Leather Boots themselves are a fashion statement. They match all outfits, are comfortable, and have a good, long life. Everyone simply loves them, but are they all-weather footwear?
Those of you who have a pair of leather boots you love wearing know the struggle of wearing them in the wet season. There is always the possibility of your leather boots being damaged by water. Leather boots need special care after getting wet, and it’s better to keep them away from moisture.
Here we have prepared a water guide for your leather boots. From taking care of them when they get wet to extra protection needed while you walk them in water, we have it all covered.
Table of Contents
Can You Wear Leather Boots In The Rain?
You can definitely wear your Leather Boots during the rain. They are not watering averse, but perpetual exposure to water can cause damage to the boots. With regular care, your leather boots are good to go.
Leather is a porous substance held together by proteins which makes it vulnerable to damage in water. Although leather is a strong and hard material, it is not waterproof.
Impact Of Moisture On Leather Boots
Moisture, in a small amount, has low to almost no impact on leather boots. It is the amount of exposure that you cannot evade. Heavy rains or an enormous amount of water is what damages leather.
Some problems which may occur are listed below.
Hardening
When water seeps through the leather of the boots, the leather starts to harden. They need to be dried to reverse the impact, but the damage may be irreversible if boots are in the water over a long time. Drying them on time, using the suitable method is the key.
Leather loses its shine and flexibility. Hard leather boots become very uncomfortable to wear and might also show some wearing off.
Discoloring
Another problem caused by water is discoloring and fading. A small amount of water leaves patches or marks on the leather boots, while prolonged exposure can cause irreversible fading of leather.
Depending on the quality and type of leather, the damage caused by water differs. The purest form of leather or untreated leather faces more damage. Treated leathers are given an extra layer that gives them resistance.
Resistance Layer Gets Removed
Before making leather boots, the leather needs coating that acts as a resistance layer to moisture. This layer easily repels small amounts of water, either from rain or other sources. Heavy rain and continuous exposure to water strip off this waterproof layer very quickly.
When this layer gets off, the leather boots become extra vulnerable to damage. Water undeniably wets the leather, causing hardening and discoloring all over.
Parts Other Than Leather
In addition to damaging the leather, water harms the making of the boot. When the leather becomes moist, the glue and embellishments, keeping the boot together, also come off. This is an indication of significant damage to your leather boots.
Taking Care of Wet Leather Boots
In many inevitable circumstances, your leather boots get wet. If they are already wet, you need to be extra conscious of the load to save them.
Drying
You need to remove wet leather boots as soon as possible. Let them dry quickly at room temperature. Make sure not to use extra heat to dry them as it may over dehydrate them and cause cracks.
Boot Trees
While drying, the boots might lose the shape of your feet. It is advisable to insert boot trees or even newspapers inside the boots to maintain shape. They also help to dry the boots quickly without any extra heat.
Conditioning
After drying, you will notice that your boots have become very dull and extra dry. This happens because drying has stripped the boots of even the necessary moisture. Use any good leather conditioner to condition the boots and restore the moisture as well as the shine.
Hacks To Keep Your Leather Boots Safe
Now you know how you can restore your wet boots. Now let’s discuss some tips to keep your leather boots safe in the long term. You cannot always avoid water, but these tricks will help you reduce the damage to a minimum.
Waterproof Cover
You can always secure your boots by investing in some waterproof covers for them. You need an elastic over-shoe or some plastic to cover the boots if it rains. An extra pair of shoes reserved in your vehicle can also give prompt assistance if an unexpected rainstorm happens.
Wax- Coating
Wax acts as a protective layer on your leather boots. All you need is some hot wax and a brush. Brush a couple of layers of hot wax on your boots and let them dry.
This wax layer can exhaust after some time. It is essential to remember that wax-coating your shoes may not be a permanent solution, and that is why you need to repeat the procedure once every 15 days.
Cleanliness Is Key
While in the rain or the mud, the leather boots get dirty. This dirt seeps into the pores of these boots if not cleaned regularly. This also may harm the texture of your leather and leave behind dull scars on the leather boots.
Even before any waterproofing treatment on your leather boot, check and knock off any dirt or soil with a shoe brush. If your leather boots are too messy, use a moist fabric to rub away the dirt. With regular cleaning, your boots will surely have a longer life.
Overexposure To Heat
Heat does more harm to leather boots than water. Excessive heat harms the strands, shading, and surface of leather boots. Moreover, when the leather boots heat, they become weak and solidified. So, make sure you don’t overexpose your boots to heat.
Summing Up
It is difficult to manage without leather boots when you absolutely love them. As long as you take care of them, they will be perfect for you in all weathers. Unarguably, leather boots need special care and effort to store them.
If you happen to live where it rains frequently, you should buy boots that are waterproof and maybe keep your leather boots for special occasions.