UnionistMarylander
Private
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2024
- Location
- Maryland
Had to order an emergency pair of brogans that came in the mail today, and thought I would post my guide for breaking them in.
First, you're gonna want to soak them in water for a few minutes
Then, wear until dry. These should take a few hours to completely dry, and you can do whatever. I personally went on a little walk. As they dry, the leather will comfortably conform to your feet. Do NOT try to dry them by a fire, as this will cause the leather to crack and warp.
Once they're dried, make sure to clean the brogans completely from any dirt, dust, etc. that you might've picked up. Using a horse hair brush on the body will do, but the soles will be considerably more dirty and will need more effort. Don't worry about making the sole pristine, just clean the big chunks off. You should do this after any event to preserve the life of your brogans, as I'm sure everyone familiar with the quagmire that was and is Cedar Creek can attest to.
For the conditioning, some people like to use neetsfoot oil, Huberd's oil/grease, etc. I prefer mink oil, but it's up to you. You can apply the mink oil in its solid form, but I find it much easier to use when it's melted down.
Remove the shoelaces and once the oil is melted, take a shoe brush and generously apply the oil to the brogans in a circular motion, paying close attention to
the seams where the stitching is.
When finished, leave it in the sun or a warm place to dry for a few hours. Once the oil is fully soaked into the leather, it will waterproof the shoe and soften and condition your leather. I usually do this around once a year.
-UnionistMarylander
First, you're gonna want to soak them in water for a few minutes
Then, wear until dry. These should take a few hours to completely dry, and you can do whatever. I personally went on a little walk. As they dry, the leather will comfortably conform to your feet. Do NOT try to dry them by a fire, as this will cause the leather to crack and warp.
Once they're dried, make sure to clean the brogans completely from any dirt, dust, etc. that you might've picked up. Using a horse hair brush on the body will do, but the soles will be considerably more dirty and will need more effort. Don't worry about making the sole pristine, just clean the big chunks off. You should do this after any event to preserve the life of your brogans, as I'm sure everyone familiar with the quagmire that was and is Cedar Creek can attest to.
For the conditioning, some people like to use neetsfoot oil, Huberd's oil/grease, etc. I prefer mink oil, but it's up to you. You can apply the mink oil in its solid form, but I find it much easier to use when it's melted down.
Remove the shoelaces and once the oil is melted, take a shoe brush and generously apply the oil to the brogans in a circular motion, paying close attention to
the seams where the stitching is.
When finished, leave it in the sun or a warm place to dry for a few hours. Once the oil is fully soaked into the leather, it will waterproof the shoe and soften and condition your leather. I usually do this around once a year.
-UnionistMarylander
Bringing the