Walking boots - leaking everywhere, can anything be done?

[actiongirl1978]

I have a pair of Karrimor boots I bought about 18 months ago. I wear them most days to walk the dog in the fields.

Aside from the cracking of the leather which I put dubbin on whenever I remember, all of the plastic/leather part of the tongue which is underneath the laces has cracked and peeled off and so my boots are pouring with water.

Does anyone know if anything can be done? I did go to the cobbler this morning but he couldn't suggest anything.

My feet are constantly wet at the moment and I am desperate to make my boots dry again! I walk through farming fields so they need to be waterproof.

I'd rather not buy another pair if I can help it.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

I say 'all of the plastic layer' I mean some of it, where the tongue joins the boot, hence the leaking.

I think you can buy reproofing stuff. Ask one of the hiking/camping type shops.

Nikwax might help, you can get free samples on their site

Thank you for your replies! Will those things work on the fabric though where the surface has come away or is it just for the leather?

I have used Nikwax on fabric and leather shoes/boots with success (I think the leather one does fabric shoes too).

I would take them back to the shop - that shouldn't happen.

Dd does DofE I reproof her boots with Fabsil. Big tin and it gets painted on. It is expensive but find its better than the spray version.

Also she wears seal socks, £30 odd from Go Outdoors they are waterproof socks.

You could try taking them back as pp has said.

Fab, I will try some nikwax then.

Not sure I can take them back, they are 18months old and I got them from Amazon, I reckon it would be put down to wear and tear at this stage. (Didn't stop me googling karrimor guarantees earlier though!)

If you've worn them every day for 18 months they've done pretty well. Time to lay them to rest and get another pair.

Footle. I am so sad that this is exactly what I may have to do!

So annoying when a pair of shoes is just right then they meet their end in life. My wellies started leaking last week too, they have gone back as they were only 8 weeks old, however I'm now on the search for boots and wellies and in the meantime I have soggy feet!

the cracking of the leather which I put dubbin on whenever I remember which may not have been often enough.

I have never had leather boots crack. We don't wear them every day, admittedly, but they get cleaned and fed after every single hiking trip, before being put back in the wardrobe.

Also, there are better products than dubbin. We use Zamberlan Hydrobloc.

For waterproofing non-greasy things, the liquid Fabsil is good.

IIRC Nikwax do one that you can use on greasy things, like previously dubbined leather.

But they will all need far more frequent application than "whenever I remember"!

Alternatively you could replace with Goretex Boots.

Stepawayfromthecake I consider myself admonished! I just had a flashback to about 1992 when I had to feed my painful leather hiking boots that we all had from the army surplus store in our town...

I suppose I may have been a bit lazy, but when I get back with the dog I tend to kick the boots off and then crack on with other things or dash to work.

Do Goretex boots stand up well to mud?

Sorry didn't mean to sound so bossy!

I began using Goretex boots a few years ago, when my fitness levels plummeted and I started having knee problems, and I was finding leather boots too heavy and stiff. I have never had any problems with them. I've never needed to reproof them to maintain breathability. In theory, with heavy use, you would need to. I have also had Goretex 'town' shoes, worn every day through winter, maltreated, uncared for, looking totally shabby after a couple of years - not a single leak.

Dh doesn't trust Goretex in boots, and sticks to leather, because if the Goretex membrane tears or gets a pinprick hole it will leak. Of course, you can use proofing stuff, but it will not be 100% reliable and would need frequent reapplication.

Thanks Stepawayfromthecake.

Bit of an update, I wrote to Amazon last night and they have offered to refund them.

So I am now investigating alternatives - Leather Grisports perhaps...I think I feel better with leather, also I can just rinse the mud off rather than having mucky fabric.

I can recommend Ariat endurance boots they are light, waterproof and so very comfortable.
I've also got leather wellies for when its colder.
I know neither are cheap but if you look after them and reproof them they'll last a long time.
Dubbin stretches leather and there are much better products that waterproof your shoes.

Good result!

I would agree that leather is more appropriate for muddy walks.

Dh really rates Zamberlan. His last pair, conventional leather, lasted 15y of hard hill-walking. (And TLC! ).Last year he finally had to replace them - no leaks, but the sole was coming away. He now has a Goretex-lined pair of leather Zamberlans: the best of both worlds.