Care guide for the Raw Boots

The Raw Boots are the toughest characters in our lineup; but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a bit of attention every now and then. Here’s a few tricks to keep them looking — and feeling — as good as they did the day they arrived on your doorstep.

Let’s start with a few easy tips for daily care :

1) Avoid wearing them for days on end. The leather needs to breathe and relax every now and then. So it’s best to rotate them with a few other pairs of trusty shoes, it’ll keep them going longer.

2) Invest in a nice pair of wooden shoe trees. They’ll help your shoes keep their original shape and air things out, giving any moisture that’s found its way in a chance to escape. You’ll be able to find these at any car boot sale or online, if you don’t fancy the legwork.

OK, maybe just from time to time, more realistically. Let’s say once a month. Here’s how we recommend you keep your Raw Boots looking the business:

- If you bought the smooth leather Raw Boots, you’ll need to dust them with a proper cleaning brush (or any soft-bristled brush) before you can nourish them with a purpose-made leather cleansing cream. Use a clean cloth to apply the cream or oil. Just a drop should do the trick, spread it evenly making little circular motions so it soaks in nicely. You may even be tempted by some Mink oil wax.

- If you went for the suede version, same goes for the dusting part. Following that you’ll need to ‘deluster’ them. That’s a fancy shoe-world term for giving them a good going over with a crepe brush, which’ll remove dirt. After that, a few sprays with a high-end suede protector should help you keep them clean and looking fresh. You can also give your boots a little all-weather boost with a water-proofing spray.

If you don’t have a go-to cobbler, you really should... Having your best shoes pampered is one of life’s great pleasures. Maybe give it a quick online search now you have some boots worth spoiling…

- A cobbler will expertly do all the above, with all the gear to hand, if time is of the essence.

- They’ll also be able to resole your boots, in a few years when you’ve managed to wear them down. The Goodyear welt used makes these a cobbler’s dream when it comes to replacing the outsole.

So there you have it, you now know everything there is to know about looking after your Raw Boots. We did do our level best to make them as hard-wearing as possible, but a little love won’t hurt them.

If we've missed something or you have any questions hit us up in the comment section below or here help@asphalte.com.

We'll be back in touch in a couple of weeks to see how you're getting on.

Until then,

The Asphalte Team: