Military Boots

Clean your boots
One of the most important habits you should develop if you own a pair of official military military boots is to clean them off after each use. Boots experience a lot of wear and tear every time you use them, but they also bring home evidence of your work or the outdoor elements. This can lead to buildup on the boot or even cause rot if there is moisture in the debris that has caked itself onto the leather. It's important to perform basic maintenance on your military boots. All you need is an old shoe brush or a piece of cloth or fabric to wipe around the toe, heel, sides, and anywhere else you find dirt and debris. This is the most basic level of care but will help your boots dry out and breathe as needed, extending their longevity.

Moisturize your military boots
There are many oils and creams for leather on the market, but you will need to be certain of which kind you need before you make your purchase. Some are for specific types of leather, like suede, for instance. Once you find the oil that works for you, you’ll want to follow the directions, but apply it sparingly, as you won’t want to saturate the leather. It’s best to apply oil once per month to keep your boots from cracking and strengthen the leather without softening the material too much.

Watch out for salt and snow
Some of the worst elements for genuine leather are salt and snow. The harsh nature of the snow makes it harmful to leather—after wearing your boots in the snow, you will notice stains on them that resemble circles. These could eat away at your boots slowly and cause dry rot to set in through the harsh cold and wet ice, which freeze and dry the leather further. Another thing to look out for in winter conditions is salt. Mixed with the ice and snow, salt will soften your leather and break it down very quickly. If there is one thing that can break down most materials, it's salt.

Maintain your heels
Most of the time, the heels of shoes and military boots are the most neglected because they tend to be a durable part of the shoe. However, boots are heavy-duty and tend to wear more than the average shoe—the heels can wear down quickly depending on the type of work you use the boots for. Most of the time, that activity is high-level. The soles of your boots may chip or have holes in them from your stepping on sharp or hardened objects without noticing. You will need to check them regularly. Check once a week to ensure that they aren't too beat up, if not after every wear.

Repair scuffs and fading
Creams seem to work much better than oils because they don't have near the amount of moisture but all of the nutrients. Nutrients have been stripped from the leather whenever scuffs and fading are present. Use cream to add a thin layer through multiple applications. It's almost like moisturizing your own skin, but these creams are more potent than most lotions because they moisturize leather.

Create a shine kit
Finally, the single greatest thing you can do to keep your military boots in tip-top shape is have a shine kit on standby. There's a reason that basic training issues a shine kit—because it's your best friend and one of the best tools you can have for maintaining a pair of boots.

Add a protective layer
In the winter, some people add an additional thin rubber sole on top of their existing one to protect their original soles from winter weather, including ice and snow. As we already know, the cold conditions alone make rubber brittle and will cause it to break off.