Can you wear leather boots in the rain?

Leather is a widely popular footwear material known for its durability, quality and rich look. But often, while buying leather shoes, people worry about their limited usage during the monsoon weather. Too much water can be a problem for your leather shoes, but does that mean you need to slide them to the back of your shoe drawer during rains? Fret not. We have covered all your possible rainy weather+leather boots doubts below.

WHY DOES LEATHER GET AFFECTED FOR WORSE BY WATER?

Leather is a porous material that soaks water quickly. When this water dries out and leaves the material, it leads to premature damage and, mostly, leather cracking. You will be surprised to know that pure leather is the strongest compared to other materials. If you have shoes made of genuine leather, expect them to dodge any water damage for a considerable time and avoid wrinkling too fast. Not just water, leather footwear is also usually safe to wear during winter and on low ice.

Is it OK to wear leather boots in the rain?

Contrary to other responses, I would suggest not wearing Leather boots regularly in the rain. Usually, it’s not the leather that is damaged but the different parts of the shoe, like glues, insoles, embellishments, metal zips, etc., that give away once thoroughly wet. Cows don’t use an umbrella but live in the rain. Leather is the Skin of an Animal – a Dead Animal. There is no healing of this leather from the animal’s body, and that’s why leather ages faster without care.

If you must wear the shoes in rain/water, make sure to use some leather protection sprays, water-repellent shoe creams, or mink Oil, or you can use Silicone sprays that are very good at repelling water and giving the leather a nice shine.

If the shoes are wet, you should dry them in natural air without using hot air from hair dryers or any other heat source, as it will deform them permanently. Check out How To Clean Hiking Boots or Shoes.

How To Prevent Your Leather Shoes From Water Damage?

We know that you are not letting your shoes get soaked in the rain on purpose, but life happens. Sometimes you step in that wet ditch or get caught in an unexpected rain shower while wearing your favorite leather boots. Here’s how you can protect your gorgeous leather shoes during rain:

1. KEEP YOUR BOOTS CLEAN

Before applying any waterproofing treatment to your leather shoes:

1. Make sure they are thoroughly clean.
2. Try to knock off any dirt with a stiff shoe brush, as dirt can penetrate the leather and become permanent or hard to remove.
3. Use a damp cloth to remove any fresh stains if the shoes are too dirty.

2. WEATHERPROOFING 

Rule one to remember while trying most weatherproofing tricks is that it is not forever. A popular method is to coat new leather shoes with a layer of wax that provides a water barrier. This wax layer can deplete over time; hence it’s important to remember that the weatherproofing of your shoes is not permanent, and you should repeat the procedure once in 15 days, depending on the number of times your leather boots might get drenched. Having said this, it is always better to buy water-resistant or waterproof leather footwear. At Urban Shepherd Boots, we love leather footwear as much as you do. Our leather boots are water-resistant and almost waterproof!

3. CONSIDER A WATERPROOF COVER

Suppose you live somewhere where it is unlikely to dodge rain often, and it rains regularly. In that case, we suggest investing in a good waterproof cover for your leather shoes. Keep a pair of shoe covers stashed in your bag or car to keep some immediate shoe protection handy. After all, your premium-made leather shoes are valuable!

What To Do If Your Leather Shoes Get Wet?

1. Dry Shoes Quickly

When you reach home or your workplace, remove the shoes and allow them to dry out thoroughly. Heavily drenched feet can affect the fit of your leather shoes, so place some newspaper or shoe tree inside the boots to protect the shape before putting them aside. The right way to lay your shoes is on their sides. As we said – Leather tends to dry out soon, which can cause skin cracking. Hence, you don’t want to lay them next to a heat source.

2. Restore the moisturization

Once the leather footwear is excellent and dry, apply a colorless leather conditioner, which will restore flexibility in the fibers and help prevent any further cracks from the humid weather. Remove shoelaces before conditioning and use only a nickel-size amount of leather conditioner onto a clean cotton cloth or soft sponge and apply all over the boot’s outer surface.

To conclude, YES, you can wear your leather footwear in the rain…as long as you keep our tips in mind to avoid any water damage to your boots. Your leather shoes will become the backbone of your rainy-weather wardrobe, subtly supporting your light knits while you take proper protective measures.

Should You Wear Leather Shoes When It’s Raining?

Leather shoes are highly susceptible to moisture. It can cause potential damage to the leather lining and also may cause color deterioration.

So, here comes the burning question.

Conservative shoe lovers want to know, should I wear leather shoes when it’s raining? Sure, buddy, you can. It would help if you took preventive measures in the rainy season to protect leather shoes from rain. Wearing leather boots in the rain is tricky, and I will reveal these tricks to you quickly.

How To Wear Leather Boots In The Rain? 3 Quick Tips

Life is full of unexpected events.

You are too conservative to wear your precious pair in the rainy season. But I know sometimes luck runs out; it often happens to me. The forecast says sunshine all day long, and when I’m on the street, the rain is all over me and my beloved boot.

I know the feeling, mate.

You are sneaking into this segment to learn tricks to wear leather boots in the rain. Let’s explore together:

1.Keep Your Shoes Clean

Keeping your boots clean is not directly linked to saving the boots from the rain. But a clean shoe will not easily catch up with mud and other waste. It is always a good idea to keep your shoes clean, whether it rains or not.

Furthermore, waterproofing is a great way to protect your boots from rain. A clean shoe is a prerequisite for waterproofing the shoe. We will talk more about waterproofing in the next segment.

2.Waterproofing The Boot

It is the most practiced way of wearing leather boots in the rain without ruining them. Don’t be too glad, champ! Sadly, it is not a permanent solution.

