Almost 50 years ago, ALFA developed the ultimate marching boot for the Norwegian Armed Forces. The boots can withstand the tough conditions in Norwegian nature and have high wear resistance, dry quickly, are lightweight and can be adapted to your feet.
ALFA currently supplies the Armed Forces with the M/77 marching boots with the same solid quality as in 1977. With the right maintenance, these shoes will be waterproof and adjusted to your feet.
With ALFA's full grain leather maintenance kit, you get all the products you need to maintain your shoes so that you get good hiking experience regardless of the weather for many years to come
The insoles absorb a lot of moisture and dry faster when taken out of the boot after each trip, so that the boots are able to air out properly and dry up well.
This is especially important after multi-day trips. In an ideal world, a wet leather boot should be able to dry for at least 24 hours before being used again.
Store your boots in a dry and well-aired place, where it's not too hot. Never keep your wet boots in damp rooms or in the car, to prevent mold, discolouration and, not least, bad odours. Do not store your boots on heated floors with underheating, as this dries out the rubber and shortens the lifespan of the sole, as well as making the soles lose their grip.
STEP 1
Never put away dirty boots.
If you are going to wash, brush or impregnate the boots, you should also remove the shoelaces so that you can get to the material underneath them. When the insole and laces are removed, you can start cleaning off the dirt.
Generally, brushing with the ALFA Leather Brush for full grain leather and cleaning under lukewarm running water with some soap will be enough. For particularly dirty boots we recommend using the ALFA Clean & Refresh shoe cleaning spray to effectively remove stains
and dirt.
Instructions:
1. Remove any loose dirt with a damp cloth.
2. Shake the bottle well and spray evenly onto the boots.
3. Use a damp cloth to remove any remaining dirt.
4. If necessary, rinse under running water.
5. Repeat these steps if necessary and then impregnate the boots afterwards.
The outer material of the cleaned boots has more open pores and will thus easily absorb any moisture. This is why it is important to impregnate the boots right after they have dried, so that your feet will stay dry during the next trip.
STEP 2
If you had to clean your boots with water, they need to completely dry before any further treatment. For that, it is best to leave the boots out at room temperature for at least 24 hours. If you also had to clean the inside of your boots, you can fill them with newspaper for the first 30 minutes to absorb the majority of the water. After that it will take 2-3 days before your boots are completely dry again.
As the boots cannot withstand exposure to excessive heat, we recommend being careful when drying them and not exposing your shoes to temperatures above 37 degrees. Never place the boots on or near a radiator, or any other heat source. Wet leather can be easily damaged by excessive drying, where it becomes brittle and shrinks, which can lead to cracks and tears in the exposed areas.
STEP 3
ALFA Shoe Care Polish cares for, protects and restores the brown or black colour of your full grain leather boots, especially for glossy surfaces. It softens and nourishes the leather, and thus extends the lifespan of the boots. The product is water-based and contains only natural ingredients.
Instructions:
1. Clean the leather.
2. Add the shoe polish with a cloth and evenly rub it into the leather.
3. Let your boots dry and then brush them with a cloth or a brush.
4. Then impregnate the boots with ALFA's spray or wax.
STEP 4
Proper impregnation reduces water and dirt absorption, while maintaining its breathability. Use the ALFA Leather Wax, a natural wax that impregnates your boots, moisturises the leather and leaves a slightly shiny film. It should therefore only be used on full grain leather that has a smooth surface.
Instructions:
1. Clean the boots with a cloth or brush.
2. Apply the wax with a cloth.
3. Wait about 10 minutes before polishing the boots with a cloth or brush.
Proper maintenance makes the leather significantly less prone to dirt sticking to it. Moreover, a good wax layer protects against tears and damages to the leather.
After impregnation, the boots should be regularly brushed well with shoe polish or wax.
How often you have to impregnate and maintain your boots depends on how much you wear them. If you see that the boots begin to draw water (dark spots) in certain parts, it is time for a new impregnation. Before longer trips or before hunting, it is important that the boots receive a full treatment.
With proper impregnation the water should drip off the shoes or boots. You can apply shoe polish as often as desired.
The right maintenance can significantly extend the lifespan of your boots.
