Cleaning, Conditioning, and Waterproofing your Hiking Boots

Whether you are wearing a full-grain leather backpacking boot or a nylon mesh trail runner, outdoor footwear lasts longer and provides greater water resistance if it is treated properly. Caring for boots is a three-part process: cleaning, conditioning, and waterproofing. It is very important to match the right treatment with the right boot materials.

Cleaning

To properly clean your boots, take out the laces, scrape off caked-on mud, and remove superficial dirt with cool water and a cloth. Then scrub with a soft brush to remove ground-in dirt. Rinse boots well with cold water to ensure that fine particles are removed. Air-dry wet boots at a moderate temperature. Never dry boots close to a heat source, such as a campfire or wood stove. Wash the boot lining with gentle soap to rinse away accumulated salts, then allow to dry. Leather linings can be treated with conditioner to enhance breathability. You can wash, rinse and dry synthetic Cambrelle linings.

Conditioning

Leather uppers are just like skin - if they are not conditioned, they dry out, stiffen, and crack. Conditioners restore lubricants to leather and keep it supple and, depending upon the conditioner, waterproof. Wear brand new, untreated boots a few times to remove the factory-applied buffing wax. Then treat the seams, and the area where the upper and sole join, with Freesole - a rubber cement that enhances durability and water resistance. Allow at least 24 hours for Freesole to dry before applying a conditioner. One spot that needs attention is the crease in the upper, located above the area where bending toes cause the sole to flex - this area should be conditioned periodically to prevent cracking.

Waterproofing

Waterproofing treatments are water-based and non-water based. Both silicon and wax treatments can be water-based. This means they work best when applied to damp boots - the water in the pores of the leather acts as a conduit for waterproofing agents that absorb into the leather as the boots dry. Water-based treatments are popular for full-grain (rough-out) leather, nubuck, and suede leathers, as well as fabric and boots with Gore-Tex lining.

• Oil - Oil-based treatments soften and stretch leather, compromising both the support and performance of the boot. We do not sell oil-based products.
• Wax - The most traditional and frequently used boot treatment is some form of wax. Wax-based treatments darken leather, especially rough-out hides, which might detract from the appearance of the boot. These waxes work best when applied thinly and evenly with your fingers - do not use an entire tube of goop on a pair of boots! Some treatments come in a compact tube, which can be easily stored in a backpack for on-the-trail touch-ups. Some wax-based treatments effectively seal the boot and compromise the leather's breathability. If you are hiking in really soggy conditions, this might be a satisfactory trade-off.
• Silicon - Best applied to new boots straight out of the box, silicon treatment will not darken or discolour leather or fabric. Silicon allows better breathability for leather footwear than wax treatments, but may not condition leather. Wax-based silicon treatments offer excellent water repellency and durability, but will discolour rough-out, suede-style, and synthetic fabrics.
• Fluorochemical - Fluorochemical treatments are non-aerosol pump sprays designed to work on all types of footwear, especially those made of suede or synthetic fabric. Fluorochemicals added to silicon treatments offer excellent durability and will not discolour the boot material. These are NOT to be confused with volatile, ozone-depleting CFC's (chlorofluorocarbon).

See also:
Choosing the Right Walking Shoes

Credits

Run The Planet thanks the Mountain Equipment Co-Op website www.mec.ca for the permission to reprint the article "Footwear Care". Mountain Equipment Co-op is Canada's leading supplier of quality outdoor gear and clothing. Cambrelle, Freesole, Gore-Tex are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies. Photography "Shoeshine sign in a southern town" (1936) by Walker Evans.