Holy crap finally a video that talks about taking care of working boots. For some reason I kept getting videos on some guy that has never worked a day in his life showing how to take care of their heritage boots. They were all worried about scratches and scrapes. More videos like these please. Real men wear real boots!
I think this was an absolutely fantastic video. I love that you try very hard to instill confidence in your customers (or anyone watching really). I have a pair of Bison forefront boots. I love them. The leather is the highest grade if Bison leather I have felt or seen. The uppers, in particular, you guys pay special attention to delivering the best quality leather. The vamp is still amazing. That is stretched out more, not as grainy, if u will. The best looking and functional boots I've ever seen and especially worn and owned. I feel like when I say I spent $600 on a pair of boots, many people laugh or can't get past the price. However, there are more that appreciate the labor and craftsmanship that went into them and the high-quality materials they are made up of. I'm so happy you care about the company. I hope you never get into a White's scenario, that the money means more than the legacy.
Love my Bison arctics super Thicc I used Bick 4 on mine because of how beautiful they are. I bought a pair of Bison Forefronts for nice boots because I love the look so much.
@Clayton Blachly can't agree more, you dont wanna get those dirty. They are literally borderline dress boots they look so nice. I mistakenly did use the oil that JK shipped with them, since have got myself bick 4 as well. If you don't want them super dark and keep em good, def a better route for sure. They did lighten up since, as I only thankfully used the lightest coat ever, once. If you do ever darken them too much, a good dish washing liquid with only degreaser, very lightly used, will take those oils out that darkened them and when they dry they will back to their original nice rusty brown redish color. That leather still amazes me how good they look.
I find for tree work, that saw dust can pull the oils out of a boot. I had over treated a pair of boots but after a couple of days using a chainsaw and chipper, they had gone from over moist to regular again.
This is actually a really helpful guide as a firefighter. I've been over-oiling my uppers and oiling the midsole and heel block on my Whites Smokejumpers without realizing it was detrimental. I can't justify buying another pair of $600 boots right now (especially to the wife), but I want a pair of your O.T. model for off duty use. You guys have a lot of great options, and I like the look of your boots better than my Whites. Can't wait to try your boots out someday! Best part is that you guys just opened a store in Redding CA, which is close to where I live.
Whites has always been very good to me. I got the rambler c-350-cs and they were at my front door 3 days after ordering without a stitch out of place. Perfect. My bison superduties should be in tomorrow from jk and it’s the second pair. Can’t get the sizing right. The first pair was a little lopsided from one to the other as well. Quality control is everything.
@@Lexidezi225Yeah I just had a pair of Fire Inlanders with a defect but their customer service is top tier so I'm probably sticking with JK, especially because they have a store in Redding. They're also $100 cheaper than Whites right now.
@@kehneenmaccormack8637 I ended up getting a pair of custom Superduty S in mocha roughout uppers and smooth lowers. Spent a day falling a couple trees and bucking them up, they got hit a couple times pretty hard and just have scratches. No tears here. For some reason though with all of these PNW boots I seem to be getting a blister on the inside of the arch of my foot. This is with both the pairs of Whites and the new pair of JKs too.
I’m glad you told me 12 years after me doing it not to oil the heels and the midsole because I’ve been doing that the whole time for 12 years and I’ve been oiling around the eyelets but now I know not to do it
Draft-air boot dryer, oiling every few months (construction trade) has given my full-grain boots surprising leather life. The leather outers are the last thing to die. I always saddle soap with a brush, very thorough rinsing and thorough drying before re-oiling.
Great, common sense info here. I have a pair of Wescos that are going on 12 years, and they look better than many boots that are a few months old. Guys ask me how I maintain them, and I always say treat them like your skin. Don't let them stay dirty or wet. Look and touch the leather to gage if they need moisture, don't just indiscriminately oil them. Give them what they need.
I learned some stuff! Thank you! I'm treating an older set of boots that were water soaked and then improperly dried. It created a painful toe pocket. Softening the leather has made a big difference.
I have many leather boots and i love leather and i thought i knew everything about oil my boots BUT you have taught me many things that i was doing wrong. And for that, Thank you!
I've worked with the Chena and Midnight Sun Hot Shots out of Fairbanks. Both are great Category 1 crews. A lot of professional Alaskan wildland firefighters like a tall L.L. Bean Maine Hunting boot, resoled with a mini-Vibram for wildfire wear in muskeg. It's a nightmare to walk in. I've never figured out how moose can run right through it without breaking a leg or falling. ... Native Alaskan Category 3 crews like Redwing Irish Setters with the crepe soles for fighting wildfire. Those boots are nicknamed "chicken skins." ... Great information about work boot care. I've been doing it incorrectly for more decades than I care to count. ... Thank you.
So glad they put this video out. My JK Station boots are almost done and I have been researching how to maintain them properly. For me this was a big investment in my feet and I want to care for my boots as best I can. I have been wearing Chinese made Thorogood boots for the past 3 years and now I have Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot. I bought the JK boots to hopefully fix this problem. The try on pair they sent me for fitting had amazing arch support. Fingers crossed these boots fix my problem.
