alternatives to Proofhide

[Scilly Suffolk]

The best price I can find for Proofhide is £8, which for a shoe polish sized tin seems a bit steep.

Proofhide is, as far as I can see, no more than Brooks own-brand dubbin.

The arguments against alternatives to Proofhide, such as Hydrophane and dubbin, seem to be that they over-soften the leather and that Brooks say you should use Proofhide.

Obviously Books have a vested interest in flogging Proofhide when it's about £5 a tin more than dubbin. As for over-softening, excessive use of Proofhide will do that too: so it seems that it is the application rather than the product itself which is at fault.

Before I take the plunge, I'd thought I see what the collective wisdom was in case I am missing something obvious.

 

[tyred]

Saddle soap is probably the best.

Vaseline will work, or neutral shoe polish if you can find some.

 

[PpPete]

An £8 tin of Proofhide will last for [nearly] ever. Applied sparingly (as per instructions) and on the (oft-quoted) basis of once a week for a month, then once a month for a year, then once a year for life, I reckon one tin will last a lifetime for two saddles.
You are planning to save £5, and put at risk an investment of somewhere between £60 (1 x B17) and £260 (2 x Ti-railed Team Pros)
Would you buy a Bentley and put Tesco Value motor-oil in the sump ?

 

[Cheradenine]

When I had a brooks I have just used the grangers G-Wax I already had for use on my hiking boots.

It works fine and saves buying two lot's of treatment.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

An £8 tin of Proofhide will last for [nearly] ever. Applied sparingly (as per instructions) and on the (oft-quoted) basis of once a week for a month, then once a month for a year, then once a year for life, I reckon one tin will last a lifetime for two saddles.
You are planning to save £5, and put at risk an investment of somewhere between £60 (1 x B17) and £260 (2 x Ti-railed Team Pros)
Would you buy a Bentley and put Tesco Value motor-oil in the sump ?

I know what you're saying but, unless you know otherwise, there is no "magic" ingredient in Proofhide, it's just dubbin with the Brooks name on it.

Sure, a fiver over the lifetime of the saddle (and probably mine too) is not a whole hill of beans but it's still a lot of money to me at the moment.

I think a more appropriate analogy would be buying a Bentley and not putting any oil in it at all. I do intend to maintain it, but object to paying a mark-up of around 150% just for a branded product.

I appreciate having your point of view all the same.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

When I had a brooks I have just used the grangers G-Wax I already had for use on my hiking boots.

It works fine and saves buying two lot's of treatment.

£2.99 for 80g from Wiggle!

I've sent them an e-mail asking if they think it would be suitable for use on leather saddles.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Saddle soap is probably the best.

Vaseline will work, or neutral shoe polish if you can find some.

Horse tack seemed an obvious place to look for treatments, but I found this advice about saddlesoap. What has your experience been?

I have also considered shoe polish, but know that cheaper brands (without Beeswax) can actually dry leather out: they put a superficial shine on your shoes but don't actually nourish or protect them.

 

[oldfatfool]

I am using Renapur leather balsam, never done the sofa or car seats any harm

 

[biggs682]

vaseline are you sure

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I am using Renapur leather balsam, never done the sofa or car seats any harm

Have you claimed your reward?

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

vaseline are you sure

My memory is not what it was, but I think that was why (when I used to have to spit & polish my boots) I was advised against using cheap shoe polish: it is petroleum based, which does leather no good in the long run.

 

[tyred]

Horse tack seemed an obvious place to look for treatments, but I found this advice about saddlesoap. What has your experience been?

I have also considered shoe polish, but know that cheaper brands (without Beeswax) can actually dry leather out: they put a superficial shine on your shoes but don't actually nourish or protect them.

I've been using saddle soap on my saddles for about 5 years now and no problems.

Vaseline can help to soften leather and keep it supple and waterproof but don't overdo it. I was told this by someone who spent 60 odd years of his life repairing shoes, boots, horse saddles, sofas and various other leather goods so I would assume the advice is good. I used it initially on my new B17 to help the breaking in process. For some reason, mine came without proofhide which I understand is supposed to come with a tin of proofhide.

 

[tyred]

Flat caps are the ideal cycle wear. Keeps the rain off, the sun out of your eyes and no snag points in the event of an accident. What more could anyone ask for?

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I've been using saddle soap on my saddles for about 5 years now and no problems.

Vaseline can help to soften leather and keep it supple and waterproof but don't overdo it. I was told this by someone who spent 60 odd years of his life repairing shoes, boots, horse saddles, sofas and various other leather goods so I would assume the advice is good. I used it initially on my new B17 to help the breaking in process. For some reason, mine came without proofhide which I understand is supposed to come with a tin of proofhide.

You'd need a strong case to argue against sixty years experience!

I'm not sure that Brooks supply their saddles with Proofhide as a matter of course: on their website someone suggested that, bearing in mind the price of the saddle, they should do; Brooks replied that they didn't think everyone would want to pay the extra cost.

Yes, I think they missed the point too.

 

[Hicky]

Well I've done roughly 5/600 miles on my B17N, three applications of dubbin(whatever was in the cupboard,gelert I think).
Backed off the nut to its softest...a week of commuting, 50 mile ride on the weekend and back to commuting yesterday with no ill effects.....I have some neutral polish(looks the same as proofhide).
I think the salts from sweating,rain and road salt will cause more damage than what magic potion is applied or not.