Boots may have these singular tools to protect delicate material (9)
I believe the answer is:
shoelaces
'boots may have these' is the definition.
'singular tools to protect delicate material' is the wordplay.
'singular' becomes 's' (abbreviation sometimes used in dictionaries).
'tools' becomes 'hoes' (hoe is a kind of tool).
'to protect' indicates putting letters inside.
'delicate material' becomes 'lace' (I've seen this before).
'hoes' going around 'lace' is 'hoelaces'.
's'+'hoelaces'='SHOELACES'
(Other definitions for shoelaces that I've seen before include "tied" , "They're close to tongue" .)