@@Squeek158 I am a bit disappointed in the station boot concept. The boots came with a lace in zipper that is really not workable. I can’t get that zipper to lace in properly and still be able to get my foot in the boot. The boots are built like a tank and do give good arch support but it did not help my plantar fasciitis. My right boot squeaks with every step which is very disappointing. I will simply go with laces and ditch that zipper. I spent nearly $900 on these boots and it just isn’t worth that kind of money.
@trathbone thank you for the reply. Stretching doesn't seem to help my foot too much, but FYI, I always thought those massage guns were a gimmick, but I got one through my hsa insurance card, and it helps. Hurts at first but really gets everything loose and relieves some of the foot pain. I think I am going to save my pennies and try one of the JK boots either the forefront or o.t. but I don't know, just don't know I am disappointed in my timberlands I just keep throwing insoles in them and they are OK for a while but quickly start hurting my feet again
Very nice! Appreciate the tips on how to know if oiling is needed or not, as that was a big question in my mind. Would you recommend anything different for Bison? Just got my Honey Bison boots from y'all yesterday and they look AMAZING and fit GREAT! I was worried about sizing but your sizing information was absolutely spot on!
Great video straight to the point unfortunately I had a Vague understanding of how to oil my first pair and did oil the do not oil area's they are still going strong tho no issues yet my second pair came with great instructions in the box
Thank you Tim. I noticed your "North" model is not on your website anymore. I love my JK boots in rough out and lace-to-toe stitching. If I ask for the "North" can I get them again?
I would like to to see JK Boots have like a Gore-Tex boot liner. My old Red Wing had that liner and I can work in the rain, snow and walk through standing water all day long for 14 hours all week long and my feet never got wet at all. I don’t know why you guys don’t use a boot liner but I think if would be a good thing. But I’m not a boot maker, and I know you guys make really good and nice boots.
Gotta be a little careful because some wax will make the boots where they don’t breathe and your foot stays damp from sweat all day and can make the boots unwearable in summer. Disclaimer, they were a different brand but it’s been oil for me ever since. Snow boots being the exception
The only problem with getting these boots or any other boot like it is that if you don’t have weak arches you will get weak arches after wearing these boots for a decent amount of time. I wore my JK’s for a year straight and tried to go back to my red wing iron rangers . I wore the iron rangers for about 2 days and my feet started to hurt which my feet never hurt. I put my JK’s back on the pain went away after a few hours. Your arch isn’t working at all when you wear these boots the boot literally carries your weight
Stainless screws when can we see them ? Is this going to be an option only because of my chemical field of work love the boots otherwise amazing work also why cant I get sole wedges anymore ?
I didn't know about the eyelets and the midsole. Wish I had. I have Carolina loggers. Sure I'd love a pair of J.k.'s or Nicks but I can't afford to do that right now. Some day. At least I know better how to care for my boots. Thank you.
Sooooo I wax my mid soles and heel stacks lightly so they don’t take on water or fertilizer no oil just wax. I also wax around the welt stitching. This method has kept my feet dry since day one with my super duty boots even with high nitrogen and corrosive chemicals. Tim if I am doing something that will harm them let me know.
I use to use dr. Martins dubbin... would put it on thick then use a hair drier to melt it into the leather. Would bring back the original finish and those were the longest pair of boots i ever had. Been looking for another good pair of boots
*I'm quite shocked that there's people who don't bother to clean their boots at all. Then they smear waxes, oils, etc, all over their boots mixing in with the dirt! That's so gross and it makes it that much harder for your staff to clean off the boots! It should be a courtesy for people to clean off their boots completely before mailing them in! That way they can get through their quotas in a timely manner. Cleaning your own boots helps so that there won't be that much of a big backlog of boots, needing to be done that people are waiting for. However, it's amazing how many people don't bother to clean their boots when they mail them in 😅! I really feel bad for you all, and you all work very hard! Your rebuilds and making new boots are very high quality! It's pretty sad how people don't make a daily routine of cleaning their boots. They don't even realize that all that muck and dirt is creating more problems. It creates those cracks and holes in the boots. They are reducing the lifespan of their boots, when instead they could cleaning their boots can really make their boots last for years! They would be saving themselves a lot of money not having to mail their boots in so often! I appreciate JK Boots being patient and working extremely hard in all kinds of situations with all of those boots! Keep up the amazing work!!*
Could you guys do a video on how or why you guys landed on the 3708 last? As far as I know no other company used it or has it (but I can’t be to sure about franks). I think that’s really cool and sets you guys apart!
Is the care for the arctic boots the same? Will the oil affect the waterproofing already in/on the leather? I am hoping mine show up in a couple weeks.
Hey, so it´s ok to oil the sole stitching? Doesn‘t the oil run through the holes of the stitching and or the thread? It will penetrate the midsole anyway or am I wrong? The oil does spread through the fibers as you applie it. You can‘t really control were it will stop?! What‘s your suggestion on brownish boots, regarding the darkening and the difference of the colours in the area of the stitching or the eyelets, being different if you oil the go/no go areas? Will you really ruin the boots if you oil them only one time the“wrong“ way? Or do you have to continously oil them wrong to ruin them?
Everyone raves about Fiebings saddle soap, figuring Fiebings products are generally good. So, I bought a big tub of Fiebing's Aussie leather conditioner. Then , I find out it uses petroleum jelly and beeswax. Is petroleum jelly ok to use?
