The single most critical fact about Proofhide is that Proofhide earns Brooks another $10 profit on 30 cents in ingredients.

I *strongly* believe in taking good care of quality leather products. But I don't believe there is anything magic about Proofhide. It appears to be a wax-based conditioner.

Rivendell sells a similar (and much cheaper) product called Obenhauf's that was originally formulated to treat leather horse saddles.

Despite all the grave, overwrought and anxious warnings about the care of Brooks saddles, my experience is that you can treat it with practically any leather treatment stuff and it won't really hurt it. I've used Neatsfoot. I've used the leather-care stuff that I use on the leather seats of my cars. I actually did the Sheldon Brown make-a-foil-boat-and-soak-it-in-oil treatment on an aged Swift that I bought from eBay, which brought it back to life. In the early 80's I even heated a Brooks up in the oven and then beat it with a ball peen hammer, which was recommended at the time.

None of it mattered as much as just riding.

Those are the people who can't let go of the misconception that breaking in a Brooks means making it softer.

The purpose of treating and conditioning a leather saddle is to keep it from drying out in the sun and losing its suppleness and ability to conform to the rider's shape and to move slightly (the hammock effect) when bumps are hit. It also provides some water resistance (not water proofing). It probably also provides some protection from the salt in your sweat.

The occasional application of proofide puts these protective qualities on the entire saddle, including the parts you don't sit on.

<edit> I actually currently use Obenhauf's on my Brooks saddles. Close enough to the same stuff.

Thanks everyone. I realize the Proofide doesn't help with breaking in.... however, the instructions say to apply several times during the breaking-in period. So my question pertained to how long that period typically lasts, not whether it helps with breaking-in.

In any case I'll just ride it and apply a tiny bit again after a 100 or so miles.

People, it's P-R-O-O-F-I-D-E.

No H, and no second R.

The old saying goes: I don't care what you say about me as long as you spell my name correctly.

I disagree......Neatsfoot has never ruined a Brooks for me, and apparently didn't for Sheldon Brown either who had a lot more experience than me.

Proofhide is a mixture of beeswax and an organic oil. Could it be Neatsfoot? I'm not aware of too many organic leather dressings. This will be an endless debate and each should use what they feel is appropriate, aside from synthetics.

Let's be fair. Did you actually follow the directions in TB's post to which I replied?
"Don't you know that you are supposed to purchase authentic Neet's Foot Oil, turn the saddle upside down, fill with the oil, wrap it all up in foil and bake it in the oven at 160 degrees overnight?"

If you're using enough of any product to be genuinely affected by the price, you're using waaaaayyyyyy too much of the stuff.

The rest of your comments are spot on though.

Richard

Cut BD some slack tonight. I have a feeling that today wasn't the best day for Dawgs.

I"m still wondering if Yen rides 5,000 miles a year!

Why? Don't you?

Nope!

Well, no not exactly. I've always left out the part about the oven.
That part's not in the recipe.

One of the things I like about my B-17, is the slipperiness of it. It allows me to slide around on it when I want to. With proper adjustment, ONLY when I want to.

It took a lot of adjusting and fiddling with my micro adjustable post, to finally get it right.

It's only supposed to be for four hours.

That's exactly what I used do every time I bought a new softball glove or baseball gloves for my boys. Would put a ball in the pocket and tie up the glove then follow the "recipe". I'm not advising anyone put their butt on a hot oiled seat.

As far as adjusting the tilt of my Brooks saddles, if I can sit up straight and ride no handed without sliding forward I've got them adjusted spot on. This has always worked for me regardless of model of saddle or type of bike.

Just on the off chance that somebody takes this advice seriously:

NOT ON MY BIKE! That's taking a reasonably pricy product (and some Brooks saddles have gone into the seriously pricy range) and doing what the manufacturer expressly tells you not-to-do. I've broken in 3 of the things and I just havn't found that kind of thing to be necessary. Honestly, I think that all the weird stories I hear about breaking in Brooks saddles are greatly overstated.

I've found they aren't quite done after just 4 hours. Still a little chewy in the middle.

My Italian grandfather always preferred his saddles al dente.

I know Brooks recommends against all of these various oil treatments.

Yet they also sell "pre-conditioned" / aged saddles, into which they, Brooks, have worked "waxes and balms."

These aged saddles are noticeably softer.

What's up with that?