Guys I bought a pair of belleville 790V with the gore-tex lining to use as a general purpose recreation boot and hunt with when not using my Muck boots (they can be warm). These https://smile.amazon.com/gp/pr...00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Wore them around today and quite impressed with the comfort of em. I've never owned a roughed out leather boot as I was issued boon dockers in the Navy and my station boots are black leather. I'm seeking some input on whether you use some silicone water repellent spray on them or not. Any thoughts, I would appreciate it. Belleville's web sight makes no mention of it but have read some guys do it. Thanks Ray

I've worn the same pair of Belleville 790s for 5 years. Resoled once at the 2-1/2 year point with Ripple Soles from Dabootshop in Ft Bragg, NC.

They're lighter than the Danner Acadias I used before, and likely not as tough, but thats just a guess because i still have both pairs.

When i know ahead of time im going for a long walk, i go fore the 790s because they're much lighter.

ETA: Ive never added anything for waterproofing. Ive never needed it.

I wear Belleville 690 or 790 boots almost every day and have since 2005. Wear Danners sometime but definitely prefer the Bellevilles. They are good boots and made in the US. With the Gortex lining I've never done anything else to them for water proofing. They can get really wet and still keep your feet dry. I just give them a few days to dry and brush them with a suede brush.

I wouldn't put anything on those boots, they're good to go 24x7 in any condition into perpetuity.

I'm a 390 wearer myself, but I might have a pair of 790s in an "A" bag.

The gortex will handle the waterproofing, I wouldn't put anything else on.

Thanks for the replies, I know the gore-tex was the waterproofing just didn't know if the roughed out leather needed treating like smooth leather boots with kiwi polish. Ray