Long leather officer boots... Dubbin or polish?

Heh, then I'll answer. My experience is that it is best not to use dubbin on riding boots - the stickiness remaining precludes getting a good polish with black boot polish afterwards. However, if the boots are not for parade/strutting then black dubbin will both waterproof and fill in cuts/scratches from skirmishing - and it will look fine. You can buff them up to a shine but not mirror gloss. Chelsea dubbin (both clear and black) is 'light' and absorbs well others like Nikwax seem to be stiffer and while the seal well they end up fairly matt. As always, for both boot polishing or dubbing, do it in a warm environment. With boot polish apply polish then set boots aside for half an hour or more to let the solvents evaporate, then buff up.

Don't put neatsfoot on the soles - I've tried that and it makes the leather soft which is not what you want on soles (it will look like sandpaper as gravel becomes embeded). No, use clear dubbin (or I suppose black dubbin if that is all you have) which will seal the surface and any stitching/nail holes etc. Keep neatsfoot for softening old/dry/hard leather only.

Thanks so much for the response.. I knew you would have a myriad of answers...
I'm tempted to Dubbin the sole and the bottom inch of the boot and polish the rest.. I don't intend to use them like wellies, and if they get moist in wet grass I will just dry them out with paper stuffed inside them,like any other boots, in the back room..

Kind Regards Chris..