I only wear leather boots. My feet swell and synthetics just don't stretch enough to be comfortable all day. My SOP is to aggressively break in new boots by wetting them and wearing them dry with thick wool socks. Then I treat them with as much neatsfoot oil as they will take before waxing with Sno-seal or a similar product. If they need it, saddle soap and rewax. I treat my boots yearly if I don't need to do it sooner.
What about chemical? I work in the paper industry where these boots are subject to water, cold, extreme heat steamy environments and occasional water diluted chemical used in the paper process. Usually these boots see a diluted caustic that is strong enough to cause teary eyes, polymers, and enzymes. I normally wear Thorogoods and the leather cracks and splits through to the point of leakage around the outside where the leather is rounded before it meets the sole and welt. Always splits there and I lose water protection but the boots never feel dried out or hard but do spit. Oil more or less often?
I recently oiled my jk OT boots down and I oiled the inside of the uppers, it seemed to help with the break in some, is that alright to do? I’ve only done it the one time but if it’s a big no no I won’t repeat it
It will darken all leathers. I have the honey redwood in rough out lower/smooth upper. They are a nice brown with reddish tint - I love how they look. They've been oiled maybe 4-5 times and cleaned with soap and water once.
does obernoffs oil change the color of the redwood boots? cause as they are the color is a masterpiece and i don't want to darker them until i have too
Wouod you recommend oil or wax if I'm using my work boots for fabricating and installing granite/quartz countertops? Lots of dust involved. I have used mink oil in the past, but that seems to attract the dust to stick to it
Full grain my dude, you never have to worry about this company cheaping out on materials, production or what not, and I own a pair of bison superduty’s 🤟🏻
Use your best judgement, it wont destroy the boot to oil it but we would recommend right up to that first row of stitching but not over. That being said if the leather looks like its about to start cracking because its so dry you can use a little oil in those areas, or vise versa. The main thing is protecting the vamp leather and midsole so that they can be resoled 👍
I'm about to do my initial oiling on my new 300s. Do you recommend wiping off any excess oil? How long should I let the oil sit before wiping off? Thanks!
Yes too much moister will start to grow mold. If your fingers feel oily after touching the leather, you should stop oiling. Wait for the leather to dry out again (Could take a month or more based on climate) and keep checking to insure you aren't over doing it. Bacteria can grow, cause smell, and ruin/weakin the leather.
They should be fine fresh out of the box. We ship our boots ready to go, some prefer to oil to help the break in, others don't. Leather drys out overtime generally by the environment that its in.
If i already did oil the eyelets, can i just let the boots sit and dry for a year or so before i start wearing them again? What's the solution if you already oiled the spot you shouldn't have but you haven't worn them to damage them yet?
Hey there is no need to worry. We have had many customers that have done that once or twice and they are okay. Yes I would recommend letting the oil dry till the leather doesn't feel oily (a couple days is more than enough). Just don't continue to oil that area in the future. If you have further questions please reach out to us at general@jkboots.com.
If you still need an answer for this it's because their boots are designed for your foot to sink into the leather insole. It will actually feel like you have a half-inch gap in the toe box during the break in period. The last is designed to have an accommodating toebox, even if the number size is smaller than what you're used to.
@@InvntdXNEWROMAN no all the pacific northwest boots use older style lasts that size different than normal brannock sizes. Generally you size down one size from your normal
I don’t know why I was recommended this video. I don’t eat meat or buy leather products, so I don’t own leather boots. In fact, I don’t even own boots. One of my legs is currently broken so I couldn’t even wear boots right now if I wanted to! Yet, I clicked on this video. Well played, good video
@@martinmiller1087 ankle support? How about strong legs if you are fit enough you don’t need ankle support back support or any support your body should be able to support itself.
Thanks I was Wondering the Steps to Oil then Wax and if I Can Oil Ruff Out Leather ! I don’t have Oil But I do have Natural Coconut Tanning oil with Vitamin E enriched , I know it’s good for our skin it has to good for Calf / Cow leather,I have a Leather Conditioner Cream and Zymöl Cleaner Conditioner spray for leather , I have dark Mocha or coffee bean Brown boots I want them darker almost black chrome tanned Look oil will do that rite ?
This kid is not an expert, boo to JK! there’s NO-Way you should oil your boots that much every month! Your boots will be dripping and so will your socks. His application technique stinks and is very random. And yes it does matter which product or oils you use !! Silicone is bad, does it have silicone? Very basic important question. A thorough oiling every year or less, unless you’re beating the snot out of your boots in the desert or in fires constantly, but then again in those conditions they’re not going to last very long anyway! And keep away from salt!! Number one killer of leather! Tip: neatsfoot oil is the Historical best treatment , period.
@@Beardman56 Wait, human use of leather goes back at least 100,000 years, but somehow in recent history (where the art of leather is basically lost) you’ve somehow decided that neatsfoot oil is outdated?? I’m sorry but neatsfoot oil has been the best thing you can use for well over 150 years. During the days of leather machine belts it was considered the best care for the belts, which actually had to make people a living! I have over 50 years experience with leather care and restoration. I am an expert, unlike the monkey in this video.
