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Did I Over Condition My Boots?

post #1 of 13
4/3/11 at 12:22am
Thread Starter 
Hi Folks, "Long time listener, first time caller." I have a pair of Frye Engineers in Gaucho which I have had since last year. I recently conditioned/waterproofed them (2 days ago) with pure lanolin, and I have noticed that they have really wrinkled a lot walking around Manhattan, with small spyderweb patterns appearing where they hadn't before, well, at least more "profoundly" than they had. Is this normal? This is my first pair of pull on boots with this sort of leather and I do not know what to expect. I have read warnings about overconditioning causing the leather to crack and dry out, just want to make sure I haven't done that. The leather at least on the ankle part where I can bend it feels flexible, I am hoping the added suppleness just let the leather crinkle up more, but I really am unsure. Pics for reference: This wrinkle near the sole has shown up recently: This is the most wrinkled part, and is only really exaggerated like this on one boot, much more so than the other. It had a lot of the sort of "spider web" pattern when new, just has gotten a little more profound in the last two days. And the top of the toe:
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post #2 of 13
4/3/11 at 11:47am
looks very dried out imo.
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post #3 of 13
4/3/11 at 12:41pm
Frye's aren't of high quality leather, so I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't respond well to conditioning.
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post #4 of 13
4/3/11 at 1:40pm
I have a pair of Clarks Desert Boots Ecostyle M in a Walnut color similar to that. Wore them without conditioning and they kind of spiderweb/crease like that although not as bad. I've since used Conditioner and wax to shine them up a bit and they still have that effect. Could just be the leather. Clarks aren't exactly top-quality/expensive either
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post #5 of 13
4/3/11 at 2:58pm
Looks like poor leather. I'd try a beeswax based conditioner - I've not been impressed with Lanolin.
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post #6 of 13
4/3/11 at 3:26pm
Wow, I never thought that "over-conditioning" would result in drying up leather. How do you know you're putting too much? I usually apply Obenauf LP on my Filson like every two or so weeks.
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post #7 of 13
4/3/11 at 5:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by poorman View Post
Wow, I never thought that "over-conditioning" would result in drying up leather. How do you know you're putting too much? I usually apply Obenauf LP on my Filson like every two or so weeks.
This isn't an example of over-conditioning. It's an example of shitty leather. Frye's and Clark's DBs are crap and don't wear well. If you have low quality, porous leather, no amount of Obenauf's will help. If anything, too much conditioning will make leather darker and more saturated. That said, conditioning every two weeks does sound a bit unnecessary.
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post #8 of 13
4/3/11 at 6:52pm
No, they're just shitty boots.
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post #9 of 13
4/3/11 at 7:48pm
Shitty boots.

Good quality leather really doesn't need to be conditioned that much. Every 2 weeks is crazy.
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post #10 of 13
4/3/11 at 7:51pm
Fuck those are a year old? They look like a decade old at least.
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post #11 of 13
4/3/11 at 11:31pm
i'll jizz on them for ya
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post #12 of 13
4/4/11 at 3:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by meso View Post
This isn't an example of over-conditioning. It's an example of shitty leather. Frye's and Clark's DBs are crap and don't wear well. If you have low quality, porous leather, no amount of Obenauf's will help. If anything, too much conditioning will make leather darker and more saturated. That said, conditioning every two weeks does sound a bit unnecessary.

Also a bit exaggerated. I know I've done it at least once a month though. I suppose it's not necessary if it isn't obvious then?

thanks for the info!
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post #13 of 13
4/12/11 at 1:46am
I can't see the images that you've posted, but I've got a bit of advice.
If the boots already seem destroyed, scratch at the 'spiderweb' cracks. If you did overcondition the boots, the webbing you're seeing may just be excess conditioner and dirt that has built up on the surface.
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