Patrol boots, such as those made by the Dehner Company, require certain techniques that do not apply to most other types of polishable boot. In particular, the shafts of patrol boots are often made with a material that, though it resembles leather, is not leather. This material, named Dehcord*, is a man-made product similar to poromeric materials and should not be polished, as the material is susceptible to damage from the solvents found in polish. In addition, the leather used in patrol boots comes in a variety of different styles, which have different care approaches. Finally, the lacing technique for patrol boots is significantly different from that of other boots.

The basic approach to polishing patrol boots is:

• Determine the type of leather used in the boots. Calfskin and Voyager* leathers are high-gloss polishable leather. Dragoon* is a low-gloss oil-tanned leather. Dehcord is a synthetic leather that resembles Calfskin, but cannot be polished (see below for care). The technique for determining if the shafts are Dehcord can be found here.
• Unlace boots, if necessary (recommended, but not required).
• Clean boots with saddle soap. Dehcord shafts can be cleaned in the same manner as the leather vamp.
• Condition leather with light conditioner (if desired).
• Polish the leather portions of the boot, except in the case of Dragoon* leather, which should be handled as oil-tanned leather.
  • Apply polish to leather.
  • Brush leather.
  • Buff leather.
• If necessary, shine Dehcord (see below).
• Relace boots, if necessary
• Rebuff lacing area. Relacing bal-laced boots generally smudges the polish in the lacing area. Buffing the area again will restore the shine.
• Apply edge dressing (if desired).

*Starred terms are specific to boots made by the Dehner Boot Company. Other manufacturers may use different terms and leather types.

Caring for Dehcord

Dehcord shafts are cared for by applying a small amount of mineral oil or furniture polish (see the equipment entry for Mineral Oil for details) to a clean cloth folded into a pad and applying it to the Dehcord. Only a very small amount is necessary and excessive product can produce unsatisfactory results. Do not apply the oil or furniture polish directly to the Dehcord, as that will likely produce uneven coverage. Gently rub the oil or furniture polish into the shaft, covering the entire shaft. Take care not to get oil or furniture polish onto the leather uppers, as the oil will interfere with the shoe polish used there. When the shafts have been completely gone over, use a clean cloth or the unused side of the pad to buff the Dehcord. This will remove excess oil and produce an even shine.