Kiwi polish vs. Lincoln polish

[AngelWings]

Does anyone have any opinion on which is better? I am in need of a new pair of uniform dress shoes and want to get the best shine I can on them for a few events coming up that'll be in uniform for.

[Flying Pig]

Kiwi runs in my veins.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Lincoln is not very good stuff IMPO. It has stuff in it that I don't want on my leather. If you are getting new low quarters I would just get coroframs. They are as high gloss as a pair of shoes can get.

On my boots, I only use kiwi, and I get a real nice shine, I have even used parade gloss and other products trying to get the best shine possible but nothing beats the good shine kiwi gets after working with it.

[lordmonar]

I have not used either on my low quarrters for quite some time.

I buy Corfams..

Having said that.....I like Lincon better the Kiwi....but it is six of one half dozen of the other for the most part.

[Майор Хаткевич]

I always used Kiwi. Didn't like Lincoln the one time I used it.

But if this is for dress shoes...spend the extra 10-20 bucks for a pair of corfams.

[MIKE]

Leather shoes are actually more expensive than Corfams IIRC.  I buy leather shoes because I can fix them with polish when I scuff them.  I use Kiwi Parade Gloss because it is available locally.

[Flying Pig]

I have not used either on my low quarrters for quite some time.

I buy Corfams..

Having said that.....I like Lincon better the Kiwi....but it is six of one half dozen of the other for the most part.

You can log-off now.....

[SarDragon]

I live and die by Kiwi.

I don't recommend Corfams for cadets, because of the care issues. I also don't believe that, for most situations, you really and truly need a shine on your shoes that you can use for a shaving mirror. I have a pair of leather low quarters that I've had for several years, which I only wear for CAP.

They shine nicely, but it's not a spit shine. A little polish, applied with the little brush in the Kiwi kit, a few strokes with the big brush after the polish has had a chance to dry, and a quick buff with the fluffy cloth, and they are ready.

IMHO, Parade Gloss is an abomination, but that's just one person's opinion. YMMV.

[manfredvonrichthofen]

Parade gloss is junk to me too. But you can get an almost coroframs shine on leather with regular kiwi cotton balls and water... Stay away from the lighter until someone can really show you how it's done.

[AngelWings]

I have corframs, and when they didn't have scuffs, they looked amazing. I'm just unimpressed with how poorly they handle light scuffs. They look awful now and I can't figure out a way to get the scuffs off them. Plus the toe area got beat up and now have no shine what so ever. I want leather because I can simply just polish over the scuffs. If I had the money, I'd purchase a pair of corframs and a pair of leather.

So far it looks like Kiwi is everyone's choice.

[AngelWings]

Parade gloss is junk to me too. But you can get an almost coroframs shine on leather with regular kiwi cotton balls and water... Stay away from the lighter until someone can really show you how it's done.

I learned the lighter trick and that's how I got my boots to shine real nicely. I do a lot of polishing, but have instinctly gone for Kiwi because that's what my dad has been using since he was a kid (he's old )

[abdsp51]

I use Kiwi for my base coats and then Lincoln, shined up great and stayed that way.  If I really wanted to impress I used the Hi-Gloss sponge across it real quick.  Either or I would say I have used both and prefer the results I get with Lincoln.

[PHall]

I have corframs, and when they didn't have scuffs, they looked amazing. I'm just unimpressed with how poorly they handle light scuffs. They look awful now and I can't figure out a way to get the scuffs off them. Plus the toe area got beat up and now have no shine what so ever. I want leather because I can simply just polish over the scuffs. If I had the money, I'd purchase a pair of corframs and a pair of leather.

So far it looks like Kiwi is everyone's choice.

My current set of Corframs are 10 years old and they still look good.
Some Pledge to keep the uppers clean and shiny and a toothbrush and some Kiwi Edge Dressing keeps the rest of the shoe looking good.
Of course not tripping over your own feet helps too!

[jeders]

Of course not tripping over your own feet helps too!

This is the most important tip, and is why most cadets probably shouldn't invest in corframs, at least not right off.

I had a pair that lasted for about 10 years, until one day the soles started to disintegrate. Fortunately I had a pair of regular low quarters shined up and ready to go since I was headed to a CAP meeting.

[Private Investigator]

Veterans should know this. Kiwi was available at west coast PXs and Lincoln available at east coast PXs. Or at least on Marine Corps Bases.   

[SarDragon]

Well, I've been buying shoe polish since 1964, and I've seen Kiwi available on every base I've been on - from ME to CA to FL to AK to Japan, and a few in between. That includes Navy, AF, Army, and Marine bases. As for Lincoln, y'all can have my share.

[bflynn]

I've only ever used Kiwi and never knew there was anything else.

BTW, as someone who did some inspections in the military, I'll confess that I'm throughly unimpressed with corframs.  I'd rather see a so-so shine on leather shoes than plastic shoes.

