There are tons of waterproofing shoe care products on the market today. Lots of makers offer something, and all these spray cans differ in our experience.

Out of the many Saphir products, the Super Invulner spray is one of our popular so we wanted to give it a deep dive. This should help you decide if this is the product for you.

 

 

What Is It?

 

Super Invulner Spray is a highly-concentrated water repellent containing fluoridated resin. This resin is what give it is water repelling properties.

This is different from many other waterproofing sprays. Most contain silicone. Invulner is a unique product because it doesn't. Since it's formulated without silicone, it is much more gentle.

It's contains solvents that aren't greasy or aggressive. This avoids damaging or discolouring fragile surfaces. The exact make up of the spray is a secret kept at Saphir. Like all Saphir products, it is made in France.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Is It useful?

 

 

This formulation creates a hydrophobic barrier on whatever you use it on. Hydrophobic is a fancy was of saying waterproof.

This means it protects against rain, snow, dirt, grease, food, and drink stains. Almost all liquids you will run into are water based, so this repels them all. The last thing you want is a few drops of your coffee to stain your suede loafers when you're rushing to the office.

In many colder climates cities will salt their streets to improve traction on the ice. While this can make driving easier, it is a well known nightmare for shoes. The melted ice absorbs the salt, which inevitably makes it way onto your footwear. This leads to unsightly and problematic salt stains. This is a great way to help prevent that, not only for suede but for smooth leather as well.

What's also amazing about this special formula is its versatility.

Super Invulner Spray can be used on any type of leather shoe or other leather goods.

 

Smooth leather, nappa, box calf (calf skin), veal, suede and nubuck. It is also suitable for cotton, fabric, silk, tex material, or any textile.

We primarily use it for footwear, since it can be used on any type of shoe. However this stain protector spray can be used on anything. Wonderful for leather jackets and handbags! Especially products made out of suede or nubuck. The nap of suede and nubuck hold onto the spray well. The also can't be polished like smooth leather so preventing dirt stains in the first place is important.

 

It's also suitable for use on the most expensive and delicate materials such as silk. And any textile in between, such as linen, cotton, or wool. Think of it as a more premium formulated Scotchgard.

So that means you can give some of your favourite ties a coating (like above, coffee has a magical way of making its way onto your tie!). If you frequently walk to work, applying some to the back of the legs of your pants can help prevent water stains.

 

 

 

How To Use

 

 

Saphir Invulner is a spray that is sprayed onto whatever you want to protect. For optimal protection, treat your shoe, boot, or other items regularly. The effects of it wear off over time.

It is hard to say how often that is. Everyone's wearing habits and climates are different. When you feel it's wearing off, re-apply. We usually do so 3-6 times a year.

Re-apply after exposure to the elements. They can cause your coating to wear off prematurely. This is the case if you get caught in the rain or hike through heavy snow. Very light exposure isn't a concern.

This waterproofing spray offers superior protection compared to related products given it's slow drying silicone-free formula. This means you have to plan a bit in advance. We find it is best if you let the application dry overnight before wearing.

1. Carefully brush the item to remove dirt and dust. If necessary, clean it before with the appropriate product from the Saphir range. You don't want to lock in any dirt present. (If you're using this on shoes, insert a shoe tree before proceeding.)

 

 

 

2. Shake the can of Super Invulner before use.

 

3. Hold the can 20 cm away from the item and spray in a well-ventilated area. Do not saturate the item. It's hard to over saturate it. Try and get a nice even coat over your entire item.

 

 

 

 

4. Leave to dry for 30 minutes at a minimum. If you want to apply more than one coat, allow 30-60 minutes between coats. We recommend allowing your shoe/item to dry overnight before using.

 

That's it. Not only does this product offer superior resistance to the elements, it's also very easy to use. We recommend using this spray last in your care routine. This should always be the final step. If you have any cleaning, conditioning, etc. to perform, do those steps first.