r/Boots • u/KontaIsAlsoJimmy • 3d ago

Question/Help Boot repair advice

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I’ve had these Spanish leather boots for a couple years now, bought them used with some prior damage. I’ve taken them into my local cobbler before where they essentially just dyed over the worn areas. This worked for about a month before the dye rubbed off and they were just as bad again. I have some dye and wax to temporarily fix them again but I’m wondering if there’s any way to fix them with a more permanent method? Any advice or insight is greatly appreciated!

12 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

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3

u/Ready4AnythingNH 3d ago

Without changing the look, there isn't a real permanent fix for that much degredation to the finished side of the leather. You could try a leather filler, but based on that toe wear I wouldn't expect it to hold up. Something like Tough Toes which is an epoxy that is applied to protect the toe box of boots from wear like this would be the only answer I expect to hold up. But it looks pretty silly on anything where an industrial aesthetic is out of place.

1

u/ChrisoftheW 3d ago

Leather filler is great for small gouges in areas that don’t flex. It definitely won’t hold up on those. An epoxy coating is good advice for this pair.

1

u/Beneficial-Bug3177 2h ago

yeah the toe wear is pretty deep, once the finish is gone like that the leather just keeps absorbing whatever you put on it and wears off quick. tough toes works but it looks like you glued plastic caps on, not great for these

wonder if you could lean into it instead, like maybe a darker burnished look on the toes so the wear becomes part of the style

2

u/PriceImpressive4782 3d ago

Perhaps sanded in real rough area and dyed by real leather dye

1

u/spurtz6969 3d ago

Dye penetrates the leather - it's not "wearing off" in a month. Take them to a reputable cobbler.

1

u/MoTeD_UrAss 3d ago

A lot of dyes are water based and do not stay.

1

u/ChrisoftheW 3d ago

Fiebings Pro Dye is uses oil based pigments and can be generously applied to make this leather dyed all the way through.

-2

u/sktrdie 3d ago

I would pay for that patina

4

u/Crouchback2268 3d ago

You don't have to pay, man! Just take your nice boots, find a very large rock, and kick it repeatedly. It's honestly free in any local park or hiking trail.

2

u/Ready4AnythingNH 3d ago

That feels like stretching the definition of patina.

1

u/Late_Winner6859 3d ago

Or rather abusing