From cleaning to storage, including the various treatments dedicated to hiking boot care, we give you all the info you need to know how to maintain your hiking boots.
The more care you give them, the more attention you pay, the better you maintain them, and the longer your hiking boots will last. Like all our clothing and accessories, if you want to get the most out of them, your walking boots require specific maintenance—even more so given the sometimes extreme conditions we put them through. From cleaning to storage, including the range of possible treatments, here are some essential tips for properly caring for your hiking boots.
Cleaning your hiking boots
It's absolutely essential to do a quick clean after every outing. At minimum, take the time to remove any mud, tap your boots together to get rid of dust, remove the insoles and let them air dry—same goes for your boots. The most important thing is to make sure they're completely dry, both inside and out, before storing them.
Regularly, do a deeper clean. As soon as you get home:
- Loosen the laces, tongue and gusset to facilitate airing and drying, and to access all the nooks and crannies.
- Clean the outsoles, make sure there are no stones or debris left that would contribute to premature wear of your soles.
- Remove the insoles and if necessary, brush or wash them, then dry them in a well-ventilated area. Make sure they're completely dry before putting them back in your boots.
- Get a soft brush, have access to lukewarm clean water within reach and start scrubbing, both outside and inside. Make sure to remove all residue that would, over time, contribute to premature degradation of your boots. At the same time, washing with clean water will help fight bad odours and, if your boots are breathable, reactivate the membrane's breathability.
- Finally, dry your hiking boots in a dry, well-ventilated area, away from sunlight or direct heat sources (so away from a radiator, for example).
We remind you, among other things, that putting your boots in the washing machine or tumble dryer is out of the question. If you want to speed up drying, stuff them with crumpled newspaper.
Different treatments for different materials
From time to time, we recommend using a treatment suited to your boots and applying it only if they're perfectly clean. There are different care products on the market specific to each material, which notably help reactivate the membrane's water-repellency and protect your boots from premature ageing.
- For boots in synthetic material: use a waterproofing or water-repellent spray, remembering to apply it to the tongue as well.
- On a smooth leather boot upper: leather is a living material, which is why it's essential to nourish it, or risk seeing it crack and age faster. To reactivate water-repellency and maintain suppleness, you can use a cream or wax applied with a cloth (avoid greases or polish that reduce the waterproofness and breathability of boots). You can also lightly heat the surface with a quick blast from a hairdryer so the cream penetrates more easily (an operation absolutely not to be done if your boots are Gore-Tex®).
- With nubuck leather: use liquid waxes specially designed to allow nubuck boots to retain their distinctive feel.
Repairing your hiking boots
Maintaining your boots is the ideal time for an in-depth inspection. Take the time to check the condition of the seams, laces and especially the outsole. It's better to notice a repair or replacement needed just after an outing than just before—or worse, during! And as with everything, the sooner the repair is undertaken, the easier it will be to fix.
Regarding the outsole, know that it's sometimes possible to replace or reinforce it. Don't hesitate to ask your cobbler—such an operation could allow you to enjoy your boots for many more years, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of that.
Storage
Once your boots are clean and completely dry, store them upright in a dry, well-ventilated area (so definitely not in an airtight box or plastic bag) away from moisture, dust, heat or direct light sources. The same applies if you need to store them for several weeks or months.
You now know how to maintain your hiking boots. To learn more about hiking boots, check out our guide.
