Leather for backpacking/hunting boots?

Hello,





Can someone school me on boot leather. I am looking for a pair of MEINDL boots that are made with %26quot;split leather%26quot; and i have heard recently that this is not the best leather to use on boots.


Which i find contradicting as MEINDL makes some of the highest quality boots out there.


%26quot;Full grain nubuck%26quot; leather is also another advertised boot leather that i%26#039;m curious about





if someone knows ups/downs to both that would be great.





Thanks so much

Leather for backpacking/hunting boots?
Hi there,





I%26#039;ve been selling hiking boots for the last 7 years and the main difference is the look. The nubuck has the brushed finish where the Split Leather has the harder polished look.





The Split leather in it%26#039;s original form is slightly more waterproof but then both leathers are normally treated to make them 100% waterproof anyway. Plus then you have your Gore-tex or equivilent lining inside anway.





The other difference is that the split leather is slightly harder wareing in my opinion.





Cheers, ToNy!


%26quot;Success.Trail%26quot;





P.S. I love Meindl Boots, they are fantastic.
Reply:Ok here is some of the deal. Full grain leather is more expensive and more durable. The outer %26quot;skin%26quot; is more wether proof, but it can be bulky and pinch your foot as well as cause moisture due to sweat to build up since it is more weather proof.


Split leather is less durable cheaper(more material per cow hide) less durable due to deminished thickness and grain continuity(part of thr grain is cut off) it is more flexable and conforms to your foot better ,it also breaks in easier (but also wears out faster too).it breaths better but it is less water resistant though because of the less bulk and open grain you will often find gortex and the like as a liner making it water resistant again.


I find full thickness leather to be easier to take care of personally.and do not like the way nubuck or swead leather takes to products like Dubin and mink oil. there are some good silicone based spray or brush on weather protectents though that are Nubuck,swaed,and full grain leather. Hope this helps:) YES IT WILL HARDEN UP AFTER DRYING OUT AND YES IT WILL SHRINK ABIT BUT IT WILL COME BACK TO LIFE



kmdi