@@MAsWorld1 using something for a long time doesn't mean its good. It means you find out it's flaws. We used asbestos is so many things for decades because it worked very well until we learned it wasn't good for our health
Ok I'm 55 I wear boots 7/24/365 so bad one time I went to the beach one week took my boots off to go to the beach didn't even take my boots off till I left the condo to walk to the beach five minutes into it my feet got sun burnt swelled up bubbled up got infected I spent the rest of the seven days sat up in the condo spraying my feet with that sunburn spray just to keep them numb to stop the pain ok got off track I was a desiel mechanic but I did road service ran wrecker worked on equipment my boots went threw hell everyday at least 20 hours a day some days lasted a week no sleep but never got rid of boots cause of the tops mainly cause tread had holes some times I could find time to have new treads put on while I was breaking in the new pair the tops under my pant legs would look like new for the whole year but treads never lasted past a year and not cause of saddle soap worst shit I ever put on my boots but cause of mink oil I tried to do every month but couldn't always but didn't matter just as long as I used it water proof looked good never dried always looked good even top of toe sides heels front back would get the shit scratched scraped up cut but never split or got complete cut threw but you didn't even mention them I got it everywhere hills wolsworth ace hardware five and dime boot box the grocery stores shoe stores Walmart dollar stores never had a problem finding it no matter where I was or when I needed some I had a pair of cowboy boots my mom got me from jcpennys when she worked there when I was like 14 years old still look like new new treads 9 times and I only wore them on the ocation I was off work like church my wedding funerals they are my dress shoes no stains no scuffs knocked them together when my kids was conceived lol no lie all cause of mink oil in paste form come in can just like polish but bigger can it's like 3/4 inch tall like 3 inch round but opens like a can of polish when I would put it on two fingers inside a old sock at a spot no holes lol rub the shit out of it in with a globb I got out the can do it turned into oil then to finish wipe it clean then lite rubb with it leave a light coat of wax lots of shit would just slide off instead of cutting gouging or scraping but you didn't even mention it sounds like you need to try it sometimes I didn't have time so I would just rub some on quick with my old sock that was always with my can worked awesome and cleaned them very good to oh and sometimes my boot would get blasted from the steam jenny lots sometime onced I could could be a week or two later just grab the mink oil and rub them up just like new it cleaned and oiled all at the same time of not sure but I think I found out about it as a 10 year old from Tandy leather not completely sure cause I was like around 10 now I'm 55 lol not a plug for Tandy eather I was just making leather stuff for a hobby back then only place I could get leather and tools at that time in my area I was making belts hats bullet pouches holsters knife sheaths ext
Holy crap finally a video that talks about taking care of working boots. For some reason I kept getting videos on some guy that has never worked a day in his life showing how to take care of their heritage boots. They were all worried about scratches and scrapes. More videos like these please. Real men wear real boots!
What boot brand you talking about?
Just got my boots today! First oiling!
Dawn dish soap and a dollar toilet bowl scrubber, followed by Obenauf’s oil.
I think this was an absolutely fantastic video.
I love that you try very hard to instill confidence in your customers (or anyone watching really).
I have a pair of Bison forefront boots.
I love them.
The leather is the highest grade if Bison leather I have felt or seen.
The uppers, in particular, you guys pay special attention to delivering the best quality leather. The vamp is still amazing. That is stretched out more, not as grainy, if u will.
The best looking and functional boots I've ever seen and especially worn and owned.
I feel like when I say I spent $600 on a pair of boots, many people laugh or can't get past the price. However, there are more that appreciate the labor and craftsmanship that went into them and the high-quality materials they are made up of.
I'm so happy you care about the company. I hope you never get into a White's scenario, that the money means more than the legacy.
Love my Bison arctics super Thicc I used Bick 4 on mine because of how beautiful they are. I bought a pair of Bison Forefronts for nice boots because I love the look so much.
@Clayton Blachly can't agree more, you dont wanna get those dirty.
They are literally borderline dress boots they look so nice.
I mistakenly did use the oil that JK shipped with them, since have got myself bick 4 as well.
If you don't want them super dark and keep em good, def a better route for sure.
They did lighten up since, as I only thankfully used the lightest coat ever, once.
If you do ever darken them too much, a good dish washing liquid with only degreaser, very lightly used, will take those oils out that darkened them and when they dry they will back to their original nice rusty brown redish color.
That leather still amazes me how good they look.
I find for tree work, that saw dust can pull the oils out of a boot. I had over treated a pair of boots but after a couple of days using a chainsaw and chipper, they had gone from over moist to regular again.
No nonsense straight to the point. Thank you for the great information
Our pleasure
@@jkbootsusa is the bison leather jk offers full grain or top grain leather?
This is actually a really helpful guide as a firefighter. I've been over-oiling my uppers and oiling the midsole and heel block on my Whites Smokejumpers without realizing it was detrimental.
I can't justify buying another pair of $600 boots right now (especially to the wife), but I want a pair of your O.T. model for off duty use. You guys have a lot of great options, and I like the look of your boots better than my Whites. Can't wait to try your boots out someday! Best part is that you guys just opened a store in Redding CA, which is close to where I live.
Just got a pair of OT redwoods. I highly recommend. Super comfortable and fire rated.
Whites has always been very good to me. I got the rambler c-350-cs and they were at my front door 3 days after ordering without a stitch out of place. Perfect. My bison superduties should be in tomorrow from jk and it’s the second pair. Can’t get the sizing right. The first pair was a little lopsided from one to the other as well. Quality control is everything.
