Gear Guide: How To Look After Walking Boots

If you recently bought some walking or hiking boots and want to ensure you prolong their life, follow these easy tips to looking after your boots.

How Often Should Walking Boots be Cleaned?

Try to clean any thick mud from your boots after each use...The easiest way is to walk through some thick grass or jump in a stream!

If you use your boots regularly then try and give them a thorough clean every couple of weeks, if they are not used regularly, make sure you give them a good clean before storing them. (Or you could have a nasty surprise just before your next holiday!)

How Do I Clean My Walking Boots ?

Use a soft brush (A soft nail brush is perfect) and warm water to clean the outers and rinse the insides with warm water. Let the boots dry naturally, away from any heat sources. (Drying them too fast can crack the leather or the glue holding the sole to the boot.)

Whilst the boots are still damp, use a waterproofer suitable for the boots:

Leather Hiking Boots – Nikwax waterproof wax for leather (Don’t be put off by the word wax youngsters! It comes is a squeezy tube so it couldn’t be easier to use!) provides waterproofing. If you want to keep your leather supple and feeling good then Nikwax do a Conditioner for leather. (This also waterproofs the boots so we would recommend using these two products alternatively i.e. one month wax the next condition – Your boots will love you!)

Nikwax Waterproofing Wax For Leather