I was in the Tandy Leather store in Orem, Utah last week, buying some leathercraft tools and supplies, when I happened upon a container of Snow-Proof Weatherproofing wax. Since my packer boots were in dire need of a new coat of weatherproofing wax, and since I had never tried Snow-Proof before, I decided to give it a try. In reading the labels, I found Snow-Proof is made by Fiebing Company and I have had very good experience with other Fiebing leather care products, such as saddle soap and Neatsfoot Oil. I was excited to find they make a weatherproofing wax.

As you may have read in a previous blog post, for weatherproofing for cold weather, I prefer weatherproofing wax to any other kind of weatherproofing application for leather boots. I have used liquid sprays, oils, and mink oil, both siliconized and non-siliconized, and when it comes to keeping water and cold out of my boots, I prefer a good wax over them all.

Now, oils will penetrate the leather and protect and condition it, but oils are essentially liquid, which is absorbed into the leather, making it essentially wet with oil. While it helps control water penetration, the cold seems to just seep right through. I keep my boot leather well conditioned, using pure neatsfoot oil, but never to the point the leather is saturated with it. On the outside I like to keep a good application of weatherproofing wax. Wax fills the pores of the leather, but does not absorb into it. Therefore, through a winter I may apply the wax several times, as it gets scraped off with use.

There are several good brand names of weatherproofing wax, including such well-known names such as Kiwi. Again, I was pleased to find that Fiebing makes a weatherproofing wax, as I have been pleased with their other leather care products.

So, a few days ago I pulled out my dried-out packer boots and gave them a good wipe-down with neatsfoot oil and let them sit overnight. Then I made an applicator from a piece of sheepskin I had in my leather scraps, and gave the boots a good coat of Snow-Proof Weatherproofing wax. I liked the way it went on. The wax is not at all oily, but firm and waxy. It is pretty easy to tell when a good coat has been applied.

Now I’ll have to give it a good test run, as soon I get a chance to take another ride in the snow.

I’ll make an addendum to this post with the results.