$4 vs $25 Polish - Is Saphir Shoe Polish Worth it? w/ Cobblers Trenton and Heath

Trenton and Heath's Channel: thekavalier.reviews/T-H
When it comes to shoe polish, everyone knows Kiwi, but there's a big difference in the polish when you move into more natural ingredients. Trenton and Heath talk about the differences in polish at each price point and if it's worth the investment!
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For reference, I am 6’4 usually 170lb. Typical sizes of clothing:
T-shirts: S
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Dress Shirts: 15.5 x 35
Pants: 30 x 34
Dress Shoes: 12
This video is not sponsored. Check out their channel for great tips!
Edited by Ashley Saldanha

[@oliverallen5324]

If you're buying 2-300$ shoes, buy yourself 24$ shoe trees and some quality shoe polish. You don't save money by being cheap.

[@The_Kavalier]

Nailed it

[@TrentonHeath]

Definitely!

[@kirbyallison]

I couldn't agree more! Smear some of this stuff on paper... and then you can really see the difference!

[@ourshoeshineblog8035]

I would add to this that there is more than one way to skin the cat. You can procure a stand alone conditioner like Saphir creme universal and a saphir wax (neutral) if you know what you are doing you can go long ways in terms of flexibility with such a combination. But honestly nothing beats having a cream that matches your shoe color, aside from the obvious that natural ingredients are better for the leather and also for you (assuming you are shining your own shoes)! Also if cost is an issue you need to determine how many applications you will get of a cream, those Saphir Jars last a long time so cost per application makes it very cost effective.

[@trentpotter1889]

Ourshoeshine Blog You nailed it! Catch our video this coming Sunday. We say exactly the same thing. Quality, pigmented shoe creams are THE product to get if you’re only going to get one. 👍🏻

[@TrentonHeath]

Always fun to talk shoes! We enjoyed it!

[@norwaysgateway]

I feel like they have missed the point here. They are comparing a tin of kiwi wax with a jar of Saphir creme, then going on to talk about how the kiwi wax won't nourish the leather in the same way. Ofcourse creme wil be better for repleneshing the moisture than a wax porduct. There are many ways of nourishing leather without buying top of the line cremes. I personally use pure mink oil (which is the main ingredient of saphir renovatour, but for under $1 per tin) to moisturise my leather, then follow up with wax to give the shine. All the talk in this video about how saphir "soakes in" is just reffering to the way it moiturises it. I would like to see a video comparing similar products, like a hard wax from saphir compared to a hard wax from kiwi. Appologise for my broken english, it's coming from a bit overenthusiastic norwegian shoe-shiner.

[@dorenandsara]

Thank you for the advice on the mink oil. They sell it in the USA at hardware stores, farm and tractor supplies, and all kinds of places where working people would use leather gloves.

[@norwaysgateway]

@@dorenandsara No problem, it is sort of like a forgotten gem, i know some norwegians use it for their boots when they go hunting. It keeps moisture from coming through the seems. Although you wont get a good shine from Mink oil, it surely does nourish very well. I usually follow up with a neutral hard wax to keep the natural color, while still giving it a good shine.

[@jimmylincoln4082]

Frithjof Silden thankyou for advice 👍

[@nicholasparker626]

I believe the elegant oxford did a comparison on the two waxes.

[@ilzephyrli]

Doesn't the mink oil substantially darken the leather though?

[@allen2346]

Appreciate the disclosure that you offer Saphir in your shop. Recently bought Saphir products, and haven't been happier.

[@richuk4086]

Hi there, I'm an independent shoe repairer in Kent Uk (Quick N Neat) and I've been selling Saphir products for about 5 years now. I believe in the product and it does well. I came across it after Grison became non existent almoast over night which I felt was a great product. Saphir is expensive to stock but worth it.

[@ulfricthorsson8347]

Kiwi is just about the ONLY shoe/boot polish that can be found in most shopettes, PX's and BX's

[@SwordsmanRyan]

I know. I shined my boots over the weekend and Monday morning my Drill says my boots look terrible. I tell him I used Kiwi. He replies, “Kiwi the bird or Kiwi the fruit?”

[@dkmc6434]

@@SwordsmanRyan 😩😩😩🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@DemetriosLevi]

This is exactly what I needed. I was thinking of Saphire for a while now and this is my answer. Great vid as always, my man

[@awaisbaig540]

Do checkout kirby allison's channel

[@Educated_Style]

First style video in almost 2 years that I watched end to end. Solid content, very informative and content unique. 🙏🏽

[@jackmioff100]

Great video- just the info that's needed regarding this topic. Well done.

