How to maintain your hiking boots?

From cleaning to storage, including the various treatments dedicated to the care of hiking boots, we give you all the information you need to know how to maintain your hiking boots.

Photo: Christelle Olivier on Pixabay

The more you pamper them, the more attention you pay to them, the better you will care for them and the longer they will last. As with all our clothes and accessories, if we want to get the most out of them, our hiking boots require special care, which is a little more advanced for them given the sometimes extreme conditions in which we use them. From cleaning to storage to the range of treatments available, here are some essential tips on how to properly care for your hiking boots. 

Cleaning your hiking boots

A quick cleaning after each outing is absolutely essential. At the very least, take the time to remove mud if there is any, pat your shoes together to rid them of dust, remove the soles and air dry them, just like your shoes. The most important thing is to make sure they are dry, both inside and out, before putting them away. 

Regularly give them a thorough cleaning. For example, as soon as you get home:

Loosen the laces, tongue and gusset to facilitate ventilation and drying, but also to be able to get into every nook and cranny.

Clean the outsoles, making sure that there are no stones or residues that could cause premature ageing of your insoles.

Remove the insoles and, if necessary, brush or wash them, then dry them in a well-ventilated area. Make sure they are completely dry before putting them back in your shoes.

Get a soft brush, make sure you have access to clear, fairly warm water and start scrubbing, both inside and out. Make sure you remove all residues that could cause premature deterioration of your shoes. At the same time, washing your shoes with clean water will help to combat bad odours and, if your shoes are breathable, will reactivate the breathability of the membrane.

Finally, dry your hiking boots in a dry and airy place, away from the sun or a source of direct heat (far from a radiator for example).

We remind you, among other things, that it is out of the question to put your shoes in the washing machine or tumble dryer. If you want to speed up the drying process, fill them with newspaper rolled into a ball. 

Different treatments for different materials

Once in a while, we advise you to use a suitable treatment for your shoes and only apply it if they are perfectly clean. There are various material-specific care products available on the market, which, among other things, reactivate the water-repellency of the membrane and protect your shoes from premature aging.  

For synthetic shoes: use a waterproofing or water-repellent spray and apply it to the tongue. 

On smooth leather uppers: Leather is a living material, so it is essential to nourish it, otherwise it will crack and age more quickly. To reactivate water repellency and maintain suppleness, you can use a cream or wax to be applied with a cloth (avoid grease or shoe polish, which reduce the waterproofing and breathability of the shoes). You can also slightly heat the surface with a hair dryer to make the cream penetrate more easily (this should not be done if your shoes are made of Gore-Tex®). 

With nubuck leather: use liquid waxes specially designed to help nubuck shoes retain their special feel.  

Repairing your hiking boots

Maintenance of your boots is the ideal time for a thorough inspection. Take the time to check the condition of the seams, laces and especially the outsole. It's better to be aware of a repair or replacement right after an outing, than before, or worse, during! And as with everything, the sooner the repair is undertaken, the easier it will be to remedy.

As far as the outsole is concerned, it is sometimes possible to replace or reinforce it. Don't hesitate to ask your shoemaker about this, as it could give you many more years of enjoyment from your shoes and it would be a shame not to take advantage of it. 

Storage 

Once your shoes are clean and completely dry, store them upright in a dry, airy place (so definitely not in an airtight box or plastic bag) away from moisture, dust, heat or direct light. The same applies if you have to store them for several weeks or months. 

Now you know how to care for your hiking boots. If you want to know more about hiking boots, let our guide take you there.