How To Take Care Of The Best Hiking Boots

[beatrixmartin]

Although all of the best hiking boots are designed to withstand more or less harsh conditions on the muddy and gritty trails, this doesn't mean that you don't need to take care of your hiking boots. If you want to use them for years, it's better to clean and waterproof your boots regularly and properly. In case you are too tired to wash your hiking boots immediately, you can do it on the following day.

What will happen if you don't clean your hiking boots on a regular basis?

The best hiking boots for men and the best hiking boots for women might have different designs and features. But, if you don't clean them regularly, they will be broken soon over time.

When your hiking boots flex with the movement of your feet, all particles of grit, dirt, and sand will go deeper into the fabric and leather. In this case, it's more challenging to remove them away.

If you let mud dries on the leather surface for a long time, it will suck moisture and make leather less pliable. This will speed up the aging process.

Useful Reference: https://thekinglive.com/how-to-clean-hiking-boots.html

What do you need to prepare to clean your hiking boots?

• A special boot brush, a toothbrush, or an old vegetable brush
  
• A mild solution of water and dishwashing soap; saddle soap, or specialized boot cleaner
  

How to clean hiking boot upper

For a thorough clean, you need to get rid of laces. Before starting a deep clean, you should remove dust and dirt with a brush gently. While cleaning, don't forget to add running water or boot cleaner if possible.



Pro tips

Whether you clean the best lightweight hiking boots or professional ones, the following tips are useful:

• Although most footwear cleaners work well on any material, it's better to double-check. Importantly, you have to follow the directions of the cleaner.
  
• You shouldn't apply the bar soap and detergents because they contain several harmful additives to the leather material and waterproof membranes.
  
• Using the mixture of 80% water and 20% vinegar can remove mold.
  
• After that, remember to rinse your hiking boots with clean water thoroughly.
  
• Washing your hiking boots with a washing machine can damage them.
  
• In case you see that the water drops can't bead up on the surface anymore, it's time to waterproof them. And remember to do it while your boots are still wet.
  

How to clean hiking boot outsoles

It can't be denied that leaving the caked-on mud on your hiking boots can't damage them. However, if you get rid of it, you will have full traction. Besides, clean outsoles can't transport invasive species from place to place.

Thus, let you vigorously brush the outsoles to dislodge stuck pebbles. The stubborn caked-on dirt requires you to soak the whole outsoles; then, you can power-wash the gunk using a hose.

How to dry and store your hiking boots

Air-dry the insoles and your hiking boots separately.

Remember to put them in place with average temperature and low humidity.

Don't dry using a heat source such as a heater, radiator, wood stove, campfire, and fireplace. It is because high heat can weaken adhesives and ages leather.

Are you in a hurry? If yes, you can use a fan.

Below is a way to speed drying:

Let you stuff newspaper into the hiking boots and change it regularly when the old one is wet.

Please store your hiking boots at a stable and average temperature. Avoid hot, wet, and unventilated areas such as car trunks, garages, and attics. Let's compare your old hiking boots with top rated hiking boots. Are there any differences? They are similar.

Read More: TOP 10 Best Hiking Boots for the Ultimate Trail Experience

Is it essential to condition your hiking boots?

Before answering this question, let you check the condition of your full-grain leather hiking boots. Are they dry or cracked? If yes, you need to apply the conditioner. Your hiking boots also need conditioner if they need to be broken in quickly.

Keep in mind to avoid using conditioner for suede and nubuck leather types.

Apply the right amount of conditioner. A pair of good-moisturized leather hiking boots will function very well. But, using too much conditioner can make your hiking boots softer, decreasing their supporting ability.

How to waterproof your hiking boots?

Any new hiking boot is factory-treated with a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish, so you don't have to give it a treatment before using it.

However, there is bad news:

This finish will wear off over time, so you need to replace it in one day. As I mentioned, when the water can't bead up off the surface of the hiking boots anymore, even it absorbs into the outer layer, it's time to waterproof your hiking boots:

Pick up a suitable waterproofing treatment

You have to read the product application instructions and descriptions carefully before purchasing and using any waterproofing treatment. If you use the wrong product for your hiking boots, it can ruin your investment. Usually, the waterproofing treatments only suit for full-grain leather and rough leathers like nubuck and suede.

The wax-based leather waterproofing treatments are pretty common in the past, but not many people use it anymore. It is because the wax residue can impair the ability to bond the adhesive and sole.

Do your hiking boots have a Gore-Tex membrane or the similar waterproof or breathable membrane? If yes, please keep off waterproofing treatment.

What do you need to prepare for waterproofing your hiking boots?

Before waterproofing, ensure that you have a pair of clean and wet hiking boots. If not, dirt and grit will badly influence the penetration and coverage of the waterproofing treatment.

Why do your boots need to be damp?

The water inside the exterior layer of your hiking boots will draw the waterproofing treatment completely.



How to apply the waterproofing treatment?

The ideal time to waterproof the best waterproof hiking boots is just to finish cleaning them because now the water is soaked thoroughly into the leather material.

Soaking water into the leather requires you for a long time, so running water isn't sufficient. Thus, if your hiking boots aren't wet enough after cleaning, you can wrap a highly damp towel around your hiking boots and let them sit in your sink for a few hours. After your boots are thoroughly soaked, you can apply the waterproofing treatment. Each product has its own application instructions, so let you read and follow them carefully.

Now, you apply the similar drying and storage tips in the cleaning hiking boots part. Let's take a look at your boots. Do they look like the best rated hiking boots?

After cleaning and waterproofing, I am sure that you have the best hiking boots of all time. The article seems long, but taking care of your hiking boots is not difficult, right? To clean and waterproof your boots, you just need to prepare essential items and follow the instructions.

You got all tips for caring for your hiking boots, read the top best hiking boots reviews to pick up the most appropriate one now.

[atm5]

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¡¡¡Bienvenid@!!! Esperamos que disfrutes del foro y de su contenido.
Por favor léete las normas del foro: https://www.zona-satelite.com/index.php?topic=2.msg2#msg2.
Si quieres dar las gracias, utiliza el icono de gracias, que está en la parte superior derecha del post: (https://www.zona-satelite.com/index.php?topic=226789.msg1074844#msg1074844).
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Un saludo y bienvenid@.

[orujillo]

Hola, bienvenid@ al foro,
lee y respeta las NORMAS también lee los MANUALES
espero que te encuentres a gusto aquí entre todos nosotros, un saludo.

[popeye IV]

Hola

Bienvenid@ a Zona Satelite.

Esperamos que disfrutes de su contenido
Aqui tienes las normas del foro http://www.zona-satelite.com/index.php?topic=2.0.
Es muy importante que las leas y las cumplas.
Para dar las gracias usa el icono de arriba a la derecha 👍 GRACIAS

[Pichon1944]

Bienvenida/o a Zona-Satélite compañera/o ponte comoda/o
y disfruta del foro...Adelante la puerta esta abierta
Gracias por elegirnos...Saludos
Si quieres dar las gracias...arriba a la derecha