The below Telegraph link tells the full story .
I was instructed ( read ordered ) you do not use anything other than Kiwi
Which I have done for over 50 years as a member of the shine on your shoe , says a lot about you squad .
Please can the more knowledgeable members of the forum suggest alternatives once my supply is exhausted .
NB . Cherry Blossom does not meet the standards required .
Thank you in anticipation and best wishes for healthy & sane 2023 to all .
https://apple.news/ArkEYlPnMRka78npnoJJvUw
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During basic training 20 years ago, I was also told Kiwi only...specifically Parade Gloss. I always thought that polish wasn't just for shine, but protection and waterproofing too. I guessing fewer people wear leather shoes...it's either trainers or polyurethane fake leather.Originally Posted by Norbert
From observation, very few parents bother to maintain what leather shoes they have (or teach it to their children). I suspect its mroe to do with a throwaway society allied with less employers setting any kind of dress standards.
for boots try Hoggs Dubbin its about 4 quid a tin and is good stuff.
used to use a first layer regular polish on me black shoes then just a dab of petrolium jelly and polish for the subsequent going over - high shine and very water proof.
pecard dressing on other stuff like jackets , belts , straps , kit generally and instrument cases - one tub has lasted for years but it does seem to be a bit more expensive these days.
mink oil products seems trendy if over priced - and not too sure the mink are too keen either though. not used them personally.
Last edited by bigbaddes; 4th January 2023 at 16:43. Reason: tea based inspiration.
The last product I used, which was very good, was Lord Sheraton leather balsam with bees wax. Did a lovely job on my Clarks desert boots.
Piggin ell, the price of that will test your commitment to polishing your boots.
I just checked my shoe polish box and every tin is Kiwi. I guess the RAF did drill something into my thick head after all.
The wax polishes are much cheaper
https://www.afinepairofshoes.co.uk/collections/polish
Best stuff on the market though.
The last polish I bought was Saphir, but not the one linked below. It was about twice the price of Kiwi an dI'm not sure it was twice as good.
Luckily I still have a few tins of Kiwi parade gloss stashed, but Ive heard several good cobblers say Saphir is the dogs wotsits.
Its just not Kiwi though is it?
Plenty left at Ocado:
https://www.ocado.com/products/kiwi-...B&gclsrc=aw.ds
Saphir shoe care products.
Kiwi is wax based and dries out leather, Saphir or Woly shoe creme contain various vegetable based oils and is much better for the leather.
I still use Parade Gloss and bees wax blocks and yes I still bull my shoes after serving for HM Queen and Country for 20 years.
Admittedly throughout my basic infantry trg I did use clear floor polish as I did not have a clue how to crack the art of bulling.
I have also used Leather Luster, especially when your having to wear dagged up shoes all of the time.
I am sad to read this. I like a nice polished boot and Kiwi is my go to.
I will need to go an panic buying spree.
Ditto , hence I commenced this thread , with a double motive :-
1. To inform the institutionalised Kiwi users amongst the TZ ranks.
2. To genuinely enquire if there is a suitable alternative before supplies are exhausted .
Thank you for the suggestions so far , and it would be of interest to hear from anyone what His Majesties Forces currently use and will be recommending?
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Won't give a great shine though.
Use Saphir wax for that.
They are not stopping making it. Just not selling in the U.K. So no doubt there will be a cottage industry selling it to people who want it. Admittedly for a fair higher price but it is not like you wont be able to get it. Our tins always ended up dried out anyway so not sure how long you could stockpile for.
How does wax polish dry out leather?
Leather needs conditioning, wax polish doesn’t do that. Wax polish should be part of shoe cleaning regime but it also needs cleaning and conditioning.
If conditioned wax does actually help stop them drying out.
https://favoredleather.com/does-shoe...-no-heres-why/
Just returned from shopping trip to Livingston (West Lothian) where I got 4 of the large tins of kiwi black polish - not parade gloss - in Wilko.
They had about 10 of the large still available and 24 of the smaller tins. £2.25 for large tins and £1.55 for smaller.
https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/search/?text=kiwi+polish
Jim
£75 of Kiwi polish heading my way!
Well done that man! They had no idea its been stopped.£75 of Kiwi polish heading my way!
Shiny shoes will be keeping standards high I guess all over gods country
Jim
Im sure you are aware , but just in case . Any stock of Kiwi polish should be kept so to avoid high temperature as it will dry out .£75 of Kiwi polish heading my way!
Cool storage . With the beer in the garage perhaps . Enjoy the effects of both .
Stay pristine and sane !
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Like a good wine!
Another vote for Saphir products, good stuff
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I few years back I swapped from Kiwi to R A Robson's shoe polish and haven't noticed the difference in terms of finish, possibly erring on better. It is also inexpensive and smells nice too.
Thats a lot of polish. I remember ordering £800 (approx 1/2 a garage) of a particular canine diabetic food when the supplier wrote to say it would no longer be available. 3 days after delivery, the decision was reversed.£75 of Kiwi polish heading my way!
At least the kiwi should be more readily stored :)
I've used Renapur to good effect on my Blundstone boots.
https://renapur.com/product/renapur-...-balsam-200ml/
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You are either someone who never has to buy shoe polish for the rest of their life or an entrepreneur waiting for stocks to deplete and demand to rise!£75 of Kiwi polish heading my way!
Thank you for the warning. A weekly dab of Kiwi applied to my DMs with a Selvyt keeps them nice and shiny. Oh well, Saphir ftw.
I'm not sure that's totally wise. I remember once bulk-buying shoe polish on trip home during an overseas posting and gradually noticing it dry out and then go rock hard. At the end it was only good for brushing onto working shoes rather than putting a shine on anything.£75 of Kiwi polish heading my way!
In the Sotadic Zone, apparently.
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