New boots

[Buckman]

Do you guys wax, waterproof, seam seal new boots? Like before you take them on their first hunting trip.

 

[Yellowknife]

Yes.

Yk

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

Absolutely. The wax makes the break in process slightly less painful.

 

[Kevin Root]

I do on my Lowa Hunter GTX Extreme boots. I like to give them treatment after 6 moths or so to help keep them waterproof, treating and conditioning the leather even though they have Gortex. Using a product similar to LOWA Water Stop seems to work well for me.

I treated them right out of the box from day one and it's help keep them in great shape for multiple seasons now.

 

[In God We Trust]

Does anyone besides me use mink oil? Yeah I treat my right when I get them.

 

[bearguide]

kenetrek sends waterproofing with there boots which works great

 

[Kevin Root]

I found a general boot care write up on boot care at REI with some different options and information, http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/articles/caring+hiking+boots.html

 

[tstowater]

I do what the maker recommends before I wear them. Only way to insure that it will work. Continue to treat when necessary and boots will last longer. Too expensive to not handle correctly.

 

[Matt Cashell]

I follow the REI method Kevin linked above. I do not treat boots like the Hanwag Mountain Lights right out of the box, because I do not want to interfere with the factory DWR.

At the first sign of DWR loss, I treat.

EXCEPT traditional all-leather boots receive a leather treatment right out of the box.

 

[Lawnboi]

I like nikwax on all my boots. They make a liquid and wax form of it. I prefer the actual wax.

 

[rye_a]

Does anyone besides me use mink oil? Yeah I treat my right when I get them.

My understanding is that you don't want to do that because it softens the leather too much and degrades the structure of the boots.

 

[cmeier117]

My understanding is that you don't want to do that because it softens the leather too much and degrades the structure of the boots.

This is what I have heard as well.

 

[broncoformudv]

I like nikwax on all my boots. They make a liquid and wax form of it. I prefer the actual wax.

X2!

 

[bowinhand]

Usually treat leather boots before I wear them in the field or off trail by the manufacturers recommendations or email/call the manufacturer and ask them if a particular product is safe on their product, most times they are knowledgeable. My "daily drivers" I that are fabric and leather I wait until the factory DWR has worn off before treating as stated above.