To ensure the longevity of your hiking boots, various measures can be taken, ranging from routine cleaning to pre-emptive treatment of high-wear areas.
1. Leather Treatment: Leather hiking boots can greatly benefit from waterproofing and increased durability by applying a leather treatment. Although GORE-TEX membranes keep your feet dry inside, leather can absorb water, reducing breathability and flexibility over time. Nikwax offers an array of leather and fabric conditioners, including options for suede, nubuck, and full-grain leather. These treatments are available in spray-on or liquid forms, the latter applied using a sponge. For leather boots, consider Atsko SNO-SEAL, a beeswax-based waterproofing agent. Reapply leather conditioners periodically, with the frequency depending on your usage.
2. Fabric Treatment: When dealing with lightweight hikers featuring mixed-material uppers, opt for fabric treatments designed to maintain the DWR (Durable Water Repellent) properties of synthetic materials. This helps reduce water absorption, maintains breathability, and accelerates drying. Nikwax products formulated for synthetic fabrics work well in this context.
A cost-effective method to extend the lifespan of your footwear is applying a seam sealer to high-wear areas where stitching is vulnerable. A small investment in a seam sealer, coupled with about 20 minutes of application, can double the lifespan of these critical areas. Commonly, wear occurs on the seams inside
