The 12 Best Waterproofers for Shoes and Boots 2023

Von einem Mystery-Man-Autor

Last updated 12 mai 2024

The 12 Best Waterproofers for Shoes and Boots 2023

Cobblers, custom shoemakers, and shoe-store owners tell us how to weatherproof shoes and boots — including for leather, nubuck, and suede — with recommendations from Kiwi, Scotchgard, Skidmore’s, Reshoevn8r, and Saphir Medaille d’Or.
Less precious shoes can handle a more heavy-duty spray, like this one from Spanish leather-care company Tarrago that incorporates nanotechnology — tiny particles that fill tiny openings in the leather to block water from getting in. “Leather is porous; it’s essentially a skin, and like our skin it has pores, so it breathes and takes in water through its pores,” says Andrade. “Nanotechnology puts on a coating, sealing the pores so water won’t seep in. It keeps water from penetrating.”
Soft suede footwear requires special treatment. “Suede is like having a shoe that’s a sponge, so anything that falls on it will be picked up,” says Andrade. A material-specific spray — Valiente likes this one from Scotchgard — makes suede less absorptive without damaging the shoe.
Like beeswax, mink oil is a heavy-duty protectant that should be reserved for shoes you don’t mind altering the look of slightly. Andrade says applying mink oil will “change the finish of [the shoe] and act like a layer of wax on a brand-new car. If you do that once every two months, it’ll keep your feet super dry.” The paste won’t damage leather though, and is one of the best ways to protect your feet from extreme weather.
“Before treating a suede or nubuck item, you want to get the nap of the material up with a horsehair brush,” says Valiente. Doing so ensures there isn’t any dirt on the shoe that could get sealed in, and that the spray will be applied evenly. She says Star makes her favorite 100 percent horsehair-bristle brushes, which are gentle enough to not snag or pull on the delicate fabric. Wait a few hours for the protectant spray to absorb, and then brush again to restore texture.