Originally Posted by Road Fan
When I rode Brooks Pros yyears ago I experimented with using more Proofide v. less. Multiple coats did not do much good compared to the improvment in surface texture I got with one coat.
I also found that Proofide is not a waterproofer. It did not keep my saddle from absorbing water.
What did it really do? Well I guess I don't really know. But I would rather use something innocuous than something that could make the leather collapse.
I did think the leather felt better after I used it.
Correct. Proofide is not a waterproofing compound. It only in imparts water resistance. I use SnoSeal, as it is only beeswax, and contans no animal, vegetable or petroleum oils. Beeswax cannot soften hide leather, no matter how much you apply, so the chances of over-conditioning are nil. The worse that can happen is that you may get a stickiness to the saddle - which is undesireable in a Brooks. I only apply it on the underside of an oven-warmed saddle, letting body heat and motion slowly wick it up thru in the ensuing weeks of use. I only have to do this once, with a little clear boot polish on top every now and again. Even this does not completely waterproof the leather.
Only silicones will do this. But, they will cmopletely destroy the wicking action of the hide, which is the hallmark of leather saddles and is the real reason they are so comfortable.
Seal the pores, and you have a plastic Brooks.
http://i15.tinypic.com/2efhw81.jpg