My ankle boots (lousy weather here, so they needed a polish)

[JanSolo]

Hello all.

This is my collection of brown ankle boots. Yesterday I decided to clean them and give them a good polish. I cleaned them with hot water and a sponge. Then I applied a THICK and EVEN coat of Barbour's Thornproof Dressing and soaked it into the leather with a hairdryer. I always use Barbour's Dressing because it is a fully synthetic wax which doesn't affect the leather in any negative way like mink oil or mineral oil based products. Given time those can cause good leather to fall apart. This wax keeps the leather supple and strong and TOTALLY water proof. If you use the hairdryer properly the wax will be entirely absorbed by the leather. Finally I applied a thin coat of neutral coloured shoe polish and polished them with a soft horsehair brush.

None of the boots is younger than 3 years. The Chelsea and 1909 have been resoled twice so far.

The depicted boots are:

1. Red Wing 1908 Limited Workboot
2. Red Wing 1909 Limited Moc Toe Workboot
3. Loake's dark chestnut Chelsea Boot
4. Alden Indy Boot

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2986679894_1ae3249315.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2986679888_42961fd3c5.jpg?v=0
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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/2986679910_67c36dcd04.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2986679912_27962fb3ec.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2986679916_fa5c7998ed.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2986697204_76cf16f1d8.jpg?v=0

 

[Orgetorix]

Very nice. I particularly like the Indy boots and Chelseas. I take it you've been using the Barbour treatment for at least three years on all of them with no detrimental effects? Does that affect the color at all?

 

[JanSolo]

I only use the Barbour wax let's say three times a year to maintain the suppleness and to make sure that they stay water repellent. Normally I use clear Kiwi boot polish and an old T-shirt to keep all of my shoes in good shape.
Years ago when I bought the Indy Boots, Alden had just switched to a lighter coloured leather so I thought maybe the wax will darken the shoes (that's what I wanted)...and it did, although I had to use a good amount to see some results. Both Red Wings don't get affected by the wax and the Chelsea boots get darker but not permanently. After I've worn them for a day and they had some body heat they return to their original shade of brown.

 

[Doug C]

I like your mock-toe Red Wings 1909 the best, the profile is perfect, they remind me of what my carpenter Grandfather and uncles used to wear...I destinctly remember having a similar pair too, I must have been 5yo believe it or not (mid '70s). Anyway, not to steel any thunder but boot compilations are cool, here's my line up -




Doug C

 

[JanSolo]

Hi Doug,

nice boots. The pair in the first row are those Corcorans or parachute style jump boots?

 

[Doug C]

Hi Jan.. thanks for the complements, those boots you ask about are the WWII "Type I service shoe" (but actually a boot) reproduction from At The Front.... they are currently in the "buy/sell" section of this site. They are really nice but I'll trade you for those 1909s you have .

Doug C

 

[ARStan]

Great boots

Doug C, What are those black captoe boots on the back row? Just what I've been looking for forever, just need them in brown.

 

[Doug C]

Thanks arstan, I'm not sure who the maker of the black pair are... they have no name inside, got them off ebay and had a very generic desciption and a terrible picture, I took a chance on them and it paid off because they have the perfect profile IMHO. The last that they were made on perfectly split the dress shoe and work boot, almost having a military style to it. They were super cheap too.

Doug C

 

[fit favre]

Hello all.

This is my collection of brown ankle boots. Yesterday I decided to clean them and give them a good polish. I cleaned them with hot water and a sponge. Then I applied a THICK and EVEN coat of Barbour's Thornproof Dressing and soaked it into the leather with a hairdryer. I always use Barbour's Dressing because it is a fully synthetic wax which doesn't affect the leather in any negative way like mink oil or mineral oil based products. Given time those can cause good leather to fall apart. This wax keeps the leather supple and strong and TOTALLY water proof. If you use the hairdryer properly the wax will be entirely absorbed by the leather. Finally I applied a thin coat of neutral coloured shoe polish and polished them with a soft horsehair brush.

None of the boots is younger than 3 years. The Chelsea and 1909 have been resoled twice so far.

The depicted boots are:

1. Red Wing 1908 Limited Workboot
2. Red Wing 1909 Limited Moc Toe Workboot
3. Loake's dark chestnut Chelsea Boot
4. Alden Indy Boot

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2986679894_1ae3249315.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2986679888_42961fd3c5.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/2986679880_de71302fca.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/2986679910_67c36dcd04.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2986679912_27962fb3ec.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2986679916_fa5c7998ed.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2986697204_76cf16f1d8.jpg?v=0

 

[fit favre]

Hi Jan Solo,

Do you still have red wing 1908 and 1909 in your collection?

 

[fit favre]

Hello all.

This is my collection of brown ankle boots. Yesterday I decided to clean them and give them a good polish. I cleaned them with hot water and a sponge. Then I applied a THICK and EVEN coat of Barbour's Thornproof Dressing and soaked it into the leather with a hairdryer. I always use Barbour's Dressing because it is a fully synthetic wax which doesn't affect the leather in any negative way like mink oil or mineral oil based products. Given time those can cause good leather to fall apart. This wax keeps the leather supple and strong and TOTALLY water proof. If you use the hairdryer properly the wax will be entirely absorbed by the leather. Finally I applied a thin coat of neutral coloured shoe polish and polished them with a soft horsehair brush.

None of the boots is younger than 3 years. The Chelsea and 1909 have been resoled twice so far.

The depicted boots are:

1. Red Wing 1908 Limited Workboot
2. Red Wing 1909 Limited Moc Toe Workboot
3. Loake's dark chestnut Chelsea Boot
4. Alden Indy Boot

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2986679894_1ae3249315.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/2986679888_42961fd3c5.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/2986679880_de71302fca.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/2986679910_67c36dcd04.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3022/2986679912_27962fb3ec.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2986679916_fa5c7998ed.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/2986697204_76cf16f1d8.jpg?v=0

Hi Jan Solo,

Do you still have red wing 1908 and 1909 in your collection?

 

[Edward]

I'm not sure Jan Solo reads these boards anymore; he's not posted here for a long time, which is a shame. I'm sure other Loungers own those particular models, though - try running a search on the forum and you should be able to find some reviews if that's what you need.

 

[fit favre]

thanks edward,actually im looking for those 2 boots to complete my red wing 100 years anniversary collections.i've been looking for them more than years,but nowhere to found.