Slitesterk Brown Shoe Polish 110 – 50ml Beeswax and Carnauba Polish

Description

Slitesterk Brown Shoe Polish 110 – 50ml Beeswax and Carnauba Polish – the everyday brown that most brown shoes want

Brown shoes get worn more than black ones and thought about far less. They go to work, they go to the pub, they get rained on, and then they sit in the hall going quietly grey around the toe. A mid brown polish is the single thing that fixes that, and this slitesterk brown shoe polish is the one I hand over most often across the counter.

Slitesterk is the line we make ourselves. It exists because so much of what is sold as brown polish is filler with a bit of pigment stirred through it: fine for an evening, useless for the hide underneath. We brought back proper old-fashioned beeswax to feed the leather, added carnauba wax so the shine actually lasts, and left out the things that only exist to make the tin cheaper. It arrives in a 50ml glass flask with an iron lid.

Shade 110 is a true mid brown, the shade most brown calf leather sits in. It blends rather than paints, which is exactly what you want from an everyday polish.

Why choose the Slitesterk Brown Shoe Polish 110?

• A mid brown that blends with most brown shoes. Shade 110 sits in the middle of the brown family, so it works on chestnut Derbies, mid brown boots and everything either side of them without looking painted on.
• Beeswax that genuinely feeds the leather. Beeswax is the first thing cheap polish leaves out. It sinks into the fibres, keeps the hide supple and helps stop the creases across the vamp turning into cracks.
• Carnauba wax for a shine that holds. Carnauba is the hardest natural wax available, so the gloss survives a walk in the drizzle instead of dulling on the first damp pavement.
• It puts colour back where it wears off. Toe caps and heel counters go pale first. There is enough pigment here to cover that scuffing rather than simply glossing over it.
• Water and dirt run off instead of soaking in. Once buffed, the wax film sends rain off in beads and lets street grime brush away the next morning, which is the cheapest way to make a pair last another winter.
• A 50ml glass flask that lasts and lasts. One smear per shoe means a single flask covers dozens of polishing sessions, so at £6.99 the cost per shine is measured in pennies.

How to use Slitesterk Brown Shoe Polish 110

1. Brush the shoes down with a horsehair brush to lift off sand, dust and dried mud, because polishing over grit grinds it into the leather.
2. Take a small amount on an application brush or a soft cloth wrapped tightly over two fingers.
3. Work it in with small circles, panel by panel, and pay attention to the welt, the heel counter and the creases across the toe where the colour goes first.
4. Let the shoes stand for about ten minutes so the waxes can settle into the fibres.
5. Buff briskly with a clean polishing brush until the haze lifts and the shine appears.
6. Finish with a soft duster, then leave the pair on shoe trees overnight before wearing them again.

My tip from behind the counter

If your brown shoes have gone patchy rather than simply dull, do the whole shoe rather than the worn patch. Polishing only the toe cap leaves a halo you will see in daylight every time. Treat the complete upper, let it rest, then give the toe and heel a second thin coat. That is how you get an even shade instead of a repair job that announces itself.

Specifications

• Colour: Brown, shade 110 – a true mid brown
• Volume: 50ml glass flask with an iron lid
• Type: Ecological pigmented beeswax and carnauba shoe polish
• Suitable for: Smooth leather shoes, boots, bags and belts in mid brown shades
• Not suitable for: Suede, nubuck and other napped leathers
• Key ingredients: Beeswax for nourishment, carnauba wax for shine
• Brand: Slitesterk, our own line
• Article code: SS-Shoepolish-Brown
• Price: £6.99

Frequently asked questions

Is shade 110 dark brown or light brown?

Neither – it is the mid brown between the two, which is where most brown calf leather actually sits. On a lighter tan shoe it will read as a slight deepening; on a very dark brown boot it will feed and shine without lifting the shade. If your shoes are clearly cognac or clearly dark brown, choose those shades instead.

Do I need a separate cream as well?

Not necessarily. This polish feeds as well as shines, thanks to the beeswax, so for most people it is enough on its own. If a pair has been neglected for years and the leather feels dry and papery, use a nourishing shoe cream first and follow with this polish once it has sunk in.

How long does one flask last?

Far longer than people expect. You need a smear the size of a pea per shoe, so 50ml runs to dozens of sessions. The iron lid seals properly, so the wax will not dry out between polishes even if the flask sits in the cupboard through the summer.

Where can I buy Slitesterk Brown Shoe Polish 110 in the UK?

You can order Slitesterk Brown Shoe Polish 110 directly from Shoespecialist.co.uk. We offer free delivery on orders over £50, same-day dispatch when you order before 5pm, and a 60-day return policy.