Does it work well? Any better the the other products?

Works great but you don't need it. All 4 season boots have a Gore-Tex membrane and your summer boots need to breathe. Bad idea to water seal light leather boots.
I own some light, leather hikers with Gore-Tex but they are too hot.

Ski+3

I would be concerned about what it might do to the leather and/or rubber rand with extended use. My Kenetrek and Obenauf's boot wax works too well to switch. I have boots that are still like new and waterproof after 5 years of treating them 2-3 times a year.

Larry: Do the boots you are proposing to treat with Thompson's have a Goretex, UA Storm, Cabela Dry Plus or other breathable/water resistant liner?

Yes they do.

I would assume that your boots are Goretex lined and you want to use Thompsons Water Sealer Clear. I looked at the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and it lists Paraffinic Oil, Parafin oil and Med. Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Solvent. I believe that the solvent will destroy the Goretex liner. In Hudson Bay I was transferring aviation fuel from 6 gallon containers we loaded in the A/c to the fuel tanks for the return flight. I splashed some on my Goretex lined jacket and it completely ruined it. I don't even use goretex around outboard motors for the same reason. You can check with the maker of your liner but I bet Thompson's would void all the warranties. I have had good luck with Obenauf's.

Ski: I agree goretex lined boots are "hot". However, I disagree that leather boots don't need to be sealed. After use, the covering of Goretex lined boots or clothing stops beading water and the liner becomes overwhelmed and quits working. If you rejuvenate the surface so water beads again the goretex begins working again. This is all explained on the Goretex website and I have personally experienced it.

You all have me convinced. No Thompsons Water Seal on my boots.

Larry,

I have used a lot of goretex lined boots over the years, and still do. I use mink oil. I am one of those rare people that maintains his kit and I have tried a lot of leather products for my outdoor and working boots over the years. In my experience, it's hard to beat saddle soap for cleaning and conditioning and mink oil for treatment and waterproofing.

Safe travels.............Larry

Nikwax for hiking/hunting boots that use dry tanned leather. All of the new goretex lined boots use dry tanned leather with a silicon based DWR finish.

Oil based products like mink oil should not be used on these boots. They are for oil tanned leathers typically found on work boots like Whites, or Baileys. The oil deteriorates the membranes over time, and clogs the pores.

The REI website has a great page on caring for your boots. https://www.rei.com/learn/expe...ng-hiking-boots.html

Jeremy

quote:

Originally posted by farbedo:
Nikwax for hiking/hunting boots that use dry tanned leather. All of the new goretex lined boots use dry tanned leather with a silicon based DWR finish.

Oil based products like mink oil should not be used on these boots. They are for oil tanned leathers typically found on work boots like Whites, or Baileys. The oil deteriorates the membranes over time, and clogs the pores.

The REI website has a great page on caring for your boots. https://www.rei.com/learn/expe...ng-hiking-boots.html

Jeremy

Larry:

I always carry a pair of GoreTex socks in case my boots give up the ghost in terms of being waterproof. They are not terribly comfortable, but better than a soggy pair of boots. However, my Meindl's are pretty waterproof as they are.

Thompsons Water Seal. Just paraffin dissolved in naptha.

Leather still needs to be maintained. I've used obenaufs for many years. Keeps leather in good shape without softening it too much like animal fat (mink oil) based products do and doesn't mess up any goretex or similar linings.

Silicone spray on my Alaskan meindls. I don't trust the gortex, after several incidents.

quote:

Originally posted by SFRanger7GP:
Larry,

I have used a lot of goretex lined boots over the years, and still do. I use mink oil. I am one of those rare people that maintains his kit and I have tried a lot of leather products for my outdoor and working boots over the years. In my experience, it's hard to beat saddle soap for cleaning and conditioning and mink oil for treatment and waterproofing.

Safe travels.............Larry

Good suggestions. Played a substantial amount of baseball, we always used saddle soap on our gloves .

Thompsons really isn't good on wood, it's intended use. Would never use it on anything of value.

It works ok on natural fibers. I've used it on various hats to keep the rain/snow off during winter. I have no idea how it would work on boots, I've never heard of it used that way before.