Boots gor-tex and polish

[midden]

Now I'm not one for polishing shoes, Trainer boy meself and generally shoes are good for throwing before polish is required.
However, at £ridiculous  a pop I have to wonder should I be polishing gortex boots and with normal shoe polish or what?

[mustardbufc]

While polish may not hurt the water repellency,  I wouldn't think it would be good for the breathabilty of the goretex. Check on the manufacturers website for aftercare advice.

[NotAnotherHill]

My Alt-Bergs are leather with a breathable Goretex type lining. Alt-berg recommend using their polish to help the leather repel water. If your boots have a leather outer, eventually the leather will dry out and crack I'd you don't treat it, especially if it is getting wet then drying out through riding in the wet.


BTW normal shoe Polish is not designed to repel water. Outdoor shops stock the stuff to help repel water. Alt-Bergs own stuff is very good and can be bought online through their website.

[Tmation]

The Goretex bit is in the liner and would not be affected by shoe polish or other leather care products. I use the Alberg Leader Gris on my boots its okay but not as good as the stuff I got at a race meet years ago. It was called Resurgerm (or something like that) and is like a cross between valsaline and bees wax, you apply it with a sponge leave it for a bit then buff up.

[midden]

Thanks for replies I will seek out some altberg

[stevierst]

Leder gris isn't that waterproof in itself tbh. I use my altbergs every day rain, hail, or shine, polish them most days and the leather still gets wet in a downpour.
I've been using altberg/gore-tex boots for years using all sorts of different polish over tens of thousands of miles. It really makes no odds what you use, as long as you polish them with something to keep the leather supple.
As has been said before, it's the drop liner that keeps the water out, not the leather.

[Simon.Pieman]

Leder gris isn't that waterproof in itself tbh. I use my altbergs every day rain, hail, or shine, polish them most days and the leather still gets wet in a downpour.
I've been using altberg/gore-tex boots for years using all sorts of different polish over tens of thousands of miles. It really makes no odds what you use, as long as you polish them with something to keep the leather supple.
As has been said before, it's the drop liner that keeps the water out, not the leather.

 I agree. I simply use Cherry Blossom or if I've run out I pinch madam's saddle soap when she's not looking.
 I think if you try to waterproof leather it would probably stop it breathing and you'd be looking at sweaty feet and perhaps even affect the goretex membrane, if any impurity gets into goretex it lets in water.
 Very important to clean leather of any dirt before you polish it btw.

[Mick-H]

Vasaline on leathers, dubin on boots, done this for longer than I care to remember and it works a treat.

[Fuzzy]

It was called Resurgerm (or something like that) and is like a cross between valsaline and bees wax, you apply it with a sponge leave it for a bit then buff up.

RENAPUR!  Good stuff!

[noggythenog]

Goretex is a physical structure, a membrane, it is not a spray or a coating. as others have said applying polish will block the membrane & stop it working.


I had some north face goretex walking boots & where the boots creased it damaged the goretex so the water was pissing in through the crack so imo goretex is a good material but better suited to things like trousers or jackets.


For example...having a goretex liner inside a leather boot is pointless as the sweat will travel outwards but is then blocked by the leather.....far better with a furry cozy lining.



To clean goretex just use water.

[Fuzzy]

What's been said about goretex is true, however I think it's important to look after your boots, leathers and gloves by using some sort of polish or leather nourishing treatment on a regular basis. Bike gear is not cheap, especially if it's leather, so it makes sense to me to look after it.

It should still allow the leather to breath and it should leave it more supple and lasting longer. The leather's water/dirt repellency should also be boosted but as somebody said already the primary barrier to water is the liner, goretex or similar. If it blocked the leather, everybody with polished shoes would have sweaty, stinking feet and nobody would bother!

 I can vouch for Renapur, used it for years on various leather items incl bike stuff and have heard good reports about the Altberg stuff, which I believe is pretty similar.

[AndyL]

I've used Renapur on a number of things in the past. I've been using Altberg stuff on boots since I bought a pair of their boots (not motorbike boots)
 
Gortex doesn't breath that well on coats once the outer fabric starts absorbing water, I don't know if there's much you can do to keep goretex working at it's best while still keeping the leather in good condition. One thing I have noticed about the altberg polish is a few people have said it's not great for getting a shine on army boots.

[stevierst]

One thing I have noticed about the altberg polish is a few people have said it's not great for getting a shine on army boots.

Thats another reason for not using it, as ridiculous as it sounds.

[richfzs]

What rubbish! If you want a shine, then use a polish! If you want something to feed moisturise and protect the leather, use what they recommend - I know people who are riding in 20 year old altbergs, 130,000 miles, because they looked after them as recommended by the manufacturer.

You shouldn't use it because it doesn't give a shine