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Grangers G-Wax Boot Protector?

Grangers G-Wax Boot Protector?


Postby Sunset tripper » Tue May 16, 2017 4:17 pm

I have a pair of Meindl Burma leather boots about 2 years old. I use Grangers g wax to protect the leather and it also helps waterproof the boot. I find that goretex boots starts to leak eventually after sustained heavy use. When I went in to an outdoor store to get a new tin of wax the guy said I shouldn't be using Grangers wax on my Meindls because it damages the goretex. I wish I had asked at the time but how is this possible? I bought it anyway because I have always found it to be a good product. He also said if my boots were leaking I should take them back as goretex has a lifetime guarantee........................... I know how that works though, they send them away to be examined by a specialist and you end up with no boots for a couple of months. :( I cant see them fixing the goretex lining in 2 year old battered boots. :?
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Re: Grangers G-Wax Boot Protector?

Postby Mal Grey » Tue May 16, 2017 4:50 pm

Sunset tripper wrote:I have a pair of Meindl Burma leather boots about 2 years old. I use Grangers g wax to protect the leather and it also helps waterproof the boot. I find that goretex boots starts to leak eventually after sustained heavy use. When I went in to an outdoor store to get a new tin of wax the guy said I shouldn't be using Grangers wax on my Meindls because it damages the goretex. I wish I had asked at the time but how is this possible? I bought it anyway because I have always found it to be a good product. He also said if my boots were leaking I should take them back as goretex has a lifetime guarantee........................... I know how that works though, they send them away to be examined by a specialist and you end up with no boots for a couple of months. :( I cant see them fixing the goretex lining in 2 year old battered boots. :?


I think he's in error. Numerous leather footwear companies use Gore-Tex linings behind the leather, but still recommend treating the leather with things like G-Wax. I can see that it might theoretically work through the leather and block some of the micro-pores in the Gore-Tex lining, but I've never heard of it "damaging the Gore-Tex".

As far as I understood it, the Gore-TEx warranty on footwear, like on other Gore-Tex is one of those "guaranteed to be waterproof and breathable" type things which only really applies when brand new as wear and tear then applies. So its a "what is reasonable" question when applying the warranty. Their website says:

"Is it a lifetime guarantee?
No: It applies to waterproofness, windproofness and breathability for the useful life of the product"

There's then a follow up about useful life, which basically explains it doesn't apply to "normal wear and tear".

On a leather boot, personally I would trust G-Wax or equivalent applied regularly to keep the water out far better than any Gore-Tex lining. Tiny particles of grit get into your boot and ultimately they get into the fabric protecting the lining and with the pressure of your feet moving in the boot eventually they will work into the lining and cause tiny holes.
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Re: Grangers G-Wax Boot Protector?

Postby BobMcBob » Tue May 16, 2017 5:26 pm

I've used G-Wax for a few years on GoreTex boots and always found it extremely good. I've also heard that you shouldn't use stuff on GoreTex boots because it might damage the GoreTex but I've never found this to be the case, and if you don't treat the leather it won't last.

I used to use a Nikwax product that most definitely did rot the GoreTex, so maybe the guy had his wires crossed?
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Re: Grangers G-Wax Boot Protector?

Postby Giant Stoneater » Tue May 16, 2017 7:21 pm

I use Grangers G-Wax on Goretex boots,i never have problems with Goretex linings so far,if you wax quite regularly then you build up the wax on them and they become quite waterproof which actually goes against having a breathable,waterproof lining.
Don't forget to cut your toenails :wink:
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Re: Grangers G-Wax Boot Protector?

Postby Gythral » Tue May 16, 2017 7:38 pm

Giant Stoneater wrote:Don't forget to cut your toenails :wink:


:clap:
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Re: Grangers G-Wax Boot Protector?

Postby Sunset tripper » Wed May 17, 2017 2:16 am

Cheers Mal thanks for the reply, that was my way of thinking also. I think maybe the guy got mixed up.

Bob thanks also for your comments, I agree.

Stoneater and gythral also thanks for the reply. And yes you are right about the toenails but if you are using the boots constantly in hard rocky environments the goretex does still give in.
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Re: Grangers G-Wax Boot Protector?

Postby Caberfeidh » Wed May 17, 2017 10:52 am

Maybe he meant purely Goretex boots, as in not leather boots with a Goretex lining. I always use G-Wax on my leather boots (I don't think they're lined with anything in particular). It works just fine and preserves the stitching too, which dubbin tends to rot.
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Re: Grangers G-Wax Boot Protector?

Postby teaandpies » Wed May 17, 2017 2:54 pm

I'm fairly positive that Grangers actually make the Miendl wax so I can't see why the brand would be an issue.
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Re: Grangers G-Wax Boot Protector?

Postby abbruce » Wed May 17, 2017 3:02 pm

I had to return a pair of Meindl Burma's under warranty. They were replaced, but Meindl made the comment that the leather was rather dry & actually advised me to use wax in future to make the leather more supple.

I've now had 2 pairs of Burmas & am currently on my 2nd pair of Bhutans (internal seam keeps splitting & they keep replacing), have used Nixwax waterproofing wax for leather since advised & it has certainly worked with no adverse affect.

Now if only they had a product to stop the stitching coming out. :lol:
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Re: Grangers G-Wax Boot Protector?

Postby fortonsteve » Fri Dec 15, 2017 7:26 am

Following on
I understand the lifetime Gortex Lifetime Guarentee for boots is lost if you get a tiny bit of grit in the inside and it damages the Gotex membrame. Fair enough?!
However on the Gortex Waterproofs.
I bought my first and only Gortex material waterproof (does not matter about the brand of manufacture) in 1992 for £128 in the once YHA store in Manchester.
Since then Gortex have honoured their Lifetime Guarentee and send me a new jacket of my choice if they agree it has failed.
Now that is Custom Service at its best! I don't understand why anyone buys anything else other than a Gortex material!!
My credentials area Land End 》John O' Groats around the coast.....etc etc so well used, except in Scotland, only in the last 2 hours! Who says Scotland is wet? Far more rain and wind (and Rick Steine chip shops) on the South coast.
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