Hiking With ChuckChuck Bonner (507)    Chuck Bonner   Hiking With Chuck Hiking Boots: Cleaning, Care, and Maintenance of your Most Important Piece of Hiking EquipmentPosted Friday, June 13, 2008 (40 days 11 hours ago.) Viewed 59 times. Hiking boots are your most imporant piece of hiking equipment, and you can expect to enjoy them for thousands of miles on the trail, but only if you take care of them. This article will tell you how to get the most out of your hiking boots by taking proper care of them. This includes breaking them in properly, cleaning them, waterproofing, having them resoled if they need it, and knowing when it's time to say goodbye.
Good quality hiking boots are an investment that can be expected to last a long time, but only if you take care of them. This article will tell you how to take proper care of your hiking boots, from breaking them in to having them resoled, so you will get the most value for your investment.
In this article, I will discuss five main points of proper care and maintenance of your hiking boots:
Breaking In your Hiking Boots The purpose of breaking in your hiking boots is to soften them so they will not hurt your feet. They must be made flexible at exactly the places where your feet and ankles bend. The best way to do this is to walk in them. The goal of breaking in your hiking boots is to do it in short walks, so you don't find yourself in the middle of the wilderness with blisters and an inflexible pair of hiking boots. Hiking shoes or day-hiking boots might not need any break-in, but try it just to be sure. Very heavy hiking boots might not actually break in, but wearing them will make your feet grow tougher in the places where the boots refuse to bend.
In either case, what you want to do is to wear your new hiking boots for short periods of time. Wear them around the house, on your morning walk, on your way to work and back (or wear them at work, if your job does not require a lot of walking and if dress codes permit). Wear them on short hikes.
Once the boots are properly broken in, they will feel comfortable as you walk. Then you're ready to take them on a serious hike.
You may have heard of leaving your new hiking boots out in the weather, or soaking them and wearing them as they dry out, or other drastic and exotic techniques for breaking them in. If it seems like a bad idea, that's because it is. Break them in gently, and they will last much longer.
Waterproofing your Hiking Boots Most hiking boots are already waterproof when you buy them, but you still have to do some additional waterproofing. Check the manufacturer's recommendation, either in documentation that came with the boots or on their Web site. Different materials require different kinds of waterproofing. Leather, whether full grain or split, requires a wax-based waterproofing compound (which is exactly what shoe polish is). Fabric, especially nylon blends, requires silicone-based waterproofing spray.
Since most hiking boots are made of a combination of leather and fabric, you will have to use both types of waterproofing. And be careful, because the silicone-based sprays can be harmful to the glued seams of leather hiking boots. The best approach for such dual-material hiking boots is to spray the silicone-based waterproofing on the fabric panels while shielding the leather, then spray the wax-based waterproofing on the leather panels and the seams.
If you have full grain leather hiking boots, you can either use a wax-based waterproofing spray or old-fashioned shoe polish. Shoe polish works best on the seams, as you can put it on extra thick and work it into the seams and stitching.
Before you first use them, and after each major hike, clean your boots thoroughly and give them a full waterproofing treatment. Hiking shoes, worn infrequently, might need the waterproofing treatment just once a year or so, but use your judgment. If you see new scuff or wear marks after a hike, reapply the waterproofing.
Cleaning and General Maintenance of your Hiking Boots Clean off the mud and dust from your hiking boots after each day of hiking. Each time you stop for a major break on a hike, check your boots and remove any excess mud or dust. To clean your boots while hiking or camping, just kick against a rock, bang your boots together, or scrape with a stick if necessary. If you let the mud dry on your boots, it will both leach out the waterproofing and soak into the boot. This slowly destroys leather, and it's not good for nylon, either.
Once you get home, or at least every few days on a protracted backpacking trek, wipe your boots with a damp cloth. Be sure to get off all the foreign matter, so there is nothing to interfere with the waterproofing chemicals, and so you can inspect them for damage.
If a seam is coming undone, cut off any dangling threads. If the dangling thread catches on something, the seam will simply come undone that much faster. Depending on the extent of the damage and the cost of the boots, you might want to bring them to a cobbler for repairs, or simply apply extra shoe polish to hold the loose ends in place and to ensure that the seam is waterproof.
