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Can Cowboy Boots Get Wet and Is It Ok?

By: Author Jay Gatz

Posted on  - Last updated:

Can Cowboy Boots Get Wet and Is It Ok?

There are many questions surrounding cowboy boot problems. The most prominent one is how to care for cowboy boots during the wet and nasty seasons.

Regarding this concern, some wonder if cowboy boots can get wet and if it’s okay if they do.

Well, in fact, cowboy boots can get wet to a certain extent as most of them are not waterproof. You need to know how to take care of them afterward.

That is why this article is very important for you to get an overview of this regard. No matter how careful you are, you will never be able to escape sudden rains.

Shall we?

Key takeaways

  • Except for some cowboy work boots, most cowboy boots are not waterproof but only water resistant, so they can still get wet to a certain extent.
  • Wet cowboy boots for a short time may not be much of a problem, but if they get wet continuously over a long period, their lifespan will be greatly reduced.
  • The key is knowing how to dry cowboy boots and restore their natural moisture, oils, and waxes after getting wet.

Can Cowboy Boots Get Wet and Is It Ok?

If you only experience light and sudden rains, most cowboy boots can keep your feet dry and warm. This is because almost all good cowboy boots are made of 100% leather, and the nature of leather is water resistant. Cool, isn’t it?

Even so, if it rains heavily or you dip your entire cowboy boots in a deep puddle, they can get wet, and possibly your feet as well. Water resistance does not mean waterproofness.

Except for cowboy boots for outdoor work, they are often retrofitted by bootmakers for waterproofing, very few of them can get wet.

So you still need to avoid exposing cowboy boots to a lot of water if possible. If you are constantly in contact with water, then cowboy work boots are a better choice.

In case you’ve accidentally let your regular cowboy boots get wet, then you need to know how to handle them like drying them and restoring their lost natural qualities.

We will let you know!

Clean, dry and condition cowboy boots

If your cowboy boots only get wet for a short time, there really isn’t much of a problem. But if they’re constantly wet without being properly dried, water will ruin your boots.

If you notice, most cowboy boots are made from full-grain leather, which is high-grade leather and is changed just a little after the tanning process. Because of that, this leather still retains a lot of natural oils and waxes and has the proper natural moisture.

This explains why full-grain leather is so durable, smooth, soft, and comfortable. It brings those feelings into cowboy boots and takes the wearer’s experience to the next level.

However, when cowboy boots are constantly wet, the water will sweep away those natural oils and waxes. Over time, the boots will quickly dry from the inside, lose their softness, and appear cracked more often.

In addition, the constant contact of the boots with water will also leave water marks on the boots. That makes them look old and ugly, it is very difficult to clean them.

However, the good news for you is that you can stay away from this problem or fix it.

Women wear cowboy boots in the snow and the advice

How to make cowboy boots less wet and what to do to handle a pair of wet cowboy boots?

You can completely reduce the chance of cowboy boots getting wet because there are many products on the market to enhance their waterproof ability. Some products like mink oil or spray including beeswax are popular.

Just apply a layer of waterproof spray on the surface of cowboy boots, it will form a barrier to protect the boots from water attack. While it can’t guarantee 100% that the boots won’t get wet, I’m sure that water will barely penetrate them.

I often use this method when wearing boots in the rainy or snowy season.

Man wear cowboy boots and are standing

If your cowboy boots are already wet, you should try to dry them as soon as possible, and remember to dry them from the inside out. Many people only care about the outside and ignore the inside. Their boots eventually end up deteriorating quickly over time.

I usually use boot dryers because they can really help me dry my boots from the inside out quickly. In addition, the boot dryer can also dry different footwear at the same time.

Also, before going to bed, stuffing boot trees into boots will also ensure cowboy boots don’t get moldy or rot because boot trees can absorb moisture well. Usually made from cedar trees, they can leave a pleasant scent inside the boots.

Mens boot tree from Tecovas

Image copyright Tecovas Boot Company | #CommissionEarned | Click image for more info

After drying, you should use a little conditioner to buff evenly over the surface of cowboy boots.

For some more tips on drying cowboy boots, check out this post!

As noted above, water can strip away natural oils and waxes of boots and cause them to dry out, or crack. Using a leather conditioner will ensure that the boots are sufficiently hydrated and nourished, thereby keeping them soft, comfortable, and durable.

Leather Care Kit includes Leather Cleaner and Conditioner with Cloth from Tecovas

Image copyright Tecovas Boot Company | #CommissionEarned | Click image for more info

What you need to do is clean them, then apply leather conditioner on the surface, and buff them evenly. We have a thorough tutorial here!

It’s easy to do, right?

Before you leave

In short, most cowboy boots can get wet because they are usually only water resistant, not completely waterproof.

Therefore, it will never be superfluous when you know the methods of caring for cowboy boots after they get wet. Treating them as soon as possible is the best you can do.

In general, while cowboy boots are very durable, they still require periodic and thorough care to retain their original beauty and long-lasting comfort, especially during the rainy or snowy season!

Good luck!