[@JamesMelendez_JamesReviews]

Loved this video as I have learned the art of great shoe shine--for fantastic shoes the extra care goes along way. I now subscribed to Trenton and Heath.

[@jub62202]

Another home run. Thanks guys.

[@HookahBurdar]

I am a Spaniard living in Spain and I used Kiwi and then Meltonian and sometimes Tarrago and have been using Saphir products in the last 5 years or so. Saphir, and probably the French Famaco and the German Burgol creams and waxes are way superior to the cheaper alternatives. When I started using Saphir it seemed to me almost miraculous, particularly with well worn quality shoes that needed some reconditioning. The cheaper line of Saphir is also needed because it is produced in a way larger array of colours than the Medaille d’Or cream. It is also very good.

[@MarioGonzalez-sl1yi]

Great video, thanks for the upload! It answered alot of questions. Thanks again!

[@jasongriswold1784]

Thanks for doing the shoe shine vid! Was very informative. Thanks for taking request from your home studio tour. I noticed that!! 👍😁

[@The_Kavalier]

Always listening!

[@lackadaisicale492]

Short answer: HELL YES! I was very sceptical of Saphir as a knee jerk reaction to all the hype on KZbin, but once I did there was no doubt. It is a light year ahead of Kiwi and other normal products. Superior by far!

[@TruthFLA]

This was very useful to those of who are just starting out. Thank you.

[@JaymesLeavitt]

Nice interview, I really like Trenton and Heath they know a lot about shoes and are super craftsmen.

[@dosdandelions8879]

Thanks you. That really helps.

[@thomasward7782]

WOW Great Honest REVIEW Pro and Con Video , Thank You for all the Information...

[@Hamsterzilla1349]

Tarrago is actually now owned by... Avel, the mother company of Saphir. Though it's still made separately in Spain.

[@steverocksyo]

These guys are giants

[@Stan_sprinkle]

Yeah isn't in our good host like 6'3", these guys must be massive?

[@PrecisionAcc]

I think his chair is lower and farther back. He seems to be sitting on a stool (notice how his seat doesn't have a back rest)

[@steverocksyo]

@@PrecisionAcc its not only the height it's their size.

[@seventyfive1]

I came here to say this. Host is 6'4" and these guys must be like 7' tall, what the hell is in the water where this guy is at?

[@naegleriafowleri2230]

@@seventyfive1 he is small in musculature and bone mass like dude is 6'4 but has like 38 inch suit size? lol I'm 5'11 and my chest is like 42R and I don't even lift weights

[@septimus64]

I used to melt the kiwi parade gloss and it worked pretty good

[@KMaybach1]

Saphir Medaille d'Or is the best. Tried other high quality shoe polishes. Nothing comes close. Dries quickly, creates a beautiful depth and can be easily re-shined multiple times before another application of wax or cream is necessary. I know it sound like I am a spokesman. I can assure you I just really like their products.

[@chris425amp7]

Buying Algeria Luxury Leather #montebelluna handm3 an buying kiwi just isn't it lol. Or a nice Kangaroo Leather upper 😁

[@Chris_Davis_music]

Thanks, this was helpful!

[@matthoffman6962]

What about Allen Edmonds or brooks brothers shoe cream products? How would these be categorized??

[@metza4261]

I used kiwi for both bally and clarks.. did pretty well..

[@billk5864]

I don’t know much about shoe waxes/polishes, and I’ve never owned a 300 dollar pair of shoes; but I’ve used Kiwi on a pair of Florsheim shoes I bought new over 20 years ago, and they’re still in excellent condition.

[@nen_star]

Kiwi is better than nothing

[@ashleysaldanha6898]

I love Trent and heath . They've got an amazing channel !

[@TrentonHeath]

Ashley Saldanha Thank you!

[@bigjohnson9561]

I've been using Scout's Boot Cream on my exotic boots and it appears to do a good job. I'm thinking about trying out Saphire products on my exotic boots since I've paid good money for them. Thanks for posting.

[@rwanco01]

Loved the video! What jazz artist did you feature for the music in the background?

[@LittleKingUnderRoof]

Always love the dress shoe videos you do.

[@lullemans72]

i'm wondering, how does one distinguish between closed pore and open pore leather. is it just whether there's an existing shine, or something else too?

[@bravobear1844]

I used kiwi polish on my Allen Edmonds... the next thing I bough was saphir Reno Mat.. 😂 And like another comment said Kirby Allison does a lot of saphir vids, if you wanna know how to use it

[@TheVirtualStealth]

Is there significant difference in shelf life for any of these? Can any of these products be found on sale? Or is the price pretty consistent?

