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How To Prepare Your Boots For Wet Weather
You may be about to purchase you new Winter boots, or dig last years out of the closet. Either way, you will probably be wanting them to do a good job of keeping your feet dry and warm over the next six months. If so, there are two main things to think about; Waterproofing and Insulating.
In this article we take a look at how to clean and waterproof boots that are either leather, suede or synthetic, and then we look at what kind of socks you can pair your winter boots up with to get the best benefit from them.
Firstly lets just take a moment to make an important distinction. Waterproof and Water-Resistant are two phrases that are often used interchangeably, but they do actually have important differences that you should be aware of. When we talk about “Waterproof Footwear” we a referring specifically to styles that have a water impermeable barrier, that is an actual layer of fabric that water CAN NOT cross. Examples of truly waterproof footwear would be Wellington boots (with their rubber coating – completely water impermeable) and some walking or hiking boots with a Goretex (or similar) membrane built into the inner layers of the upper in a sock shape.
Water-Resistant footwear is much more of a loose definition. Technically speaking, anything that gets in the way of water getting to your skin could be described as providing resistance to the ingress of water. The important thing is the level of resistance. And this level can come down to a number of factors, including the materials used, the styling, the type of fastenings used, the shape, the chemical coatings and the quality of manufacture.
So if you are buying winter footwear and want them to be fully waterproof, be sure to look for the word “waterproof” on the description, and don’t be fooled into thinking that the phrase “water-resistant” means that your feet won’t get wet. Footwear that is not designed to be waterproof can not be treated to become so, BUT you CAN increase its water resistance with the appropriate treatment(s).
Cleaning – Preparing the Surface.
Whether the boots are leather, suede or synthetic, you do not want to waterproof any dirt that may be on the surface of the material. You are going to want to provide a nice clean surface for your waterproofing treatment to absorb into and bond durably to.
Leather surfaces should be wiped clean with a damp lint-free cloth. Any stubborn mud can be broken up and removed with an old toothbrush or soft clean nylon bristled brush.With patent leather a dampened sponge can be used instead of a brush, so as to not leave scratches.
Removing mud from suede if best done when the mud is dry with a soft brush, or even a finger nail. When all the large lumps are removed, the surface can be wiped over with a slightly damp cloth to remove dust and particles left behind.
Synthetic uppers can be cleaned with a dampened sponge, ensuring that all dust and small particles come off. The widely available cleaning gels with a plastic scrubbing brush built into the container can be used on really stubborn marks.
In all cases it is best to avoid using detergent cleaners as these will leave a detergent residue in the material which actually attracts, rather than repels, water.
Treating – Re-proofing the uppers for a durable water-repellent finish.
Leather uppers can be treated with a wax, dubbing, conditioner or polish. The specific product for your boots may be something to discuss with your supplier, as some colour matches may be requires for colour leathers, and boots with a breathable membrane may have their breathability decreased by using the incorrect after-care product.
When applying the treatment, use a lint free cloth and rub a small amount into the surface of the leather. Pay particular attention to areas subject to a lot of movement, such as the crease over the top of the foot behind the toes, and the tongue. These areas need to be kept supple and well conditioned and have any microscopic creases and cracks filled. Also pay attention to the seams where the stitching is, as when the boots were made the needle would have punctured the material there, making a physical hole, so make sure your treatment gets well rubbed into these areas.
Suede is a much more porous surface and requires a liquid based treatment to provide its surface water repellency. Suede treatments usually come in the form of a spray, but aqueous wax based treatments are also available. Whichever treatment you choose, be prepared for the suede to darken a little upon application of the treatment. This is normal and to be expected. If you use a spray apply from a distance of about a foot away in even strokes all over the surface. You want to achieve an even coating, as any unevenness will likely darken the suede unevenly, although this effect is likely to be minimal. Again, ensure that the stitching and areas of high flexing get coated. Leave to dry overnight at room temperature.