@@Lexidezi225Yeah I just had a pair of Fire Inlanders with a defect but their customer service is top tier so I'm probably sticking with JK, especially because they have a store in Redding. They're also $100 cheaper than Whites right now.
Don’t get the new JK’s they’re garbage and the leather literally rips, it’s to thin and I don’t trust them on fire, they’re comfy but terribly made
@@kehneenmaccormack8637 I ended up getting a pair of custom Superduty S in mocha roughout uppers and smooth lowers. Spent a day falling a couple trees and bucking them up, they got hit a couple times pretty hard and just have scratches. No tears here. For some reason though with all of these PNW boots I seem to be getting a blister on the inside of the arch of my foot. This is with both the pairs of Whites and the new pair of JKs too.
I’d like to see all the different leathers before and after oiling. Especially the roughout side.
I’m glad you told me 12 years after me doing it not to oil the heels and the midsole because I’ve been doing that the whole time for 12 years and I’ve been oiling around the eyelets but now I know not to do it
Draft-air boot dryer, oiling every few months (construction trade) has given my full-grain boots surprising leather life. The leather outers are the last thing to die.
I always saddle soap with a brush, very thorough rinsing and thorough drying before re-oiling.
That sounds like a great process 👍
Great, common sense info here. I have a pair of Wescos that are going on 12 years, and they look better than many boots that are a few months old. Guys ask me how I maintain them, and I always say treat them like your skin. Don't let them stay dirty or wet. Look and touch the leather to gage if they need moisture, don't just indiscriminately oil them. Give them what they need.
This is one of the most debated topics, glad its been covered.
Essential video! I’ve just learned a few tricks even though I’ve been wearing leather shoes and boots for decades!
I learned some stuff! Thank you!
I'm treating an older set of boots that were water soaked and then improperly dried. It created a painful toe pocket. Softening the leather has made a big difference.
I have many leather boots and i love leather and i thought i knew everything about oil my boots BUT you have taught me many things that i was doing wrong. And for that, Thank you!
Thank you! Just bought my 2nd boots and now I can take proper care of them. The 1st ones lasted me 7 years (without any waxing or cleaning).
Great to hear!
I've worked with the Chena and Midnight Sun Hot Shots out of Fairbanks. Both are great Category 1 crews. A lot of professional Alaskan wildland firefighters like a tall L.L. Bean Maine Hunting boot, resoled with a mini-Vibram for wildfire wear in muskeg. It's a nightmare to walk in. I've never figured out how moose can run right through it without breaking a leg or falling. ... Native Alaskan Category 3 crews like Redwing Irish Setters with the crepe soles for fighting wildfire. Those boots are nicknamed "chicken skins." ... Great information about work boot care. I've been doing it incorrectly for more decades than I care to count. ... Thank you.
So glad they put this video out. My JK Station boots are almost done and I have been researching how to maintain them properly. For me this was a big investment in my feet and I want to care for my boots as best I can. I have been wearing Chinese made Thorogood boots for the past 3 years and now I have Plantar Fasciitis in my right foot. I bought the JK boots to hopefully fix this problem. The try on pair they sent me for fitting had amazing arch support. Fingers crossed these boots fix my problem.
In similar situation. Plantar fasciitis in left foot, Thorogoods and Timberland pros; and leaning towards JKs Forefront boots. How has yours been?
@@Squeek158 I am a bit disappointed in the station boot concept. The boots came with a lace in zipper that is really not workable. I can’t get that zipper to lace in properly and still be able to get my foot in the boot. The boots are built like a tank and do give good arch support but it did not help my plantar fasciitis. My right boot squeaks with every step which is very disappointing. I will simply go with laces and ditch that zipper. I spent nearly $900 on these boots and it just isn’t worth that kind of money.
@trathbone thank you for the reply. Stretching doesn't seem to help my foot too much, but FYI, I always thought those massage guns were a gimmick, but I got one through my hsa insurance card, and it helps. Hurts at first but really gets everything loose and relieves some of the foot pain. I think I am going to save my pennies and try one of the JK boots either the forefront or o.t. but I don't know, just don't know I am disappointed in my timberlands I just keep throwing insoles in them and they are OK for a while but quickly start hurting my feet again
Great fact-filled video. Thank you!
Of course!
Very nice! Appreciate the tips on how to know if oiling is needed or not, as that was a big question in my mind. Would you recommend anything different for Bison? Just got my Honey Bison boots from y'all yesterday and they look AMAZING and fit GREAT! I was worried about sizing but your sizing information was absolutely spot on!
Good to hear, I'm ordering Bison Superduty next week.
Great video straight to the point unfortunately I had a Vague understanding of how to oil my first pair and did oil the do not oil area's they are still going strong tho no issues yet my second pair came with great instructions in the box
50,000 MI oil change sure thing bad idea, good comparison, how frequently do you wash your atv.... when it needs it. keep up the great work JK!
Obenaufs oil is the way to go
Need to order some 18" size 16 Superduty boots. I love my Forefronts! Thanks for this!
Also, the wax makes my feet stay wet; oil all the way!
Sounds awesome! Glad you're happy
Yep. Maybe not all but I’ve used a wax before that made my foot sweat so bad they are unusable in summer because they don’t breathe. Use oil 👍🏼
Thank you Tim. I noticed your "North" model is not on your website anymore. I love my JK boots in rough out and lace-to-toe stitching. If I ask for the "North" can I get them again?