[@kikbob8766]

9:02 this is the information I was searching to find- thank you gentlemen!

[@pbp469]

Thanks for the video. I bought some Black Cherry Red Wing Beckmans. They appear to have sat in the sun. The color has faded a bit and on one boot more than the other. What suggestions do you have on Saphir products? I can't seem to find anything about the featherstone leather being open or closed pore. Thanks a bunch!

[@petem9392]

Informative in explaining what the difference between the saphire products are. I’ve recently got some higher end boots and been wondering about different products but the saphir website is a little confusing. They should explain the differences between their own products a bit better.

[@thatguythatdoesstuff7448]

I like Lincoln as well, but the stain-wax can be tough to buff off, especially the mid-tan for some reason. I get good results with it, but it takes really working it.

[@errolmacdonald3256]

7:12 You've just half-answered a question I have about a pair of Anthony Veers. But first, I find saddle soap, at least the brand I use (el Oso, from Mexico) does a great job of treating and shining my shoes. You should see the great finish I got on a slightly abused pair of Allen Edmonds Wilberts. But on the Veers it didn't condition, didn't penetrate at all. I did get a good shine, but it was all on top. Must be closed-pore leather. Plasticized? Is that what they do to get that permanent gloss?

[@donaldforsyth2986]

I went out and bought some saphir products and man does it smell good. But I found to my surprise that Kellys gave me a better shine.

[@DEN3366]

I personally don't like this Saphir cream, but love the renovatour, cordovan cream, and mirror shine.

[@devastatn]

I put a mirror shine on my army boots for years. In the 80's alot of us switched to Lincoln. Of course I've never had a shoe or boot worth more than 100 bucks. But I'm sure saphire is better for what it's for.

[@sandscythe57]

Jack Staten I would absolutely never use Saphir on my uniform boots or dress shoes. I, like you, switched rather quickly to Angelus (which is what I still use). I tried it a few times and sure the leather felt a lot more hydrated but the shine was no where near as durable as cheaper brands like Angelus simply due to the nature of what the boots are worn for. I do use Saphir on my hand made cowboy boots and it works great.

[@AverageNiceGuy]

Thank you gentlemen 😎

[@Jack-db5ur]

Hey Guys, what about a Japanese shoe polish called Bootblack, I am a long-time Saphir but was looking at the bootblack Silverline creams when I was in Japan and curious about that. Anyone here ever tried of them

[@nandoshinesasmr5214]

Great video, I use and have the three creams that I use on leather dress shoes. 👍🏼🌟👞❤️

[@kevink1595]

The only brand I use!!

[@mickeyfontanez2945]

Gentlemen I have two pairs of Beckett -Siminon whole cut shoes, should I get the saphir shoe polish?

[@cchubbycatt]

I have been using the Saphir black one and it is amazing. Also depends on the shoes. Some brands, whatever you do, nothing will work. After this video, I understand why. Thanks :)

[@Aljabeer2131]

I have recently purchased a pair of used cole haans and was looking to refurbish them. Does anyone know if the factory sheen discussed in this video can be removed without damaging the leather underneath? Can I remove it with acetone like other finishes? I would like to tone down the shoes to a more subdued finish Thanks

[@alio19]

Great job, guys can you write the names of the wax & cream polish, Please, Thanks

[@MrLilmac75]

I have a pair of Bates Durashock boots for police/security work. Should I be using the cream or wax polish for best shine?

[@toobalkain]

I've been using Saphir for years but while one can rely on their products to be consistently good, as far as basic shoe polish goes, I never found other well known brands, Collonil p.ex., to be any worse, if at all. Then I discovered Boot Black, Japanese makers of high tech shoecare products, very expensive but definitely a notch above Saphir or anyone else, the best possible ingredients such as those used in high end cosmetics, combined with technological advancements, their conditioners and waxes are amazing.

[@dianetraynere]

I watch your videos so I bought several Saphir Creme Surfine colors. For the life of me I cannot get the jars open. Help! Please advise.

[@HeldEd]

Is there any way to take care/protect a leather sole ? I got my Allen Edmonds and they are awesome but the sole it’s super worn down (that’s the point of the sole I know) but was wondering if there’s is any kind of protection that anyone would suggest adding to soles. Thanks !

[@ArchdukeJames]

I have a question: So, I have the Pommadier shoe polish in Burgundy/Bourdeaux. On two Allen Edmonds shoes, it's left a brownish discolouring and general splotchiness on the leathers. How do I avoid this consequence? I had to vigorously brush the shoes to be rid of this splotchiness. Could my jar be defective? I don't get this result with black, but it may not be noticable with black.

