Caring for hunting and hiking boots - The 5 biggest mistakes when caring for them.
Look after your hunting and hiking boots properly.
We uncover the 5 biggest mistakes when caring for boots
No other piece of clothing is as stressed as hiking and hunting boots. The material is compressed with every step, the boots should last for many kilometers, protect against the cold, not get too warm in summer, remain breathable and yet be waterproof. The demands on the footwear are very high. The technology behind it has been perfected over decades.
Mistake 1: No care
"Why leather care? My boots are made of Gore-Tex, aren't they?” A boot is never just made of Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex membranes are used in leather and textile boots, mostly in the form of a waterproof inner lining. This would not be needed at all if the leather over it was water-repellent enough. Gore-Tex boots are often even less breathable than those that do not have this membrane installed. The overwhelming majority of boots are made of leather. With good reason, because good leather is extremely hard-wearing and durable and adapts to the foot like no other material. The top priority for boot care is therefore the use of high-quality leather care, followed by thorough cleaning beforehand. Exceptions to this are, of course, purely textile boots, which we do not want to give any importance to in this article.
Mistake 2: Dirt in the leather
Dirt in the leather acts like small abrasive grains and permanently damages the leather. It is therefore important to clean the boots thoroughly on a regular basis. To do this, the laces have to be removed so that no dirt gets into the eyelets or on the tongue of the shoe.
The best way to clean the boots is with mild soap and a brush under lukewarm water. Don't forget the soles, inside and out. The insoles of modern boots can usually even be washed on the gentle cycle of the washing machine.
Mistake 3: Standing on the heater
Never place the leather boots on the heater or stove. The result is that the leather becomes too dry and, hard to believe, contains too little water. Leather should have a water content of around 14 to 18% at all times. It is comparable to wood: a fresh branch can be bent and stretched, a completely dry branch breaks without much effort. It is therefore extremely important to dry the shoes slowly, preferably in an airy, sunny spot.
Mistake 4: Leather Grease
When tanned cattle hides come fresh from the tannery and are ready for further processing into hunting hiking boots, the leather contains around 15% water and only 1% fat. Then the leather has the properties it should have. In the future, however, it must be protected against environmental influences, and various leather care products are used for this purpose. Leather fat can be found in almost every household. Inexpensive and very easy to use. However, if greasy leather care is used, this grease displaces the water in the leather. The result is that the boots shine and are also protected against water for a short period of time, but sooner or later they will be badly damaged because the tear strength, weight, grip, stability and elasticity are greatly altered by the fat content in the leather. Rain showers, but also mechanical abrasion, which occurs, for example, when walking through forest and fields, attack the protective layer of the boots, which is why leather boots have to be impregnated regularly. We offer a leather wax especially for leather boots and heavily used leather. A highly technical emulsion that regulates the water balance of the leather and reliably protects all smooth and grain leather from environmental influences and dirt for a long time. The leather remains breathable.
Mistake 5: Too infrequent maintenance
Leather is a natural product that can take and endure a lot. However, the use of leather boots is significantly longer if they are regularly cleaned, cared for and impregnated. No boot has ever been "broken" with the right leather wax . We therefore recommend that you take care of your boots regularly. A good boot is certainly worth taking care of.