We’re loving getting out for our autumn stomps here at Blaze Trails HQ - the rich colours and crisp smells are so invigorating!
But is anyone else getting in from a muddy walk and wondering what to do about their trusty hiking boots?
Our wonderful partners Merrell have shared their top tips for looking after your walking shoes. And they should know!
How to take care of your walking boots/shoes
Caring for your boots/shoes properly will mean they’ll perform better and last longer. A vital part of this is cleaning and reproofing them.
CLEANING - Surface dirt such as mud and grit can be cleaned off with a shoe brush, an old toothbrush or nail brush, a little warm water and if needed, a sponge/soft cloth. This should take care of the dirt and is fine to do once in a while.
WASHING - Don’t wash your shoes in a washing machine. Remove the sock-liner or insole and wash it separately. This will help the inside of your shoes stay fresher. Laces can be washed and/or replaced. A number of brands have washing sprays/’dabbers’ that can also be used to get off all the debris i.e. Nikwax, Grangers etc.
DRYING - Don’t place your shoes/boots near a heating device such as a heater, radiator or in an airing cupboard. Direct heat will alter their shape. Open out the shoe and then stuff the inside with kitchen paper or newspaper. Leave them to dry overnight and the paper will absorb the water.
REPROOFING - Whenever you clean a waterproof product it’s important to reproof it. A Merrell product with a waterproof membrane - whether Gore-Tex or M-Select Dry - will remain waterproof no matter what. However, reproofing is still very important as it looks after the outer material, and therefore, you should reproof every time you clean your shoes as this will wipe away any remnants of a Durable Water Repellency (DWR coating). The outer on any footwear is there to give structure to a product and to protect the waterproof membrane. If you don’t reproof the product and the outer degrades then it won’t be able to do its job of looking after the membrane and giving structure to the product.
Do you have any hacks that you use to keep your gear in good shape and ready for anything? Let us know!