How to Maintain Your Hiking Footwear for Long-Lasting Performance?

Hiking shoes or boots are an essential piece of gear for outdoor enthusiasts. Designed to provide comfort, grip, and protection against the elements, they endure significant wear and tear with every outing. Exposure to rugged terrain, mud, dust, moisture, and changing weather conditions can quickly deteriorate them if not properly maintained.

Regular care helps extend their lifespan, ensure optimal performance, and preserve their comfort. Without proper cleaning and care, materials can stiffen, lose their waterproof and breathable properties, or experience premature sole wear.

This guide provides a detailed overview of how to clean, maintain, waterproof, and store your hiking shoes based on their material. Tips on repairs and preventive maintenance are also included to maximize their durability.

Cleaning Your Hiking Boots After Each Hike

Why and How Should You Clean Your Hiking Shoes After a Hike?

After every hike, your hiking shoes accumulate dirt and debris that can accelerate wear and tear if not removed promptly. Mud, dust, and small stones get embedded in the seams, soles, and fabrics, reducing the effectiveness of the materials and compromising comfort.

Regular cleaning helps to:

Preserve the outer materials and prevent premature wear
Maintain the breathability of waterproof membranes like Gore-Tex
Limit the growth of bacteria and bad odours caused by moisture
Keep the soles grippy by removing dirt and small pebbles

Hiking Footwear Accessories and Care Products

Essential Equipment and Products for Cleaning

Properly cleaning your hiking shoes requires the right tools to preserve the materials and ensure their longevity. It’s essential to use equipment that effectively removes dirt without compromising the technical properties of the shoes. Improper maintenance could damage the leather, weaken waterproof membranes like Gore-Tex, or reduce the grip of the soles.

Here are the essential tools for effectively cleaning your hiking boots:

A soft brush: This helps remove dust, dried mud, and small debris without damaging the boot’s surface. A horsehair brush is particularly recommended for leather, while a synthetic bristle brush is better suited for synthetic or nubuck models. It’s important to avoid hard brushes, which can alter the texture of nubuck and scratch leather or stitching.
A mild soap designed for hiking shoes: Using a gentle cleaning product is crucial for removing dirt without harming the shoe’s fibres. Regular soaps or household detergents often contain harsh chemicals that can degrade waterproof membranes, weaken materials, or leave residues that attract even more dust. A dedicated hiking boot cleaner or simple additive-free Marseille soap is ideal.
Lukewarm water: The water temperature is key. Water that’s too hot can damage the adhesives used in shoe construction and reduce the effectiveness of waterproof coatings. On the other hand, cold water may not be effective enough at loosening embedded dirt. Lukewarm water allows for gentle cleaning while efficiently dissolving dirt.
A clean cloth: After washing, it’s recommended to wipe down the shoes with a clean, dry cloth to remove excess moisture and prevent water stains. A microfiber cloth is ideal, as it absorbs moisture well without leaving lint on the shoes. This step is particularly important for leather, which should never be left wet for too long, as it may stiffen or crack.
Newspaper: Placing crumpled newspaper inside the shoes after washing helps absorb residual moisture and speeds up drying without exposing the shoes to direct heat. Newspaper also helps maintain the shoe’s shape and prevents deformation during drying. It’s best to change the paper after a few hours if the shoes are particularly wet.
A non-aerosol waterproofing spray: Once the shoes are clean and completely dry, applying a waterproof treatment is essential to restore their protection against water and dirt. A non-aerosol spray is preferable, as it does not contain harsh solvents that could degrade the materials. The application should be even and done in a well-ventilated area, keeping a distance of about 20 cm to prevent product buildup. A soft brush to remove dirt without damaging the materials.

Key Steps for Cleaning

Remove the laces and insoles to access all areas of the shoe
Brush the shoes dry to remove dust and dried mud residues
Use lukewarm water and mild soap to clean more stubborn stains
Gently wipe the shoes with a clean cloth
Let them air dry in a dry, well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight and heat sources
Insert crumpled newspaper inside the shoes to absorb moisture and help maintain their shape

Deep Cleaning and Care by Boot Type

Full-Grain Leather Hiking Boots

Full-grain leather is a durable material, but it requires special care to prevent drying out or cracking.

Clean the surface with a soft brush to remove dust and accumulated dirt
Apply a specialized leather conditioning cream to nourish and soften the material
Use a liquid wax or appropriate leather grease to enhance water resistance

Nubuck or Suede Leather Hiking Boots

Nubuck and suede leather are more delicate than smooth leather, requiring specific care to maintain their appearance and performance.

Gently brush dry with a soft brush to remove dirt without damaging the texture
Avoid excessive use of water to prevent staining
Apply a waterproofing spray specifically designed for nubuck and suede leather

Gore-Tex Hiking Boots

Gore-Tex boots are designed to be both breathable and waterproof, but improper maintenance can clog the membrane and reduce its effectiveness.

Clean with a mild soap to preserve breathability
Avoid using grease or wax, as they can clog the membrane's pores
Dry at room temperature without exposing them to direct heat sources

Synthetic Hiking Shoes

Synthetic materials are easier to maintain than leather but still require proper care.

Clean with lukewarm water and mild soap to remove dirt and impurities
Air dry in a well-ventilated area. Always ensure your shoes are completely dry before storing them.

Can You Wash Hiking Boots in a Washing Machine?

Washing hiking boots in a machine is strongly discouraged, regardless of the material. While this method may seem quick and effective, it can cause irreversible damage to the boots. The drum of the washing machine subjects the boots to repeated impacts, which can weaken the stitching, cause the soles to detach, and degrade technical materials like Gore-Tex. Additionally, hot water and harsh detergents can damage leather, stiffen nubuck, and reduce the effectiveness of waterproof coatings. If your boots are particularly dirty, it is best to clean them by hand following the appropriate steps for their material.

In short, machine washing is a solution to avoid if you want to maintain the integrity and longevity of your hiking boots. Proper manual cleaning remains the best way to care for them effectively without causing damage.

Waterproofing: How to Use It on Leather, Gore-Tex, Nubuck, and Synthetic Shoes?

Why Waterproof Your Hiking Shoes?

Waterproofing is essential to keep hiking shoes water-resistant and prevent water and mud from penetrating the fibres.

Protects against moisture and water infiltration
Preserves the breathability of waterproof materials
Reduces the buildup of dirt that could damage the shoe’s surface

When and How to Waterproof Your Hiking Shoes?

Apply a waterproofing coating after a deep cleaning or periodically, depending on usage
Use a waterproofing spray suited to the shoe’s material
Spray the product evenly from about 20 cm away
Let the shoes dry at room temperature before using them again