I hunt elk in rough, steep country. Over the years I have hunted in everything from Bean boots, to Shnee's, to Brownings, to Danners, etc. All of the above are quiet but are brutal in steep country on your feet. I bought Lowa Denali's last year and love them! Took a nice bull in them to boot. This year they started squeeking like mad with every step. It cost me a bull over the weekend! All I did was shift my weight on the incoming bull and SQUEEK! I have isolated it to the leather on leather fold at the edge of the tounge. It is smooth black leather. I am going to wax it and scuff it to see if that helps, but I thought I'd first pry the knowledge and experience of this group. Anyone have similar hard boots and had similar problems? What product, technique worked the best?
Montana Pitch Blend from 3 Rivers and others. Awesome product !
Mink Oil for me. Preserves the leather, quiets it down and water proofs it to boot! Good stuff
Ditto MINK OIL... I just finished breaking in a new pair of Danner's for my upcoming Elk hunt.
Hand rubbed it into every nook and cranny. They seem stealthy quite to me.
I had a pair of leather boots do the same, in the same place. Left boot only. Montana Pitch Blend. It took a couple applications, but the squeek is gone now.
Yes, I would try either the Mink Oil or Neetsfoot Oil; they will both considerably soften and lubricate the leather.
My Danners started squeaking badly on a hunt a few years ago. All I had was chapstick, so I used that and it quieted them down. I recommend the Original flavor, not the new fangled cherry stuff.
When I came home I used a bees wax leather conditioner and never had a problem again.
You might check LOWA's website or literature. I may be wrong, but I know some materials (Gortex's and such) can have some adverse reactions to mink oil and different snow seals. Some things plug up the pores or something.
I know on my all leather boots I use mink oil or Montana Pitch Blend.
Just a thought to double check.
I do leather work, in those boots that take severe abuse, they get smooth spots in the extreme wear areas and the two smooth surfaces rubbing together make the squeak. Like rubbing a wet finger on glass. Your first idea is the best, find those areas and rough them up with sandpaper but be careful not to nick or scratch the stitching, which will continue to fail over time if damaged. If you do nick or scratch them, hit them with some superglue and smooth out when wet. Like these guys are saying, keep some pitch blend with you in your pack. If the surfaces are worn smooth again on the hunt, it will take away the squeak. Although Gore Tex can be affected if exposed directly, this layer is protected well inside the boot. The mink oil or pitch blend rarely ever makes it in that far into the leather to permeate the lining. If it does, it will only happen in a few spots and shouldn't effect the overall breathability of the membrane. Funny how they always start to squeak just as that big bull.....
i'd like to second neetsfoot oil----. works great on all leather products.
I'm going to try some of these solutions on a pair of Lowe Seeker boots. Unfortunately I'm thinking it might be a problem with Lowe boots in general. I've read several other reviews that mention squeeky sounds comeing for Lowe boots. They feel great but I'm afraid I'll spook something in a tree stand because they make so many sounds.
I have a pair of leather Scarpa's that did the same thing in the same spot. They squeaked from the day I bought them until I tried Montana Pitch Blend. It took care of the problem.