I bought Lucchese boots in a chocolate brown "oil calf" leather. Feels like an oily leather. Lucchese's instructions for care:

• Brush off dirt or dust with a damp cloth or soft brush.
• Apply a leather conditioner.
• Apply a non-silicone water and stain protector.

However, I feel if I don't use a cream or wax polish, the boots won't look as good, and may lose their color where scratched or worn.

Do you think I should use a polish? How would you care for "oil calf" leather?

I think I would do what the manufacturer recommends.

 

if it feels like an oily leather, then its probably "oil calf".
i would recommend consulting lucchese for care instructions.

 

Lexol, then a silicon spray. Ace has both, probably priced lower than your local shoe shop. The instructions are correct.

 

Lexol, then a silicon [sic] spray. Ace has both, probably priced lower than your local shoe shop. The instructions are correct.

I believe the instructions advise against silicone.

Lucchese's instructions for care:

• Apply a non-silicone water and stain protector.

 

It seems the leather has been oil-tanned or oiled, so you most certainly don't want to use cremes or wax. I'd follow the instructions and give Luchese a call and see if they can suggest "a non-silicone water and stain protector."

 

My mistake. No doubt the instructions should be followed. Before posting, I looked at my cache of leather care products, and all the sprays were silicone. My favorite boots are a pair made locally out of definitely oil-tanned leather. I'm pretty sure one of the cans of silicone was supplied by the maker. Even so, its worth checking the next time I am in Wyoming to see if I have been using the wrong treatment.

 

However, I feel if I don't use a cream or wax polish, the boots won't look as good, and may lose their color where scratched or worn.

Boots look after being worn and a little beaten up. That is what they are designed for and what adds character.

Also, if you bought Lucchese Classics, you can have them "redone" by Lucchese similar to the service that Alden and AE provide for their shoes. I had a pair done, and while they were at it they re-lasted them to a narrower size and they came back looking shiny and new, but still had the worn in character of many miles.

 

if you bought Lucchese Classics, you can have them "redone" by Lucchese similar to the service that Alden and AE provide for their shoes. I had a pair done

Good tip, I'd missed that on their web site. Did you send them back from Toyko? Also, what was the charge for the restoration?

 

Lucchese restoration

Good tip, I'd missed that on their web site. Did you send them back from Toyko? Also, what was the charge for the restoration?

I got a fee quote to send them directly to Lucchese when I was in Tokyo. I don't recall now how much it was.

Since I wanted to have them relasted, I took them to the Lucchse in Santa Fe store when I was back in the US to make sure I got the right width. The restoration and re-lasting was $200-something. They really did come back looking new--much better than I had expected. I'll try to find the "after" pics, if you are interested.

 

However, I feel if I don't use a cream or wax polish, the boots won't look as good, and may lose their color where scratched or worn.

They are boots. Wear the hell out of them.

Plow through mud and snow. Go to a sale barn and get stepped on a few times. Walk through a field of cacti and rocks. When they are good and beaten up (and even scratched), drop them off at a good cobbler and ask him to "just clean them up" for you. They'll come back a little better for the wear.

Wash, rinse, repeat. Do this for 10 years and your boots will come into their own. Unless you're talking about some high dollar ostrich or gator, boots are supposed to be worn. They're supposed to get scratched. Brown oiled boots look best after a few years of hard use.

After 5-7 years of honest wear, women will notice your boots amongst the field of driving shoe shod con men and will comment, "nice boots. Buy her a drink and thank your cobbler.