Here, we’ll discuss 10 fundamental boot rules that every men should adhere to.
Cedar Shoe Trees
I make an effort to utilize a pair of cedar shoe trees in each pair of boots I own, but it becomes more challenging as the number grows.
Shoe trees come in a variety of types. Both cedar and plastic are readily available.
As you begin to acquire additional pairs of boots, the plastic ones are quite alluring because you may get a great deal of them for a reasonable price.
However, cedar shoe trees provide a few benefits that plastic simply cannot.
One is how wonderful they smell. This also keeps your boot fresh. You’re preventing water or moisture from being trapped in the leather, which could cause it to crack or distort. The wood absorbs moisture as well and releases it gradually.
Without using a pair of cedar shoe trees, the toe can start to get severely deformed. A lot of sagging is occurring. It just doesn’t maintain its shape, which is problematic because the shape of a pair of Chelsea boots is crucial.
Condition
The second rule is to condition frequently and early.
Most of the time, I condition a pair of boots during the first month of ownership, if not immediately, before I wear them for the first time.
I advise applying some conditioner during the first five or six wears merely to retain the leather moisture, and then condition it after every ten wears.
Depending on the type of leather, I usually alternate between three different leather conditioners.
I work with Bick 4, which is the least expensive. I use this one on boots that have already been waxed and are naturally loaded with oils.
Bick 4 aids in maintaining the leather’s moisture. It will remove some of the nicks and scratches while barely altering the color.
Venetian Leather Balm is my preferred and most frequently used leather conditioner. I’ll utilize that in situations where I don’t want to affect the leather’s color.
More so than Bick 4, Venetian Leather Balm seeps into the leather and is slightly more efficient. It has a slight shine, but not a lot.
Saphia Renovator is the final type of leather conditioner I’ll use. I apply it to any of my dressier boots that need a stronger shine.
Since Saphir Renovator is so expensive and you want that shine on dressier boots, I definitely save it for those.
No Cheap Boots
The third piece of advice is to not skimp on the price of a pair of boots. Really, I don’t need to explain this.
But in essence, buying inexpensive boots is not worth it because they won’t last.
Don’t Tuck Your Jeans In
Although it should go without saying, I occasionally notice some guys tucking their jeans into their boots.
It just doesn’t work.
Avoid Cemented Sole Construction
Cemented sole construction, if you’re not familiar with the term, refers to how the sole is bonded to the leather upper.
Construction boots with cemented soles are frequently produced quickly and cheaply, however this means that the sole can separate from the leather upper. That might happen between six and eight months.
If you spend $120 on a pair of boots with a cemented sole construction, that sole may split if you use them in the rain or wear them too hard.
There isn’t much you can do after that sole separates.
Don’t Damage The Leather Heel
Don’t ever wear into the leather part of your heel. Most boots have a leather section on the stacked heel in addition to a rubber top lift or heel cap.
This heel can wear out depending on how you walk, and a lot of guys will let it go and push it off until it starts to wear into the leather.
This top lift may be simply replaced by your cobbler for $20 or $30, and it will just take a few minutes to replace.
However, once you start to wear into the leather, you may create issues that are simply unfixable.
They might have to make custom pieces of leather. Simply put, it’s much more expensive and challenging.
Do yourself a favor and replace the rubber heel if it is beginning to wear down before it starts to scratch into the leather.
Goodyear Welt
Not everything is Goodyear Welt. There are a ton of additional fantastic footwear options available that are made with a sewn down or a Blake stitch.
You can have this pair of boots for five, even up to ten years, if you can replace the sole. Your cobbler can do this in a variety of ways.
Don’t choose cemented sole construction, but don’t disregard a pair of boots just because they lack a Goodyear Welt either.
Clean Welts
Eighth rule: Always clean out the welt of your boots while we’re on the subject of welts. Usually, a dauber brush is needed for it.
Making sure you spend some time cleaning inside the welt of your boots as you clean and condition them is important because any dirt or mud that collects there over time could harm the stitching.
Get a Variety of Boots
The Chelsea boot is my favorite. It can be worn in a formal or informal setting. I would get a pair of black Chelsea boots and a pair of brown Chelsea boots.
That will keep you looking classy while covering you in a ton of informal scenarios.
The Cap Toe Service boot is one option. Along with the Thursday Logger and the Thursday Captain, I enjoy the Red Wing Iron Ranger.
Additionally, I get them in a variety of colors so that you may mix and match them with any outfit you want to wear.
However, having a nice Chelsea boot and Cap Toe boot is a terrific, reliable starting combination for all of your boots.
However, you shouldn’t confine yourself to that. You want to have something for different outfits and seasons.
Wear Right Type of Pants
Ironically, unless you have cowboy boots or want to appear to be wearing bell-bottoms, boot-cut jeans are not what you want to wear with boots.
Choose a pair of slim jeans with a tapered leg opening. The reason for this is that a tapered leg opening enables your boot to truly show that you invested in a high-quality boot.
You’re letting that boot show when you wear a pair of jeans that are either cuffed or stacked with a slim leg opening.
