April, 2023
Jason Markk is a newer, boutique manufacturer of shoe and sneaker accessories, particularly cleaning solutions and tools. Their Repel product is designed to protect shoes from the elements they are exposed to during every day wear:
Jason Markk Repel creates a durable, breathable barrier that effectively repels liquids and stains. It’s water-based formula is safe to use on all materials like suede, nubuck, leather, nylon, canvas and more. We’ve totally redesigned Jason Markk Repel to deliver a “better-than-aerosol” spray quality. Engineered with multi-patented technologies, a fine mist combined with a continuous spray functionality covers large areas quickly and evenly in all directions.
5.4 oz.
Excellent durability
Will not alter the look or feel of material
Odourless & colourless
Water-based, propellent free
Reusable applicator. Refills available.
Link to product:
https://jasonmarkk.ca/products/jason-markk-repel-spray-1
Jason Markk Repel
1. Brand & Aesthetics
To be very honest here, this brand was only noticed because it scores very highly on Amazon when you search "leather shoe protector spray". Products available on Amazon compete fiercely, and rely heavily on their "star rating" to attract consumers. Jason Markk's Repel spray scores very highly, and was featured near the top of the search.
Aestheticly, the product is very well packaged and has a very luxurious feel to it. Despite its very reasonable price tag, everything from the bottle to the spray handle is made of durable feeling plastic, and the way it's designed just feels natural and comfortable to handle. Form and function is often overlooked in these types of products due to low price points and the disposable nature of what is being sold. This is where Jason Markk absolutely stands out, compared to its competition.
One aspect about this brand that stood out was their consistent presence on social media, specifically YouTube. Their YouTube channel is filled with demonstrations, tutorials, and overall great content where one can go and learn about their products and how to use them. This is really great for the novice or newcomer, who may want to deep clean or protect their footwear, but not have the experience or knowledge to do so. With just a few clicks, that information is readily available, in a high quality, easy to understand format.
2. Usability
True to the description, the spray applicator is absolutely unique and highly functional. One might assume that the spray is something similar to a Windex bottle, or a garden spray bottle, or any other household liquid solution with a spray action applicator. This couldn't be further from the truth. The length of travel when the spray applicator is depressed is a lot longer than one would initially expect. As well, the applicator continues to dispense solution for a second or two even after it has been fully depressed. For a novice user, this is unexpected and will likely end with too much solution one specific part of the shoe being protected. It does take a bit of getting used to. However, it is quickly realized that this "feature" actually helps quite a bit in getting even, consistent coverage of the solution around the entire shoe. It allows you those extra few seconds to wrap around the heel, or toe, and get to areas that are often overlooked, missed or otherwise receive less coverage.
The fine mist created by the spray applicator is advertised as "better than aerosol". This statement is not mere marketing dribble. In fact, the mist is very fine, is dispersed at the perfect velocity, and has an ideal volume. In other words, the mist ensures that the solution is applied to your shoe in a manner that ensures complete coverage without excessive liquid volume.
Moments after Repel being applied
One thing to note - the directions state that "This bottle will treat up to 24 pairs of shoes with a single coat". This means that 48 individual shoes can be protected with a single bottle, assuming a single coat is applied to them. This is likely subjective to how many "sprays" you apply for a single coat, and the type of shoe you are protecting. Low rise boots, for example, would presumably require more solution to protect them, compared to a pair of open toed heels. Therefore, the coverage achieved per bottle should be considered as subjective.
3. Ordering Experience
Jaskon Markk products are available directly from their website. They are also available from Amazon, which is where this particular example came from. There were no issues ordering, and the process was the Amazon standard.
4. Results
The directions on the bottle say to allow 24 hours for complete drying / curing. The test shoes were, indeed, left for the full 24 hour period. Upon inspection, there was absolutely no change or indication that anything had been applied to the shoes. Some protectant products end up leaving a residue, or changing the colour or appearance of the shoe's materials. This was not the case with Repel.
No visible sign of residue
One of the options available is to add a second layer of Repel, for added protection. This was performed on the test shoes, and again allowed to dry / cure for 24 hours. As with the first application, no change or indication existed that anything had been applied to the shoes.
Real world results will vary from person to person. If the protected shoes are worn in summer in sunny California, they will be exposed to a much different environment than if they are being worn in winter in slushy Alaska. Therefore, it is very difficult to objectively "compare" these types of products. None the less, the first time these protected shoes were worn out, it was raining fairly intensely, 3.7km were walked on downtown streets through construction gravel and packed mud, and over 20 minutes were spent waiting in a line up to attend an event. For what it's worth, the water that wound up on the shoes quickly beaded off, nothing caused any staining, and the shoes quickly dried once inside and away from the elements. After the event, a closer inspection found them to be in exceptional condition, not requiring any wiping, dusting or cleaning. While subjective, it would certainly seem that Repel did its job and helped the shoes stay protected.
5. Cost
Jason Markk's Repel was sold for $24.00 CDN, which is an exceptionally low price point for what is a very premium product.
6. Final Thoughts
While products like this can be very subjective, they do serve a purpose for those who have an interest in them. In this particular case, Jason Markk brings us a very luxurious product at a very bargain price point. Even if, hypothetically, the protection offered by Repel isn't that good, or if it doesn't last as long as we hope it to, it is still offered a price point that is worthy of consideration. Or, better yet, not worthy of consideration, and should simply be purchased because that makes the most sense.
Overall, LuxuryReview.ca highly
RECOMMENDS Jason Markk's Repel shoe protector.
