Boot waterproofing

[blsch72]

I was wondering what everyone does to waterproof their boots. I did an elk hunt in montana and had to rotate boots every other day. I was using Lowa Zephyrs and an older pair of Vasques. The snow just soaked through so I had to leave one on a vent for a whole day to dry. If I had been further back and not had a place to dry them off I would have been hurting. So, what works and what doesnt to waterproof boots?

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[tntrker]

I use Kenetrek Boot wax on my leathers and have never had an issue.

 

[swampthing]

I use the kenetrek wax as well. Eventually any leather boot will get wet but if they have a waterproof liner your feet should stay as dry as expected. Every time the leather does get wet, you need to re wax. Do you use a gaiter? They go a LONG ways to keeping a boot dry and keeping water from running down your pants into your boot. Even with a good waterproof boot, my feet are always wet with sweat.

 

[wapitibob]

I've had both the Lowa Zephyr and Vasque Breeze.
It's virtually impossible to waterproof the nylon mesh so you're at the mercy of the Gortex, which in my experience is garbage when used in a flexible boot. Go full leather and stiff with a decent prep like Grangers.

 

[Casual Poacher]

I've heard Lowa is really particular about which dressing you use if you ever have a warranty claim. I've got a pair coming so I should probably pay attention myself.

I've used Nikwax and Grangers and like both. You'll have better results if you apply regularly vs waiting until you have problems.

 

[blsch72]

Thanks for the help. I just got a pair of Solomon 4D gortex ones too. My Vasque pair is all leather so those two are the ones I'll focus on. I really appreciate the help.

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[wapitibob]

Fill the 4d's with water and set them on the counter for an hour. You'll know if they're waterproof before you get any miles on them.

 

[Beendare]

I'm a bit surprised that my Solomen GTX's that I treated with a watery diluted silicone solution are still waterproof- what is it, a year or two after I did that thread?

At this rate I will wear out the sole before they leak....and that has never happened to me before.

 

[ElkNut1]

Bruce, what was the Silicone Solution you used? Thanks!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[tmattywaggs]

Thanks for the help. I just got a pair of Solomon 4D gortex ones too. My Vasque pair is all leather so those two are the ones I'll focus on. I really appreciate the help.

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I just used NikWax on my Vasque’s. Sheds water well. It did darken the sued a little. I would have been fine if it would have made it even darker though.


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[long hunter]

Snow seal here, heavy first coat and then light heat from a hair drier to soak in, about two coats like this works well for me on a all leather boot. Or make your own using melted bees wax and un-salted lard just keep adding the lard to the bees wax until it gets to a soft texture, if you want to get fancy a bit of olive oil mixed in works also, as this is a all-natural ingredient mix no worries about other compounds that may be in commercial brands that could be hard on the stitching in the boots. Make sure the lard is un-salted.

 

[Truaxdw]

Snow seal as well for me, I used to use a hair dryer, this year I tried putting them in the oven on the lowest setting, and I would rotate the boots in and out as I applied the snow seal to different portions of the boots to keep them warm. I would leave the oven door cracked. I prefer the results from the oven over the hairdryer.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Obenaufs or kenetrek wax on leather. I use a heat gun (fancy hair dryer) on low to melt it in and do 2-3 coats. I havent found a good option for nylon boots. IMO you can coat them when they are new but once they get dirty or muddy, I can never get them clean enough to feel like any spray on coverage is going to cost well. I have had decent experience with the goretex in Crispis, Merrells and asolo. Some other boots - looking at you danner and lowa - have let me down.

 

[Thinkingman]

I've had good luck with all-leather boots using a Danner watery silicone spray and also the Nikwax wax that comes in a white tube with green lettering. I have a ton of Obenaufs oil and wax and it seems to be more of a leather conditioner than something that causes water to bead off like the silicone products.

 

[S-3 ranch]

Spray on some fluid film / lanolin, set in the sun and dry / soak , repeat once a year