Boot Wax Heavy-Duty Waterproofing Sealant
Boot Wax is our heavy-duty leather protector, built for your gear that takes the most punishment — boots, work gloves, belts, and harnesses. Made by hand in small batches here at our Portland, Oregon workshop from all-natural beeswax, lanolin, and orange oil, it seals out water before it can stain or damage your leather. Works equally well on light or dark smooth leathers, including exotic hides like buffalo and ostrich. Reach for it any time your gear needs an extra layer of armor against the elements.
Mix and match any 3 of our Leather Care Products and get 15% Off those full priced products — no code required, discount applies to cart automatically.
Valid on any size Saddle Soap, Leather Salve, Boot Wax, Leather Oil, and Leather Care Kit. Excludes brushes, buffing cloths, bundles, and accessories. (Terms & Conditions)
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BOOT WAX
ALL-NATURAL BEESWAX & LANOLINWATERPROOFING TREATMENT
Our Boot Wax goes on smooth, settles in deep, and forms a tough protective barrier against water, dirt, and everyday wear and tear. It's also great for protecting stitching and seams.
Use it on boots, bags, workwear, saddlery, or any leather that could use extra protection from the elements. It offers long-lasting protection so your favorite leather goods lasts longer and looks better eeach time you apply.
We use simple, natural ingredients because the stuff we care for is the stuff we live with. Your favorite boots, jacket, bag, or briefcase isn’t just another thing in the closet. It carries your story, breaks in with you, and gets better with age.
No mink oil. No neatsfoot oil. No ingredients that require killing an animal — ever. We use all-natural beeswax, lanolin, and plant-based oils because they perform and because we can stand behind every ingredient on the label.
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PFAS-FREE
No chemicals. No preservatives. No petroleum. No compromises.
ALL-NATURAL INGREDIENTS
Every ingredient is sustainably sourced and selected for quality
HANDMADE IN USA
We set the bar for quality. That's why we never outsource production.
HOW TO APPLY
We recommend applying Boot Wax to a clean leather surface when possible. Dirt, dust, and debris clogs leather pores and can keep Boot Wax from proper absorption. If your item really needs some TLC we recommend cleaning with Saddle Soap prior to application, but sometimes all you might need to do is wipe your item down with a warm damp cloth.
STEP 1
Create a divot with a lint-free cloth and soften wax using a circular motion.
STEP 2
Apply to leather one small area at a time, being sure to always treat your entire item.
STEP 3
Pay close attention to thoroughly coat seams and stitching.
STEP 4
Optional, but for best results allow the wax to set for 24 hours before use.
BEFORE & AFTER
It's important to remember that your leather will naturally darken after treatment and will lighten up over the course of a few days. This will be more obvious on lighter color leathers like the sample shown here. Always test on small discreet spot before full application to ensure desired results will be achieved.
BEFORE
AFTER
FAQ
Boot Wax is made exclusively from beeswax, lanolin, sweet orange essential oil, and vitamin E mixed tocopherols. We keep the formula focused on ingredients that fit the job instead of loading it up with extras that are not needed. That gives you an all-natural boot wax with a firm texture in the tin and a workable, paste-like feel once softened with a cloth. Each batch is made by hand in Portland, Oregon, so the product stays true to the small-batch leather care approach Otter Wax is known for.
Boot Wax is intended for smooth leather, whether it is light or dark in color, and it can also be used on many exotic hides such as ostrich. It is a strong fit for leather boots, work boots, and leather gloves that need a protective leather sealer against wet weather. Do not use it on suede or nubuck, and avoid bonded or imitation leather, vegan leather, pleather, leatherette, vinyl, PVC, PU-coated or bicast leather, patent leather, aniline leather, and semi-aniline leather.
Boot Wax is made exclusively from beeswax, lanolin, sweet orange essential oil, and vitamin E mixed tocopherols. We keep the formula focused on ingredients that fit the job instead of loading it up with garbage like petroleum distillates, chemicals, or preservatives.
We never use animal byproducts that require killing the animal, which means you’ll never find ingredients like neatsfoot oil or mink oil in our formulas.
Start by testing Boot Wax on a small, discreet area to make sure you like the look. Apply only to clean, dry leather. Press a lint-free cloth into the center of the wax and swirl until it softens into a smooth, paste-like consistency, then work it into the leather using even circular motions. Coat the entire item rather than spot treating one section. After application, let the leather dry for 24 hours before use. It is normal for the leather to darken at first and lighten over time as the wax settles in.
There is no fixed schedule for when you should reapply because it really depends on use and weather exposure. A pair of work boots worn everyday in wet conditions will usually need attention sooner than leather kept out of the elements. A practical rule is to apply Boot Wax before wet weather or hard outdoor use, then reapply when water no longer beads on the surface the way you want it to. Always start with clean, dry leather, and allow the item to dry for 24 hours after each application before putting it back into regular use
Yes. Leather may darken after application, especially at first, and that change is a normal part of using a wax-based leather protectant. Over time the look often lightens again as the wax settles in, but every hide takes wax a little differently, which is why we recommend testing a small, discreet area before treating the full item. This is especially important with light color leather or any leather where you are particular about the final finish. Once you are comfortable with the result, apply Boot Wax evenly across the entire item for a consistent appearance.
Generally speaking, you can apply Otter Wax leather care products over existing conditioners or protectants without any issues. If the leather has previously been treated with another conditioning product, it’s usually perfectly fine to apply our products directly on top.
If you’re unsure what was used on the leather in the past, we’d recommend starting with our Saddle Soap to clean the surface and remove any excess buildup before applying a conditioner or protectant. Just make sure the leather is allowed to dry completely first.
The main exception would be if the leather has been treated with a synthetic coating or sealant, such as a polyurethane finish or other plastic-like barrier. Those types of coatings can prevent natural oils and waxes from absorbing properly into the leather. In that case, the coating would need to be removed before using Otter Wax products, and our leather care line may not be the best fit until that’s addressed.
When in doubt, a quick cleaning with Saddle Soap and a small spot test in a hidden area is always the safest approach.
OUR COMMITMENT TO QUALITY
We stand behind each and every Otter Wax product because everything's made right here in our Portland, Oregon workshop. As a small, family-owned business, we never take for granted the trust our customers place in us to help protect and care for their favorite rain gear, workwear, and outdoor gear.