Customer Reviews

Brooks Heritage Saddles Proofide Leather Dressing

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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.

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.

The product worked as advertised and actually arrived earlier than the scheduled ship date.
The tin is small but a little of this stuff goes a long way so I should not need to buy any for quite some time.
Overall very happy with the product and the service.

I have been applying this dressing to my Brooks bicycle saddle
before every time I ride and even though I can not see the
difference I can certainly feel the difference when I ride.

While I agree that one tin of Proofide is more than enough to maintain a few Brooks Saddles for their lifetime, this is still a questionably small amount of the product for the price you pay. I haven't tested the alternatives (sno-seal for example). But I have a feeling they would perform just as well at 1/3 of the price. Unless Brooks decides to lower the price on this item or offer 100g tin for the same price, I give it a 4-star review.

In any event, I've had my saddle for 4-5 months and all is well so far. From what I've read about leather saddles, maintenance is the key to make them last for the long haul.

Pro Tip: Beware ordering this in the peak heat of the summer. Mine arrived melted into the cap and was quite messy to use at first.

The only thing I used to assist the saddle break-in is Brooks Heritage Saddles Proofide Leather Dressing. It's important to follow the manufacturers directions on Brooks Website and not over-apply the Proofide saddle conditioner. I applied Proofide lightly to the underside and top part of the saddle a few times during the break-in period. After 500 miles or so, I saw a noticeable difference in the saddle flexibility and from then on, only a tiny amount of Proofide applied to the top part of the saddle every 3-6 months is all that's necessary for saddle maintenance.

There is a misconception that Proofide needs to be applied frequently. Unlike a standard leather item, Brooks saddles support your weight under tension and overuse of Proofide will soften the leather, causing it to stretch and lose its support. As directed on Brooks website, on a new saddle, you can apply a small amount to the top and bottom of the saddle every month or so until the saddle is broken-in (on Brooks aged saddles Proofide should be applied only to the bottom). After, only a small amount of Proofide should be applied to the saddle top every 3-6 months at most or you will ruin the saddle from over application. Since the leather is supporting your weight under tension, it's important to only use conditioning products that are intended for leather saddles (not standard leather care items) and apply as directed to avoid causing damage to the leather fibres. Also, never allow the saddle to get wet which would cause the leather to become brittle and strech.

Directions from the Brooks website:

"A new saddle should be treated with Brooks Proofide leather dressing to help assist the `breaking-in' process. Proofide keeps the leather supple as it is specially formulated from natural ingredients to condition, preserve and shower proof your saddle. Proofide is the only substance that should be used to care for your Brooks Leather Saddle. Apply a little Proofide to the finished side of the leather. Allow the Proofide to permeate until dry and then polish off. Proofide should be used several times during the `breaking-in' period and every 3-6 months thereafter. On bicycles not fitted with mudguards, an initial application to the underside of the saddle will be beneficial, this needs not to be polished off."

Good:

The product works as desired, helping to work in and keep the leather supple. The product also has a very low key citronella smell to it, which I find pleasant, and helps me keep away the winter doldrums.

Bad:

As some other people have suggested, the item is fairly pricey for the amount that you get...on the other hand, I would suggest that you actually don't use very much of the wax in a single application.

The cap can also be difficult to get off if you don't religiously clean the lip of any wax after you use it, so bear that in mind.

Other Thoughts:

Some people have suggested softening the product by popping it quickly in the oven. This works great, and doesn't take much time, but the tin is often quite warm as a result, open it up before putting it in the oven, and hold it with a rag.

It is the Brooks version of leather saddle care. I imagine that the difference in a seat treated with this and a seat treated with saddle soap and polish is minimal. The product is not expensive and one can will probably last a lifetime.

Should last a long time. I used it as described and I did not use much at all. Sweet smell to it, no bugs will be coming around my seat that is for sure. Time will tell if it does what it is intended to do. So far I am happy with product.