Leather boots are expensive and a good, well-worn, comfortable pair of boots is hard to replace. Over time, they inevitably will suffer the signs of your love. Accidents or just continuous use can cause holes or tears -- defeating one of the main benefits of leather boots, which is to keep feet dry and protected. Instead of throwing away that great pair of boots, repair them effectively and easily with a leather patch. Patches and glues are typically sold together in leather repair kits. It is important that the leather is clean before patching to ensure adequate adhesion of the patch glue.

Clean the boots with a damp rag. For more sullied boots, use a leather cleaner and conditioner. Allow the boots to dry completely before applying the patch.

Cut a piece of leather patch so it is a bit larger than the hole or tear.

Apply an even layer of adhesive to the patch.

Affix the patch to the hole or tear. Place the patch inside the shoe or, if possible, between the leather and the interior lining. This way, the patch will not be visible from the outside. If the patch cannot be placed behind the leather, place it on the exterior of the boot.

Apply pressure to the patch for 20 to 30 seconds.

Fill in the remaining gap with the leather repair compound. Force it into the gap and smooth it down, using the small spreading knife (the compound and knife should come in the repair kit). Repair compound dries flexible and typically is transparent, although some repair kits offer colored compounds for matching the footwear in question.

Allow the adhesive and compound to cure according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Spray a leather grain spray or a leather spray color that matches your boots if needed to blend the texture or color in the patched area. Some repair kits offer texture papers that can be pressed over the drying compound to emboss the area with a matching texture.