TIL a simple leather conditioner trick doubled the life of my work boots

I started applying a thin coat of neatsfoot oil every 3 months instead of just wiping them down. After a year of daily use on concrete floors, the soles still had good tread and the leather stayed flexible. Anyone else use a specific conditioner that really made a difference?

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joseph5294mo ago

Neatsfoot oil actually made my boots stiff and brittle after a few months.

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mitchell.nancy4mo ago

Yeah I had the same thing happen with a pair of Red Wings. Everyone swears by neatsfoot but I think it's way too heavy for modern leather. It sits on top and never really soaks in right. Boots ended up feeling plasticky and got those weird hard creases. Stick to something lighter like mink oil or just plain beeswax.

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