Waterproofing Dress Boots

[joerssc]

Does anyone have any input regarding water/weatherproofing leather press boots for winter weather, particularly snow? I've had rubber put on the soles but I don't want risk ruining the boots. I've used Sno Seal on other boots with good results but haven't tried it on dress boots.

I appreciate any feedback.

 

[maxalex]

There is no way to water proof leather (short of embalming it in some sort of plasticizer at which point it is no longer leather) but you can add a good deal of water resistance by frequent wax polishing (in the case of dress footwear) or oiling (for work boots). One very effective oil, mostly in fact beeswax, is Obenauf’s—but again not really meant for dress shoes. Keep your boots polished and buy some galoshes to slip over them when the going gets sloppy.