New Shoes - When do you have the first shine?

[SKater]

Should I have my new shoes shined right away or should I wait until they appear to need a shine? I saw a guy the other day take shoes out of the box and get them shined, do some of you do that?

 

[Harold falcon]

How shiny are they out of the box? I would only shine when needed. Perhaps using some conditioner or lotion out of the box would be a good idea, but I wouldn't think waxing them would be necessary.

 

[JayJay]

I polish calf after the first wear. For shell, after the first dozen or so times I wear them.

 

[archetypal_yuppie]

Some people advocate conditioning the leather before wearing them, in hopes of reducing creasing. I have no idea whether it has a significant effect, even though I did so on my EGs, since I didn't have a control group.

I have found that many brands do not come nicely polished out of the box.

 

[Eustace]

I polish out of the box to achieve a shine not found originally. I doubt it serves any other utility.

 

[Threak]

Originally Posted by Eustace

I doubt it serves any other utility.

It may help prevent scuffs.

 

[archetypal_yuppie]

Given that polish leaves a super-thin film of wax, at best, I am skeptical about the preposition that polishing can prevent scuffs. Protection from rain/moisture, sure, but from any kind of impact/scratching... doesn't seem likely.

Obiously it is helpful in buffing them away.

 

[mimile]

Originally Posted by SKater

Should I have my new shoes shined right away or should I wait until they appear to need a shine? I saw a guy the other day take shoes out of the box and get them shined, do some of you do that?

Yes. It should be done before you wear the shoes. Many reasons: first, you don't know how much time the shoes have been in the box. The leather can be very dry. Second, if they are welted it is important to cream the welts. The cream that goes between the stitches will make the shoes fully waterproof. Third, you need to give them the shine and eventually the glacing they don't necessarily have. Fourth, putting cream and wax will protect them.

 

[Nick V.]

Agreed.....
Also the tanning process tends to slightly dry out the leather.
You may want to consider a treatment of waterproof before polish or conditioner.
It's just a little extra protection.