If your boots have gotten soaked, dry them out slowly. Rapid drying will make the leather parts shrink and pull away from the fabric parts and from the rubber sole. Pack the damp boots full of wadded newspapers, and replace the newspapers every few hours until the boots are dry.
In between hikes, a pair of shoe trees will help your boots to hold their shape. And this will be very important to your comfort on your next hike.
Resoling your Hiking Boots If you have a good pair of backpacking boots, you can have the soles replaced when they wear out. This will cost anywhere from $40.00 to $80.00. Hiking shoes or day-hiking boots are not worth resoling. Generally, the uppers will wear out as fast as the soles, but even if the uppers appear to be in good shape, the cost just doesn't make sense.
Look for an experienced cobbler in your town to resole your boots. There are services on the Web that will do this, too, but the shipping costs add considerably to the overall cost. The main benefit is that all such services guarantee their work. If you don't know a cobbler you can trust with your precious hiking boots, search for "boot resole" on the Web.
After your hiking boots have been resoled, they will be like a new pair. That means you must break them in again.
Knowing When your Hiking Boots are Worn Out Inspect your hiking boots for wear, and recognize when it's time to replace them or, if they are worth it, to invest in major repairs. The most obvious wear point is the tread. Sometimes the tread will be visibly worn, such that the cracks between the knobs of the tread are not deep enough to provide traction. On some hiking boots, you will discover that there are two layers within the sole, and after the softer portion wears through, you are walking on a harder inner portion that does not provide good traction on hard rock.
Another common wear point is the inside of the scree collar (the padding around the top that keeps pebbles out without chafing your Achilles tendon). If the lining has worn through and the foam padding has been exposed, your hiking boots must be repaired or replaced promptly.
Check the lining of the sole of your hiking boots. Very often, you will find a hole wearing through under your heel or toe. (Removable insoles can prevent this, but be sure to replace the insoles regularly.) Such a hole will soon begin causing blisters.
In some hiking boots, the uppers will begin to wear at the seams. You may find that the seams are coming apart very rapidly, as friction between the panels makes the fabric weaker, allowing even more movement and more friction.
Hiking shoes and day-hiking boots may fail by the sole separating from the uppers. If this happens before the shoes have begun showing other serious signs of wear, take it as a lesson: Avoid that brand in the future. If it happens in conjunction with other failures, well, it's just time for a new pair of hiking boots.
If your hiking boots contain both leather and fabric, you may find that the leather has slowly stretched from the constant tension of the laces. The fabric will begin to wrinkle as the leather stretches away from it. Once this begins, seam failure will soon follow.
Another problem with stretching leather is that your hiking boots may reach a point where you can no longer tighten them! I have only seen this once, on a pair of split leather day-hiking boots. (Hated to see them go.) Full-grain leather, properly cared for, is almost indestructible. If not properly cared for, it will crack. There's not much you can do but replace the boots, and try to take better care of the next pair.
Conclusion Take care of your hiking boots, and they'll take care of you. Keep them clean, waterproof them with the manufacturer's recommended waterproofing compound, and they will serve you for thousands of miles on the trail. Chuck Bonner is a lifelong hiker and amateur naturalist, and webmaster of www.HikingWithChuck.com. For more information about hiking boots and other hiking equipment based on many years on the trail, visit http://www.hikingwithchuck.com/Gear/HikingGear.htm. 
