Thread: Waterproofing boots? Waterbased or Silicone?

I'm waterproofing a pair of Lowa Tibets.

In a video Lowa tell you to use only water based wax and spray. Is this the case or is using silicone waxes ok too?

What are folks actually doing for their boot?

Use what they suggest. The glue that holds the rand on comes undone if you use the wrong stuff, I learnt this from experience.

You may find that using a product that hasn’t been approved by Lowa will invalidate the warranty - at least this is what I was told regarding some Meindl boots I used to have.

Meindl and Lowa (and Hanwag) are made by brothers and I would be surprised if the warranties were vastly different.

Originally Posted by Sauer

You may find that using a product that hasn’t been approved by Lowa will invalidate the warranty - at least this is what I was told regarding some Meindl boots I used to have.

Meindl and Lowa (and Hanwag) are made by brothers and I would be surprised if the warranties were vastly different.

How do they know what you have used over the years Iv used all sorts off shit & when boots have gone back not one has test them to see what has been used

If the Goretex liner is still functioning and the boots are waterproof use the lowa dressing. If the gortex is time expired and leaks, then lift and re-glue the rand with proper glue and use the Castor oil and Zinc cream that chemists sell to prevent baby's nappy rash to protect and waterproof the boots.

Once the gortex liner is worn through, (toe nails) leather treatments/sealers only provide short term water proofing. Silicone or wax based. A couple of days in wet grass and bush and it wears off the leather despite how much you rub and hair dryer it in. It’s pretty frustrating.new boot time.

Originally Posted by Dicko

Once the gortex liner is worn through, (toe nails) leather treatments/sealers only provide short term water proofing. Silicone or wax based. A couple of days in wet grass and bush and it wears off the leather despite how much you rub and hair dryer it in. It’s pretty frustrating.new boot time.

The Castor oil and Zinc cream is superior to everything else and will provide excellent water proofing for weeks. Beats Hydrous wool fat, neatsfoot, Huberds, Beeswax + Tung oil + Mutton fat etc etc that I have tried. It is also very kind to leather

Do you make that up yourself or is it a commercial product?

..ignore, just saw above..

Originally Posted by Eamonn

I'm waterproofing a pair of Lowa Tibets.

In a video Lowa tell you to use only water based wax and spray. Is this the case or is using silicone waxes ok too?

What are folks actually doing for their boot?

Yeah you have to use the Lowa stuff until the warranty is up, or it voids warranty. I did that but find their stuff is pretty light and needs to be done every outing. Ive switched to Nikwax products since my warranty period is up. Its better than the Lowa stuff.

Originally Posted by Dicko

Once the gortex liner is worn through, (toe nails) leather treatments/sealers only provide short term water proofing. Silicone or wax based. A couple of days in wet grass and bush and it wears off the leather despite how much you rub and hair dryer it in. It’s pretty frustrating.new boot time.

Those Goretex socks you used to get were good at this point. Havent looked for them for a while though?

Originally Posted by JimmyJames

Yeah you have to use the Lowa stuff until the warranty is up, or it voids warranty. I did that but find their stuff is pretty light and needs to be done every outing. Ive switched to Nikwax products since my warranty period is up. Its better than the Lowa stuff.

I would be wary of any product with bees wax bought some looked the part used on my motorcycle leathers and bike boots bloody useless as soon as it got cold it simply fell of in white lumps changed to a german saddle oil and never looked back

Originally Posted by No.3

Those Goretex socks you used to get were good at this point. Havent looked for them for a while though?

Seal Skins? I never had much joy with them. Either sweaty or wet feet. Not around anymore?


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Still around seal skinz and available in NZ from most big players

Originally Posted by Dicko

Seal Skins? I never had much joy with them. Either sweaty or wet feet. Not around anymore?


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I had the bushbuck waterproof socks and echo this when they worked you had dry feet until they got sweaty, the waterproof membrane in them wore out pretty quick on the balls of the foot and toes transforming them into non waterproof sweaty socks

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

If the Goretex liner is still functioning and the boots are waterproof use the lowa dressing. If the gortex is time expired and leaks, then lift and re-glue the rand with proper glue and use the Castor oil and Zinc cream that chemists sell to prevent baby's nappy rash to protect and waterproof the boots.

Do you just mix it 50% off each or do you another way