The Bottom Line: An effective cost-effective product for enhancing the life and waterproofing qualities of extreme use leather gear. $6 every couple of years for dry feet is an amazing bargain!
Well known for its leather conditioning and waterproofing properties, Kiwi Mink Oil is a ready to use blend of mink oil, silicone, and lanolin. One 2 5/8 oz. tin can rejuvenate all your old leather and make waterproof leather gear even more waterproof. $6 is cheap insurance for dry feet!
In The Can
Kiwi Mink Oil is not pure mink oil, but is mink oil blended with silicone and lanolin. While pure mink oil does condition and greatly enhance the waterproof qualities of leather, the silicone punches up the waterproofing and the lanolin adds to the conditioning. So what you are getting is sort of like mink oil on steroids. The resultant milky colored mix is a bit softer paste than the shoe polish normally found in Kiwi product brand cans.
A Little History: Belly Fat Can Be Good For You
One of the animals early frontier trappers hunted was a weasel-like creature with a luxurious pelt. That critter was the lowly mink. Their back woods experimentation revealed that rubbing the fat found around the belly and under the pelt not only softened their hands but also made their leather boots even more waterproof. As the years went by the secret got out and retailers pumped up the belly fat with silicone and lanolin.
Directions for Use
Kiwi recommends coating your leather liberally (literally, not politically), paying close attention to stitched seams, with the paste, wiping off the excess, and letting it "dry" a few hours before buffing any residue off. Most people will notice a slight petroleum scent, so use in a well ventilated area might be a good idea. Another issue is that it can darken very light colored leather and should not be used on rough textured or suede leathers. This is a time when you should test it on some out of sight area of the garment prior to use.
And Then There Is The Way I Use It
Since my leather motorcycle gear gets what some could call extreme use, I put a little more effort into the application of mink oil. Each spring and fall I treat all my leather riding suits, gloves, and even my waterproof boots with Kiwi Mink Oil. The difference is that after the liberal coating I carry the gear to my kitchen and put it into the oven, preheated to around 180 degrees (F) - about the internal temperature of a medium rare steak, for 4 or 5 minutes. This melts the paste into stitched seams for an even more waterproof seal. Allowing the gear to cool until the sheen fades, I then buff off any excess. In my experience this process yields much more waterproof gear. One word of advice is that you might consider doing this on a day when your gourmet cook significant other is away from home - I made that mistake once, and only once!
For Once Size Does Not Matter
Most people will find that a 2 5/8 oz., tin of Kiwi Mink Oil will get lost before it is emptied in normal use. Over the years I can only remember buying about a half dozen tins, and I use more than a typical user would use. It really is a case of "a little dab will do ya!"
Vegan vs. Darwin vs. Soggy Feet
Yes, since mink oil is a byproduct of harvesting the luxurious pelts of the weasel-like animal, most minks do not survive the process. While there have been attempts to come up with some vegetable based substitutes, none have been nearly as effective a conditioner or waterproofing agent. The big guy wins, and he does not catch pneumonia from wet feet. The same thing happened to produce your leather shoes and most of the food the world eats. Sorry, but that is the way it is.
The Bottom Line at the Bottom of the Page
After many years of use, and after trying a great many alternative waterproofing products I have yet to find a more effective and cost effective product for enhancing the life and waterproofing qualities of extreme use leather gear. $6 every couple of years for dry feet is an amazing bargain to me.
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