What are the Best Leather Conditioner and Clear for Shoes and Boots?

Your leather shoes and boots will not keep their natural oil and moisture for a lifetime. A time comes when they dry, lose their flexibility, and then start to crack. But you don’t have to wait for yours to wear and tear beyond redemption. You can use the best leather conditioner to restore the footwear to their best state.

To get the most out of a conditioning kit, it’s best to treat your shoes or boots before wearing them.

Also, condition the leather at least every 6 months to keep them in the best state. If you live and work in a place where the climate isn’t so friendly, you should consider condition your footwear more frequently.

With that said, here are some awesome products that you can use to give your leather shoes and boot a better treat.

2. Bickmore Distressed Conditioner

If you need a way to remove scratches from leather shoes without scratching your head, try Bickmore Distressed Conditioner.

Perfect for lifting scuffs and refurbishing distressed leather, Bickmore can restore the natural oil that your leather footwear loses over time and make them feel like new again

Something already obvious about this leather conditioner is its versatility. You can apply it on any item made of leather, with footwear being a number one priority in our case.

You’ll love this conditioner because it’s very easy to use. Clean the leather by brushing off all dirt or grime. Rub the conditioner evenly on the surface of the leather shoes and let it soak in.

3. Weiman Leather Cleaner and Conditioner for Shoes

So your leather shoes have lost their natural oil and moisture and now they’re about to distress and die?

No problem.

You can use Weiman to clean, condition, and get them back to life.

Most formulas only leave your boots and shoes supple and soft, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Weiman goes a step further, allowing you add an aromatic scent to your leather footwear so they smell fresh.

Furthermore, it doesn’t add a strange tone to your footwear’s current color. It preserves it instead. And that holds true regardless of the type of leather.

Weiman is affordable yet undeniably effective and very easy to use. As long as you’ve cleaned your shoes, all you have to do is to wipe the conditioner over the leather, leave it to soak in, and give the shoes some time to dry before wearing.

Note that a single application of the Weiman leather cleaner and conditioner will last for a month or more. So it might take a year or more before you have to buy another bottle.

4. Leather Rescue Conditioner and Restorer for Shoes

To clean and moisturize your shoes at the same time, you need a solution that’s both a cleaner and a conditioner.

So get yourself the Leather Rescue, use it to breathe life back to your shoes and boots, and make them look better for longer.

On paper, the brand boasts of a combination of ancient knowledge and modern technology to develop this product. And sure enough, they’ve undoubtedly played by the book.

With no traces of alcohol, silicones, wax, or oils, this is the conditioner you need to give your footwear a deeper treatment that clears away dirt, especially those buried deep in leather crevices.

As if providing a deeper penetration for fiber hydration isn’t enough, Leather Rescue goes as further as to prevent the leather from drying and cracking while providing protection from harsh UV rays.

The Rescue Conditioner and Restorer penetrate deep into leather in under 5 minutes, and takes not more than 60 minutes to dry. The solution won’t leave your leather shoes dry or greasy. Instead will give it a soft supple look you’d think they’re new.

Included in the package are two soft, non-abrasive sponges that you can use to give your shoes a better treat. And this one is easy to use just like the rest of the leather conditioners on our list.

5. TriNova Leather Restorer and Conditioner

Your leather shoes will give in after holding up for some time. Eventually they’ll fade and crack. And retiring them for a new pair of dress shoes may seem like the only viable option.

But with TriNova, breathing life back to your pair and making them look and feel new is possible. So you never actually have to throw them away.

To be clear, TriNova doesn’t just condition and restore leather footwear. It also extends its life.

By providing the right amount of moisture, the conditioning product keeps your shoes soft, strong, and supple for a very long time, so you don’t have to worry about cracks anymore.

The content in the bottle is a blend of polymer that penetrates the leather in minutes. Once soaked in, TriNova moisturizes and soften the leather and then take about an hour to dry.

The result is revived leather shoes that feel strong with a glowing shine that feels like brand new.
You’ll love this leather conditioner because it’s easy to use.

Use warm water or the TriNova Leather Cleaner and a detergent to clean your shoes. Apply a small amount of the conditioner to the applicator. Then massage the applicator on your shoes evenly. Wipe away the excess, and allow an hour to dry.

6. Saphir Medaille Mink Natural Leather Conditioner

100 years later, and Saphir is still making waves and grabbing attention with its leather conditioners.

Made for any kind of leather you can think of, from backpack and couch to boots and shoes, their Mink Natural Conditioner is no doubt a product to consider if you need something effective and affordable.

Saphir Medaille Mink is an organic product with all natural ingredients that give your leather shoes a smooth feel. It dries up a few minutes after application, leaving no traces of oil or grease on the surface.

Just like all the leather conditioner for shoes in this guide, the Medaille Mink Natural is easy to use. First, use a shoe brush to remove dirt and grime from your footwear. Then, apply the conditioner on the leather and let it absorb. Lastly, give the shoes around an hour to dry.

How to Use the Best Leather Conditioner for Shoes and Boots

We’ve looked at some best leather conditioners that you can use to breathe life back to your shoes and boots.

Now it’s time to learn how to clean, condition, and restore the footwear using whatever conditioning agent you choose from the list above.

There are only 4 steps to restoring even the most tired, old leather shoes. We discuss them below:

1. Unlace Your Footwear 

Your shoes’ laces don’t need any kind of touchup in this context, and that’s because they aren’t made of leather.

Plus, you want the conditioner to soak in all parts of the leather for proper conditioning and restoration. So remove the laces from the shoes first.

2. Clean Your Shoes or Boots

We can’t stress enough just how important cleaning your footwear before conditioning is. Mostly, you want the conditioner to soak in the leather properly to give your footwear a fine touch.

So clean your shoes properly. Use a soft brush to get rid of dirt, dust, and grime.

For cleaning shoes, you can use water and normal detergent. You can also use a conditioner, but only if it doubles as a cleaning agent.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the right time to condition my leather shoes? 

It depends on where you live.

If you’re someone who lives in an area subject to humid climate all year round, you should condition your leather shoes and boots every six month.

If you live in a drier region, then we recommend that you condition them after every three months.

Can a conditioner make leather shoes and boots waterproof?

 No, leather conditioners cannot make your leather footwear waterproof.

Even the brands that claim to be water resistant aren’t effective in protecting leather from water damages.

In other words, leather conditioners can only restore the moisture in your shoes and make them shiny and supple, not protect them from water.

Can I use a conditioner to clean my leather shoes and conditioner? 

Some shoe moisturizers also double as leather cleaners.

However, it’s important to note that these are available only in a limited number.