Originally Posted by
acantor
I hope I am not ruining my Brooks saddle. I have never treated it with anything, and store it in an outdoor shed all winter. In the rain, I cover it with a shower cap, although I forgot one time and the saddle got very wet. I let it dry out for a day or two, and it was fine.
The saddle is starting its fourth season, looks almost new, has kept its shape, and is comfortable.
Brooks saddles are pretty tough, and you can certainly let them go a long time without treatment. I've had one Brooks that was in storage for years, and I brought it out and rehabbed it, and it's fine. I've also bought one used that apparently hadn't been touched in years, and it's OK too (took a bit of riding to bring it back). But mine(I take care of 3) do better if I do something close to what Brooks recommends -- a bit of Proofhide or the equivalent (I use Obenhauf's becuase it's a bit cheaper, but as noted -- a little bit goes a long way).