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Renboots with example cleaning tools Autumn has arrived, bringing with it colder air, shorter days, and the lull of Renaissance events across the United States. While a few wintery events spring their way through the snows here and there, a majority of vendors and event organizers take the late fall and winter months to shut down, recoup from the busy year, and begin plans for the next year's flurry of activities. We (Kommando Kilts/Renboots) are no different, taking stock of inventory, getting schedules in place for next year, and allowing time off for our [very exhausted] workers to spend some uninterrupted peace at home with family and friends! But, what do you do as a faire-goer? Do you also plan for next year's schedule of events? Make a plan of what garb to get, where the gaps in your armor need to be filled? Or, more than likely, find that you need to make repairs to your torn dress or clean your dusty leather boots? If you're in the cleaning mindset, we can help you - with the leather boots, at least! Why is it important to keep your leather cleaned, you may ask. Well, while we assure you that true leather is forever, its durability doesn't magically happen on its own (although we wish it did). Leather, although tough and durable, can be susceptible to the elements, and without the proper maintenance or care techniques, will decay over time with not much hope of recovery. We take pride on our leather products, but highly encourage you to maintain your leather boots, shoes, pouches, or whatever you may purchase from us, so you can ensure your investment does, indeed, last a lifetime. So, where to begin with leather care? It's not as simple as using hand soap, but it's also not complex as some may think. We have a full guide available for step-by-step cleaning instructions, to include what items and tools you'll need, but here's a quick summary of what proper care entails: 1) Materials typically needed are an old or ragged (but clean) cloth, horsehair brushes, clean dry and wet rags, saddle soap, small applicator brush, and of course leather conditioner and polish/wax. 2) Throughout the process, you'll be doing a lot of brush, wipe, apply, dry, repeat for each type of soap/conditioner/wax application. This process takes time, and should not be rushed to meet a deadline. Without proper drying time for each application, the leather can become scuffed or marred in quite an unflattering look, and can cause discomfort for your feet. 3) If you really insist on doing the minimum, at least apply a conditioner to keep the leather supple and hydrated. Once leather goes dry and starts to crack, there is nothing that can fix it, and you'll need to replace your item(s). 4) We recommend a deep clean at least once a year, or every 3 months if you wear your boots and shoes for daily wear or wore them through harsh weather or terrain. For the full guide, we have our steps posted here: Leather Care - Renboots For our signature polish to match your leather colors, buy here: We've had a great time seeing you all this past season, and we can't wait for the fun to be had next year! Huzzah!

A special Halloween edition of our best-selling Autumn Aldo Pouch It's that time of year again! The pumpkins are drained of their spices for lattes and pies, the bats and spiders suddenly want to be in daylight and take up precious house space without paying rent, and a myriad of costumes and candies make themselves VERY known as soon as you walk through the department store. But, it wasn't always this way. Long ago in the Celtic lands of old, Halloween, or Samhain, was a revered time of the year, filled with the sounds of harvest, joyous praise around bonfires, and humbled whispers to the souls of the dead hovering so close to The Veil... Pronounced as "SAH-win" or "SOW-win" in most Gaelic tongues, Samhain is a festival that occurs from sunset on October 31st and continues all day on November 1st, while also marking the halfway point between the autumn equinox and winter solstice. It is part of the four-festival Pagan calendar (aside from equinox/solstice) to accompany Imbolc (February), Beltane (May), and Lughnasadh (August). Samhain is widely believed to have Celtic Pagan origins, with beliefs and traditions centering around the idea that The Veil, that which divides the physical world from the spirit world, is at its thinnest, allowing the living to "greet" the dead of loved ones, ancestors, and friendly fae. Celebrations would involve the gathering of bountiful harvests and livestock, preparations for the longer and colder nights ahead, as well as special bonfires that would be lit to cleanse and protect the living from any dark or evil spirts that came through The Veil unbidden. Masks or costumes would be worn to "hide" the living from such dreadful beings. As with most Pagan traditions, this was soon associated with Christian practices, becoming known as All Saints Day, with All Souls Day directly following on November 2nd. In addition, October 31st later became known as All Hallow's Day, with All Hallow's Eve being October 30th. How we know Halloween today started around the 19th century, when mass Irish and Scottish immigrants came to America and shared their traditions wherever they settled down. The earliest known occurrence of costuming and trick-or-treating is in 1898 in British Columbia, Canada, with the phrase itself first recorded in 1917 in Ontario, Canada. From the 1930s onwards, the tradition of trick-or-treating in various and spooky guises spread like wildfire across the United States, and to say that "sounds pretty sweet" is probably an understatement. Fun fact: In 2025, it is estimated that consumers will spend almost $4,000,000,000 ($4bil) on even more billions of pounds of candy, all for one night! So there you have it, a brief overview of why we get all dressed up, go out and speak to strangers we would otherwise never see, get free candy, and then get a stomachache over eating or drinking too much for our sweet tooth. But beware, while you're "ghouling" it up, make sure you don't have the wrong spirit follow you back home... Or, it could have been just the wind that brushed your hair when you walked past that cemetery... Happy Halloween, and Blessed Samhain to all who celebrate! Need a bit of fall to accompany you everywhere? See our collection of Autumn Aldos !

Ah, whisky, one of the most recognizable and highly respected spirits around the world. Whether you're an enthusiast of bourbon, scotch, rye, or another variety, there is no denying the allure and attraction those small pools of golden amber provoke. When one starts to delve into the history of whisky, there is also no surprise as to what brought about the passion and reverence over a simple thing as a dram. Distilling can be traced back as far as the Islamic Golden Age in the Middle East (700s - 1200s). During this time, scholars practiced "alchemy" with early versions of alembic stills for extracting essential oils, to eventually include ethanol. In fact, "alcohol" is derived from the Arabic word "al-kuhl", a fine powder used in medicine and cosmetics in the day. As trade and the Crusades expanded to Europe, knowledge of such practices sparked a new interest and intrigue within monastic communities. Under the vows of order, silence, and devotion, the monks embraced distillation as a contemplative practice, creating medicinal elixirs known as aqua vitae, or the "water of life", to use in healing practices and spiritual rites. The earliest known record of whisky distillation in Scotland appears in the Exchequer Rolls of 1494, which state the supply of eight bolls (or 1500 bottles) of malt to a monk at Lindores Abbey in Fife for use in making aqua vitae. However, long before these official records, it was known that monks had already brought their skills and knowledge for such techniques to Ireland and Scotland, adapting to local grains and conditions to better suit their products. While Henry VIII was parting ways with Rome, monks had to find new ways of making a living in new areas away from their monastic homelands, sometimes generating income secretly with the aid of farmers, rebels, and artisans. During the following centuries a kind of "catch me if you can" game developed between distillers and government regulators, for Parliament came to recognize the importance and popularity of whisky and therefore implemented various taxes and regulations - much to the disagreement of many Highland communities, who viewed the practice as a part of cultural history and heritage. Modern distilling practices and whisky production are certainly miles ahead of the old ways, in both terms of legal acceptance and technological advancement. But don't assume that's across the board: There are plenty of distilleries that have embraced and continued the traditions of old, never losing the timeless embodiment of inspiration despite today's regulations. Throughout the process, the "heart" of the distillate is often referred to as the "soul" of the spirit, with casks imparting their unique "personality" into the liquid. And of course, certainly not the last nor least, the grain is the "essence" that serves as the foundation for all whiskies, shaping the final profile of the bottle that sits on your shelf. So, go on, have another dram, and enjoy what centuries of hard work, passion, and pride have crafted for your enjoyment. Want your whisky with you, or want to be prepared for the next whisky tasting at our showroom? Peruse our line of whisky-holding containers so you're never left out to dry!