Last Saturday, Nanjing also ushered in rain. Rain boots became a tool for many citizens to travel. On the Internet, there are hot posts saying that as long as the use of candle oil smear shoes surface, you can create a pair of "high and large" waterproof shoes. According to an online post, the reporter took a pair of old shoes and found that the part coated with wax can indeed be waterproof. However, is this waterproof effect really good?

Candle oil coated shoes become waterproof shoes?

According to the online microblogging, a lit candle, a cotton swab, and a pair of leather shoes must be prepared first; then, using a cotton swab, evenly apply the candle oil to the shoe upper; Shave off excess candle oil. After cleaning, blow the wax with a hair dryer so that the waterproofing process is completed. Finally, the water in the upper does not drip anymore, so that “my mother never has to worry about my shoes getting wet!”

Recently, the reporter took a pair of experiments wearing old yellow casual outdoor shoes. According to the steps in the post, the candle was lighted and the candle oil was applied to the upper with a cotton swab. Seemingly simple steps, but it is not easy to spread evenly, small candlesticks can not get much of the candle oil. When the reporter was painting, he observed that there were always small areas that were not fully painted, and some areas were thick and thin. In the next process of waxing, the reporter found that the oiled part has darkened compared to other parts that have not yet been applied with candle oil.

When all the steps were completed, the reporter put the shoes under the faucet and it was indeed not wet after “overwater”. And other parts that have not been oiled are already wet.

Professionals: Waterproof time is short

“Wax is a kind of hydrophobic material and it has a certain effect on waterproofing,” said Mr. Zhang, a doctoral student at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Nanjing University. “Especially when the process of waxing is sufficiently uniform and dense, the waterproof effect It should be good." Not only that, Mr. Zhang explained that because the chemical properties of the wax are relatively stable, the wax and the shoe do not react, so the negative impact on the surface of the shoe should not be large.


Waterproof, how durable is that? Mr. Zhang told reporters that "only waterproof within a short period of time." It turns out that after a long period of use, the wax on the shoes and the upper side of the shoe itself will have a lower viscosity, and the surface wax may have cracks, fine lines, and micro-patterns, and then fall off.

What are the principles of professional outdoor waterproof shoes on the market? The reporter consulted Zhujiang Road, a number of outdoor shoe store owners, although most of the owners have said they had heard of such waterproof shoes, but many shopkeepers said, "Shoes waterproof generally refers to the soles to increase friction, rather than upper According to reports, professional mountaineering waterproof shoes are made of artificial leather mixed animal leather, but some styles of waterproof shoes are not very good in breathability, so when wearing waterproof shoes, climbers generally use multiple pairs of shoes to wear. Avoid foot odor.

Copyright Statement: This article is reproduced from online media and represents only the author's opinion. It has nothing to do with this site. If news articles and comments infringe your legal rights, please call us and we will handle it in a timely manner.