boot maintenance

[Fark]

I recently aquired a pair of elephant hide Corteney boots and need some advice on how to keep them in good order. I have the brush from Courteney but not the polish.

 

[Hunt anything]

Africa sporting creations has the polish or conditioner on their website.

 

[mdwest]

obenaufs-heavy-duty-leather-preservative

Ive found this stuff to be exceptionally good.. I use it on the boots I use for hunting in Africa (James Leddy Safari boots), as well as my western/cowboy boots..

 

[Fark]

Africa sporting creations has the polish or conditioner on their website.

Unfortunately,they want $75 for shipping plus the cost of the kit.

 

[Hunt anything]

Unfortunately,they want $75 for shipping plus the cost of the kit.

75 just to ship a 4 oz jar of leather conditioner? That’s rediculous!!!

 

[WAB]

Unfortunately,they want $75 for shipping plus the cost of the kit.

Do you live in Antarctica?

 

[Fark]

Do you live in Antarctica?

Close,Australia.

 

[Red Leg]

At least you don't have to worry about having your boots - dirty, polished, or conditioned - being seized at the Atlanta airport.

 

[Hunt anything]

Close,Australia.

I stand corrected, 75 shipped to Australia doesn’t seem too bad. Still not worth it though.

 

[Fark]

I stand corrected, 75 shipped to Australia doesn’t seem too bad. Still not worth it though.

39 for the product and 75 for shipping. In Australian currency that`s about one bazillion local dollars.

 

[Fark]

At least you don't have to worry about having your boots - dirty, polished, or conditioned - being seized at the Atlanta airport.

I`m Australian,so I only had to worry about Sydney airport.

 

[Fark]

Thank you to everyone who offered advice and help. I`ve now got some serious geek type hunting to do to find appropriate products on the interwebs.

 

[Rimbaud]

Consider checking with one of the great leather companies in Australia. I think Packer, if memory serves well, is renowned for kangaroo leather. I bet they would have some thoughts on elephant hide and top quality booth conditioner. I have the Cortney boot wax/polish that came with the order, and it’s worth about $10 USD or less. My dad gave me an elephant wallet as a boy and it needed absolutely no care that I can recall.

 

[Fark]

Consider checking with one of the great leather companies in Australia. I think Packer, if memory serves well, is renowned for kangaroo leather. I bet they would have some thoughts on elephant hide and top quality booth conditioner. I have the Cortney boot wax/polish that came with the order, and it’s worth about $10 USD or less. My dad gave me an elephant wallet as a boy and it needed absolutely no care that I can recall.

Thanks mate,I`ll check them out.

 

[steve white]

Consider checking with one of the great leather companies in Australia. I think Packer, if memory serves well, is renowned for kangaroo leather. I bet they would have some thoughts on elephant hide and top quality booth conditioner. I have the Cortney boot wax/polish that came with the order, and it’s worth about $10 USD or less. My dad gave me an elephant wallet as a boy and it needed absolutely no care that I can recall.

A wallet is conditioned by the oil on your own hands, the same as a Bible--you handle it regularly, you condition it.

 

[Safari Dave]

I know, African hunting is more about tradition than it is is with practically, and I'm fine with that.

I am a follower of tradition over practicality with most my African hunting.


But, IMHO, wearing Courtney boots over something modern, is just asking for foot problems and limited daily mileage, unless you are an athlete in your 20's, and even then, you won't be able to run as fast as you might need to.

I've been offered free pair by a friend, but after wearing them for a while, I quickly realized that Danner and Kenetrek make a superior hunting boot.

I guess my blasphemy will get me, forever, banned from the forum...

As the recently departed Gordon Lightfoot said, in his most famous song, "fellas, it's been good to know you"...

 

[Fark]

I know, African hunting is more about tradition than it is is with practically, and I'm fine with that.

I am a follower of tradition over practicality with most my African hunting.


But, IMHO, wearing Courtney boots over something modern, is just asking for foot problems and limited daily mileage, unless you are an athlete in your 20's, and even then, you won't be able to run as fast as you might need to.

I've been offered free pair by a friend, but after wearing them for a while, I quickly realized that Danner and Kenetrek make a superior hunting boot.

I guess my blasphemy will get me, forever, banned from the forum...

As the recently departed Gordon Lightfoot said, in his most famous song, "fellas, it's been good to know you"...

We all have our own experiences and opinions. Yours is as welcome as all others.

 

[Safari Dave]

IMO -

This is the best safari boot ever made...

Safari

Whether you hike or hunt in warmer climates, here or abroad, the Safari is like buying two boots in one. Although they'll be your go-to early season or desert boot, they'll quickly become your first choice around town. The durable full grain leather uppers have a Cambrelle lining that...

kenetrek.com

 

[zephyr]

I would consider Lexol cleaner and conditioner
The cleaner will get dirt out of the pores of the leather a must before you put any sort of polish or preservative on the boot the cleaner is also neutral based so it will not remove the tannanins in the leather

 

[CM McKenzie]

Just look up RM Williams, it’s made in Australia, and they offer some of the best leather products. I used to use their tallow based cream as a base for restoration on some very dry old saddles.

Also keep in mind, if you use a wax, paste, or cream based product on elephant it will likely darken it considerably, and it is very hard to get all of the residue out of the porous surface of elephant even using a heat gun. Those products are also a magnet for dust. Not saying it’s wrong, I use the wax based obenaufs mentioned above on my boot, but mine are not elephant.

I would consider the lexol mentioned above as a cleaner. It is a glycerin based product. Also don’t discount good old fashioned saddle soap.

I would seal them up with neat-lac if you can get it over there. Barry King over in Sheridan Wyoming is the current custodian of the old neat-lac recipe. A quart of it would last you far longer than the boots. A little goes a long way.