How Age Changes LOWA Elite Light Combat Boots

LOWA Elite Light Combat Boots - Before & After​This post will look at how full-grain leather boots change as they age, as there are some very clear differences between old pairs and new that you should know about. To demonstrate this, we’re going to take a look two pairs of the brown LOWA Elite Light Combat Boots. One of the pairs is completely new and unworn, while the other has seen several years of active service. Let’s see how the two shape up.

Aesthetically speaking, neither of the two are unattractive, though you can clearly tell that one boot is older and more well-worn than the other. Having said that, one of the reasons why full-grain leather is popular is due to the way its looks change as it ages. Over time a glossy patina comprised of and influenced by natural oils, water, moisture, conditioner, dirt, dust, sunlight, heat will form on the leather’s surface. This patina can darken the leather and gives each individual boot a unique look that essentially tells a story of how well it has been looked after, where it has been, and what it has been through.

Some people worry that cleaning the leather will slow the development of the patina, as doing so might wash away the substances that cause it. Fortunately, if you know how to care for leather boots properly, cleaning them will have only a mild effect if any on the patinas’ development.

Aesthetics aside, age and use can have other effects on full-grain leather boot and not all of them are as welcome as the patina. One of the most common issues experienced with old boots is that their soles have been eroded and become worn. Obviously, this is a form of damage and like types of damage, it will affect a boots’ ability to perform. A sole like the LOWA Elite Light Combat Boots’ Vibram® Aconcagua, for instance, which is designed with a special self-cleaning lug pattern that increases grip and stability while also improving the wearer’s comfort, will have all of these features diminished. In fact, grip and stability are amongst the first things to go when a sole becomes too worn.

Just because a sole has become worn, however, doesn’t mean the boot has to be gotten rid of and replaced. It is possible to have boots resoled if they’re constructed in a certain way and, fortunately, LOWA Elite Light Combat Boots’ cemented soles are amongst the most straightforward to replace.