HIKING BOOTS – Break
In and Care
BREAK IN
Back in “the day,” breaking in a new pair of hiking boots
was an epic ordeal. Today’s modern hiking boots and light
backpacking boots require very little to none. Innovations in boot
design coupled with high tech materials are the reasons for this.
If you did purchase a pair of boots that require some break in, ignore
all of the old wives’ tales that everyone offers you on quick break
in tricks. Everyone of them that we have ever heard of is very detrimental
to the boots. The best way to break them in is to simply wear them
around home or around town for increasing amounts of time. The only
product we recommend for helping to speed up the process if you are in
a time crunch is water based “Nikwax Leather Conditioner.”
All other products on the market either over-soften the leather or allow
it to stretch, both of which can ruin the fit and integrity of the boot.
CAUTION: “Neet’s Foot Oil” destroys the leather tanning
and stitches
CARE TIPS
Keeping your footwear clean will greatly extend its life and maximize
its performance. Dirt and mud penetrates the leather fibers and
makes them dry out and break down. Use cold water to clean the exterior
of the boot. (For in-depth cleaning instructions, see the section on Waterproofing)
If your boots get soaked in a stream crossing or a day of puddles, let
them dry at normal temperatures. Extreme heat will harm the leather
and the glues that bond the various parts of the boot together.
For drying out the interior, we recommend stuffing the boots with newspapers,
removing and replacing them as they get soaked. This will not only
dry them out quickly but will keep the leather from shrinking and the
toe ends of the boots from curling up (which reduces boot length) as they
dry.
True waterproof footwear should only allow water to enter over the top
of the boot. Many people purchase this kind of footwear because they will
never have to maintain them for waterproofness, but keep in mind that
these boots will perform much better and last much longer if they are
kept clean and conditioned. All “Nikwax” products discussed
below in“Waterproofing” will not only add durable water repellency
to the exterior of the boot allowing better breathability, but also have
conditioning agents which will “feed’ the leather.
WATERPROOFING
Most of the outdoor boots and shoes that we sell at The Sole Source come
from the factory covered with a durable water repellent (DWR). Most
factories don’t use a treatment that is extremely durable; however.
When you see that the leather is starting to absorb water, it is
time to treat your boots with a better after-market DWR. Regardless
of which water repellent you choose to use, you will need to clean your
boots first.
CLEANING
Even if your boots look clean, it will help the waterproofing treatment
work much better if you wash them off first with cold water using a soft
cloth or soft nylon brush. For footwear that has “been through
it” and has picked up all kinds of mud and grime or if there is
old wax residue, we recommend using “Nikwax Cleaning Gel”
or a high quality saddle soap. A nylon bristle brush really helps
penetrate everywhere on the boot – especially in hard-to-reach creases
and around stitches. Rinse off the cleaner thoroughly after use
– especially saddle soap which is very stubborn to get off.
Durable Water Repellent Applications
(under construction)
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