Expert tips: Proper care for mountain boots

If your shoes are dirty and/or wet, dry them in a well-ventilated area, but away from heat sources. The leather could dry out or crack.

Remove the laces so that the care substances can also reach the hidden parts of your shoe.

Since the insole collects a lot of moisture (especially on multi-day tours), you should also remove it and let it dry.

To make the leather air-permeable and breathable again, thoroughly brush the hiking boots dry. Then clean them with warm water and a brush .

If the mountain boots are very dirty, it is recommended to use a lukewarm soapy water or a shoe cleaner. The detergent opens the pores of the leather and should be rinsed well with water.

Now the leather is in an unprotected state: therefore you should definitely impregnate the shoe .

Let your boots dry in a well-ventilated room. Under no circumstances should you leave the shoes in the sun, in the bathroom, on the heater, near the stove or in the car!

Impregnate your mountain boots while they are still wet. Through the opened pores, the agent can penetrate deep into the material and optimally protect your shoes .

After about 24 hours, the impregnation spray develops its full effect. However, it will wear off again after three weeks. Therefore, regular reimpregnation is crucial to prevent water and dirt absorption .

In addition, a constant impregnation of the (leather) mountain boots remains breathable .

For frequent use, you should also treat your hiking boots with care products such as wax creams or wax emulsions.

Rub your hiking boots with the care product to make them more resistant and durable. Leather that is not cared for dries out and becomes brittle. This is also necessary for shoes with Gore-Tex® membrane.

Note: Do not use greases or oils. This will make your leather shoes almost waterproof and very delicate, but the openings will be closed and your mountain boots will lose breathability and stability. In addition, adhesions can loosen .

It's best to store your hiking boots in a shoe bag or box in an airy, dry place .

Wooden shoe trees help to maintain the shape of the shoe. This prevents the formation of a bending crease.

You can also stuff your mountain boots with crumpled newspaper. This also maintains the shape and the paper absorbs moisture. Note: If your boots are very wet, change the newspaper daily.