Mink oil is as popular as it is because it works — for years, it has been the go-to elixir for dried up work boots. As a refresher for those of us who are not familiar with this conditioner, mink oil is basically fat extracted from a mink’s abdominal tissue. This unusually stable fat conditions … Read more
Most guys try to avoid darkening their leather boots. But maybe you bought a pair online and the lighting in those marketing pics made the color look lighter than you expected. The good news is, you can darken leather boots very easily. If you wanted, you could with just about any oil in your kitchen, … Read more
You’ve got an impressive pair of beloved boots that have seen one too many winters, way too much oil and grease, and tons of miles of wear and tear. How do you get them looking halfway decent again? There are lots of methods and techniques for cleaning and conditioning your boots, saddle soap and mink … Read more
So what is mink oil? Mink oil is a leather conditioner that is traditionally made from a mink’s abdomen fat. While it is mainly used by shoe enthusiasts and leather workers today, this oily balm has its roots in Native American material culture. Long ago, indigenous populations such as the Chippewa used mink oil as … Read more
Is mink oil the fountain of youth for your boots? I decided to pick some up to see if they could work on some four-year-old Thursday boots. Now, these boots have never been conditioned and a lot of the damage, like deep gashes in the leather, is beyond repair. (They’re not mine; I borrowed them … Read more
Don’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t lose your Red Wings to the wrong conditioner. Take a look at these Red Wing Iron Rangers, perhaps the most beloved American heritage boot on the market. This is what they looked like when they arrived on my doorstep versus how they looked after applying a conditioner … Read more
If you own a quality pair of shoes and you know what you’re doing, then you make sure you condition the leather every few months. Leather, after all, is skin. Keeping it moist is a critical component of ensuring your boots last a long time, develop a patina, and maintain their lustre and depth of … Read more