I would like to to see JK Boots have like a Gore-Tex boot liner. My old Red Wing had that liner and I can work in the rain, snow and walk through standing water all day long for 14 hours all week long and my feet never got wet at all. I don’t know why you guys don’t use a boot liner but I think if would be a good thing. But I’m not a boot maker, and I know you guys make really good and nice boots.
They wear out quickly compared to 3mm leather. Buy gore tex socks, same thing
@@Tallnerdyguyok.
i work in a concrete precast plant and i just spray them with some form oil seems to work just fine
Good information Tim!
Thank you for this valuable information!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you, I've heard too many different opinions about this! Thanks for making this video!
No problem! Thanks for watching!
Gotta be a little careful because some wax will make the boots where they don’t breathe and your foot stays damp from sweat all day and can make the boots unwearable in summer. Disclaimer, they were a different brand but it’s been oil for me ever since. Snow boots being the exception
I live in Hawaii where breathable boots are essential. It is not recommended to use wax because of this reason. High humidity + wax = wet stinky feet.
The only problem with getting these boots or any other boot like it is that if you don’t have weak arches you will get weak arches after wearing these boots for a decent amount of time. I wore my JK’s for a year straight and tried to go back to my red wing iron rangers . I wore the iron rangers for about 2 days and my feet started to hurt which my feet never hurt. I put my JK’s back on the pain went away after a few hours. Your arch isn’t working at all when you wear these boots the boot literally carries your weight
Stainless screws when can we see them ? Is this going to be an option only because of my chemical field of work love the boots otherwise amazing work also why cant I get sole wedges anymore ?
Just ordered a pair. Custom forefront all rough out. Black wedge. Can’t wait.
Would you treat the leather laces? I also heard someone suggest treating inside thar boot. Any thoughts on that?
Great video Tim.
What are your thoughts on using a good brand of neatsfoot oil? I've heard it makes the leather too soft. Excellent video, thank you.
I didn't know about the eyelets and the midsole. Wish I had. I have Carolina loggers. Sure I'd love a pair of J.k.'s or Nicks but I can't afford to do that right now. Some day. At least I know better how to care for my boots. Thank you.
Great video, may I ask what boots your wearing on the shop floor the majority of the time?
Thanks
What would you recommend wax or oil for snow and salt environment?
Sno seal
Sooooo I wax my mid soles and heel stacks lightly so they don’t take on water or fertilizer no oil just wax. I also wax around the welt stitching. This method has kept my feet dry since day one with my super duty boots even with high nitrogen and corrosive chemicals. Tim if I am doing something that will harm them let me know.
I use to use dr. Martins dubbin... would put it on thick then use a hair drier to melt it into the leather. Would bring back the original finish and those were the longest pair of boots i ever had. Been looking for another good pair of boots
Same concept at LP or beeswax or sno-seal
Thank you 👍🏻
*I'm quite shocked that there's people who don't bother to clean their boots at all. Then they smear waxes, oils, etc, all over their boots mixing in with the dirt! That's so gross and it makes it that much harder for your staff to clean off the boots! It should be a courtesy for people to clean off their boots completely before mailing them in! That way they can get through their quotas in a timely manner. Cleaning your own boots helps so that there won't be that much of a big backlog of boots, needing to be done that people are waiting for. However, it's amazing how many people don't bother to clean their boots when they mail them in 😅! I really feel bad for you all, and you all work very hard! Your rebuilds and making new boots are very high quality! It's pretty sad how people don't make a daily routine of cleaning their boots. They don't even realize that all that muck and dirt is creating more problems. It creates those cracks and holes in the boots. They are reducing the lifespan of their boots, when instead they could cleaning their boots can really make their boots last for years! They would be saving themselves a lot of money not having to mail their boots in so often! I appreciate JK Boots being patient and working extremely hard in all kinds of situations with all of those boots! Keep up the amazing work!!*
Could you guys do a video on how or why you guys landed on the 3708 last? As far as I know no other company used it or has it (but I can’t be to sure about franks). I think that’s really cool and sets you guys apart!
same thing with bison? is using a boot dryer ok?
Heat is the enemy of leather. If your boots don't dry out fully overnight you need a second pair to wear while they do.
If I were to get a custom ot done, would I be able to change the height of the heel in the future? Thank you.
At the moment, no
What do you recommend we apply to help protect the outside of the leather midsole?
For cleaning I use Dr squatch soap for my shower so I use it to clean my boots.
What about oiling or waxing the inside of the boots?
Will the wax mess up the eyes?
Yes wax and oil around the eyelets will loosen the surrounding leather, leading to them losing their hold and popping out 👍
Is the care for the arctic boots the same? Will the oil affect the waterproofing already in/on the leather? I am hoping mine show up in a couple weeks.
Hey, so it´s ok to oil the sole stitching? Doesn‘t the oil run through the holes of the stitching and or the thread? It will penetrate the midsole anyway or am I wrong? The oil does spread through the fibers as you applie it. You can‘t really control were it will stop?! What‘s your suggestion on brownish boots, regarding the darkening and the difference of the colours in the area of the stitching or the eyelets, being different if you oil the go/no go areas? Will you really ruin the boots if you oil them only one time the“wrong“ way? Or do you have to continously oil them wrong to ruin them?
