In the rise of shoe care and shoe refurbishment, we often come to the comparison of Saphir vs Paul Brunngard. So, in today’s post/video, we look at two of the top shoe conditioners of the shoe care industry, both of which I use and love: Saphir Renovateur and Paul Brunngard Reviving Cream.
Often we focus on comparing brands to arrive at ‘the best’ but I often find that there really is no ‘best’ at the top when it comes to shoe care. The idea of Saphir vs Paul Brunngard should not be looked at as which is better but rather how can they fit into my shoe rotation for their specific strengths. Different products will arrive at the same results and do so equally well. More often than not, they will be different in their functionality which in the end arrives at the same results but maybe one product is better for a certain type of leather vs the other.
Saphir Renovateur
Pros:
- Concentrated – a little goes a long way
- Deep Penetration ‘through’ the leather
- Highly absorbing/rejuvenating
- Can really transform a beat-up shoe into something more presentable
- Easy to spread as is dense
Cons:
- Can strip finish if not careful/know what you are doing
- Some consider it harsh due to the above
- Can stain certain leathers
- Can be seen as pricey
Paul Brunngard Reviving Cream
Pros:
- Applies easily without stripping the finish
- Can be used across many leathers as not overly concentrated
- Brings up a nice gleam on the leather
- Good size bottle for the price
Cons:
- Not as concentrated so have to apply more for deep penetration
- Due to being more liquidy, can easily overapply
- The above can cause oversoaking of leather if not careful
Comparing the two shoe conditioners, the overall takeaway is that the Reviving Cream is lighter and can be applied more easily without as much thought. It is not as concentrated as Renovateur is. On the flip side, I find that the Renovateur being more concentrated works well when your shoes are quite beat up and really need deep conditioning. So, they have their trade-offs.
Watch the video to learn more about Saphir vs Paul Brunngard!
Find the Paul Brunngard Products here: https://arterton.co.uk/paul_brunngard_tss
Find the Saphir Products here: https://saphir.com/
—Justin FitzPatrick, The Shoe Snob
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