When I hike in the winter, I frequently apply a sealant to my boots to make sure that rain, snow, and water stay away from my feet.
All good snow boots and mountaineering boots will have a Gore-Tex or other waterproof lining, but that doesn’t prevent water from penetrating the outer layer of your boot.
Why not just force water to bead up on the outside of the boot, rather than saturating the leather before being stopped by the Gore-Tex liner?
I use a product call Tectron Sno Seal, a beeswax waterproofing sealant that you can use on boots and shoes.
How to waterproof your boots:
Waterproofing is a quick and easy process. I do this several times a season, especially in advance of a snowshoe outing or a winter hike/backpacking trip.
Step 1: Clean Your Boots Using a Stiff Bristle Brush and Water
Step 2: Dry Your Boots Using a Rag
Step 3: Use a hairdryer for 30 seconds to warm up the leather (warm leather absorbs the sealant better)
Step 4: Apply the sealant using a rag
Step 5: Buff excess sealant and let dry
I’m not sure what type of leather my La Sportiva Lhotse boots are made of. It’s probably the same type as your La Sportiva Glacier Evo boots you use in the video so I’m assuming the Techron Sno Seal will be OK to use on them?
Great question. The Sno Seal will most likely be fine on your boots, and if you really want to be sure, just test a small section before treating the whole boot.
If the only risk is a darkening of the leather I don’t care about that. Mine are the whitish ones anyway, which isn’t an ideal color for a hiking/mountaineering boot so a darkening would be fine with me. Thank you for your reply.