is a good time to replace your worn-out insoles (try Superfeet) and double-check the lining for tears. Feel free to hose your boots off outside. Dip your soft-bristle brush in the bucket of warm water and scrub. I like a horsehair brush’s short bristles because I can scrub without fear of destroying the grain. Towel them off and let them dry overnight.
Step 2: Condition and Dry
Apply your chosen leather conditioner. I have used Huberd’s Shoe Grease for 20 years. I don’t bother with anything else. If it’s good enough for lumberjacks in the Pacific Northwest, it’s good enough for me. It’s made of beeswax, pine tar, and pixie farts, which means unless you want to smell like this stuff, wear gloves when applying it. Wipe down any and all leather with an even coat of oil. You don’t need to overdo it. You will be amazed to watch the leather soak it in before your eyes. Well, at least I’m amazed, but I’m into weird stuff like that. This grease will turn light-colored leather darker, so make sure you’re okay with that. Let it soak in for a few hours or overnight.
Step 3: Lace and Hike
After allowing your boots to dry, wipe off any excess shoe grease with a rag. Lace them up and hit the trail. You’re done. Now go walk through some creeks.
Supplies Needed To Clean Your Boots
- Bucket of warm water
- Conditioning oil like Huberd’s Shoe Grease
- Soft-bristle brush
- Old rag
- Rubber gloves
- Favorite podcast