It would ne great if you guys would build a moc toe boot
Everyone raves about Fiebings saddle soap, figuring Fiebings products are generally good. So, I bought a big tub of Fiebing's Aussie leather conditioner. Then , I find out it uses petroleum jelly and beeswax.
Is petroleum jelly ok to use?
I only wear leather boots. My feet swell and synthetics just don't stretch enough to be comfortable all day. My SOP is to aggressively break in new boots by wetting them and wearing them dry with thick wool socks. Then I treat them with as much neatsfoot oil as they will take before waxing with Sno-seal or a similar product. If they need it, saddle soap and rewax. I treat my boots yearly if I don't need to do it sooner.
What about chemical? I work in the paper industry where these boots are subject to water, cold, extreme heat steamy environments and occasional water diluted chemical used in the paper process. Usually these boots see a diluted caustic that is strong enough to cause teary eyes, polymers, and enzymes. I normally wear Thorogoods and the leather cracks and splits through to the point of leakage around the outside where the leather is rounded before it meets the sole and welt. Always splits there and I lose water protection but the boots never feel dried out or hard but do spit. Oil more or less often?
I recently oiled my jk OT boots down and I oiled the inside of the uppers, it seemed to help with the break in some, is that alright to do? I’ve only done it the one time but if it’s a big no no I won’t repeat it
What do you think of mink oil
We absolutely recommend Mink oil. It is a natural conditioner, but it will darken leather like obenaufs oil will so bear that in mind!
@jkbootsusa awesome thank you my boots are on there way
Will the oil change the color of the roughed out redwood leather?
It will darken all leathers. I have the honey redwood in rough out lower/smooth upper. They are a nice brown with reddish tint - I love how they look. They've been oiled maybe 4-5 times and cleaned with soap and water once.
does obernoffs oil change the color of the redwood boots? cause as they are the color is a masterpiece and i don't want to darker them until i have too
Yes oiling will darken the color a bit. The more they are oiled the darker they become 👍
tips on maintaining waxed flesh?
Wouod you recommend oil or wax if I'm using my work boots for fabricating and installing granite/quartz countertops? Lots of dust involved. I have used mink oil in the past, but that seems to attract the dust to stick to it
Brush off excess oil with horsehair brush
Do you buff it after it dries or you leave it just like that?
the oil soaks in and disappears. no need to buff.
Is the bison leather JK offers considered a full grain or top grain leather?
Full grain my dude, you never have to worry about this company cheaping out on materials, production or what not, and I own a pair of bison superduty’s 🤟🏻
All leather is full grain at these prices
So don’t oil stitch down area?
Use your best judgement, it wont destroy the boot to oil it but we would recommend right up to that first row of stitching but not over. That being said if the leather looks like its about to start cracking because its so dry you can use a little oil in those areas, or vise versa. The main thing is protecting the vamp leather and midsole so that they can be resoled 👍
I'm about to do my initial oiling on my new 300s. Do you recommend wiping off any excess oil? How long should I let the oil sit before wiping off? Thanks!
the oil will soak in after an hour or two. no need to wipe off.
If there is any after about an hour, brush with horsehair brush
Over oil boots turns 2 rot is it true, and how 2 tell ?
Yes too much moister will start to grow mold. If your fingers feel oily after touching the leather, you should stop oiling. Wait for the leather to dry out again (Could take a month or more based on climate) and keep checking to insure you aren't over doing it. Bacteria can grow, cause smell, and ruin/weakin the leather.
So if I never take them out of the box, I don’t have to oil? I have some boots I’ve never worn.
They should be fine fresh out of the box. We ship our boots ready to go, some prefer to oil to help the break in, others don't. Leather drys out overtime generally by the environment that its in.
If i already did oil the eyelets, can i just let the boots sit and dry for a year or so before i start wearing them again? What's the solution if you already oiled the spot you shouldn't have but you haven't worn them to damage them yet?
Hey there is no need to worry. We have had many customers that have done that once or twice and they are okay. Yes I would recommend letting the oil dry till the leather doesn't feel oily (a couple days is more than enough). Just don't continue to oil that area in the future. If you have further questions please reach out to us at general@jkboots.com.
@@jkbootsusa Thanks for the advice man! Take care and keep up the great work!
Primiti comenzi și peste hotare?
Why does your boot size guide show I need a smaller boot than what I normally wear after I measure my foot?
All pacific northwest boots are sized like that. Generally order a size smaller than you normally wear
If you still need an answer for this it's because their boots are designed for your foot to sink into the leather insole. It will actually feel like you have a half-inch gap in the toe box during the break in period. The last is designed to have an accommodating toebox, even if the number size is smaller than what you're used to.
@@InvntdXNEWROMAN no all the pacific northwest boots use older style lasts that size different than normal brannock sizes. Generally you size down one size from your normal
@@Beardman56 "the last is designed to have an accommodating toebox, even if the number size is smaller than you're used to."
Most PNW lasts were originally sized in Europe, but weren't translated to US sizing standards, set after WW2. EU sizing is about 1 size larger
I don’t know why I was recommended this video. I don’t eat meat or buy leather products, so I don’t own leather boots. In fact, I don’t even own boots. One of my legs is currently broken so I couldn’t even wear boots right now if I wanted to! Yet, I clicked on this video. Well played, good video
Leather is the best material.
