Seidel WeatherShield Black Smooth

At 7-8 ounces in thickness, the leather maintains the substantial weight characteristic of all WeatherShield Smooth variants while the black color provides versatility across work, tactical, and heritage boot applications. The color is available at no additional charge and represents one of two standard color options for this specialized water-resistant leather.

WeatherShield Black Smooth maintains the 7-8 ounce full-grain steer hide specifications inherent to all WeatherShield Smooth leathers, translating to approximately 2.8-3.2 millimeters in thickness. This substantial weight makes the leather approximately three times thicker than typical dress shoe leather and nearly twice the industry standard thickness for boot uppers.

The black pigmentation is applied during the tanning process before the silicone treatment, ensuring consistent color throughout the grain surface. The combination of black pigment and silicone impregnation creates a surface that repels water while maintaining the classic appearance of black leather work boots.

The silicone treatment creates a hydrophobic layer on the grain surface, causing water to bead and roll off rather than penetrating the leather. This water-repelling characteristic is present only on the smooth grain side, which is why WeatherShield Smooth is available only in smooth-side-out configuration.

The full-grain construction preserves the hide's natural fiber structure, providing the strength and durability required for demanding work boot applications. The substantial thickness combined with the grain-intact structure creates a leather that resists punctures, abrasions, and the wear patterns typical of daily work boot use.

Seidel Tanning Corp. produces WeatherShield Black Smooth at their Milwaukee, Wisconsin facility as part of their exclusive partnership with Nicks Handmade Boots. The tannery's specialization in heavy-duty work boot leathers and fourth-generation family ownership provides the technical foundation for developing this specialized water-resistant material.

The production begins with full-grain steer hide that undergoes tanning to achieve the target 7-8 ounce weight. Black pigmentation is applied during the tanning stages to achieve deep, consistent coloring throughout the grain surface. Following color application, the leather receives silicone impregnation treatment that saturates the grain surface with silicone solution.

This silicone treatment differentiates WeatherShield from standard oil-tanned leathers produced by Seidel. While traditional oil tanning provides natural water resistance through oil content, the silicone impregnation creates a more aggressive hydrophobic barrier specifically engineered for applications requiring maximum moisture protection.

The silicone impregnation makes WeatherShield Black Smooth more water-resistant than typical oil-tanned leathers. Water contacts the treated grain surface and beads immediately, rolling off the leather rather than soaking in or darkening the material. This characteristic makes the leather suitable for work environments where water exposure is frequent and prolonged.

The black color provides practical advantages in wet work environments, as water spotting and temporary darkening effects visible on lighter leathers are not apparent on the black surface. The leather maintains its consistent black appearance even when wet, returning to its dry state appearance without visible water marks.

The heavy 7-8 ounce weight complements the silicone treatment by providing substantial material thickness that adds an additional barrier against moisture penetration. This combination of chemical water resistance and physical thickness makes WeatherShield Black Smooth appropriate for the most demanding wet-weather work boot applications.

Nicks Handmade Boots incorporates WeatherShield Black Smooth across multiple boot models where maximum water resistance and black color aesthetics align with the intended use case. The WaterWork boot represents the primary application, designed specifically as Nicks' most water-resistant work boot option with WeatherShield Smooth as the featured leather.

The Tactical boot uses WeatherShield Black Smooth for law enforcement and military applications where water resistance and low-visibility black color are both priorities. The Gamebreaker, Ridgeline, and Overlander models offer WeatherShield Black Smooth as an option for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts who require water resistance in field conditions.

The Heritage Work Belt is available in WeatherShield finish, allowing coordination with WeatherShield Black Smooth boots for a matched leather goods aesthetic. The belt application demonstrates the leather's versatility beyond footwear while maintaining the water-resistance characteristics.

All applications feature the smooth-side-out configuration exclusively, as the water-repelling properties exist only on the silicone-treated grain surface. The leather is compatible with Goodyear welt construction methods used throughout Nicks' product line, ensuring the boots can be resoled repeatedly throughout their service life.

The silicone impregnation makes WeatherShield Black Smooth unsuitable for traditional leather conditioning methods. The silicone treatment creates a barrier that prevents standard leather conditioners and oils from penetrating the grain surface effectively. Applying typical boot oils or conditioners may result in surface residue without actually conditioning the leather structure.

The water-resistant properties mean the leather requires less frequent maintenance than untreated leathers, as moisture resistance prevents the drying effects that typically necessitate conditioning. The black color also masks the subtle drying indicators visible on lighter leathers, though the leather should be monitored for any signs of surface cracking or stiffness that would indicate the need for specialized care.

When cleaning is necessary, the hydrophobic surface allows water and mild soap to be used for removing dirt and debris without the leather absorbing excessive moisture. The leather should be allowed to air dry naturally away from direct heat sources.

WeatherShield Black Smooth shares identical material specifications, manufacturing process, and water resistance properties with WeatherShield Brown Smooth. The only difference between the variants is the color pigmentation applied during tanning, with the choice between black and brown typically determined by aesthetic preference and the intended use context.

Black provides more formal appearance suitable for tactical and law enforcement applications, while also offering practical advantages in hiding scuffs and wear marks. The black color maintains consistent appearance across varied lighting conditions and does not show the color variation patterns typical of brown leathers as they age.

Both colors are available at no additional charge, allowing customers to select based purely on aesthetic and practical preferences without cost considerations influencing the decision.

WeatherShield Smooth. "/seidel/weathershield-smooth". Patina Project Wiki. Retrieved October 20, 2025.

Nicks Handmade Boots. "Work Leather Guide". Retrieved October 20, 2025.

Nicks Handmade Boots. "WaterWork Boot Configuration". Retrieved October 20, 2025.

Nicks Handmade Boots. "Heritage Work Belt - WeatherShield Brown". Retrieved October 20, 2025.