Your cart is currently empty!
Military Boot M/77 – use and maintenance
Use and maintenance of leather boots: Proper maintenance is important for the leather boots to stay nice and dry. Leather is a natural material that requires care to maintain its quality. Well-maintained boots help the leather to remain water-repellent for longer and the boots are also less susceptible to dirt sticking. In addition, impregnation/shoe cream protects against tears and damage to the leather. Dry leather is much more easily worn and damaged, and will also make the leather stiff, which can increase the risk of chafing and strain injuries.
Customization of Boots:
The M77 is designed spaciously to be able to fit as many people as possible. It is then so roomy that it is important to have insoles and thick socks so that the boot sits well on the foot. If the boots are still too big, add an extra insole. It is important that you choose the right size and that the boots are filled well to reduce the risk of chafing and strain injuries.
How to find the right size:
- Put the insole in the boot (fur down)
- Put on thick woolen socks and preferably a thinner sock, which fits well on the foot, underneath. If you have been given a thinner version of the gray woolen socks, wear two pairs on top of each other. It is always an advantage to have two pairs of socks in the boots to reduce the risk of chafing.
- Put your foot as far forward as you can in the boot without lacing it
- Press your index finger down behind your heel. If you can just fit your index finger between the foot and the boot, it is the right size (it should be tight to push your index finger down)
Before using leather boots for the first time: Coat the surface with a thin layer of leather grease followed by shoe polish. You have to work a little to get the products to absorb well into the leather. Be especially careful to lubricate the seams and the edge of the leather parts. Polish your boots.
The boots must be worn in before use on longer marches.
This is how you can do it:
- Coat the surface with a thin layer of leather grease followed by shoe polish. Be especially careful to lubricate the seams and the edge of the leather parts. Shine the boots.
- Fill the boots with lukewarm water
- Pour out the water after approx. 30 minutes
- Use Tensoplast or sports tape on exposed areas of the foot to prevent chafing
- Wear thick woolen socks. Make sure that the socks fit well on the foot without forming folds
- Insert insoles with the fur facing down
- Put on your boots. In the lower hem part, lace the boots as tight as you can without stopping your blood circulation, make a single knot before lacing just tight up the hooks in the boot shaft. The feet must sit firmly in the boots
- Walk the boots dry
Tip: Some people find it an advantage to skip the bottom pair of hooks before you continue lacing up the boot shaft. This will give better mobility in the ankle when you walk and can reduce the risk of strain injuries.
Socks: Choose the right socks for the season and the use. Preferably use at least one pair of thick woolen socks (min. 70% wool) – not cotton socks.
It is important to change socks often, and allow boots and insoles to be dried/aired when not in use.
Always use thick woolen socks when stepping into the boots to provide cushioning and reduce the risk of chafing.
It is also recommended to have a thinner wool sock inside. This provides several insulating layers of air, and also helps to reduce friction against the skin to prevent chafing.
Insole:
An insole should be worn the right way with the fur down, the fur then forms an insulating air layer between the sole of the foot and the boot. The insoles must be changed frequently to provide insulation and reduce the risk of problems. The surface must be checked to make sure it is intact, if you see signs of wear it must be replaced. If the fur has become flat or worn out, the sole must be replaced.
The insole must fit 100% in the boot, it must not be able to be moved either lengthwise or widthwise. This can create heat generation which could cause damage to the feet.
After use:
1) Clean the outside of the boots with lukewarm water and a brush. (Soap must not be used, it can destroy the waterproofness by weakening the surface tension of the fibres). Never put away muddy boots.
2) Take out the insoles and dry them – rinse once in a while. Make sure the insoles are intact and without unevenness. Change insoles if they are worn or the fur has become flat
3) Open the boots as much as possible and dry them at room temperature. It is an advantage to stuff newspaper into the boots during the drying process, so that the boots will keep their shape and prevent creases, which increase the risk of chafing.
4) Apply leather grease as impregnation while the boots are still damp to prevent the leather from becoming hard and stiff during the drying process. Feel free to apply impregnation in 2 coats, and let the first layer soak in well before a new layer is applied. Be especially careful to lubricate the seams and the edge of the leather parts. Also make sure to work on getting the impregnation well into areas that tend to crack the leather. It is extra important to lubricate the area after the toe cap, where the boot naturally bends when you walk, so that the risk of chafing over the toes is reduced.Allow the boots to dry well.
5) Apply shoe polish, let dry for approx. 2 hours and sanding/polishing afterwards.The shoe cream adds lubrication and protection to the boots and makes the impregnation last longer.
NB: Never place boots on floors with heating cables, in drying cabinets, near radiators, ovens, open flames or other heat sources. The leather will soon be damaged by too strong drying. Boots that have been dried in the wrong way will have a high risk of getting stiff leather that requires a lot of care and time to get soft again
For longer marches with several days in the field:
- Preparation: clean boots, preferably impregnate twice. Finally, apply shoe polish.
- Daily: thin layer of leather grease or shoe cream.
- Always have dry socks and insoles available to change. Make sure to always keep your feet dry, moist feet increase the risk of chafing.
Tip: Wash your feet in cold water or walk barefoot in the snow – rub them dry afterwards – this results in clean feet and good blood circulation.
See all our leather boots and leather shoes here and the selection of shoe care products here.
