I grew up polishing my Dad's workshoes and earned lots of extra spending money, but it was not until I joined the Army that I really learned how to put a truly glossy shine on my boots.  I always thought that if I learned no other skill or trade in the military, at least I could be a darn good shoe shiner. I feel a little disloyal ;-) admitting to liking Lincoln shoe polish since it was the Marine Corps approved brand and the tacitly "approved" shoe polishing product for the U.S. Army was Kiwi.  But at guard mount and honour guard inspections, the MPs with sharpest looking uniforms (and best boots), and thereby earning extra privileges, were consistently those who had switched to Lincoln.  And so began my association with Lincoln shoe polish.

I don't know the chemistry behind it, but Lincoln clearly has a softer texture (more emollients?) right out of the can, and so the wax seems to penetrate into the micro pores of the leather better.  Then when it is mixed and swirled around with a soft, wet cotton ball it seems to spread out in a nice even layer, much more like a cream polish (no lumping, and less swirl lines) and with far, far less effort, you start to see that glassy reflective surface which is the goal.  All that is needed after that is a quick, feather light (not pressing hard) buffing with a soft, lint-free cloth (micro-fiber is best).

If that weren't enough, Lincoln also has a superior dye stain ingredient.  Once worked into the leather, it is tenaciously colour fast doesn't seem to readily rub off or transfer.  Exposure to air seems to "cure" it, bonding the colouring component to the leather.

I know it's just a small thing, but I also happen to like the snap open can on Lincoln, rather than that twist key system on Kiwi that sometimes breaks off.

One last thing, not only is Lincoln made in the U.S., but I discovered that I grew up just blocks away from the actual factory off of Kifer Road in Sunnyvale, California.  So it is my hometown brand.