Cleaning Sidi Boots

What do you reckon is the best stuff to use for cleaning Sidi
Vertebrae Race boots? I don't want them to shrink/fade/discolour as
they are the blue ones rather than the black. Is just a case of water
and detergent or is there something better?

 

Mine are 2+ years old (probably 3) and have been fine with an
occasional beeswaxing, and not much else. The heel bit has discoloured
slightly (grey to beige), but the leather is still the same colour.

 

Celtic or Rangers?

--
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I use the soap that Rennapure <sp> does.

Works a treat, then beeswax 'em after.

 

I don't think I've ever cleaned mine.

 

From the product information on Sidi's website, the Vertebrae series
of boots are "produced in microporous LORICA®" (although this
information does not appear against each product description) and the
"Vertebra race is lined throughout with perforated top-grain Italian
leather". Consequently, applying leather treatments to the outer
surfaces is a waste of effort and money because Lorica is a
thermoplastic!

Lorica was first used by AlpineStars in the late 1980s, rapidly
followed by other motorcycle boot manufacturers, for reasons of
economy and no other. It comes on regularly-sized sheets/rolls, unlike
irregularly sized and shaped hides, and so can be press cut in the
100s rather than hand cut individually.

I can probably dig up some comparative test data, if anyone is
interested, but my recollection is that Lorica does not stand up too
well to the EN 13634 impact abrasion and impact cut tests. That so
many boots are now reinforced with significantly-sized moulded plastic
components (shinplates, ankle cups, etc) probably masks the
deficiencies of the base boot material in accidents.

 

Paul Varnsverry says...

One of my selling lines when people were considering buying Lorica boots
was "If Lorica is so good, Rossi's and every other racer's one-piece
suit would be made from it".

 

<nods sagely>

I've often used that one myself.

</nods sagely>

 

Paul Varnsverry says...

We're in grave danger of becoming a mutual appreciation society here
I'm gonna piss off and start a coarse fishing thread.

 

Well, I put the beeswax on to waterproof them, which it did for a
reasonable period each time. It didn't seem like that much of a waste
of time.

 

lol.

BTW, do you have any views on the relative merits of mealworms and
breadcrumbs as tench bait?

 

Paul Varnsverry says...

I'm not much into the bottom-feeders

 

Given the topic, I would have at least expected a passing interest in sole.

 

From that perspective, you make a fair point!

 

Thank god for that. I thought *I* was the odd one out around here.