How to get the best from your hiking boots
When you get your new hiking boots home, wear them indoors
for an hour or two so that you get used to the fit and feel of them. Do not wear
them outside until you are 100% happy. If you are still not happy with the fit,
you can return the hiking boots as long as you have your receipt, the box, any
packaging and they have not been worn
outside. Hopefully we will be able to find you an alternative solution.
Most hiking boots will need some breaking in, on short walks at first, then on
longer ones. The stiffer the hiking boots the longer the breaking in time will
be. Feet also need to get accustomed to new hiking boots and long walks.
Hiking Socks
Hiking boots are more comfortable when worn with good hiking
socks. Modern hiking socks, often made from a technical looped yarn, are
designed with extra padding around toes and heels to cushion impact and without
a potentially irritating raised seams. Most are made from material that "wicks"
sweat outwards and keep your feet as dry as possible. Hiking socks also need to
fit well so that there is no bunched up material in the hiking boots. Some
walkers wear liner socks, a thinner pair next to the skin, and a thicker pair on
top, this helps reduce friction and prevent blisters.
Hot feet - if you suffer from hot feet or you need socks for hot conditions,
avoid socks with a high wool content. Look for Coolmax or other wicking fibres
to keep your feet cool. Some socks also incorporate fibres coated with natural
silver to inhibit the growth of bacteria.
Cold feet - if you suffer from cold feet or you need socks for cold conditions,
look for socks with a high wool content. Merino wool gives superb warmth and is
also naturally anti-bacterial.
Laces
Adjusting your laces can really increase the comfort and
performance of your hiking boots. Laces need to be adjusted to comfortably hold
your feet in position at the rear of the hiking boots. You do not want your feet
slipping down the hiking boots so that your toe touches the end. If your hiking
boots are reluctant to bend across the bridge of the foot, you might want to
re-thread the laces so that they do not cross over and place additional pressure
on this particular area. Some walkers do not lace up the top 1 or 2 hooks to
help ankle comfort on easy terrain. Take the time to experiment with lacing to
get the best fit. Replace your laces when they are worn-out.
Insoles/Footbeds
The usually removable insoles/footbeds supplied with your
hiking boots offer support and comfort for the feet. Keep them clean and dry,
replace when they are worn out. You can upgrade insoles/footbeds if you need
additional support or have problem feet. Sorbothane insoles have great shock
absorbing properties. Volume adjusters can be placed under the Footbeds to make
your hiking boots slightly smaller, if necessary.
Blisters
Blisters are caused by friction from footwear rubbing
repeatedly on the skin causing friction burns. The layers of skin then separate
and fill with fluid. Also wet hiking boots and wet socks will cause blisters to
form far quicker than dry ones. To avoid blisters consider the following tips: -
Don’t wear hiking boots outside until you are 100% happy with the fit
Break new hiking boots in gradually
Only use proper walking socks
Use high wicking socks for hot conditions
Don’t let poor boot maintenance impair the breathability of your hiking boots
Try spraying your feet with anti-perspirant to keep them dry
Before a long walk try rubbing Vaseline into your feet to prevent soreness
On a long hot walk, take a break and remove your hiking boots and allow your
feet to breathe and cool down.
After a long walk use Sudocrem or a moisturiser to treat any sore areas of your
feet.
Blister kits
COMPEED® Blister Patch is a highly advanced, instant remedy -
developed for the Danish Army, no less - it acts like a second layer of skin to
help prevent new blisters while soothing and healing those that already exist. A
COMPEED® Blister Patch repels water, dirt and bacteria and can stay firmly in
place for 3 days!
The hydrocolloid particles in COMPEED® Blister Patch absorb wound fluid,
creating a gel that protects the wound by sealing in moisture and preventing
scab
formation. In turn, this creates the optimal wound healing environment, speeding
up the healing process.
Cleaning and re-proofing hiking boots
Caring for leather hiking boots: Muddy hiking boots should be
cleaned in warm, clean water and allowed to dry naturally (do not dry by placing
next to a heat source). Leather hiking boots should *never* be force-dried as it
will encourage the leather to crack. After cleaning apply a
waterproofing/conditioning product, all of which have their merits;
Synthetic Wax (eg. Nikwax, Grangers Gwax or Brasher conditioning cream) is best
applied with the fingers as the warmth makes it easier to apply. Liquid
Repellents ( eg. Nikwax Aqueous wax) are applied with a built-in sponge
applicator. It does not have to be 'forced' into the stitching of the boot. It
is also water based which means that it can be applied to wet or dry leather.
Nikwax leather conditioner may be used to revitalise dried out and cracked
leather.
If your hiking boots get really wet then you should stuff them with newspaper to
draw any water out of the liner while the leather is drying. The newspaper
should be replaced periodically.
Caring for nubuck leather hiking boots:
Dried in a similar fashion to ordinary leather hiking boots
but to clean, wash in warm, soapy ( non-detergent ) water with a soft brush.
While still damp ( as opposed to wet or dry ) apply a liquid repellent like
Nikwax Aqueous wax. This may leave a waxy finish. Alternatively you can use
Nikwax nubuck and suede proof.
Caring for fabric hiking boots:
Fabric hiking boots require a bit more effort to clean than
leather. To keep the hiking boots clean, simply brush off any excess mud, and
then wash them in clean warm water. After this you can also apply Nixwax
footwear cleaning gel to give better cleaning results.
The best way to dry them (as with leather hiking boots) is to stuff them with
paper and leave them in a warm place. You can get away with putting fabric
hiking boots next to a heat source to dry but beware any leather or suede
reinforcing patches. If the hiking boots are a fabric/suede mix, you can use a
suede brush to revitalise the nap of the suede bits. You should do this before
applying any water repellent.
Most manufacturers these days coat their hiking boots with a hydrophobic
substance which is an effective repellent for water but which will eventually
wear off, especially after cleaning.
If your hiking boots have a waterproof lining you may think
that applying any waterproofing products is unnecessary. Unfortunately this is
not the case. If hiking boots are not re-proofed with a waterproofing product
they are likely to become very saturated with water in wet conditions. This will
not cause the hiking boots to leak, but the saturated materials will reduce the
breathability of the waterproof lining. The reduced breathability will encourage
moisture to build up in the hiking boots and your feet will feel damp
and uncomfortable.
Grainger's footwear proofer or Brasher protector spray can be sprayed on when
the hiking boots are clean and dry. Sometimes you need to apply a couple of
coats and allow a few hours for the hiking boots to fully absorb it. All
proofings should be re-applied as necessary, e.g., after you have washed and
dried the hiking boots.
Nikwax fabric and leather proof is suitable for all combinations of suede,
nubuck and fabric. It is applied with a built-in sponge applicator. It can also
be applied to wet or dry hiking boots. It is safe to use on footwear with
breathable membranes such as Gore-Tex, Symatex, eVent etc without effecting the
breathability.
Don’t forget all hiking boots will let in water if they are submerged and the
water goes over the top of the bellows tongue. Also rain water can drip down
into the ankle cuff if this area is not protected with a pair of gaiters or
waterproof over trousers.
Hiking Boot Soles
Most hiking boot soles are anti-clog but watch out for soles
clogging up with mud and especially clay. You can suffer from a severe loss of
grip if you do not stop and un-clog your soles.
Hiking boot soles are not designed for constant road/pavement use or work
environments. If you do use your hiking boots for any of these uses it is likely
that you will wear your hiking boots out prematurely and loose out on the
benefits of any guarantees.
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