| There are Sheepskin Boots and then there are | | | | Next stop is a detergent bath which removes any |
| "sheepskin boots!"One only has to type "sheepskin | | | | remaining dirt and fat after which the skin is pickled in |
| boots" into any major search engine to be inundated | | | | a pre-tan bath - this expands the skin and turns it |
| with what seems like hundreds of retailers - all of | | | | into leather. The skin is then refleshed to clean the |
| whom are only too anxious to relieve you of your | | | | leather one more time before the final tanning |
| hard earned cash in return for a pair of sheepskin | | | | process where tanning agents are added to allow the |
| boots. But with so many different brands to choose | | | | skin to become washable and heat stable. The skin is |
| from how do you know you are making the right | | | | then tested for shrinkage, put through a sammy |
| choice? There seems to be every type of boot on | | | | machine which presses out the excess moisture and |
| offer, in every price bracket - from those costing as | | | | improves the skin's shape, dried again, then dry |
| little as a few pounds all the way up to the top | | | | cleaned with white spirit before being spun and hung |
| branded makes costing a few hundred pounds per | | | | out to dry. The next step is to dye the skin in a bath |
| pair. How can you be sure that you are getting value | | | | of dye to which has been added acids which allow |
| for your money and does quality really matter when | | | | the dye to fix to the wool fibres, then the skin is |
| buying a pair of sheepskin boots?To answer these | | | | given a final rinse, sammied and hung once again to |
| questions we need to start at the very beginning of | | | | dry. Once dry the skin is buffed to clean the |
| the sheepskin boot making process - that is we need | | | | back and improve the appearance and the wool is |
| to start | | | | combed and sheared to a uniform length. The |
| with the sheep!The Sheep | | | | combing and shearing process |
| High quality sheepskin boot manufacturers use the | | | | can be repeated many times until the desired effect |
| skins from Merino sheep which are universally | | | | is reached. Then, and only then, are the sheepskins |
| regarded as providing the best quality wool and skins. | | | | ready to be made into |
| The Australian geography and environmental | | | | boots!Are Man Made Alternatives Better? |
| conditions are uniquely suited to rearing Merino sheep | | | | Man is a competitive beast and likes nothing more |
| of the highest quality and this is why the best | | | | than trying to go one better than mother nature by |
| sheepskin boots are made using only genuine | | | | tinkering with her treasures and trying to improve |
| Australian Merino sheepskins. The hides from Merino | | | | them. Indeed there are many occasions when |
| sheep tend to be thicker and more durable and the | | | | man-made fabrics make for a much better product |
| wool itself is very dense with excellent shape | | | | than anything found in the natural world. Take ski |
| retaining properties. They therefore lend themselves | | | | wear for example - the massive strides made in the |
| very well to the manufacture of boots with their | | | | manufacture of lightweight, breathable yet |
| ability to endure wear and tear whilst at the same | | | | waterproof clothing has revolutionised the ski wear |
| time keeping their shape and good looks for many | | | | market. Now you can stay out all day in layers of |
| years.Sheepskin, also known as shearling fleece, is | | | | moisture wicking undergarments, lightweight fleece |
| actually a fur - it has leather skin on one side and | | | | sweaters, and Gore Tex coats and pants which have |
| wool fur on the other. The sheepskin wool is | | | | been specially designed to keep you warm, dry and |
| embedded into the leather and because it is attached | | | | comfortable no matter what the weather or how |
| to the skin real sheepskin does not shed, pull out or | | | | many times you fall over!However, Man does not |
| wear off. Sheepskin wool is soft, resilient and | | | | always know best! Especially when it comes to |
| naturally thermostatic - the wool fibres are hollow | | | | sheepskin boots! Cheaper types of sheepskin boots |
| and capable of absorbing up to 30% of their own | | | | are made using a layer of wool or synthetic fleece |
| weight in moisture without feeling wet to the touch. | | | | material which has been glued onto pig or cow hide. |
| The fibres wick moisture away, enabling it to | | | | This is then brushed up and is often loose enough to |
| evaporate through the leather outer and this natural | | | | be pulled away from the backing which enables it to |
| "breathing" ability ensures that your feet remain | | | | wear away when the boots are worn. This synthetic |
| comfortable and dry whatever the weather.Similarly | | | | sheepskin does not breathe and results in the |
| during | | | | unpleasant sweaty feet problem of cheap boots. It is |
| cold weather the sheepskin fibres trap the heat of | | | | impossible to copy synthetically the astounding list of |
| your body inside the boot thereby providing excellent | | | | natural qualities found in real sheepskin but |
| insulation whilst at the same time the free flow of air | | | | unfortunately these cheap boots are often marketed |
| between your feet and the sheepskin eliminates any | | | | as "Sheepskin Boots".So as you can see real |
| clamminess.Real sheepskin has many wonderful | | | | sheepskin is a marvellous product - just ask any |
| properties. For example did you know that it is | | | | sheep! Don't accept pale imitations - insist on high |
| non-static, flame resistant, wind proof and that the | | | | quality sheepskin boots and they will be an |
| leather side is naturally water resistant? It also drapes | | | | investment which you can enjoy year after year. |
| beautifully and will return to its constituent shape - | | | | Manufacturers of quality sheepskin boots will be |
| this means that over time your sheepskin boots will | | | | happy to tell you where their sheepskins come from |
| mould themselves to the shape of your foot offering | | | | - it is only the man-made sheepskin boot |
| you a customised fit. And as if that were not | | | | manufacturers who will be evasive with this |
| enough, the high naturally occurring lanolin content in | | | | information.So, Bottom Line?Yes! Quality does matter |
| the wool acts as a moisturiser so you can even | | | | when buying sheepskin boots. You don't have to buy |
| moisturise your feet as you walk!The Making of the | | | | the most expensive make of boot but you do need |
| Boot | | | | to be sure of where the makers got their sheepskins |
| Another factor to consider when choosing sheepskin | | | | from. If you want real quality and value for money |
| boots is the actual process of converting a sheep's | | | | then invest in a pair of boots made from genuine |
| skin into a workable boot | | | | Australian Merino sheepskin and you will be able to |
| making material. This is a much more involved | | | | enjoy them for many years to come.(c)2005. Sue |
| process than most people realise! First the sheepskin | | | | Madelin is the owner of The Snug Stop, purveyor of |
| has to be trimmed and | | | | finest quality Australian Merino sheepskin boots, and a |
| washed to remove the dirt. It is then put through a | | | | huge fan of her many pairs of Warmbat sheepskin |
| fleshing machine which cuts off the flesh and fat. | | | | boots. |