Best Foot Forward: How to Make Hiking Boots Last Longer

Your hiking boots are the most essential piece of equipment that any hiker will own. A good pair of boots makes walking so much more enjoyable as you can approach the terrain with confidence and get the most out of your experience on the trails. Good boots, however, can be expensive and when you find a pair that you like, you will want to do everything that you can to keep them looking and functioning their best. 

To help your hiking boots stand the test of time, you need to take care of them properly. With the right care, you can ensure that your boots will last longer, allowing you to spend more days on the trails in comfort. Form good habits and be sure to take care of your boots after every hike. If you take good care of your hiking boots, you can be sure that they will take care of you. 

Let’s take a look at a few useful tips to help you to extend the life of your hiking boots. 

Always Clean After Use
The very first step to maintaining your hiking boots is cleaning them after every use. Be sure to remove any residual mud, dirt, sand or snow from the sole and from in between the lugs. Allowing mud, dirt and other debris to set into your boots will damage your boots over time resulting in the materials breaking down and water getting in. 

Take Out The Insole
Removing the insole from your hiking boots when you get back to base will help your boots to dry faster and allow your boots to breathe. You can add an odour eliminating spray also to keep your boots fresh. Taking the insole out will also allow the insole to decompress after hours of walking so that it can recover and be ready for your next hike. 

Waterproof Your Boots
Water can penetrate boot materials over time, wearing the materials down in the process. Waterproofing your boots will help to prevent damage to your boots from water and help you to prologue their life. There is a range of treatments that you can choose from. When you are making your choice, be sure to choose a waterproofing treatment that is suitable for the material of your boots. For example, you will need a different product for Gore-Tex finishes than you will for a wax-based leather boot. 

Pay Attention To Your Soles
It goes without saying that the soles of your boots will take the most damage over time. Depending on your gait, your boots sales could wear down quickly and long before there is anything wrong with the rest of the boot. In this situation, consider getting your boots re-soled. This will give your boots a new lease of life and is much more cost-effective than forking out for a brand new pair. 

Use Your Boots Wisely
If you invest in a good pair of hiking boots and want them to last longer, then be sure to wear them exclusively for hiking. If you put more kilometres on your boots wearing them for day-to-day, they will already be partly worn out when you get to the trails. Of Breaking your boots in is fine but don’t too comfortable wearing them day-to-day, as you will go through them much faster if you don’t reserve them for the trails. 

Take Care Of Your Boots And Make Them Last Longer
As with anything that you own, the better care that you take of things, the longer they tend to last. When it comes to extending the life of your boots, be sure to keep them clean, waterproof them, allow the insole to recover and re-sole as required. Completing these simple maintenance tasks while reserving your hiking buts exclusively for the purpose that you bought them will ensure that they will last you for a long time to come.

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