Permalink Comments (0) High-Quality Inexpensive Hiking Boots: How to Choose and Where to Find ThemPosted Friday, June 13, 2008 (40 days 11 hours ago.) Viewed 53 times. It's easy to go astray when shopping for hiking boots. There are so many imitations that look like hiking boots but don't hold up on the trail. This article will tell you how to recognize real, quality hiking boots, and where to shop for them, so you get the quality you need at the right price, and you won't overpay for something that just looks like a hiking boot. This article describes where to look, what to look for, and how to choose day-hiking boots. Knowing where to look and what to look for, you can be sure to get the high-quality hiking boots you need without paying extra for features you don't need. Day-hiking boots range anywhere from $40.00 to $150.00. The high end of that range is beginning to cross into backpacking boots, but anything below that range is either an exceptionally good deal or an imitation hiking boot that will disappoint you badly. So, let's talk about the kinds of places to shop for hiking boots, features to look for, pitfalls to avoid, and techniques to make sure you have the right fit. Where to Shop for Hiking Boots If you have never done any serious hiking, you will want to buy your first serious hiking boots in a hands-on experience. I'm being honest here (habit of mine). Yes, it is in my interest to persuade you to buy your hiking boots through my Web site, but I won't do that if it is not appropriate for you. Even aside from ethical considerations, it would be bad business for me to create a lot of dissatisfied customers telling their friends about their bad experience. No, I'm just being honest. I don't want to take your money and leave you unhappy. Buy your first pair of hiking boots at a brick-and-mortar store where you can handle the boots and try them for proper fit. Then, when you have enough experience to know what you want in your second pair of hiking boots (or third, or ...), you can take advantage of the lower prices available on the Web. When shopping for hiking boots, look for an outdoor equipment store rather than a shoe store. The sales clerks in a general shoe store are not likely to know the difference between real hiking boots and fashion imitations of hiking boots. You might pay more money at an outdoor equipment store, but you will realize the savings out on the trail. Once you're in the store, ask about some of the things you read in this article. If the sales clerk doesn't know what a scree collar is or why soft outer soles are better than hard, look for another sales clerk, or another store. If you are ready to buy your hiking boots on the Web, you can take advantage of the best of both worlds. You can buy from a high-volume store that has the best prices, but first get your advice, recommendations, and reviews from affiliated Web sites that specialize in hiking equipment. Wherever you choose to buy your hiking boots, make sure there is a reliable, knowledgeable person in the loop somewhere. If the sales clerk or Web site seems too eager about making the sale and not interested enough in discussing and comparing features, you should look somewhere else before you make a final decision. Especially when you are shopping the Web sites, you may need to pay attention to brands. Certain brands have a well-deserved reputation for good quality, and you should not ignore that. On the other hand, some brands have an overblown reputation that often has more to do with fashion than with genuine quality. The only way to know the difference, and to find the quality you need without paying for fashion that you don't care about, is to talk to those who know the difference and to read reviews from people who have actually used the hiking boots in the field. Features to Look For in Day-Hiking Boots Here is what you need to look for:
 My hiking shoes have the typical eyelets and hooks.  My day-hiking boots have webbing and hooks. Webbing is not recommeded for backpacking boots, as it might not last. Most of these features are self-evident, but here are a few techniques for evaluating specific features.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid in Hiking Boots The biggest problem you're likely to find in shopping for day-hiking boots is cheaply-made "imitation" hiking boots. They look like hiking boots, but they're not built to stand up to trail conditions. They will not last long, and they will not give you the traction and water resistance you need. You can tell an "imitation" hiking boot from the real thing by these characteristics:
Fitting your Hiking Boots You must fit your hiking boots with any orthopedic inserts, off-the-shelf insoles, and the hiking socks you intend to wear with them. A good rule of thumb is to start with one full size larger than your regular street shoes. With all the inserts and insoles in place and your hiking socks on, but with no laces in the boot, put the boot on and push your foot all the way forward until your toes touch the front. You should have just enough room behind the heel to slide your finger all the way in. Next, lace the boot up snugly and walk around. The boots will be stiff and uncomfortable because they're not broken in, but they should not allow your foot to slide or rub. Stand on a steep slope with your toes pointing down. (Use the fitting horse where you're supposed to put your foot to lace the shoe while sitting. Go ahead and stand on it.) You should be able to wiggle your toes, and they should not touch the front of the boots. If you bought the boots via the Web, do this fit-test as soon as you get them. Even if you think you know your size, boots from different manufacturers might fit differently. Check the size and fit immediately, and return them for a replacement if they don't fit right. Conclusion If you are looking for your first pair of serious hiking boots, you must do your shopping in an outdoor equipment store where you can handle the boots and talk to knowledgeable sales staff. Only if you have some experience with day-hiking boots, take advantage of the bargains available on the Web. Check for the features that identify a quality hiking boot, and avoid "fake" hiking boots. Bring all the inserts and socks you will wear with your hiking boots, and check for a firm but comfortable fit with no rubbing or sliding. Look for quality, and expect to pay for it, but don't pay more than you have to for features that don't contribute to the durability and comfort of your hiking boots.
Chuck Bonner is a lifelong hiker and amateur naturalist, and webmaster of www.HikingWithChuck.com. For more information about hiking boots and other hiking equipment based on many years on the trail, visit http://www.hikingwithchuck.com/Gear/HikingGear.htm.
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