How to Care for Your Walking Boots While Travelling
If you’ve got a big adventure in the pipeline, wearing the right pair of boots will be an absolute game-changer. Durable, comfortable shoes truly make the difference between a successful trip and one that leaves you complaining!
And when you’re on the go for a week or more, it’s worth learning how to keep your walking boots in tip-top condition. You can’t expect to just kick them off at the end of a rainy day and forget about it. Boots need to be kept clean, packed carefully, and maintained along the way.
Cleaning, conditioning and waterproofing
It can be handy to clean your boots before the big departure date.
Applying an appropriate, specially formulated treatment will make sure that the advanced fibres in your boot will be working at their best to keep the water out and keep you comfortable too.
If you expect to be hiking through streams or battling with wet weather conditions, a waterproof coating is highly recommended, too. It’s an important part of walking safely, and we’d still suggest it even for technical Gore-Tex boots.
Packing for protection
You won’t be wearing your walking boots all the time, so it’s important to respect them when they’re not on your feet. Whether you’re on the bus for a travel day or heading to the beach between hikes, you can help keep them pristine for the next time you need them.
Stuffing them with socks or paper towels will help them to hold their shape. If you’re taking them on a longer transfer, you should either pack them in a separate, reinforced bag or keep them at the very top of your luggage pack. Even though plenty of robust men’s walking boots easily withstand daily wear, they’re not designed to be crushed in a heavy bag!
Damage-free drying techniques
You can’t avoid getting wet boots at some point on a hiking trip.
When you get back to your tent or accommodation, you should try and get your soggy boots sorted as fast as you can. If they’re soaked through, it’s worth removing the insoles and stuffing them with an absorptive towel to take away the worst of the moisture.
Wherever possible, leave your boots to air-dry in a ventilated but sheltered area. While it might be tempting to lead them on a radiator, don’t forget that direct heat sources can damage the technical fabrics on your boots.
Mid-trip reconditioning
Sometimes, a deep clean might be needed in the middle of your trip. Perhaps your boots have been dealing with multiple all-day hikes, or maybe you have a time window to simply refresh your kit.
Take a moment to perform a deeper clean and inspection. You should check the seams and soles, carefully applying waterproofing materials or specialist wax when you have the time. Reproofing does require drying time afterwards, so you’ll need to be organised.
Ready to put your best foot forward? Whether you’re heading to the Cairngorms or the South Downs, look after your boots and they’ll return the favour!
