Some of the best years of my teenhood were spent in the Air Training Corp, or ATC. A youth club for air cadets, we were taught everything from the principles of flight and archery in between flying lessons, spending swathes of summer at camp to get a taste of RAF life.
I flew in Chinooks, sat in Typhoon cockpits and met the Red Arrows, returning to my school with tales of speed and adventure. It almost made up for having to wear the regulation scratchy wool jumpers, horrid hairnets and American Tan tights.
The uniform was a big part of it. Aside from the slant of your beret’s peak (as far over as you could go) and the sharpness of your shirtsleeve creases (should be able to slice citrus), the shine of your shoes ranked high on the checklist.
Boot polish was the best way to achieve a long-lasting, glossy shine, but it also took hours of practice to apply properly. Mine came from a tin and required a damp cloth and rubbing in endless tiny circles to achieve a shine so brilliant that you should be able to adjust your beret in it.
Short cuts were furtively traded - melting down globs of wax with a lighter, or painting clear nail polish onto toecaps. The latter worked a treat at first but a few steps in and they would predictably crack, your ill-advised hack laid bare for the judgement of the parade ground. The shame.
Boot polish formulations have moved on from a puck-like tin; you can now get them in tubes, sprays and with sponge applicators, meaning no more polish-stained cloths to deal with. They can be used on myriad surfaces, from smartening up a scuffed pair of Doc Martens to adding gleam and a layer of protection to leather and cowboy boots. Often packed with hydrating oils, they’re ideal on natural hides, helping to prevent cracking at the same time.
If you’re hoping to save a much-loved pair of brogues or loafers or want a tried-and-tested formula that Shawshank’s Warden Norton would approve of, we’ve gathered the best boot polishes for the job below.
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Saphir Beaute Du Cuir Pate De Luxe High Gloss Shoe Polish (Black)
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Only the best for your brogues? This premium polish from French brand Saphir is lauded by those in the know, deepening colour and improving texture with every layer.
The texture is easy to work with thanks to the inclusion of beeswax, bringing them up to a dazzling shine and making them waterproof along the way.
Buy now £8.29, Amazon
KIWI Parade Gloss Prestige Shoe Shine Polish for Black Leather
I didn’t think getting nostalgic over a tin of boot polish would feature on today’s bingo card, yet here we are.
Recommended to air, army and sea cadets - and indeed fully-fledged service people - everywhere, Kiwi’s keeps it simple with a formula enriched with carnauba wax. This delivers nourishment to dried and weary leather while layers of polish build a depth of colour and a mirror shine.
Apply a little at a time with a damp cloth over a finger and paint in tiny circles. The more layers you add, the easier it will be in subsequent sessions.
Buy now £6.99, Amazon
Kiwi Shoe Express Shine Sponge Black 7ml
Can’t be bothered with faffing around with tins and shining cloths? Welcome to the express lane. Kiwi’s fast-action formula is applied with an integrated sponge, allowing you to cast the inky black formula across shoes in record time.
Best used on shoes showing minor signs of wear and tear, you’ll get a quick shine in next to no time as long as you stick to leather. It will ruin suede, nubuck or other types of fabric shoes.
Buy now £5.13, Amazon
Saphir MDO Mirror Gloss 75ml
If you don't want to clutter up your cupboards with different shoe polish colours, Saphir also makes this neutral version that can be applied to leathers of all saturations.
The high wax content makes it easy to work with and results come fast, creating a highly glossy layer that will go the distance before shoes need another treatment.
Buy now £2.95, Amazon
Dr Martens polish cream in black
Docs may look better when they’re a little duffed up but if yours are on the verge of obliteration, it’s time to do some damage control. Enter Dr Martens' polish cream specifically designed to revive, nourish and protect knackered shoes.
No need to ruin tea towels; this cream comes with a sponge nozzle applicator to apply the polish just where you need it, meaning less chance of spills, smudges and waste.
Buy now £3.75, ASOS
Gentlemen's Hardware Travel Shoe Shine Tin
Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, a gentleman must always look dapper. Keep leather shoes in tip-top nick with this travel set, which comes with a tin of shoe polish, a brush and a buffing cloth all housed in a larger tin.
Buy now £12.00, John Lewis
Homebay 4pc Boot Brush & Wax Polish Set
Maintain the shine and quality of brown and black leather shoes with this four-piece budget set available at Amazon. Two tins come with an applicator brush and a buffing brush with each fitting comfortably in the hand.
As well as bringing back shine, the shoes benefit from nurturing through the oil ingredients and increase water resistance too.
Buy now £7.45, Amazon
Huberd’s Shoe Grease
Specifically designed for high-use leather, this American grease is made with beeswax and pine tar to restore essential oils lost in daily wear and tear.
It’s quite a big tin so will last ages, and can be used on cracked sofas, worn bags, belts and jackets as well as shoes - provided they are all made of leather, of course. It’s also a good treatment to run over new purchases as it can help move along the painful ‘breaking in’ period.
Buy now £17.99, Amazon
