Brooks Saddle Weatherproofing

[gwhite]

Well, if you had said that the tanning process that brooks uses for their leathers, extracts all the oils, then I would have perhaps said that it was possible but you were probably wrong.

As you said "Leather is Leather" and as such leather needs natural oils.... not enough and the leather will crack and too much oils and the leather will rotten. Most of the product you can buy over the counter for maintaining shoes are bad for leather. Very few are good, shoe polish cream is quite good but standard shoe polish or wax is bad, they contribute in the rotten process.

I'll go along with your advise.... don't put too much protection BUT I'm sure somebody will come along and say just make sure you soak the leather in wax or whatever and that works.

As I have already said, the process removes all of the natural oils and I would have thought that a look at a new saddle would confirm this. It used to be the case that leather chairs and sofas need regular conditioning with a Lanolin-based conditioner used to replace the natural oils back into the leather if it was not to crack and split. Modern processes in leather production now mean that this has become unnecessary and now shoes are also produced using this technology.
I've never heard that shoe polish, which after all is mainly wax and colouring, actually rots leather. My shoes last thirty years using polish. After all, Proofide is mostly paraffin wax with some Citronella for smell and only provides a temporary waterproofing effect at best in that it is prevented from penetrating the leather by the top surface being pressure-rolled for a smooth and shiny surface. Too much underneath however, will over-soften the saddle as it will penetrate the leather.

 

[gwhite]

Personally I fit the saddle, break it in by riding on it (doesn't take me long), then continue to ride it until it's worn out (minimum 10 years). At that stage I reckon I've had good value so I bin it and buy a new one.

I don't think like this at all. A Brooks saddle becomes like an old friend to me and I value their comfort. Thirty years and more is what I expect and get from my saddles.

 

[Goldfang]

Years ago I used Brooks saddles, and have recently gone back to using one, an old school bike shop owner told me that all you need use is an occasional light application of good quality boot polish. It has got to be Kiwi, good enough for generations of soldiers boots, I use Kiwi light tan, as it is an almost identical shade to the saddle. I also cover the saddle with a plastic when it is raining- Farm Foods carrier bags-very robust!