Leather Maintenance for Your Hiking Boots
Your hiking boots are obviously your most valuable piece of hiking equipment, and maintaining them is essential to making them last a long time. If you take care of these boots in a proper manner with leather cleaners and routine leather conditioning, you will be able to enjoy thousands of miles of hiking on your favorite trails. This article will teach you how to break your boots in properly, waterproof leather, leather cleaning and how to get your hiking boots resoled if needed. Last but not least, knowing when to buy a new pair of hiking boots will also be addressed for those who have hiking boots that have seen a lot of wear.
When you buy a good quality hiking boot, you are making a very good investment that you can expect to last a long time if proper leather care and maintenance is observed. You always want to break in a new hiking boot to soften them so you don’t hurt your feet. You want to make them flexible at your ankles and toes. To do this, you want to walk around in them as much as possible for the first few days. If you can soften the leather during short distance walks, you will be much more comfortable on our longer hiking trip. While hiking shoes and some day hiking boots may not need to be broke in, your heavier hiking boots should be as flexible as possible. Never try and break your boots in by getting them wet and wearing them until they dry out, as this can considerably damage the leather.
Although a lot of hiking boots are already equipped with some form of waterproof material, it is always a good idea to add additional waterproofing to be on the safe side. If you are ever unsure about waterproof hiking boots, you can check with the manufacturer for information as well as advice on compatible waterproofing leather products. Hiking boots are made with many different materials so different methods of waterproofing are sometimes needed. Wax-based waterproof compounds are great for leather hiking boots, and is a leather product similar to shoe polish. In addition, silicone-based waterproof sprays work great for nylon hiking boots. A lot of hiking boots consist of a combination of both leather and fabric, so both products may be needed. It is also important to avoid spraying stitching in the boot with the silicone spray, as this can cause damage.
It is also important to keep your hiking boots clean. If you are on a hike, especially if the terrain is muddy or wet, then be sure to shake off excess dirt when you stop along the trail. You can do this by banging the sole of the boot against a rock or tree. After each hike, be sure clean the mud and dust off your boots with a brush. If you let mud dry on your boots it will soak out the waterproofing and will slowly destroy the leather. A damp cloth can also help preserve the nylon material.
If your boots are still nice and feel good you can have them resoled for about forty to eight dollars, a fraction of the cost of buying new boots, which is another way that proper leather care can help save you money. Using these leather care techniques to care for your hiking boots can help you protect your investment for many years to come.