Waxing is performed to protect new shoes from dust, dirt, and water. But, as time elapsed, wax lost its potential as a water-repellent. It would help if you burnished shoes with wax after a fifteen-day maximum. Although the duration depends on how many times your boots face drenching.

For me, it is always a great strategy to buy waterproof shoes. The first impression, the idea might look like an expensive one. Still, it will save much more money than maintaining a regular shoe in the long run.

3. Introduce A Waterproof Cover

Some of us live in a city where rain is average, and sunshine is considered a miracle. If you are a habitant of this city, you must always keep waterproof shoes with you. You can easily keep it in your bag, folded, or can put it on the car’s dashboard. It will come in handy for protecting your shoes immediately.

Can Leather Shoes & Boots Get Wet?

Leather is sensitive to moisture and salt. You may wonder why?

Let me explain.

Finished leather products are highly durable and primarily water-resistant. As I have said earlier, please don’t be confused, which is sensitive to water and salt. Leather boot’s water-repellent capacity doesn’t stand for 100% resistant to water.

Somehow, water can enter the insole, and if the water is brine in nature, the lord can only save your precious boots.

Let’s give you an HD vision of what might happen.

First, water enters through the porous leather, and the macromolecular salt granules will get attached to the surface. When the shoe dries, salt will also lose moisture. It will lead to a crack in your processed leather boots.

Don’t forget salt is an active preservative for raw leather and a deformation agent for processed leather.

Most of us ask this question while we have leather boots and clouds in the sky.

Understandable. May you ask, well water ruin leather boots? Or what are the cons of a wet leather boot? There is a simple answer, my friend. Water is the principal enemy of leather boots. Because leather is a porous element, it will quickly get wet.

The rapid influx of water hampers the leather lining, and it ruptures the leather surface when it dries. After a few such events, you will face difficulties identifying your boots because of water and salt-related cracks.

What To Do When Leather Shoes & Boots Get Wet?

Nature is unpredictable. So, to keep our assets safe from natural events, we need to be extra careful.

Wearing leather boots in the rain is no joke, and after this event, just one thing buzzed in our mind, how to protect leather boots and shoes from rain damage?

Don’t worry; I have got your back, sorry! I meant boots!!

Let’s check out the sacred recipes for protecting your shoes from rain and salt damage.

• Quickly dry off the shoes: When you reach a safe place from the rain, put off the shoes, drain all the water, and let it dry. Preferably, hang it down. It will help in the quick draining of water. After each five minutes interval, shake the shoes to rip off accumulated water at the toe end. You may use an air blower or hair dryer to dry off quickly. But remember, do not expose leather to direct heat. It will do much more harm than rain.
• Moisturize the shoes: After drying off, apply a leather boot moisturizer to moisten the leather. The moisturizer can efficiently restore the lost glamour of the boot. If your shoes have laces, remove them before applying the moisturizer. Apply a minimal amount onto the leather surface and smear it with a soft cloth all over the body.

How To Protect Leather Footwear In The Rain?

There are several ways you can keep safe your precious leather boots from rain. Some courses are as follows:

• Using a water repellent: Some leather conditioners work as a water repellent. Using one before going outside can protect your boots from potential rain damage.
• Using waterproof cover: Waterproof shoe covers are readily available in the market. You can easily keep them with you before they break into the rain. They are easy to carry, and most are washable and reusable.

How To Prevent Your Leather Shoes From Water Damage?

Picture this; you’ve set out wearing the finest leather shoes to realize the weather outside isn’t cooperative. Are you willing to step out with the possibility of ruining your shoes? Of course, no.

Here’s how you could:

• If your shoes get drenched in water, the towel dries the moisture immediately. Using direct heat to dry out, the water would ruin the material. Then, let it dry at room temperature, covering it with a leather cleaner. A solution of ½ vinegar and ½ water applied to the leather surface could help with the water damage.
• Use a nano protector or wax-based polish before setting out on a rainy day. The wax will help seal the leather’s pores, willing the water to roll off the shoe.
• It’s recommended to wear shoes that can withstand water damage. Using water-resistant leather uppers with rubber soles is a durable combination.

Conclusion

Hope you have a clear idea about do’s and don’ts with your leather boots to fight against rain and snow. Specifically, if you have premium quality leather boots, it is wise to keep a waterproof shoe cover with you. That will do the trick. From our perspective, it’s the best and cheapest way to protect leather boots and shoes from natural hazards.

FAQs For Can You Wear Leather Boots In The Rain

Is it OK to wear leather in the rain?

Because of its porous nature, leather will get wet when exposed to excessive amounts of water. If not dried properly, it can become stiff or even rot. However, if you condition it properly, you can wear your leather jacket in the rain without worrying about damaging it.

Is it wrong to wear leather shoes in the rain?

And while leather soles provide excellent traction and a classy appearance, wearing them in the rain can ruin them. As pointed out by the style blog PutThisOn, here’s why: Leather soaks up water like a sponge. But this amount of water can damage the leather and break it down prematurely.

Are leather boots water-resistant?

The leather itself is not well mixed with water. Yes, it has some water resistance, but too much water will cause the leather to become wet – due to the material’s porous nature – and as the leather dries, it can become stiff and rigid, losing that wonderful supple texture.

Are leather boots suitable for snow and rain?

Leather cowboy boots are not waterproof, but they are water-resistant and aren’t suitable to wear in the snow. Snow and excessive moisture cause untreated leather boots to dry and crack. If you intend to wear cowboy boots in water or snow, treat them with a product to protect the leather.

Do leather boots get ruined in the rain?

To conclude, YES, you can wear your leather footwear in the rain…as long as you keep our tips in mind to avoid any water damage to your boots. Your leather shoes will become the backbone of your rainy-weather wardrobe, subtly supporting your light knits while you take proper protective measures.