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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The right stuff -but not cheap, January 10, 2011
This review is from: Brooks Heritage Saddles Proofide Leather Dressing (Misc.)
This is the one and ONLY proprietary treatment for Brooks Bicycle Saddles directly from the manufacturer. Brooks doesn't recommend using anything else -this is the only treatment they say to use. Perhaps this is gospel, but read on.
A leather bicycle saddle is a different application compared to just about any other leather product. The leather itself is the stressed load-bearing item -unlike a horse saddle where the leather sits on the horse (and maybe some inside material that makes it thicker and stiff). The leather on the Brooks bicycle saddle is suspended between the nose of the saddle and the rivets in the back. It's bearing ALL of your weight that you put into it by sitting on the saddle. You don't want to put any overly-oily product on it that will soften the saddle TOO much or the fibers of the saddle will relax and slide past each other and then stretch -which would be bad and require you to adjust the tension, and you only have so much tension to adjust before that runs out. Once leather stretches it doesn't want to stop. BAD BAD BAD.
So don't use the wrong treatment or you'll ruin the leather -and don't use TOO MUCH of the proofide either as you can also cause it to get over-saturated and damage the leather. Use it sparingly -the larger tin should last you for many, many years and the small tin should last nearly as many. If you are using as much as a teaspooon for one treatment you are probably using way too much.
I give it a 4-star rating only because it is TOO EXPENSIVE for what it is (not all that different than saddle soap but a slightly different ratio of cow fat, oils, and beeswax.) You might save a few pennies a year by using saddle soap but after paying so much money for a Brooks saddle the price of the proofide is nothing -especially how little you should be using.
Proofide doesn't make your saddle water-proof either. You still need to cover it when it rains, even when you are riding on it. This isn't water-proofing, it's a long-term conditioner that shouldn't be over-used.
Use another product at your own risk. Is it worth it on a saddle that costs so much in the first place? That's just not Cricket!
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A unique, excellent product for Brooks Saddle care, September 6, 2010
This review is from: Brooks Heritage Saddles Proofide Leather Dressing (Misc.)
I love the comfort and beauty of my Brooks Bicycle Saddle, and I want to care for it properly. Proofide is how the Brooks Saddle company wants us to care for their bike saddles. They should know. (A Brooks Saddle cover is also a good idea, so as to keep your saddle dry in all circumstances.)
As someone who has tried Neats Foot Oil Compound (which destroyed my original 38-year-old Brooks saddle and weakened another), I now heartily recommend Proofide. You don't want to soften your saddle too much, as oils can do; you want something that will keep the saddle soft but that will also keep the leather whole and strong.
Proofide's price is reasonable: a Brooks saddle is expensive, but will last a very long time if properly cared for. A little Proofide goes a long way.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Profide review, April 5, 2011
Profide worked great for both softing as well as to protect the leather. After reading however the ingrediants, i was a bit disapointed largly due to there being so many products out there that will due the same thing for way less money. However, i am sure if those were used, Brooks would not stand behind there warrenty. I was also pleasantly surprised to how many times one can use this product after seeing such a small can! There is more than enough for quite a long time. I would purchase this product again.
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