Boots are simply irreplaceable in cold weather and are an important element of every fashionista's wardrobe. Leather boots will last a long time. Nowadays, it is difficult to choose suitable shoes when a lot of fake polyurethane leather has appeared on the market. Even a merchandiser cannot always distinguish good fakes, let alone you and me. But let’s still look at some signs by which it is possible to distinguish boots made of genuine leather from artificial leather.
How to identify leather boots in a store
Leather shoes are a planned purchase for most. And it will be unpleasant if you buy a substitute for the price of leather. If you decide to buy boots, then pay attention to the following in the store:
- Tag. In branded shoes or simply high-quality ones, there is a sample of leather on the tag that was used to make the shoes. But here you need to be careful and make sure that the tag does not differ from the material on the product. Also look on the same tag or box to see what material the shoes are made of.
Important: Pay attention to such inscriptions as enuine leather (in English), vera pelle (in Italian) and cuir (in French), which means genuine leather.
- The wrong side of the boots. In natural boots, the underside will be fleecy, similar to suede. In leather substitutes, as a rule, the reverse side is fabric.
- Thermal conductivity. When you hold your hand on the surface for a while, the skin will warm up a little; if it is not a natural material, then it will not heat up, but your hand, on the contrary, will sweat.
- The shoes themselves. Often, especially in men's shoes, tongues, zippers and other areas that do not bear any load when walking are made of leather, and the rest is made of synthetic materials.
- Elasticity. Apply light pressure to the tip of the shoe or even bend it slightly. On non-natural shoes, creases will remain, and the leather will fall back into place.
- Smell – a natural product has its own specific smell, even if it is well soaked. Cheaper synthetic boots have a chemical smell.
- If you can see the processed edges, then pay attention to this. Non-natural materials have a flat and sealed edge. The skin will be processed in the form of a rounded roller.
- Be careful when choosing boots with a pattern. The larger and brighter the pattern, the more difficult it is to distinguish shoes with natural materials from artificial ones.
How to check the authenticity of boots at home
If, upon arriving home, the purchase raises doubts about the presence of genuine leather, then you can carry out several manipulations.
Genuine leather has high breathability. To determine, take a few drops of water and place it on your boot. If the water lingers and even gets absorbed a little, then you are the owner of natural boots. In the case when the liquid simply rolls off and does not linger, then it is a fake.
There is another sure way to determine the naturalness of shoes. Take a sample of the material from the label and hold a lighter or a lit match for a few seconds. You can also carefully do it on inconspicuous areas of the shoe. If the material begins to fizz and melt, then this is definitely a substitute.
General tips for determining the quality of boots
Remember that leather boots will be slightly more expensive than substitute boots. The exception is some shoe brands that mainly produce lines of shoes made from substitutes and they cost the same as natural ones (Mustang, Marco Tozzi).
An important factor in determining the naturalness of materials is the porosity of the leather. If you look closely, the peculiar pattern on the skin is somewhat unique and uneven. It is thanks to these pores that the material breathes.
The leather is heavier and thicker than the substitute. Because of this, against the background of the same pair from a substitute, it may look somewhat more massive and rougher. Leather boots will not be light in weight (unless they are a designer model). Take a closer look at the fittings and lining. If the inside is sewn with a lining, then pay attention to that too. A quality product has the same lining.
As you can see, there is no need to make hasty purchases, but just take a good look and feel the product.
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