Your hiking boots are an investment in your outdoor adventures, and we want to help you get the most out of them. With regular care and maintenance, you can keep your boots performing at their best, no matter what the weather or terrain throws your way. Here's our guide to keeping them waterproof, as well as general maintenance.
Waterproofing YOUR HIKING BOOTS:
To start, remove the laces and use a soft brush to clean off any loose dirt. If the sole of your shoe has stubborn caked-in mud, use a brush with hard bristles or an old toothbrush. Next, wet your boots with water or a footwear-specific soap, and give them a good scrub. Allow your boots to dry naturally, or apply additional waterproofing protection while still damp. Grangers Footwear Repel Plus is an excellent option for an extra layer of protection, and Grangers G-Wax works wonders for leather boots.
General care:
- Cleaning your boots sooner rather than later is essential to prevent the leather from drying out.
- Regardless of the material, dirt should be removed as soon as possible after hiking.
- Avoid using direct heat sources like the sun or a fire to dry your leather or suede boots, as it may cause them to shrink and stiffen up. Direct heat can also damage the adhesives used in some footwear.
- Sunlight is an excellent natural deodoriser for smelly insoles. Remove them separately to dry them out and prevent odour-causing bacteria.
- Store your clean and dry boots in a well-aired and dry environment, away from direct light.
- Avoid storing your boots in a plastic bag for any length of time, as it can cause odour build-up.