[@danielhakimi]

I would want to hear more about mid-tiers like Burgol, but this is helpful, thanks.

[@KMaybach1]

I still own a lot of Burgol/Siegol products. The Swiss manufacturer who produced it, renamed it to Siegol. However the Burgol brand still seems to be out there. Don't know who is producing it now? Nevertheless I completely switched to Saphir Medaille d'Or. I my point of view there product is vastly superior. From my personal experience, I can apply their cream and wax much more smoothly, it dries faster, therefore I need less time for my shoe care. I addition to my previous notes, I experienced that the shoes, where I applied Saphir on (and I also did some side by side comparison, the left shoe Burgol and the right one Saphir), hold the shine longer and I was able to repolish the shine much more easily. Something that might be interesting to you as well is that I noticed, that the leather where I applied the Saphir Medaille d'Or cream on became smoother and felt softer. Something I never noticed with Burgol. I hope this answers some of your questions.

[@angelabradley9815]

I have a pair of Vince brand "waterproof" leather boots. What is the best polish to use? I have the Saphir polish line.

[@zorancosic1237]

I love Kiwi period!

[@markg0410]

My local shoe shop (Mt. Lookout Shoes here in Cincinnati) told that Meltonian went out of business as a result of quality control issues. Does anyone know the details?

[@Andrew-bh5bw]

Neat video on something into which I previously didn't put much thought. I'll be sure to check out their channel. If I could, I have two questions for you, Jon. First, are you planning on doing a sort of polo round-up video, similar to the chino, shoe, and dress shirt round-ups that you've done? Polos are my favorite, but I'd like to hear your take on the brands out there. Also, what brands would you recommend for belts? I kind of want to get a few belts of different styles, but my top priority is making sure that I'm buying from a good company. Thank you, and again, great video guys!

[@The_Kavalier]

Hi Andrew, polo video is in the works! And yes a belt video would be good too. I get a lot of questions on those. A lot of great artisans making belts on Etsy at good prices

[@Andrew-bh5bw]

@@The_Kavalier That's great to hear! Thanks so much for your response.

[@micheljeanlitetdit994]

Interesting vid.

[@keithcollins5081]

Good day I live in new York city. Can you recommend a good cobbler in my city?

[@Gary-ib8dz]

What polish do you recommend for a waterproof boot (like the military or police would wear)? Is there any concern about choosing a polish that interferes with the waterproofing on the outside of a boot?

[@Gollammeister]

If you have £200 plus expensive leather footwear then yes I'd say you wanna use the most premium conditioner and polish to extend the longevity of the high qaulity leather But if your boots are just general knocking about travel footwear then I'd say a mid range conditioner will help in regards to leather cracking drying out lifespan

[@wt460]

I have most everything that Saphir sells, but I also like the Lincoln colored waxes.

[@rayms6823]

Hey can you do use the same Saphir shoe polish On a pair of black greats royale?

[@tulkastulkas9417]

please make review on famaco and burgol care products

[@luf2867]

i just bought some saphir polishes and balms to test and honestly whilst it is ok and better than some cheaper polishes i would say that i still prefer my own oil mix to condition the leather rather than the reno......saphir is ok but apart from the wax for mirror shine it is way over hyped imo.

[@dickiedollop]

I use Cherry Blossom products alongside Wren, Chelsea dubbin , Renapur balsam and finally Saphir as much as I prefer to buy British there is no doubting that Saphir is a first rate product and failsafe when it comes to treating your leather shoes, belts etc

[@fepatton]

Funny - the Lincoln shoe polish company has been right down the street from me my entire life (50+ years), and yet I've never seen it in stores here. They have a big sign on the side of their building on Central Expressway in Sunnyvale, CA. I've often wondered about it, though. :-)

[@92esco]

Tell me your thoughts on cobblers choice cream

[@easyengrave1649]

How long does a jar last, if opened but lid closed, in years?

[@Gollammeister]

I just use kiwi polish saddle soap and cadillac leather conditioner does the job just fine

[@voicedify]

After I started using Saphir, I never went back. It's more expensive, but depending on your budget and your needs it's worth it.

[@Pshpshpshpshpshpshpsh]

Can we talk more about the blue label? Like how is it when compared to the medialle d’or?

[@Sams911]

my Gaziano & Girling Bespoke boots, my Eremengildo Zegna, and Kiton sneakers ... only Saphir... nothing else!

[@ginnysimpson5232]

Can you remove the finish off closed pore shoe.

