100 Years of Alpine Experience

Both have their advantages. Therefore it comes down to, as always, the area of application. Do you need footwear which will remain waterproof for a long period of time? Do you need a boot or shoe which prevents rain from penetrating? Are you looking for footwear which you do not need to repeatedly and regularly treat to make water repellent, for example, on long trekking or alpine trips? Many people consider leather to be the more natural option and as always comfortable to wear. For normal areas of application the impermeability of leather is more than sufficient, that is, if you take correct care of it! In this sense neither is better, the best material for your footwear depends on your personal preference and your planned activity.

With the correct care (you can find tips on shoe care here) leather boots/shoes will keep going forever, either with or without Gore-Tex lining. Gore-Tex footwear with a fabric upper is not as robust as leather footwear but it does have the advantage of being lighter and more flexible.

Use special wax (no grease or oil). Massage a thin coat of wax into the dry leather. We recommend Hanwag Shoe Wax. 

Please note: Nubuck, suede or other split leather will darken slightly and become smoother every time you apply wax. If you dont like this effect, you can always roughen up the leather again with a special suede brush. Simply brush off any excess wax.

Outside: Brush off any dirt every time youve worn the footwear. If the dirt is hard to remove, rinse the footwear under running water. Use special leather cleaners if nothing else helps. Avoid soap – it damages the impregnation and most types of leather.

Inside: Leather and textile linings (as in most GORE-TEX boots) are best cleaned with a sponge or a soft brush and fresh water. Do not use hot water.

Drying: Dry your boots thoroughly after cleaning in a well-aired, dry and shady place with their tongues wide open. If really wet, stuff leather-lined footwear with paper and renew it several times. The same applies to GORE-TEX boots which dry faster and more effectively with paper (toilet or kitchen paper – never newspaper). Also, here too its important to change the paper at least once every half an hour.

Please note: Never keep wet or damp shoes in non-aired and humid places like plastic bags, car boots, basements etc. Never dry boots near an oven or over fire or any other source of heat. The leather will burn, turn brittle, dry and crack. Another downside is that the entire shoe can lose its shape.