I once even spilled half an iced coffee down the front, without leaving a mark.

“You’ll still need to use an umbrella but on drizzly days … the water rolls off easily, without staining. After trawling PurseForum and polling friends, “the overwhelming response was to choose Apple,” she says. Spray | Multipurpose recommended for leatherįormer Cut senior market editor Diana Tsui discovered Apple’s water repellent while searching for the right product to protect an “insanely expensive” Celine handbag from scratches and water damage. Within those categories, we’ve noted the best picks for a variety of uses, from high-end leather dress shoes to heavy-duty snow boots. Many waterproofers are multiuse, with the biggest division being between heavy-duty products, which are usually wax- or oil-based and can slightly alter the finish of the shoe, and products for everyday use, which are designed to be invisible and won’t change the color of a leather upper or ruin the nap of suede or nubuck. Intended use: Different shoes have different needs, and you shouldn’t waterproof suede oxfords you plan to wear to work once or twice a week with a product designed for work boots that tromp through mud and slush. For all types of waterproofers, be sure to follow drying times on the label closely to ensure a strong waterproof seal and avoid staining your shoes by overapplying. This process can take longer but offers more control over how much you’re applying to different areas of the shoe. Creams and waxes need to be worked in by hand or with a cloth. Sprays are quick and relatively foolproof, but you’ll need a drop cloth or other surface you’re not worried about getting messy to protect your floors. They’re all effective, but there are differences in application. Medium: Most waterproofers come as a spray, a cream, or a wax. Most waterproofers will need to be reapplied every couple months, depending on how frequently you wear a pair of shoes. Before waterproofing, make sure to get your shoes nice and clean Charlotte Stone, founder of her eponymous shoe label, recommends brushing off shoes to make sure no debris and dirt gets trapped under a layer of product. (For leather shoes, experts recommend taking the extra step of conditioning them before applying a waterproofer, which facilitates a better watertight seal and preserves the healthiest, best-looking version of your shoe until the next application.)īoth synthetics and natural products will wear off over time, which is actually a good thing - a stubborn waterproof layer will prevent you from maintaining the material beneath it or repairing scuffs and scratches. Both provide a strong seal against water - Eduard Shimunov of Cobbler Express says silicone-based sprays are like “an umbrella over your shoe,” while Andrade says mink oil is like “a layer of wax on a brand-new car” - and natural products have the added bonus of nourishing the material beneath the surface. Many synthetic waterproofers are silicone-based, and non-synthetics contain natural waxes and oils like mink oil or beeswax. Waterproofing ingredient: Both synthetic and natural waterproofers appear on our list. (A good rule of thumb is that a shoe made of a material you would dry-clean is sensitive enough to moisture that it would benefit from waterproofing.) Common materials that you don’t have to worry about are rubber and patent leather, which aren’t porous enough to be susceptible to water damage.īest overall | Best for leather | Best high-end | Best less expensive | Best for suede | Best less expensive for suede | Best heavy-duty | Best heavy-duty for snow | Best oil-based heavy-duty | Best brush You can also waterproof a pair of shoes with a fabric upper, whether that’s a pair of Allbirds or satin mules I’ve ruined enough silk thrift-store prom shoes to recommend doing so. Waterproofing is most useful for shoes made from animal hide, especially nubuck and suede, which show damage quickly - it’s “like having a shoe that’s a sponge,” says Edward Andrade of Cesar’s Shoe Repair. Although there are plenty of ways to deal with stains after the fact, the best strategy against water damage is prevention, especially for shoes you plan to wear often or in unpredictable weather. There are few things more dispiriting than wearing a new pair of shoes on a bad weather day, then coming home and finding water stains or rings of road salt once they’ve dried.

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist Photos: Retailers

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