g.michael
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2010
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After becoming intrigued with shell cordovan about 5 years ago, and learning a ton on this forum (and its predecessor), I have since owned/worn well over a dozen pair or so, from 3 different manufacturers. I have about 6 pair in the current rotation, including the Indy boot (via J. Gilbert) pictured below. Cordovan is a great material, and I have personally found it to be very low maintenance. I know some people follow the Mac method with almost religious fervor, and I respect that. But for me, I go with a very low maintenance routine—after a day of wear (and I do wear them, as you will see), they may get a light brushing (10 seconds) and then shoe trees go in and they go on the shelf until the next wearing. Once every 15-25 wearings, they may get some Reno and some paste wax, but a quick buffing does wonders as well. That’s it. Shell holds up great and I’ve honestly got better things to do with my time.
Anyway, for your enjoyment, or shock, below are pics of a cleanup job that my Indy’s needed. I have worn them on some light hikes in the woods, but recently took them to my father-in-law’s farm in January where he has a great place for shooting guns. It had recently rained, but I thought the ground had dried out sufficiently, but this turned out not to be the case. Anyway, after a couple hours of blasting sporting clays, exploding 2 liter bottles of pop, and getting in some 9mm target practice, my boots had suffered the effects you can see below.
Not only that, when I got home, I took them off in the garage and they sat in that cold state for 2 full weeks. Yes, you read that right. I’m a busy guy, but I have also worn shell long enough to know that any worry was over nothing.
Here they are after a wipe down with a wet cloth and a wet toothbrush along the welt, and a towel dry. Scuffs and scratches show character.
Here they are after a quick treatment with Renovateur, some light paste wax, some brushing (not a lot), and a buff with an old cotton t-shirt, followed by an application of Alden leather defender, and a final buff--the whole process took less than an hour. They look fantastic. Shell is some great stuff.
Watermark from the mud--more character!
Anyway, for your enjoyment, or shock, below are pics of a cleanup job that my Indy’s needed. I have worn them on some light hikes in the woods, but recently took them to my father-in-law’s farm in January where he has a great place for shooting guns. It had recently rained, but I thought the ground had dried out sufficiently, but this turned out not to be the case. Anyway, after a couple hours of blasting sporting clays, exploding 2 liter bottles of pop, and getting in some 9mm target practice, my boots had suffered the effects you can see below.
Not only that, when I got home, I took them off in the garage and they sat in that cold state for 2 full weeks. Yes, you read that right. I’m a busy guy, but I have also worn shell long enough to know that any worry was over nothing.
Here they are after a wipe down with a wet cloth and a wet toothbrush along the welt, and a towel dry. Scuffs and scratches show character.
Here they are after a quick treatment with Renovateur, some light paste wax, some brushing (not a lot), and a buff with an old cotton t-shirt, followed by an application of Alden leather defender, and a final buff--the whole process took less than an hour. They look fantastic. Shell is some great stuff.
Watermark from the mud--more character!
