What does everybody do to care for their boots? I have a pair of AStars No Stop boots that I've had since the beginning of this season. They are starting to get some really fine wrinkles in the bend areas and the leather is starting to fray on the left boot. I recall someone talking about some sort of care product for leather boots but I can't remember what it was...

If the boot is real leather I use Lexol leather conditioner to keep the leather from drying out and cracking over time.

Synthetic leather, like Sidi uses, I use 303 Protectant.

IMO, Trials or any dirt bike boots really get abused and have to be relaced every few years if you ride a lot.

762SPR, on 23 July 2012 - 01:26 AM, said:

Just adding to suggestions, You do what you like...

But I like to use real mink oil, in paste form, on my boots.  I tried the "oil" form, and I get more on me than the boots, and seems like I used 3x as much for the same coverage.

DrKayak, is right though if you wear them a lot, and ride a lot and the real leather gets dried out, they will go bad quicker.  I have my old boots that I bought 10 years ago, resoled them, keep them for practice...  But I have lost enough weight that I need to get smaller boots now...  Still, The soles go bad faster for me now than the boots...

So, If you mink them up more than once a year, or as I do, each time I believe we're about to have a trials where I will get wet, I mink the hell out of them.  Ive posted this "my minking strategy" and have had some say that:  minking causes the threads at the soles to rot.  or other things they didnt like.  I have not experienced this with my way older (70's era sidi boots) or my 2001 to present Hebo boots.

But, your mileage may vary.  Im in Kansas and we ride year round (hot and cold as hell).  heck I have some boots here 30 years old, that people can wear (kid sizes you know) to ride a bike for a while if they live near me, they haven't rotted or anything.

BUT, I try to mink boots no less than 48 hours before the event, becuase it does leave a "goopy" covering on the boots, that I hate getting all over me and the back seat of the pickup, if you know what I mean, lol...  when loading for the trials...  but I like that it stops some "seeping" leaks around the soles of my Hebo boots.  Mink oil is a PITA to get off your hands, lol.

Edited by sting32, 23 July 2012 - 10:01 AM.

Use saddle soap on them to clean them 1st - then hit them with the leather conditioner. Most shoe repair shop sells all kinds cheap. I buy it from the cobbler who resoles my boots. He always tells me im not cleaning them enough......

Here is what you DO NOT DO-
My Gearnes were looking a little dry so I grabbed saddle soap but I needed a good stiff toothbrush to work it into the threads. I found one in the middle of the medicine cabinet that appeared to have been discarded in favor of a new one. After the job was complete and  I lay in bed drifting off to peaceful thoughts of trials riding the next day when I hear a less than peaceful exclamation from my wife 'Where is my toothbrush?'
It was an even colder winter night in Alaska than usual......its not like I put it back after I was done.

Gandalf_WR450, on 23 July 2012 - 06:02 PM, said:

Thanks for the input guys. I'll see if I can get some stuff for them.