How to protect leather?

[Solittle]

I wear sandals all the time while boating and get them wet at the ramp. I got a great pair of Birkenstocks for Christmas and was wondering what is the best way to protect the leather and keep it soft?

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: How to protect leather?

I know some horse people who clean and protect all their tack with soaps and conditioners. So, you can rally go crazy here with products. But, I've found for shoes and briefacses and jackets, 3M leather protector does a great job. It waterproofs and makes it really easy to clean. You just spary it on, let it dry, give it another coat and you are done.

 

[Hooty]

Re: How to protect leather?

Neetsfoot Oil. <br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[ZmOz]

Re: How to protect leather?

This is why I wear a $5 pair of thongs when I go boating. <br /><br />(I thought you were going to say you had leather seats in your boat! )

 

[Boomyal]

Re: How to protect leather?

SoLittle, precisely why I park my Birks and grab my Tevas when it comes time to launch. Birkenstock actually makes an all synthetic sandal but I would not use my leather ones for any purposful deep submersion. I do, however, clean mine occasionally with Leather New glycerin saddle soap and a kitchen scrub brush in the utility sink under running water. I leave them to dry at the base of the refridgerator vent.<br /><br />I other words do not try to waterproof the footbeds. They will become way to slippery when wet. You won't be able to keep the straps as soft as they are new but they will conform to the shape of your foot and be comfortable anyway. <br /><br />If you have never had a pair b4, I guarantee you won't ever be without them.(except at launch time)

 

[JB]

Re: How to protect leather?

Ahoy, SoLittle.<br /><br />I keep my Browning Kangaroo Featherweight boots in shape with a pair of products called Hydro-Pel from Browning. <br /><br />There is a cleaner that works like a liquid saddle soap, and you follow that up by rubbing in the cream.<br /><br />I wear these boots probably 50 days a year. . .in mud and water. . .and they are still like new after nearly 10 years.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[ED21]

Re: How to protect leather?

I'm partial to Lexol leather conditioner. Available in horse/farm stores or drugstores around here.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: How to protect leather?

These are all good suggestions for leather in general. The Birkenstock does no fit into these catagories, at least as far as protecting/preserving them for use in water. <br /><br />First of all the suede straps are not made for immersion use. Second the footbed holds water and does not drain. When it gets wet, it gets slippery. Anything that you might apply to 'waterproof' it will just make it slipperier. Save them for dry use, they will serve you well and you will never part from them.

 

[Vector501]

Re: How to protect leather?

You could always go to a furniture store and get a leather protection kit kind of like a fabricoate. What I am familiar with is a spray can of leather mate that bonds to the leather protecting it from burns, water, stains, cuts from knife blades, etc. Works good on leather sofas, don't see how sandals would be all that different.