Leather Boots and Water Proofness

[Kevin Hansen]

Originally posted by Brock:
can always get military styled jungle boots....then a couple pairs of SealSkinz...waterproof socks.  Water drains out of boots...feet stay dry from SealSkinz.

How are the SealSkinz for comfort and blister protection?
All the new posts are appreciated. Thanks.

[sj_lutz]

Nothing is perfect, but for my money, Obenauf's is the best.

[Kevin Dill]

Speaking from some degree of experience, I can say that boots easily collect moisture on the inside during daily wear on a hunt. The right socks help, but eventually the boot material gains moisture. Whether it dries or not is a function of many things like humidity, air temp, external moisture, and efforts to dry them out. A Gore-Tex liner helps keep feet dry and helps exclude external moisture from the foot, but it does nothing to keep the outer boot dry. You can have waterlogged boots and still your feet don't get soaked.

As Ron pointed out, correctly treating the leather is key to moisture exclusion. Don't forget to seal those seams with a dedicated product, because greases won't reliably stop moisture from getting past needle holes and mated seams. I haven't found anything which will keep leather fully dry in constant wetness and high humidity. That's where additional steps come in, like changing socks, liners, stuffing with newspaper, additional heat.

Newspaper is an old reliable trick for absorbing moisture. Someone needs to invent a super-absorbent boot stuffing which does the same thing. Stuff them in your damp boots tonight, pull out and hang in the morning...boots are dry inside.

[reddogge]

Just be careful you aren't using any petroleum based product on your leather ie: Neatsfoot oil. It will degrade it over time and that's why museums don't use it on their leather. I've used SnoSeal and it's a beeswax based product. Trouble is a lot of products don't advertise what is in them. I used to use SnoSeal on my LL Beans and the leather was like new but the rubber rotted out so the leather outlasted the rubber.

The best leather boots for being waterproof are my Meindle Perfekt Hikers and mine are going on 3 seasons. Good enough to walk all day in snow, wade into a puddle to retrieve an errant arrow or walk in rain.

[Longbowz]

For daily wear putting your boots on something like a Peets Shoe Dryer at night helps alot!

[2nocks]

I've used snoSeal with good results. I walk through a lot of wet grassy fields while hunting and it hasn't let me down. You have to reapply often as it does get worn off. All the others work just as well and montana pitch will lubricate also, but it is easy to find snoseal in the local hardware store and it has worked well for me.

[LimBender]

I use Dri-Boot, which has has worked in limited use.  Heat up with blow dyer and work it in all the seams.  It is basically wax.

But I'm still partial to rubber boots. . . .

[Brock]

Originally posted by Kevin Hansen:
 

Originally posted by Brock:
can always get military styled jungle boots....then a couple pairs of SealSkinz...waterproof socks.  Water drains out of boots...feet stay dry from SealSkinz.

How are the SealSkinz for comfort and blister protection?
All the new posts are appreciated. Thanks. [/b]

Personally I dont like them if I am walking a lot...putting a pair of synthetic socks on first...then putting SealSkinz over them...and then your boots is a big difference in comfort.

I actually dont wear them anymore...if warm weather would rather get wet and change out my socks a couple times a day to be truthful. LOL

[Lone Ranger]

Bentpole on the first page mentioned the LLbean maine hunting boots, I deffinately have to give props to them they are fantastic boots and worth the price. work the leather with snoseal or something similar around the seams. totaly waterproof!

L.R.

[Otto]

Still trying to figure out how to get this damn toilet seal to fit over my Russells.

I've beat on it for a half an hour now with the blow dryer.........

[Kevin Hansen]

Originally posted by Otto:
Still trying to figure out how to get this damn toilet seal to fit over my Russells.

I've beat on it for a half an hour now with the blow dryer.........

Finally, some useful information!!! Thanks for the laugh.

[Firstlight]

Great info.

With 20+ years of Gore tex boots I am generally unhappy with them afte 1-3 years. IE:  wet feet.  Even with proper care and sealants.

It is quite wet here in the Pacific NW.

Mine have all leaked except my  15 yr old Vasqu all leather sundowner.

Even my 400.00 Gortex North Face Jacket lets in water and I have fully taken good care of it.  I follow all directions for proper care.  Yes, I'm disappointed.

Now that I pretty much live in a rain forest I need a good solution for LONG hikes.  The Mendl's sound appealing.

If its a short hike it's the muck boots for waterproof, as much as I hate rubber boots.

[Bear Heart]

Hislight, I feel your pain.

[stillhunter]

Keep at it Kevin Hansen even if you start feeling a little flush then after a long days hunt stuff the inside with toilet paper to draw out the moisture and you'll get the run of it.

[stillhunter]

Otto try a plunging motion.lol

[Kevin Hansen]

Your humor is appreciated!