Do Right by Your Shoes this Winter
You’ve hopefully stocked up on the best shoes or boots to get you through the cold winter months, but have you really done enough to make sure they’ll last?
If you haven’t found the right boots or shoes this winter, check out the following articles to get started on your search.
Alright, let’s focus. You’ve got your boots or shoes, you’re ready for winter. Right? Aren’t all boots ready to go? You probably spent a little more than you felt comfortable with. So they’re totally waterproof and I don’t have to think about them anymore. I’ve got this!
I’ve fallen into that trap a few too many times…
There are a few things you need to consider before you brave the elements with your new kicks. Do a quick inventory check. Are they real or faux leather? Are they Suede?
If they’re real leather…
Get yourself a shoe shine kit.
Simplest kit a few bucks will get you:
Once you’ve shined your shoes. You’ve got to through on some protective shoe spray. KIWI products are great and the company has been around for ages. That’s a good sign that they’ve got the shoe protection thing figured out.
Remember to reapply every few weeks if it’s raining or snowing. Never hurts to be that prepared.
If they’re faux leather…
You can shine them, but it won’t do too much in the long term. Your best bet is to just use the same KIWI Protect-All spray.
What is very important is that you need to keep them clean before you spray them down. For a “premium” branded product, Jason Markks nails the shoe cleaning products. Grab their essentials kit and they work for all shoes (excluding suede).
If they’re suede…
This is a dangerous material to wear in the winter. They’re prone to staining, attracting mud and generally don’t dry out well if they get wet. And there’s honestly nothing worse than a gnarly wet boot smell.
Once again, KIWI provides the best protective spray. Two quick coats and you’re all set.
If they do get dirty, be sure to not use the same cleaning kit. Frustrating, yes I know, that you need TWO whole separate cleaners. It’s the price for looking that good. Sorry, suede is different and needs some TLC that’s different from other shoes.
Quick Tips
- What’s the plan if my boots get absolutely soaked? The second you get them home, immediately crumple up some newspaper and stuff them to the brim. This is a total dad move that’s impressively effective. Once they’re dry, reapply shoe shine or a protective spray. The shoe shine will keep the leather tight, and the protective spray ensures you’re all set just in case it happens again.
- Find a good leather repair shop. They are surprisingly cheap. Think about it in the range of $20-$30. If your boots or shoes get damaged they always have a solution that’ll make your shoes last another year or two. If you don’t have rubber soles, they also have a great thin rubber material they can apply to shoes with a more traditional dress shoe sole. (Don’t worry, they won’t squeak down every hallway in your office)
- The Jason Markks Traveller kit is great if you’re that worried while you’re on the go. The quick wipes they sell are fantastic for keeping in your office desk drawer or the glove box of your car. Both are at solid prices too.
Taking that extra step to protect your shoes is crucial to making sure they last. Investing the less $50–75 on protective and cleaning products in the fall and you won’t be asking for a new pair of shoes or boots every winter.
Do right by your shoes, man. Future you will definitely appreciate it.
