Hole in my boot

Daytona said:

I've got a hole in my boot where the leather creases above the toe. Does this
mean that my beloved boots are finished, or can they be easily & cheaply
repaired ? They're the most comfortable footwear I've ever used so I'm nervous
about changing. Unfortunately the maker, NeeBee have gone out of business
otherwise it would be a case of 'same again'.

I've never used any treatment on them; just air dried them, is this a bad thing
?

I supposes they've done about 1,500 miles (it adds up doesn't it ?!), so I guess
they don't owe me anything.

Hi there,

I'm not sure whether they can be repaired, but the people most often
recommended on here for repair of boots are Lancashire Sports Repairs
Ltd.

They have a website at
http://www.lsr.gb.com/walking_additional_repairs.htm, and I'm sure
that If you give them a ring they'll tell you what, if anything, can
be done.

About treatments: I think regular waxing is recommended for leather
boots. I'm a little disorganized about that sort of thing so I don't
really do it either, but I've no doubt that LSRLtd can advise you on
that too.

Good luck 🙂

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]>
from Peewiglet contained the following:

Quoted message said:

About treatments: I think regular waxing is recommended for leather
boots.

What about suede?

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 00:07:39 +0000, Geoff Berrow <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]>
from Peewiglet contained the following:

Quoted message said:

About treatments: I think regular waxing is recommended for leather
boots.

What about suede?

Brush off the mud when it's dry, then spray it with one of the various
waterproofers/conditioners available. There are different sprays for
Goretex lined suede boots.
--
R
o
o
n
e
y

Daytona said:

I've never used any treatment on them; just air dried them, is this a bad thing
?

Yes - they need conditioning if they are to last. They should be good
for years, not just 1500 miles!
--
R
o
o
n
e
y

Rooney said:

On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 00:07:39 +0000, Geoff Berrow <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]>
from Peewiglet contained the following:

Quoted message said:

About treatments: I think regular waxing is recommended for leather
boots.

What about suede?

Brush off the mud when it's dry, then spray it with one of the various
waterproofers/conditioners available. There are different sprays for
Goretex lined suede boots.

Most boots that are rough leather aren't suede but reversed leather.
Wax as per normal and stuff how they look. They are suposed to be
roughty toughty things, who gives a sod what they look like?
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]>
from Phil Cook contained the following:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What about suede?

Brush off the mud when it's dry, then spray it with one of the various
waterproofers/conditioners available. There are different sprays for
Goretex lined suede boots.

That's what I normally do. But as they were soaked anyway and there was
so much mud, I just washed it off. The spray doesn't seem to do
anything anyway.

Quoted message said:

Most boots that are rough leather aren't suede but reversed leather.
Wax as per normal and stuff how they look. They are suposed to be
roughty toughty things, who gives a sod what they look like?

Interesting idea. When you say wax, do you mean shoe polish or some
other product?

Being suede, they always look roughty toughty anyway. It amazes me when
I see people in really shiny boots, especially when it's really claggy.
I don't know how they do it - I'm just a mud magnet. LOL

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

On Thu, 18 Nov 2004 07:52:51 +0000, Geoff Berrow <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>What about suede?

Brush off the mud when it's dry, then spray it with one of the various
waterproofers/conditioners available. There are different sprays for
Goretex lined suede boots.

That's what I normally do. But as they were soaked anyway and there was
so much mud, I just washed it off. The spray doesn't seem to do
anything anyway.

I've got some boots with a suede/nubuck finish, and I've been told
that it's best to simply use the ordinary wax that more organised
people already use on standard leather boots. I have some in a small,
flat tin: it's probably some sort of Nikwax. Naturally enough the
application of wax alters the appearance, but that's only a matter of
cosmetics.

Someone in an outdoors shop tried to sell me a nubuck spray which she
said would sustain and protect the leather in exactly the same way as
wax. Instinct told me that that was unlikely to be quite right, and so
I plan to use the ordinary wax. I've since been told in what I regard
as a much more knowledgeable outdoors shop that wax is best.

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

Geoff Berrow <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Being suede, they always look roughty toughty anyway. It amazes me when
I see people in really shiny boots, especially when it's really claggy.
I don't know how they do it - I'm just a mud magnet. LOL

After two pairs of Zamberlan boots started to crack (after a few hundred
miles) on the inside of the boot, where they flex, I read the
instructions which came with my third pair. It said "Use only
Hydrobloc conditioner".

I discarded the Nikwax I had been using and bought some Hydrobloc.

After 4 years there is still some left in the tube, and no sign of
cracking on the boots. I always wash the mud off the boots after a
walk, except on dry dusty days. I then dab a few blobs of Hydrobloc
on each boot, and brush it in with a soft brush.

Yes, they look shiny after brushing. It isn't a problem for me, and
they are thoroughly waterproof. :-)
--
Gordon

Daytona said:

I've got a hole in my boot where the leather creases above the toe. Does this
mean that my beloved boots are finished, or can they be easily & cheaply
repaired ? They're the most comfortable footwear I've ever used so I'm nervous
about changing. Unfortunately the maker, NeeBee have gone out of business
otherwise it would be a case of 'same again'.