[MIKE]

IMHO, Parade Gloss is an abomination, but that's just one person's opinion. YMMV.

I haven't had any issues with it and I've used it both with and without silicone applied with an old t-shirt.

[Camas]

I've only ever used Kiwi and never knew there was anything else. BTW, as someone who did some inspections in the military, I'll confess that I'm throughly unimpressed with corframs.  I'd rather see a so-so shine on leather shoes than plastic shoes.

I stay with Kiwi; it works well. And yes, I come from a time in the military when you either shined your shoes or you didn't.  Wearing corfams is just cheating.

[Walkman]

I switched from Kiwi to Lincoln about a year ago. I was having trouble with getting some dry flaking around the creases on my instep. With Lincoln, there's no flaking and I can get a very nice polish much faster than with Kiwi. Never tried Parade Gloss, as several people recommended against it.

My 2¢.

[Eclipse]

I wear Corfams with dress uniforms.

I used Kiwi when I still shined boots, now I wear flat-black tac boots and use Doc. Baileys.

[Spaceman3750]

I wear Corfams with dress uniforms.

I used Kiwi when I still shined boots, now I wear flat-black tac boots and use Doc. Baileys.

Doc Baileys?

My field boots could probably use cleaned and polished again.

[Eclipse]

https://www.leatherclear.com/cgi-bin/store/pid_01.htm

https://www.leatherclear.com/cartimages/product/leather-black.jpg

Awesome stuff, and a bottle lasts forever.  The motto on the bcak of my bottle is "The less you use, the better it gets..."

I bought one at the bike show about 8 yeas ago and probably still have 1/3 left. Goes on with a sponge, dries in minutes, puts a nice even color on the leather and even the edges.  Helps a bit with waterproofing as well.

Full disclosure:  I swear by this stuff for flat-finish boots, but I have personally never used it on anything like a seat, couch, or jacket, so I can't
speak to using it like that.

[niferous]

I use Kiwi and can get my boots as shiny as the corfam shoes. I posted some pics on here a while back.  I've never tried Lincoln.

[titanII]

I was having trouble with getting some dry flaking around the creases on my instep.

Hmmm, I have the same trouble with my shoes. I might have to look into getting a tub o' Lincoln.

[rustyjeeper]

I have corframs, and when they didn't have scuffs, they looked amazing. I'm just unimpressed with how poorly they handle light scuffs. They look awful now and I can't figure out a way to get the scuffs off them. Plus the toe area got beat up and now have no shine what so ever. I want leather because I can simply just polish over the scuffs. If I had the money, I'd purchase a pair of corframs and a pair of leather.

So far it looks like Kiwi is everyone's choice.

Kiwi is the best.....IMHO
since you recently became a flight sergeant have those corfams recently been somewhere where the sun doesnt shine to become scuffed suddenly???   

[AngelWings]

I have corframs, and when they didn't have scuffs, they looked amazing. I'm just unimpressed with how poorly they handle light scuffs. They look awful now and I can't figure out a way to get the scuffs off them. Plus the toe area got beat up and now have no shine what so ever. I want leather because I can simply just polish over the scuffs. If I had the money, I'd purchase a pair of corframs and a pair of leather.

So far it looks like Kiwi is everyone's choice.

Kiwi is the best.....IMHO
since you recently became a flight sergeant have those corfams recently been somewhere where the sun doesnt shine to become scuffed suddenly???   

Maybe............................... 

[SarDragon]

Flakes = too much polish. Don't use so much on the flexy areas.

[titanII]

Flakes = too much polish. Don't use so much on the flexy areas.

Wilco

[Майор Хаткевич]

Flakes = too much polish. Don't use so much on the flexy areas.

Wilco

VERY Good advice...

It's been a few years since I've shined boots (college does that!), and when I got some new Bates shoes, I wanted to just get a base coat on them. Not only did I screw it up...I wasn't even able to get anywhere NEAR my old shines...a shame.

[bflynn]

Keep practicing, it will come back.  Shining shoes is a good skill to have.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Keep practicing, it will come back.  Shining shoes is a good skill to have.

Not really. Had I spent more time doing PT rather than shinning shoes in front of the 'tube, maybe I would have made it past my Earhart.

[bflynn]

Yes - but what does your earhart do for you after you're 18?

Shining shoes - you'll do it all your life, you can judge a man by his shoes.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Yes - but what does your earhart do for you after you're 18?

Shining shoes - you'll do it all your life, you can judge a man by his shoes.

In my chosen field it's more about the brand and quality as opposed to the shine...

[jeders]

Yes - but what does your earhart do for you after you're 18?

Shining shoes - you'll do it all your life, you can judge a man by his shoes.

In my chosen field it's more about the brand and quality as opposed to the shine...

In pretty much every field.