Did a quick search and can't find anything. My question is I just bought a pair of Wolverine Ironwood 9' boots. The bottom of the boot is leather with the side or upper being Cordura with a Gore-tex liner. I really like these boots and want to take good care of them. What should I use for further watering proof and care? Silicone seems the easiest because of the Cordura and the leather? What about waxes can you use them with Condura, will it affect the breathablity of the boot? Any advice would be great.

Chances are the leather is oil tanned. If so you should use boot oil. If you have a Red Wing store near you they will stock it. As to the Cordura, I suggest checking with DuPont's web site or Wolverine's web site.

Mink oil..get the real thing--used it for years.

I like Fiebiing's. I use it on my bull whip. (CRACK!!!)

http://www.fiebing.com/Home.aspx

Been using a product from Kiwi called "Camp Dry" to waterproof boots with mixed construction, like the leather/cordura blend you talked about. It is ok for breathable materials. I have used it on packs to renew waterproofing. I have a spray can of it, but, I think it also comes as a liquid with a giant cotton ball applicator on the lid. The spray can was about $6 at Walmart.

Thanks for all the replies. I use Fiebling's salt remover on my dress shoes and it works great. I also used Camp Dry in past on some things, seems to work well. Wolverine recommends their silicone or a boot dressing. I guess I will go with a silicone because of the combination of Leather and Cordura. Thanks again, this site is a huge bank of practical knowledge.

The only waterproof boots I've ever owned are rubber muck boots.

On all my Goretex-y boots, Nikwax, Camp Dry, etc. make the water bead for the first couple minutes, but even with a heavy dew my toes would be wet within an hour. Once the boots are wet, lightweight, flexible and somewhat breathable beats heavy, stiff, and non-drying.

I agree with the mink oil. I have been in some strong downpours for extended periods with dry feet, even when my boots were not Gore-Tex (it was before Gore-Tex existed). Mink oil permeates into the leather, preserves and resists water. I agree with Ratbert, there are no waterproof boots except rubber ones. Some just hold out the water longer.

I used to use mink oil but it wasn't all that waterproof and developed mold in warm and humid weather.

I then switched to plain neetsfoot oil. Kept the water out better, lasted longer and grew less mold as long as I didn't overdo it.

After a time, on recommendation of a friend, I switched to Sno-Seal. It was even better at keeping the water out and it didn't mold for the most part. Problem was it completely sealed the leather which made the boots stifling hot and uncomfortable in hot weather and slowed the rate which the boots dried when water went over the top. It was pretty much like wearing rubber boots for about a week after a treatment. Then, over time, the leather would slowly begin to breath a bit.

With the neetsfoot oil or Sno-Seal, essentially wax, the trick was to clean the boots then to apply while warming the leather with a blow drier so it flowed into the leather. Avoid using too much.

In the end I settled on silicone. Bulk liquid in a pint tin with a dauber when I can find it and spray otherwise. After a few applications the leather becomes saturated and pretty much waterproof even if not treated for a long time. But the leather still breaths and lets heat and sweat out.

I used to use Dubbin on my leather boots. It worked as good as other products of the time. Now days, sno-seal is my product of choice.