Breaking in new leather

[theQuills]

So I have this combined illness of amnesia and nostalgia and my doctor told me to purchase some new leathers boots for a walk down memory lane, so now I'm the proud owner of a new pair of Scarpa Tours.

Does anyone have a good suggestions for a leather conditioner?

Thanks in advance!!

[purplesage]

Lexol works great for me. Easy to apply, not too messy. Keeps my Extremes looking like new!

[Crowbar]

Neatsfoot oil works real good for conditioning and softening leather. I use it on my Snowfields when they get dry and/or stiff.

[cesare]

You don't want to use anything like oil or silicone on full grain leather. Why you want to make them softer is beyond my comprehension. I want to preserve the leather, keep it from drying out, and prevent it from getting softer any faster than it has to. Wax is the best for that--either SnoSeal or Bee Seal. I use Bee Seal Plus, which is simply beeswax and lanolin. Keep applying it before the leather gets dried out and starts to crack. Where it gets scuffed it is really important to keep it sealed with wax. And if you can find them, a pair of supergaiters will extend the life of your leather ski boots a lot.

[theQuills]

You don't want to use anything like oil or silicone on full grain leather. Why you want to make them softer is beyond my comprehension. I want to preserve the leather, keep it from drying out, and prevent it from getting softer any faster than it has to. Wax is the best for that--either SnoSeal or Bee Seal. I use Bee Seal Plus, which is simply beeswax and lanolin. Keep applying it before the leather gets dried out and starts to crack. Where it gets scuffed it is really important to keep it sealed with wax. And if you can find them, a pair of supergaiters will extend the life of your leather ski boots a lot.

Makes sense, I don't want to soften the leather but protect it, maybe conditioner was the wrong choice of word. Thanks Cesare et all.

[Valdez Telehead]

Oils and use. Tie the laces up tight went not in use to maintain form. Don't store "floppy".

[theQuills]

Oils and use. Tie the laces up tight went not in use to maintain form. Don't store "floppy".

Dually noted, thanks.

[3PinGrin]

I am cannot BELIEVE Teleman, aka leather purist (except of course for that internal plastic reinforcement) retrogrouch, has not chimed in on this thread. I will basically reiterate what cesare said but add some to it based on my personal approach. Repeated applications of Snoseal, melt in with blow dryer (not too close to the leather), wipe off excess, repeat. You cannot apply too much. I have not tried Bee seal (although can support it based on Cesare's recommendation) but can most definitely vouch for Snoseal.

[Todd Eastman]

Bee Seal was developed because the Snoseal formula softened the leather. It was considered best to use leather softening compounds on particular areas that needed stretching and to avoid it everywhere else. As usual, Cesare has described this in detail... listen to him!

[Teleman]

Just plain shoe wax also works well...Use that and mink oil.....can't be to soft!!!!Good advise all...TM

[tele.skier]

....... And if you can find them, a pair of supergaiters will extend the life of your leather ski boots a lot.

Back in the day, I always wanted a pair of those so badly... Not only do they keep your leather boots from getting soaking wet in warm conditions, they also protected your ski edges from cutting up your boots up, until you cut through the gaiter I supose... I can't believe how things change. Back in the day I was afraid to spend $50. on something like that because money was tight and the bills were endless... Now, I have way too much gear for one person...

anyway, they have a rubber rand that goes under the arch of the boot to hold them firmly down on your boot and they have openings where your heel and sole poke out from them...

Boots have changed so much that I can't even find a decent picture of the ones I remember from a while ago, but here's a link to a page that has something like I remember

https://www.mtntools.com/cat/techwea...structions.htm

[airinwrite]

Back in the day, I always wanted a pair of those so badly... Not only do they keep your leather boots from getting soaking wet in warm conditions, they also protected your ski edges from cutting up your boots up, until you cut through the gaiter I supose... I can't believe how things change. Back in the day I was afraid to spend $50. on something like that because money was tight and the bills were endless... Now, I have way too much gear for one person...

anyway, they have a rubber rand that goes under the arch of the boot to hold them firmly down on your boot and they have openings where your heel and sole poke out from them...

Boots have changed so much that I can't even find a decent picture of the ones I remember from a while ago, but here's a link to a page that has something like I remember

https://www.mtntools.com/cat/techwea...structions.htm

Those Mtntools super gaiters look exactly like my OR pair. I have them on some Asolo Extremes and they really add a lot for warmth and protection.