Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Does anyone still Mink Oil their boots?

Back when I was a kid and got my first pair of LL Bean Maine hunting boots (pre Gore-Ted) it was drilled into me that you had to treat your leather boots at least yearly, and twice when they were new. As I reached for the tin of mink oil this morning to treat my new Danners, I got to wondering if this was still a “thing”, or if it’s gone the way of the Dodo along with our fathers and grandfathers?

I hit mine with a little neetsfoot oil when they look thirsty. Same idea though I just picked up a big jug of it that will probably last me years.

I still mink oil my leather hunting boots. Put it on good and thick then let the boots set in the hot sun for a few days. Once a year treatment, about this time of the year.

Just last week I got advise to use toilet wax ring.

That or Obenaufs

I use it on my sjambok.

A mix of sno-pruf and mink oil, then sun til it soaks in/.
Has worked for two generations of LLBean Maine Hunting Shoe-
probably the most effective quiet boot in the woods. Going since about 1912.

Yes, hit some boots up with it just yesterday.

Obenauf's is a far better product.

Never heard of that. Have to check it out.

I use beeswax and a heat gun. One treatment lasts me a decade.

Old habits die hard but I'll check it out. Thanks.

I used it for years, but don't like how much it softens the leather.
Like you, I have been researching what's best for leather goods. I contacted a bunch of leather holster makers, and got hold of a tannery/ workshop with a good reputation. If I can find the info I'll post my response of what they recommended.

I have a whole gallon of neatsfoot oil, too bad I couldnt give it to someone.

I only wear Mucks for the type of deer hunting I do.

I use a lot of neatsfoot in my sorta saddle shop.

Some of the professionals are using olive oil these days.

I think those are mostly bees wax. At least they used to be.

The snow seal that I used to use on my hiking/hunting boots repels water well. I've been told that it clogs the pores so they don't breath very good after that.
That seems to make sense, but it's been years.
I used it to make a good rain jacket from an old Korean war cotton field jacket. It breaths some, but nothing like gortex. If I'm not too active, it works like a duck cloth/oil skin drover. I like it.

Ha! Back when I was a wee lad, I worked ever so hard after school scrubbing a saddle with saddle soap. I had that old saddle nice, and brown, and clean. My father then took it to a saddle shop, it came back all oiled up black as coal!

Close. I have been using NOR-V-GEN for about 15 years.

I buy 1 gallon of neatsfoot every few years at TS for $18... gloves and boots, belts, nail pouches, saddles or whatever in the winter with a chip brush soak... practical over pretty.

Sure do. My work boots twice a year.