SAF Boots Care and Comfort

Boot care
DO NOT wash the boot inside out, as it is not easy to dry the insides. If it is wet inside, best is to use a hair dryer if not stuff toilet paper or news paper in to speed up the process. Leaving it wet and damp too long will cause bacteria to breed and cause the leather to rot on the inside, let alone your feet.

If you are using the Goretex version, DO NOT Kiwi wax the bloody nylon upper, doing so clogs the membrane that allows the bootie to ‘breathe’ If its muddy, rinse and scrub with the brush. If you already did it before, stop doing it, and the wax should naturally dissipate / degrade away.

When you wax the leather, make sure you brush all the way until the wax dissipates leaving a shiny look, not a matte layer. Doing so will prevent water from sipping into the leather pores, and prevents more dirt from sticking to it. If done properly, the next time your boots get muddy, rinsing with water will get more mud off, and also allowing your boot to dry faster.

Comfort inside the boot
By default, the boot only comes with one insole. When you put the boot on, if there is too much space on top when you tighten the boot laces, change the insole because it may have worn / bottomed out. If there is still space, consider adding a second insole.
Also don’t forget to add some of the SAF powder every time you put your boot on. This absorbs sweat and helps prevent bacteria from breeding.

Boot Mod
Some of you guys may be more exposed to rain / water than others, or have extra sweaty feet, and may want more ventilation like a sports shoe. Some commercial military boots have actual hole vents that drain away water, but our SAF boots do not. Thus you may want to consider modding your FULL leather boots by drilling small holes throughout the boot. Yes when I say DRILL, I really mean drill a hole with a freaking power drill.

If attempting, remember to avoid areas with stitching and the toe cap that protects your toes. Use the smallest drill bit you can find. Many small holes are better than one big hole, as the bigger the hole the more sand can get in.

Recommended spots would be the lower sides where the insoles are. Doing so will allow air to be pumped in and out as you walk.
If doing river crossing, consider drilling many holes through the whole fucking under outsole and midsole shank of the boot itself. Avoid the sides and concentrate the holes near to the middle so as to prevent your outsole from splitting away from the midsole.

This allows water to quickly drain all the way down with the help of gravity. Walking will also pump air through these holes. The antimicrobial insoles sold by SAF already have holes, no need to waste time there. You will also need to find some fine non metal wire mesh to line between the midsole and insole to prevent squishing and allowing water to flow properly.

This mod gives you ultimate ventilation like sport shoes, but with a slight disadvantage, as walking on puddles lets water in like normal sandals. However it should dry more quickly than without those holes.

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