It’s a sign for you i guess
How's the ankle support in your flip flops?
@@martinmiller1087 ankle support? How about strong legs if you are fit enough you don’t need ankle support back support or any support your body should be able to support itself.
@@mom_im_losing_it ... I wonder why the trainers use about a half mile of adhesive tape on every NFL player's ankles?
Hello please can you deliver it to Nigeria
Ask their website, not TH-cam, 7 months later.
Tim seems like a great guy. Is mink oil a top choice?
Very good choice.
I think that some oils dissolve the glue of the sole to the leather.
Should I oil my brand new boots before the first use?
Watch the first 3 minutes of the video
Blicks is the best for conditioning and water protection.
Bicks does almost 0 waterproofing.
Use Bag Balm.
I wish you guys made cowboy boots too.
Any of these boots waterproof?
Leather isn't waterproof. Rubber is
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Subscribed & Bell 🔔 Done
Thanks I was Wondering the Steps to Oil then Wax and if I Can Oil Ruff Out Leather ! I don’t have Oil But I do have Natural Coconut Tanning oil with Vitamin E enriched , I know it’s good for our skin it has to good for Calf / Cow leather,I have a Leather Conditioner Cream and Zymöl Cleaner Conditioner spray for leather , I have dark Mocha or coffee bean Brown boots I want them darker almost black chrome tanned Look oil will do that rite ?
Don't use tanning oil on your boots... obenaufs LP with a heat gun or hair dryer will darken well and protect
Just oil the darn boot!
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This kid is not an expert, boo to JK! there’s NO-Way you should oil your boots that much every month! Your boots will be dripping and so will your socks. His application technique stinks and is very random. And yes it does matter which product or oils you use !! Silicone is bad, does it have silicone? Very basic important question.
A thorough oiling every year or less, unless you’re beating the snot out of your boots in the desert or in fires constantly, but then again in those conditions they’re not going to last very long anyway! And keep away from salt!! Number one killer of leather! Tip: neatsfoot oil is the Historical best treatment , period.
Neatsfoot oil is some of the worst oil for leather. There's a reason it's not popular anymore
@@Beardman56 Wait, human use of leather goes back at least 100,000 years, but somehow in recent history (where the art of leather is basically lost) you’ve somehow decided that neatsfoot oil is outdated?? I’m sorry but neatsfoot oil has been the best thing you can use for well over 150 years. During the days of leather machine belts it was considered the best care for the belts, which actually had to make people a living! I have over 50 years experience with leather care and restoration. I am an expert, unlike the monkey in this video.
@@MAsWorld1 using something for a long time doesn't mean its good. It means you find out it's flaws. We used asbestos is so many things for decades because it worked very well until we learned it wasn't good for our health
Go make your own boots and oil them how you want.
YEAH...And they used to think smoking was good for you and blood letting with leaches could cure cancer...🤣🤣🤣@MAsWorld1
Ok I'm 55 I wear boots 7/24/365 so bad one time I went to the beach one week took my boots off to go to the beach didn't even take my boots off till I left the condo to walk to the beach five minutes into it my feet got sun burnt swelled up bubbled up got infected I spent the rest of the seven days sat up in the condo spraying my feet with that sunburn spray just to keep them numb to stop the pain ok got off track I was a desiel mechanic but I did road service ran wrecker worked on equipment my boots went threw hell everyday at least 20 hours a day some days lasted a week no sleep but never got rid of boots cause of the tops mainly cause tread had holes some times I could find time to have new treads put on while I was breaking in the new pair the tops under my pant legs would look like new for the whole year but treads never lasted past a year and not cause of saddle soap worst shit I ever put on my boots but cause of mink oil I tried to do every month but couldn't always but didn't matter just as long as I used it water proof looked good never dried always looked good even top of toe sides heels front back would get the shit scratched scraped up cut but never split or got complete cut threw but you didn't even mention them I got it everywhere hills wolsworth ace hardware five and dime boot box the grocery stores shoe stores Walmart dollar stores never had a problem finding it no matter where I was or when I needed some I had a pair of cowboy boots my mom got me from jcpennys when she worked there when I was like 14 years old still look like new new treads 9 times and I only wore them on the ocation I was off work like church my wedding funerals they are my dress shoes no stains no scuffs knocked them together when my kids was conceived lol no lie all cause of mink oil in paste form come in can just like polish but bigger can it's like 3/4 inch tall like 3 inch round but opens like a can of polish when I would put it on two fingers inside a old sock at a spot no holes lol rub the shit out of it in with a globb I got out the can do it turned into oil then to finish wipe it clean then lite rubb with it leave a light coat of wax lots of shit would just slide off instead of cutting gouging or scraping but you didn't even mention it sounds like you need to try it sometimes I didn't have time so I would just rub some on quick with my old sock that was always with my can worked awesome and cleaned them very good to oh and sometimes my boot would get blasted from the steam jenny lots sometime onced I could could be a week or two later just grab the mink oil and rub them up just like new it cleaned and oiled all at the same time of not sure but I think I found out about it as a 10 year old from Tandy leather not completely sure cause I was like around 10 now I'm 55 lol not a plug for Tandy eather I was just making leather stuff for a hobby back then only place I could get leather and tools at that time in my area I was making belts hats bullet pouches holsters knife sheaths ext
That's a really really long sentence