I've never used any treatment on them; just air dried them, is this a bad thing
?

I have the same issue (cracking over the toe). Someone did try to
explain that I have "low volume feet" but that just made too many
jokes! I can vaguely understand the notion but am not technical enough
to explain it.

However, what they also suggested which is what I do now:
- dry out boots thoroughly each time with e.g. stuffed newspaper (NOT
direct heat)
- use shoe trees when boots are stored
- the occasional bit of wax. I was reprimanded by the nice people at
LSR for using too much wax (killing them with kindness): it apparently
gets between the boot and the rand and can affect the ability of the
glue to stick the sole to the boot
This has not stopped the cracking but has slowed it down greatly.

Allan

Geoff Berrow said:

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]>
from Phil Cook contained the following:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>What about suede?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Most boots that are rough leather aren't suede but reversed leather.
Wax as per normal and stuff how they look. They are suposed to be
roughty toughty things, who gives a sod what they look like?

Interesting idea. When you say wax, do you mean shoe polish or some
other product?

The usual waxes used for proofing leather boots. Nikwax, Grangers
G-wax, etc.

Quoted message said:

Being suede, they always look roughty toughty anyway. It amazes me when
I see people in really shiny boots, especially when it's really claggy.
I don't know how they do it - I'm just a mud magnet. LOL

I saw a bloke on Victoria Station with immaculate boots the other week
whilst I was waiting for my walking companions to go on what turned
into a rather muddy walk in Surrey. They were so shiny you could see
your face in them. His gaiters were absolutely pristine as well. He
must have either spent absolutely ages cleaning them or only walked on
gravel paths.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

Thanks for all the suggestions - I've contacted LSR. Out of interest how can you
tell the difference between suede & nubuck ?

Daytona

Daytona said:

Thanks for all the suggestions - I've contacted LSR. Out of interest how can you
tell the difference between suede & nubuck ?

Could be they're different names for the same/very similar thing(s)?

Best wishes,
--
,,
(**)PeeWiglet~~
/ \ / \

Peewiglet <[email hidden]> wrote :

Quoted message said:

Daytona said:

Thanks for all the suggestions - I've contacted LSR. Out of interest how can you
tell the difference between suede & nubuck ?

Could be they're different names for the same/very similar thing(s)?

Thanks P, I just wondered as I saw you mention nubuck and I also came across it
whilst looking for conditioners and realised that I didn't know what it is ! I
think it's probably a finer texture than suede.

Daytona

In article <[email hidden]>, Daytona
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Peewiglet <[email hidden]> wrote :

Quoted message said:

Daytona said:

Thanks for all the suggestions - I've contacted LSR. Out of interest
how can you
tell the difference between suede & nubuck ?

Could be they're different names for the same/very similar thing(s)?

Thanks P, I just wondered as I saw you mention nubuck and I also came across it
whilst looking for conditioners and realised that I didn't know what it is ! I
think it's probably a finer texture than suede.

Apart from saying that they are not the same this page doesn't talk
about suede but might be of interest:

http://www.scarpa.co.uk/manufacture/leather.html

--

Dominic Sexton
http://www.dscs.demon.co.uk/

Dominic Sexton said:

In article <[email hidden]>, Daytona
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Peewiglet <[email hidden]> wrote :

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 19 Nov 2004 09:24:44 +0000, Daytona <[email hidden]> wrote:

>Thanks for all the suggestions - I've contacted LSR. Out of interest
>how can you
>tell the difference between suede & nubuck ?

Could be they're different names for the same/very similar thing(s)?

Thanks P, I just wondered as I saw you mention nubuck and I also came across it
whilst looking for conditioners and realised that I didn't know what it is ! I
think it's probably a finer texture than suede.

Apart from saying that they are not the same this page doesn't talk
about suede but might be of interest:

http://www.scarpa.co.uk/manufacture/leather.html

As I understand it, suede is what they cut off thick leather to make
thin leather. Reversed leather is thick leather with the rough side
out to protect the best bit. Nubuck is leather that has been sanded or
given a texture. So given a choice I'd want reversed or ordinary
leather as these options keep the most waterproof surface of the
leather intact.
--
Phil Cook looking north over the park to the "Westminster Gasworks"

In article <[email hidden]>, Phil Cook
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Most boots that are rough leather aren't suede but reversed leather.
Wax as per normal and stuff how they look. They are suposed to be
roughty toughty things, who gives a sod what they look like?

Actually Phil, my Hi-tec Nubuck boots became quite "used" and I waxed
them - they shone like a Guardsman's boots! They still take on a great
shine if I want them to.
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk

In article <[email hidden]>, Geoff Berrow
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

nteresting idea. When you say wax, do you mean shoe polish or some
other product?

Nik-Wax
--
Bill Grey
http://www.billboy.co.uk