Synthetic uppers, like suede, can be re-proofed with spray or rub on treatments. If you decide upon using a rub on treatment, they usually come in a bottle with a sponge applicator. You need to press the sponge against the surface of the upper to get the liquid flowing onto the applicator, then rub the liquid evenly over the surface. Again, be prepared for the colour to darken slightly. Any textile areas should receive particular attention as pores here can be quite large (compared to the size of a water droplet). Pay attention, as always, to areas that flex a lot and are subject to wear. Leave to dry overnight at room temperature.
Some winter boots come with a knitted wool ankle cuff, or a fleecy lining. Believe it or not you can get wash in treatments which put a water-repellent finish on these fibres and help maintain the insulating air spaces between fibres. This treatment can be used in the washing machine or in a hand wash. It is then recommended to drip dry or tumble dry, on a low setting, if the care label allows. You may want to stuff the footwear with something absorbent like paper of a towel while they dry.
It is important to note what the actual purpose of these treatments is, as not understanding how they work my lead you to mistakenly jump to the conclusion that your boots are leaking, especially if they are waterproof boots with a membrane. The purpose of these treatments is actually two-fold. The first and obvious purpose is to provide increased resistance to water ingress, i.e. resisting water from the outside, getting to the inside of the boots. The second purpose is perhaps the least well generally appreciated, but is nonetheless the MAIN purpose; These treatments provide a Durable Water Repellent finish (DWR) for your footwear that causes water to bead on the surface and run off, and in so doing prevents the material of the uppers from “wetting out”. Wetting out is what happens when the surface of the material becomes saturated with surface water. In winter this can be particularly uncomfortable as it means that not only are the boots heavier and colder, but this saturated layer prevents the footwear from breathing, from allowing perspiration from your skin to escape to the environment. Instead what happens is the perspiration, as water vapour, hits this saturated layer and condenses back into liquid water, on the inside of the boot. This can cause you to incorrectly conclude that your boots are leaking, that water from the outside is getting in. This may be the case, but the more usual explanation is that the boots have stopped breathing, and simply need to be cleaned (have their pores unclogged) and re-proofed to prevent wet-out. Which is certainly cheaper than buying a new pair!
So now you know how to look after your boots so that they can look after you this Winter.
Here is a list of useful links relating to quality after-care products for your footwear…
Socks – Insulating for better warmth and comfort.
When the weather turns cold and wet, and you are out and about, maybe getting the Christmas shopping in, is there any feeling in the World worse than having cold wet feet? Well, maybe there is, but with this knowledge we hope you’ll find your pinkies snug and warm inside your boots this Winter.
You know how when jeans get wet, they kind of stay wet and take ages to dry? They get cold and uncomfortable and cling to you? Well this is because they are made out of cotton, and cotton absorbs water and is very relluctant to let it go. When cotton gets wet it looses almost all of its ability to hold onto pockets of air trapped in its fibres, and with that goes any insulation it once had. As the outdoors enthusiasts out there will say, “Cotton kills1”. A bit dramatic maybe but you get the point. So wearing cotton socks this winter will not be your wisest choice if you want snug, dry, warm feet.
A much better choice is to wear wool. Wool keeps its warmth even when it is wet. This is because, compared to cotton, the fibres of wool are much more kinked, rough and ragged, which gives it more of a 3D structure, and this helps it trap air and thus insulate. Wool also contains natural oils which repel water, rather than absorb it like cotton. If you are interested in learning more you could check out this forum discussion on the subject of wool versus cotton.
Merino wool is widely regarded are being the softest and most comfortable to wear next to your skin. Many manufacurers are now using merino wool in their designs, sometimes blending it with synthetic fibres to provide wicking abilities to the sock.
Here are a few links to great suppliers of socks suitable for winter…
Specialist Socks – Sock retailer with a huge selection of wool socks suitable for Winter.
Search Results on Alibaba – Some ace fashion wool socks turned up in this search of Alibaba.com
Keeping your feet warm and dry this Winter is therefore a case of selecting suitable boots, keeping them clean and appropriately treated, and wearing wool socks rather than cotton.
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