Does anyone know what I should do to care for my new boots so they don't crack and leak by next season? Every couple of years I have to buy a new pair of $100+ hunting boots due to cracking. I just bought a new pair and I would like to make them last a few seasons. Someone suggested vacuum sealing them between seasons. I already keep them in a moderatly tempered garage and out of the sun and hot temperatures of the mini-barn. Is there a rub-on preservative? Any tricks would be helpful. Even good tricks for repairing holes in old rubber boots. I have tried rubber roof patches with limited success. Thanks.