Many people fail to realise just how damaging the heat can be to your leather soles; and a common issue arises when ones R.M.Williams boots have got wet and the owner goes to dry them, placing them on a radiator or near a fire. Consequently, leather soles can be ruined as a result of this mistreatment.

So what happens? As the majority of leather soles are made from vegetable-tanned leather, they are even more sensitive to heat. When the heat is increased, steam or vapour within the leather substance can begin to attack the leather fibres, destroying the properties of the leather. The leather is then reduced to a soft, tarry mess that becomes hard and brittle once cool. This isn't always apparent at first, even when the leather has been badly burnt. This is due to the heat exposure drying the outside of the leather rapidly, with the vapour quickly evaporating from the surface. However, the steam further into the leather cannot escape as quickly or efficiently, which then leaves it to attack the leather fibres.

Any exposure to heat can severely reduce the life of your boots and it isn't just wet soles that can become victim to heat damage as dry soles also contain enough moisture to become damaged by the same treatment. It will only become evident later on after more wear when the outside surface of the boots is worn away, exposing the damaged inside of the sole which once exposed rapidly disintegrates.

Where the burning is less severe, even the naked eye may not be able to note the damage, and only a microscope would identify such damage. However, the same disintegrating and lack of durability of the leather will take place.

When your leather soles do become damp, they should be placed somewhere that is well ventilated and airy, and a room that is no warmer than the average room temperature (around 20°C). However, you can assist your boots in their drying-out process by stuffing them with newspaper to soak up any excess moisture, either for several hours or overnight. Always ensure that you don't place your boots near hot pipes/heating during this time.

Unfortunately, as many people are unaware of such heat damage that can occur to the shoe, many complain that their shoes haven't worn as they expected, but this is evidently unjustified as the correct care hasn't been taken. Other damage can occur from less obvious heat sources, e.g. car heating blowers which are focused continually on the feet, so always take great care.