Care for your leather boots

The not-so-well-kept secret if you want your boots to last a long time is to take care of them and care for them at regular intervals.

Before wearing your boots for the first time: Treat your boots with wax or grease* before use and continue for the 3-4 times you wear them to maximize protection against moisture. Read more below about leather fat and wax. *Avoid grease or oils on boots that have multiple layers or a membrane as these penetrate the leather and soften, causing a stable shaft to lose its stiffness over time. And that they clog up the membrane and it then loses its ability to ventilate and keep tight.

Use your boots often: Use your boots at least twice a month so they mold to your feet. Use them in everyday life - it doesn't have to be hiking.

Socks: In a shell boot, always use two pairs of wool socks – a thin liner and a thicker pair (adjust sock thickness according to temperature and weather). This prevents you from getting chafing. But don't be afraid to use a thicker outer sock even if it's hot outside, as the comfort of a shell boot is in the socks and not in the boot itself.

Cleaning: Use lukewarm water and a brush to clean the boots, both inside and out.

Drying: Dry the boots carefully, avoid high heat sources. The drying temperature should not exceed 40°C.

Insoles: Remove the insoles after each use and place them upright in the shafts.

Impregnation: Treat the leather of your boots with a natural wax or grease (you can find our range here) well if you are going to store them for a long time. Avoid possibly impregnating the cell rubber or the like - you just need to wash it off.

Nubuck boots (suede): We recommend a spray if you want to maintain the suede-like finish. But spray impregnation needs to be applied often for the water-repellent function to last. If you are more interested in having a more long-term solution, we recommend waxing. However, note that the nubuck finish will disappear and the boot will be a bit darker and shinier. For a waxed patina, use grease or wax.

Storage: Store the boots in a cool, dry place between hikes.

Shafts too hard?: If the shafts feel too hard when hiking, leave the top 3 holes/hooks unlaced for the first few hikes to naturally soften them. Then you prevent pressure and chafing on the shins.

Tips from Lundhags

Leather grease or wax?

Both leather fat and wax protect the leather of your Lundhag boots from moisture and external influences, which means they last a long time. They revive and soften the leather while giving it a nice patina and becoming comfortable.

Leather grease:

Lundhag's grease is made according to a traditional Jämtland recipe with a pleasant tar scent that penetrates deep into the leather. The fat makes the leather softer and water resistant, and revives and makes it durable.

Made according to a family recipe from natural ingredients:

Fat: Derived from animal fat. Protects and revives the leather.

Tar: From trees, provides durability and protects against rot. And smells good.

Linseed oil: For water repellency.

Beeswax: Creates a barrier against external influences and gives the leather shine.

Leather wax:

Provides similar protection but does not penetrate as deeply as grease, which makes the leather less soft and feels stiffer.

Ingredients:

Carnauba wax: Gives leather shine and water repellency.

Jojoba oil: Comes from the seeds of the jojoba plant, provides wear resistance and temperature resistance. Penetrates and preserves the leather.

Wool grease (lanolin): Comes from sheep, used for its waterproofing properties and protects the leather.

Beeswax: Creates a barrier against environmental influences and gives the leather shine.

When applying the leather products, please note that both will darken lighter leather. Grease causes more darkening than wax. For nubuck boots, an impregnation spray maintains a suede-like finish. However, for maximum waterproofing you should use wax or grease, which eventually develops a nice patina but the suede finish disappears and the leather becomes more shiny.

Quick guide to maintaining: Nubuck, suede and full grain leather boots

Proper care extends the life of your hiking boots. How to maintain nubuck, suede and full grain leather boots:

Nubuck leather

Properties: Velvet-like soft surface, durable but needs special care.

Cleaning: Remove dirt with a soft brush.

Protection: Use an impregnation spray specifically for nubuck.

Maintenance: Avoid common waxes or oils. After treatment, use a special brush to preserve the texture.

Suede leather

Features: Soft and slightly "hairy" texture, made from the inner layer of the leather.

Cleaning: Brush off dirt gently.

Protection: Regularly apply an impregnation spray specifically for suede.

Maintenance: Use a special brush after treatment to maintain the "hairy" surface. Avoid heavy waxes to preserve the texture.

Full grain leather

Features: Smooth surface, very durable and water resistant.

Cleaning: Use a soft brush and acleaning agent specifically for leather.

Protection: Apply leather wax or grease regularly.

Maintenance: Keep leather moisturized and nourished to prevent dehydration. Properly treated leather should effectively repel water.

General Tips

How often to maintain: Maintain regularly, especially before long hikes. Before using your boots for the first time, treat with wax or grease.

How to dry boots that get wet: Always dry boots thoroughly before applying any treatment.

How to impregnate boots: Reapply impregnation if the boots start to absorb water (dark spots appear).