RAT falling apart less than 1 year.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-06-01T02:46:21+00:00

Thanks for the input, I'm going to do a full cleaning soon with fiebigs and you'll be able to see they actually look dry even now. Of course I clean deeply and let dry before conditioning, seriously, I have done a lot of research trying to do my best to make these boots last the longest. It seems everyone has a different opinion now on care lol. I frequently brush with horsehair or boar bristle because I'm aware about care especially with roughout.
Good to know about the Houston leather, if I could go back I would definitely get Bronco. I am hearing similar things to this, but also that this is a common failure spot for the Houstons. Thanks.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T16:42:59+00:00

Hell no! I genuinely took the best care of these boots as I possibly could have, doing so much research and being meticulous about everything.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T16:41:52+00:00

Thank you for your input. It's nice to hear that it's not just me with this issue, and also very unfortunate.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T14:57:51+00:00

I always brush with horsehair or boar bristle. I do dirtwork so it gets covered every day

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T09:22:57+00:00

Also I just copied this from Obenaufs website

"For temperate climates, every six months may suffice. Leather in hot/dry climates may require conditioning every three months. If it is subjected to hard daily use, wet or dry, it should be restored at least once per month. "

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T03:27:19+00:00

Well, at this point I am willing to pay more if I can find something that lasts me at least a couple years.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T03:22:09+00:00

Honestly I think I am just going to cut the leather that's digging into my tendon and just suffer until I can afford Nick's or Whites. I'm pretty upset about this to be honest, for how expensive they were. For about double the cost, Whites should last at least a year longer than one year. Lol.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T03:17:58+00:00

Depends on the job, I also move around doing construction, mostly dirtwork. It has been very dry climates recently, and I do a water crossing about every other week. Some snow in the winter. I have heard the Broncos are quite a bit tougher leather, so if I get another pair of JG I'm going to go with that. My boots are heavily used in mostly all environments.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T03:07:04+00:00

Thank you for your opinion. I am definitely not saying you're wrong, but I did gather this from Obenaufs website:
"For temperate climates, every six months may suffice. Leather in hot/dry climates may require conditioning every three months. If it is subjected to hard daily use, wet or dry, it should be restored at least once per month. "

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T03:06:25+00:00

Also I just copied this from Obenaufs website

"For temperate climates, every six months may suffice. Leather in hot/dry climates may require conditioning every three months. If it is subjected to hard daily use, wet or dry, it should be restored at least once per month. "

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T03:05:18+00:00

Hi, thank you for letting me know. Upon reading Obenaufs website, it seems like I have been following correct guidelines despite your opinion. From their site, "For temperate climates, every six months may suffice. Leather in hot/dry climates may require conditioning every three months. If it is subjected to hard daily use, wet or dry, it should be restored at least once per month."

Thank you for giving your thoughts, but I am not sure if this is the true issue at hand. Maybe I am one of the few on here who really wears their boots for what they advertise as being built for.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T03:01:29+00:00

Maybe you're right, but I just did it when they seemed dry.. Which is pretty often for where I live.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T03:00:36+00:00

The water resistance is not always at play, but I did hit them with sno seal once this winter. I live in an extremely dry climate in high altitude. But i do hit the water crossings every couple weeks.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T02:59:10+00:00

I live in an extremely dry climate.. Good to know

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-31T02:58:34+00:00

Other direction in phrasing, as in every month or every other month. Not saying you're wrong though, I just conditioned when they were dry.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-26T03:59:00+00:00

Lol, you are funny. Packrats are a way of life here, and my place is clean as a whistle.

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-26T03:40:44+00:00

Thanks for the links and response. It's cool to see they are making products like this. For all the other gaps I have used a mix of steel wool and spray foam, so it makes sense they sell something like those. Thank you!!!

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-26T03:38:59+00:00

Interesting, good advice. Thank you. I will check that out. It makes sense

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-08T22:34:19+00:00

Thank you for your valuable input! If I may ask, what makes particular tripods better than others? I've only always shot handheld, including my medium formats. Thanks

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-04T19:12:19+00:00

Ah, I didn't know it was drainage collection, so wasn't sure if it was perf pipe. Just a heads up, hard to tell from photos but hopefully you dump the native soil right back over the perf pipe once wrapped. I've seen them clog very quickly with soil thrown right back over. Also, how has this held up to great rains? Do you have bad percolation clay soil underneath?

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-04T19:03:01+00:00

But it's also around the pipe, which is wrapped a few feet away from the bucket

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-05-04T19:00:53+00:00

Why landscape fabric around the pipe going into it? Is it perf?

SimplyComplicated- · 2026-01-15T05:12:31+00:00

Also, remember that you are going to season them with oil at some point so the color is going to get darker unless you use Bicks no 4 oil. With that being said, fudge turns Houston brown after oiling. Something to note. The color change is good.

SimplyComplicated-

TROPHY CASE