Hiking boots are your vehicle - well sort of. They bring you through ice, mud, water, sand, rocks and dirt.

If you wear leather hiking boots you need to take care of them a little bit because even though leather is durable and water repellent, they can weaken shrink and dry out if not taken care of properly.

However, the longer you wear leather hiking boots the more comfortable they feel on your feet and with proper care they can last for years.

While non-leather hiking boots or fabric and leather hybrid boots can be worn straight out of the box, most leather boots need to be treated with a waterproofing solution.

Some makers may provide you with waterproofing solution when you purchase your hiking boots and other will give you instructions on which waterproofing to use and how.

It’s important that you follow these instructions or you risk losing your money back guarantee. Because not every waterproofing solution available on the market can be used for all types of leather the manufacturer’s instructions may prove to be useful. Using the wrong waterproofing solution for your leather boots can have some ugly consequences.

You may also need to reapply the waterproofing solution after some time especially after a hiking trip in order to maintain waterproofing and suppleness.

To apply the waterproofing solution to your leather hiking boots, rub in the solution and let them dry in the shade before using them again.

To prevent dirt particles from working their way into the leather and making permanent damages you need to clean your leather hiking boots regularly.

Cleaning your hiking boot linings is perhaps more important than cleaning the outside because a lot of bacteria and fungi may lurk in the lining especially if it’s moist.

Make sure you wipe the inner lining of your boots until it’s clean after each hike to remove the dirt and salt from perspiration.

Leather boots can be damaged when exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time. It’s not only the sun that’s causing the damage but the act of fast drying. Avoid drying your leather boots near the campfire or in an oven. Fast drying damages the leather permanently and weakens the adhesives that hold the sole in place.

The best way to dry your hiking boots is slowly and at room temperature. Even better if you remove the laces and insoles and stuff them with newspaper.

Peeling of the sole usually occur near the toe of the boots. Repairing a delaminated sole require a super strong glue.