Breaking in Brogans?

[The True Guts and Glory]

I just bought a new pair of brogans after mine basically fell apart from not waterproofing them. What types of waterproof should I use on them and what can I do to make them less stiff?

Thanks!

[robinslm]

This is a pretty common question, so I would suggest using the search function. Here are a few results.

http://www.cwreenactors.com/forum/sh...re-for-brogans

http://www.cwreenactors.com/forum/sh...hp?26968-Shoes

http://www.cwreenactors.com/forum/sh...in-new-brogans

[faabala]

My favorite dressing for all leather is Fiebings aussie leather conditioner. It's grease and beeswax. Protects and waterproofs.

[Goex]

My favorite dressing for all leather is Fiebings aussie leather conditioner. It's grease and beeswax. Protects and waterproofs.

I've used Fiebings Aussie for other leathers I have and the product is excellent.
In the quantity of the 15oz jar (about $14.00) seems like it will last forever.

[Grabenkater]

Wear them as much as possible. I wear my to work to the store pretty much everywhere. They actually look pretty good with jeans.

[The True Guts and Glory]

Will dunking them in water and wearing them make them stretch? It seems that would only make them smaller.

[Curt-Heinrich Schmidt]

Hallo!

"Wetted down" leather can be molded a bit, but it will depend on how you define "stretch."

Somes lads take new shoes and soak them, then but plastic bags over their feet and wear them for a day trying to get the particular "lay" of the leather to match their feet's particular and peculiar needs due to their actual two feet's shape that is not reflected in the shoes. The hope is that the shoe leather will "adapt" to the way the feet put inside them work, and when dried (and later minimally greased/oiled) hope to avoid strain, discomfort, and worse of all blistering.

The more "custom" makers often work from a number of measurements of both feet. More mass produced "Sutler Row" shoes are often made to a "standard" modern foot size which is one of the reasons why one lad's shoes fit and wear perfectly fine while the next lad is complaining and groaning if not falling ot of the march in a few minutes.
And sometimes, foe example, if one requires a wider shoe, the maker just gives you a larger show size which creates other problems elsewhere.

Curt