Waterproofing your boots?

D

Dog Monger

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I'm on my 3rd or 4th year of a pair of Irish Setters. I've loved them so far, but noticed today that they seemed to be getting wet inside the boot. What's the best way to reseal boots to keeep them waterproof?
 
I use a spray on product called camp dry or a silicone based product that you swab on with a brush. Works great for me. I have a couple pair of hunting boots that I have had for about 8 years and I treat them each year prior to hunting season.
 
Originally Posted By: jbfastcatI use a spray on product called camp dry or a silicone based product that you swab on with a brush. Works great for me. I have a couple pair of hunting boots that I have had for about 8 years and I treat them each year prior to hunting season.

x2 for camp dry. It's not magic waterproof spray, but seems to help
 
Nothing is going to work for long. I had a $180 pair of Danners with the gortex lining. Worked great for awhile until the gortex linining degrades, then no more waterproof. Buy rubber boots if you're getting your feet wet.
 
Use SnowSeal. Get them warm ( I do three minutes in the oven @ 170) and melt the first coat in. Put the second one on while they're still hot. Then use Badlands or similar waterproofing spray on the nylon parts. I've gotten two and a half years out of a pair of 75$ Lacrosse this way, I really started to take care of them after they leaked a couple times. Shed hunting season is hard on boots, but if I do this every ten times or so I use them they don't leak. If you really want boots to stay waterproof, Kenetrek, Loa, or something similar is the way to go.
 
I use the SnowSeal also. I clean the leather and then apply the SS fairly heavy. I'll rub it into the leater and especially any seams or stitching. Then I use a hair dryer to warm and melt it, it soaks right in. I apply two coats.
 
+1 for SnowSeal applied to warm boots. As for gortex, I've never had a pair of gortex boots that did not leak after the first year or so. You can buy gortex socks, they will keep your feet dry until they degrade.
I like leather boots for the ankle support and durability, but If you really want to stay dry try Muck Boots, but I don't know how well they would hold up in rocky county.
 
Montana pitch blend, is the best, Hubers is good also,
They are both pine tar,and Beeswax. Holds up good. I do my boots two or three times a year.I've been working cattle in 18 inches of wet snow everyday, granted been horseback part of the time, but also been in the alleys, and the "tub".
I rinse my boots in water every day when done. My "Filsons", and "Schnees",are holding up well, and dry feet, all day every day.These are the same boots I wear hunting.
"Muck" boots are nice for "chores", but they get destroyed in the rocks.They are warm, and dry, just not a "tough" boot.
 
SnowSeal is good. I purchased some uninsulated boots earlier this past summer just to have something for quickly putting on and taking off when going out of the house and around the yard. They leaked in the rain and the wet grass, and got my socks wet.

For preparation, I warmed them a bit in the oven, then applied a liberal coat (man, I hate that word liberal) of SnowSeal, rubbing it in well over the seams and the leather too. I covered the whole boot well.

We have almost 9 inches of snow here now and I have been wearing the boots in and out of the house to warm up the truck, and around the yard when feeding the dogs etc for several days in the snow. They have yet to leak.

 
I too use "SnowSeal". It's great for these harsh western winters. I have always used mink oil in the past, but it can be hard to find and it smells. My lab would lick it off my boots as fast as I could put it on. LOL! Buy some "SnowSeal" and follow the manufactures directions, you can't go wrong. Good luck.
 
I tried silicone on my 240$ Redwings, 18yrs ago, didn't work a half day and stunk!
Only best solution, Goretex boots. My Goretex Rockys leaked regularly after 2 yrs, my Cabella's Outfitter boots are 6-8 yrs old now, no leaks yet.
Mink oil on work boots 30 yrs ago, I didn't make it 100yds in wet grass on the way to work, feet got wet, even with it caked on the leather.
 
I've been using Snowseal for as long as I can remember. I clean my boots, warm them up, and apply it until it quits soaking into the leather.

I've heard that the Montana pitch blend Duane mentioned is good stuff, but I've never used it.
 
Sno-Seal for me also. I put it on a little thicker around the seams, and than use a hair drier to melt it and get it to run into the stiching, repeat 2 or 3 times in the next few days and I'm good for the whole season.
 
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I use mink oil. Have been using it for the last 40+ years but any silicone/oil/wax sealer works. Leave them in front of the wood burner and they suck it right up. If you don't have a wood burner on top of your furnace will also work good.
 
SNOW SEAL here also.

Start with a good heavy coat, turn on the butane torch and melt it in. Then the 2nd coat (little thinner this time) and lightly melt it in to the leather.
This will last me a whole season...
Mink Oil - Yuk....no good!

As far as the GoreTex leaking, if you have a good pair of USA made boots, then there should not be a problem.
I've had 5 pairs of Rocky GoreTex and none of them have ever leaked - but then again, these were made back when they were making them in the USA!
 
Guess we all have our "ideas", and what works for us.
The thing about the "op" is that so many of us live in diff climates, and deal with diff "stresses" to our boots. Take the advice of someone that lives close to you, and deals with the same conditions. Good luck. Duane
 


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