Would you expect heavy duty leather boots to be waterproof?

[Wonderbug81]

Brand new black leather thick soled shoes from Clarks. Been out today in heavy rain and my toes are wet!

Do you think this counts as faulty?

No. I'd only expect boots marketed as waterproof to be waterproof tbh. It's been very wet today!

Can you post a link to the exact pair?

Leather isn't usually waterproof, so no. Unless they were advertised as waterproof - check the listing on their website.

No. Leather shoes needs to be treated in order to be waterproof.

Yes. Basic premise of boots is that they keep your feet dry from rain & puddles.

"Waterproof" boots are for wading through water or standing in standing-water for a long time.

Leather is not waterproof unless treated.

Interesting!

https://www.clarks.com/en-gb/orinoco-3-style/26182897-p

I've had simple suede boots which were more 'fashion' boots and they were more waterproof than these. I've only been out in the rain for 10 minutes and it feels like there must be holes in them my toes are so wet.

Thanks all, I've had leather boots before but never had this issue nor had to treat them before.

Leather needs to be treated, sure, but a new pair of leather boots will keep your feet dry in the rain. I've never had a pair of leather shoes that don't and I'd expect better from Clarks.

That's my instinct. Will speak to them.

@Wonderbug81 good luck!

Oh my Dd had them said they were rubbish then the sole started to come away, i think you can say they are letting in water and try for a refund.

I would absolutely not expect my feet to get wet, even in heavy rain, wearing these boots. I’ve been wearing a version of these type of leather boots pretty much all my life and the only time my feet get wet is if the sole starts coming away from the upper.

I would expect to wax leather boots. Clark’s quality is not what it once was. There’s nothing in the listing for those boots that says they are waterproof. There’s even a whole load of treatment products listed after the boot listing.

I had some tall Orinoco boots about 15 years ago, and hated them. Really thin soles. Fortunately the sole came off inna couple of weeks and I got a refund.

I've had leather shoes and boots all my life include DMs and never done anything to them but sounds like I've been lucky. Soles on these are thicker than DMs so it's all a bit strange.

It's the seams that will be letting water in I expect? I have various leather from high end to M and S and none have ever leaked but I use waterproof spray. When I bought at Jones they have a special machine that coats them. I suppose it also depends how much water you are in 🤷‍♀️

You need to wax them for them to be fully waterproof.

most leather boots and shoes are ok in light rain.

Thank you, I think it's the seams. I was literally walking in the heavy rain and avoiding puddles.

Good luck with that. Please record their reaction and post it on here.

The description does not claim them to be waterproof(although at that price ywnbu to think so) unlike for the goretex lined version which does.

I have a few pairs of boots, definitely water resistant, but they've never let in water yet, but then they are makes that have a reputation for quality. I have to say that Clarks have long since left quality behind and after a Clarks pair literally crumbled internally, not a brand I bother with any longer.

Not if they are lace up across the top of your foot…which is the style the OP bought.

It's only the toes that were wet, if it was an issue near the laces I'd expect the top of my foot to be wet.

I have the same boots OP. I walked around town for hours today in the rain and my feet stayed dry. I gave them a thorough coating with a shoe protector spray before wearing them, like they advise at Clarks. I bought this one from Tesco: https://cherryblossom.co.uk/products/shoe-protector

I think it’s unlikely the boots are faulty. Unlike some other boots on the Clarks website, they’re not described as waterproof. The rain has been horrible today where I am, so I guess there’s only so much non-waterproof boots can take. Try using a spray or a wax if you haven’t already.

Untreated leather is never going to fully waterproof but your feet shouldn’t get soaked just from walking around in the rain, even if it’s heavy

I would expect them to keep rain out, yes. However I would dry them out, polish them well and then give them another try in rain.

I definitely don't expect boots to let water in, the whole point of closed boots or shoes is to keep your feet dry.