[@ottohesslein3230]

Shining my shoes has basically become my zen. It's like walking the labyrinth. Therapeutic. Like playing catch with the baseball. There's a rhythm to it that you can get lost in. I appreciate the education on quality.

[@geechrammstein]

Everyone watching this is probably going to be like "heretic", but I have a lot of pairs of Doc Martens and I use the Wonder Shoe Balsam on them whenever I go out and it puts a decent short lived shine on them, but sometimes I would like to make them shine just a little better. Would the Saphir high end stuff work well on them ?

[@montroelectric9840]

Are thursday boots leather open poures or close

[@vidster7]

Really worth it

[@roshanbagga1401]

What should I get for meermin?

[@Cyberslug1]

You have had some good shoes on your channel but only a few of my favorites. Review some of these: Cobbler Union, Herring Shoes, and Crockett and Jones

[@The_Kavalier]

Those are high on my list!

[@andrewwilliams2353]

To each his own and I don't doubt for a minute that you gents now your stuff. However, a few years ago I was in Crockett & Jones's original shop down the west end of Jermyn Street buying their Snowdon model veltschoen boots (highly recommended by the way). I was wearing the C & J Boston model penny loafers. The salesman, who has seen it all by now, good, bad and ugly was nearly in ecstasies over the finish on my well worn in loafers. "how do you get them to look so good" "Come and see these to a colleague, or words to that effect. My reply was brief and to the point "Kiwi dark tan". 'Nuff said ? That was about 10 years ago. The loafers were about 6 years old at that time. I still wear them frequently and they still look great. As a PS. Crockett's are the only shoes I can walk around London in all day without being crippled - I can't justify the expense of a visit o Lobb yet !!

[@adamcohen2632]

I alternate cream and wax. I really like Lincoln Stain Wax.

[@locutusdborg126]

We wear the exact same size down the line, like 30-34, but I am only 6' tall. Interesting.

[@wdstauter8429]

Are you familiar with Pure Polish? Any thoughts?

[@melissarmt7330]

So what would you recommend for Clark's and Rockport's?

[@bearblackhawk9362]

I recommend- buy a better shoe. Lol.

[@kennydesai7802]

What did people use for good shoe care before Saphir? And are there NO other products of equal or comparable quality ? Recently saw another video about making your own polish with beeswax and carnauba wax and pigment, oils etc. How about suggesting some viable cheaper alternatives ? A jar of Saphir costs more, sometimes, than a pair of shoes by some of the prestigious brands in India!

[@ianturnbow7011]

Mink oil is tried and true for conditioning leather, but it can darken lighter shades.

[@ThePiantanida31]

The first time I used Saphir, it entered my Top 5 favorite smells of all time.

[@duc696monster6]

HG does a 4 in 1 leather conditioning lotion, cheap as chips, best thing I ever used.. saphir and all the others you just pay for the name, not for the quality...

[@polanialmoni6274]

For smooth leather boots, what are the proper steps and products? Are those right? 1.clean 2.renovateur conditioner 3.colored medaille d'or 1925 beeswax cream. 4.medaille d'or wax. 5.mirror gloss wax on hard parts. 6.finish with water resistant spray.

[@Weezulguy]

Which one for the hair jobs?

[@joemazloom7664]

I just bought some meltonian on Amazon

[@gritsteel4559]

Saphir is not necessarily for "high-end" (i.e. expensive) shoes, but shoes in general with good quality open leather, like those from other countries where production costs are much lower. As for US brands, I even use them on my $100 Clarks :)

[@ron56pvi13]

I have to tell this story. Back in '72 when I was in boot camp we had a guy from Texas who had tattooed on his forehead '.A.' That's it. I felt sorry for him because of the way he bore the brunt of jokes and also the way he was tricked. One day he asked why our shoes were so shiny while his were so dull. He was told to apply the polish and set it on fire with lighter fluid for a minute before buffing. His shoes looked great until the second week marching across the hot July grinder at Great Lakes when one day his shoe stitching failed and separated from his shoe. Of course he looked way out of sync in a flop footed way. I have never been so embarrassed for anyone in my life until a guy on our destroyer was convinced that the only way to get rid of the clap without going to sick bay was to put your (expletive deleted) in a cup of gasoline. Of course, that Rhodes Scholar got a medical discharge while the rest of us had to serve.

[@leonpse]

You are 6’ 4”, then how tall are Trent and Heath?

[@7Watt7]

I’d love to see a pure polish products review all natural products out of Oregon

[@paulstanley8088]

I threw my open pores shoes in the trash even though they were expensive. If shoes look matte when you buy them, either love the look or keep looking.

[@elisecampbell7830]

What would you recommend for covering up scuffs on closed pore leather?