Cleaning your tactical leather boots

Maintaining your tactical boots is not that hard or time consuming to do. Read our how to-guide on how to clean your boots and how to extend their […]

Cleaning and conditioning your tactical leather boots is necessary if you want to get plenty of mileage out of them, and it is not actually that hard or time consuming to do. The effort is worth it for those well-worn leather boots that fit your feet like a glove (or in this case, like a boot).

Why is it important to clean your leather boots?

Water, dust, dirt, salt and sun are all factors that will wear out your boots. This means that if you don’t take good care of them, they will soon become run down. The life span of your leather boots depends on how well you take care of them. That is why it is important you clean and condition them.

What happens to leather if you don't clean your boots?

Leather boots (like any other leather product) dry out, become brittle and crack if they are not taken care of in the correct way. Keeping the surface clean and conditioned will keep it from showing dry leather symptoms, such as squeakiness and cracks.

Brown tactical leather boots in need a cleaning and conditioning

What to use when cleaning your boots

Cleaning is the first step to getting your boots looking healthy and fresh. This is what you need:

Soft-bristled brush
Damp cloth
Q-tips or toothbrush

How to clean your tactical leather boots

Step 1

Remove the shoe laces

Step 2

Use the soft-bristled brush to remove dust, dirt and salt particles from your boots

Pro Tip

Use a toothbrush or a q-tip for those hard to reach areas

Step 3

Wipe your boots with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or debris that’s left on the boot after brushing. Leave to air dry

Follow these simple steps to clean your boots:

Remove the shoelaces.
With gentle, back-and-forth motions, use the soft-bristled brush to remove dust, dirt and salt particles from your boots. Make sure you pay special attention to remove dirt from any crevices in the leather. For those hard-to-reach areas you can also use a toothbrush or a q-tip to really get in there.
Wipe your boots with a damp cloth to remove any dirt or debris that’s left on the boot after brushing. Leave to air dry.

Do my tactical leather boots need to be conditioned after cleaning?

Yes, when your boots are worn and dry you need to add nourishment to the surface to keep it from cracking.

What to use when conditioning my tactical leather boots

Dry cotton cloth
Leather wax

How do I condition my tactical leather boots?

Here are some general guidelines for conditioning your boots, but we recommend you to always read the instructions on the polish packaging before you begin.

Please note – if it is the first time you use the leather wax on your boots, we recommend you do a test on a small area for example on the heal or the tongue to make sure the product does not affect the color of the leather. However, most products have a slight darkening effect on the leather, so that is to be expected. Leave it to dry for a couple of hours.

When the test is done and you are ready to treat the whole boot, this is what you do:

1. Use the dry cotton cloth to apply a small amount of wax on the entire boot. Massage the wax into the leather in small circular motions. When done, wipe off any excess wax with a clean cloth.
2. Leave to dry for 15 minutes (or follow the instructions on the wax packaging) and remove any excess wax still on the boot with a clean, dry cotton cloth.
3. Leave your boots to air-dry for 12 hours. Re-lace and you are ready for your next adventure!