Clean and reproof your boots and shoes regularly to ensure long life.

Up mountains, through rivers, in mud – tramping footwear doesn’t have an easy life. Leave your boots or shoes caked in mud and they’ll deteriorate quite quickly. Whether you have burly leather boots, lightweight trail shoes or something in between, the key to making them last and perform well for the thousands of kilometres they’re capable of is cleaning. 

The process consists of two parts: the clean, and the reproof. Part one is about removing dirt and grime (and the odours that result); part two is about rejuvenating the water repellency of the footwear. 

Leather footwear

Leather boots and shoes are hard wearing and can last far longer than synthetic alternatives. But in order to keep the leather in good condition, breathable and water resistant, periodic TLC is essential.

1. Loosen or remove laces and rinse your footwear to remove caked mud and clumps of dirt – use a rag or a soft brush to help with this.
2. Use a footwear cleaner (we recommend Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel or Grangers Footwear + Gear Cleaner) in accordance with the application instructions, to remove stubborn dirt, stains and odours.  
3. Use a leather wax to condition and waterproof the leather. There are a few suitable products around; the trick is to make sure the wax you use is right for the type of leather. For example, Nikwax has one reproofing product specifically for nubuck and suede and another for smooth leather. Grangers has a waterproofing wax for smooth leather and a conditioner for full grain, and recommends its reproofing spray for suede and fabric uppers.
4. Leave the footwear to dry out of direct sunlight and away from a direct heat source.

Synthetic/fabric footwear

Fabric footwear may not have the same level of durability as leather footwear, but giving them a proper clean and reproof will help them last and perform for longer than they would otherwise. 

1. Follow steps one and two as outlined for leather boots.
2. Instead of applying a wax, use Nikwax Fabric & Leather Proof or Grangers Footwear Repel Plus to revitalise the waterproofing.
3. Leave the footwear to dry out of direct sunlight.

When to clean you boots and shoes

This comes down to frequency of use and the types of terrain you’re encountering. After a big multi-day trip or a particularly grubby outing, your footwear will benefit from a clean. However, it could take a string of less-demanding day hikes before they need cleaning. 

A good clean helps revitalise the breathability and water resistance of hiking footwear. It is not necessary to reproof your footwear after every clean.