Brooks proofide; is it just expensive dubbin?

[Alan O]

mostly because I'm a cheapskate and felt proofide was overpriced, I looked [far too deeply] into this a while back when I acquired a couple of vintage Brooks saddles. The general consensus among leather workers and saddlers that I've either read or talked to seems to be that the wetter preparations, while nothing wrong with them per se, dry out quickly or are too easy to overdo and spoil the leather. The harder ones like proofide contain tallow and/or lard to 'feed' and condition the leather, and some sort of wax to give it a degree of waterproofing (albeit small).
Of course, proofide should be used on a new brooks because anything else might invalidate the warranty. How they can tell I do no know, but I wouldn't fancy testing their abilities!

I use a conditioner from Sedgwick's, not because I think it's better but cos it was what my local saddlery sold. It does the trick and it was quite cheap. I've used it on several saddles, a satchel, bar tape, a purse and my work boots, and the 65ml pot is only half used after 2 yrs

Edit: oh, and the one thing I actually started writing this for and got way laid is, not all dubbin is the same; someone gave me some that came from a shoe shop and I wouldn't even put it on my nasty old rugby boots!

Yes, I think there's a good argument for a harder and more waxy mix - perhaps something like a neutral shoe polish?

(Ah, Pale Rider just beat me to it)

 

[Globalti]

This kind of thread and post always makes me laugh. I have a saddle that cost £20 new, has covered over 16,000 miles and is getting on for 7yrs old, has never needed treating or adjusting, doesn't have to be stored in a special way, is comfortable for short rides and epic century+ trips alike and looks like it will probably last as long again. WHY would you even consider the bother of a Brookes over the alternative?

I'd say the same myself. And my saddles are a fraction of the weight of a Brooks saddle as well.

 

[Alan O]

And my saddles are a fraction of the weight of a Brooks saddle as well.

And my Brooks saddles are a fraction of the weight of me

 

[fossyant]

Anyone who calls Brooks saddles beautiful needs a trip to Specsavers.

I'll stick with Selle Italia or Fizik. Weigh a fraction of the weight of a Brooks and don't get soggy in the rain.

 

[Globalti]

I bought a Brooks Swift once and was so shocked at the discomfort, the weight and crudeness of construction (it looked as if it had been beaten together by a blacksmith in a chastity belt factory) that I stuck it straight back on Ebay.

 

[robrinay]

Museums use a US product called Pecard Leather Dressing on their old Leathers. It’s extremely expensive and looks like Vaseline. One of the Worlds experts in the preservation of vintage leather flying jackets swears by Vaseline applied sparingly and rubbed into the leather gently with the fingers. I’ve tried both and haven’t noticed any difference. Vaseline is great on shoes too - instant shine and waterproof. I’m using it on a semi fossilised dried out Brooks Professional saddle- skip treasure and it’s working.

 

[Mrs M]

Will need to buy some Proof Ride (forgot all about this) I do have a waterproof cover for my Brooks saddle though

 

[Alan O]

It’s extremely expensive and looks like Vaseline. One of the Worlds experts in the preservation of vintage leather flying jackets swears by Vaseline applied sparingly and rubbed into the leather gently with the fingers.

I have a leather jacket (not vintage) that's fairly thin "distressed" leather (or in other words, cheap stuff) and it gets a bit scummy and feels dry if I leave it too long with no treatment. I use mink oil just the same way as you suggest using vaseline (it's a similar consistency) and it really makes a difference - the leather gets its depth of colour back and feels soft again. I only use mink oil because I happen to have a big tin of it which was cheap.

 

[robrinay]

Lots of people recommend Mink Oil for jackets but I’ve never found any in shops in order to try it out. I found it in shops in the US but didn’t bring any back.

 

[Alan O]

Lots of people recommend Mink Oil for jackets but I’ve never found any in shops in order to try it out. I found it in shops in the US but didn’t bring any back.

I got mine from an eBay seller. Can't remember who, but this is the brand I got.

 

[raleighnut]

This kind of thread and post always makes me laugh. I have a saddle that cost £20 new, has covered over 16,000 miles and is getting on for 7yrs old, has never needed treating or adjusting, doesn't have to be stored in a special way, is comfortable for short rides and epic century+ trips alike and looks like it will probably last as long again. WHY would you even consider the bother of a Brookes over the alternative?

I dunno, I've only got 6 of them.

 

[Ajax Bay]

consider the bother of a Brookes

Nae bother; just a bit of tlc, like the rest of the bike.

 

[Brandane]

Anyone who calls Brooks saddles beautiful needs a trip to Specsavers.

I'll stick with Selle Italia or Fizik. Weigh a fraction of the weight of a Brooks and don't get soggy in the rain.

It therefore depends what you're putting the Brooks on to. Mine are on 2 steel framed bikes; a Genesis Croix de Fer and a Ridgeback Panorama.
I also have a carbon framed Merida Ride and I wouldn't dream of putting a Brooks on it as it just wouldn't look right. It has some kind of lightweight Specialized plastic saddle on it (didn't like the original), which is also fine and comfortable. Horses for courses and all that.....

 

[fossyant]

I still won't have them on my two classic steel bikes.

 

[Blue Hills]

This kind of thread and post always makes me laugh. I have a saddle that cost £20 new, has covered over 16,000 miles and is getting on for 7yrs old, has never needed treating or adjusting, doesn't have to be stored in a special way, is comfortable for short rides and epic century+ trips alike and looks like it will probably last as long again. WHY would you even consider the bother of a Brookes over the alternative?

Although I appreciate craftsmanship and like to see things survive (that leaves Skol out of it though) , I find it hard to disagree with you. My favourite saddle cost £15. When I discovered how good it was I bought two or three spares. Gutted when I stupidly bust a ndwly fitted one by lifting a fully loaded bike by the bottom of the saddle for of course it has been discontinued. Keep hoping that I might see it under another cheapo name but I fear the manufacturer destroyed all the tooling and shot any staff who had worked on the production line in case word got out that you could buy a great saddle for £15. And leave it in the rain. And not get it nicked off your bike. I later learned that this saddle was made by what is now known as Fizik.

And on proofing - my arse is naturally proofed. For free as long as I maintain a vaguely sensible diet.