There are few things more frustrating when it comes to hiking gear than a pair of soggy, stinky boots. Good hiking boots are the key to keeping yourself safely on both feet for any distance, whether it’s a nice afternoon hike or a several-day trek through the wilderness. Since you can’t do much about the weather you’ll encounter on your adventures, it’s likely that at one time or another, you will experience the joy of hiking in wet gear. While this can either be a sarcastic joy or a literal one, depending on whether being wet is a relief from hot weather or not, you will want to be sure to take very good care of your hiking boots before, during, and after your adventures to keep them in the best shape possible.
One of the very worst things you can do for your good hiking boots is be in a hurry to dry them out. Getting familiar with the outdoors means having to accept that nature moves very much at its own pace, and that goes for drying out your boots. People in a hurry tend to set their boots next to a fire or a heat source of some kind in order to expedite the process, but all they’re doing is turning a very good pair of hiking boots into a very short-lived pair.
The intense heat coming from a campfire or heater causes damage that is often irreparable. Leather can crack, synthetic materials can melt or burn, and the glue that keeps the sole attached to the upper can melt away, rendering your good hiking boots anything but sturdy and usable for the duration of your trip. Never mind forgetting about having left your boots by the fire and having them catch fire or melt away completely!
The absolute best way you can keep your good hiking boots dry and in tiptop shape is to pre-treat them with waterproofing materials before you ever take them out on a hike. These materials are very effective at repelling water right off any surface it touches, ensuring that no moisture will leak through the materials — even thin parachute nylon!
However, if your boots do get wet on the trail, all is not lost. If you’re on an overnight or multi-day hiking trip, you’ll likely be bringing newspaper for your campfire. Be sure to bring extra, because you’re going to loosely crumple up balls of it and place them inside your hiking boots, after first removing the insole. Newspaper is highly absorbent, and will take as much moisture as it can hold out of your boots. You’ll need to replace the newspaper balls about every hour or so until you are satisfied with the dryness of your boots. Leaving them in the sunshine (if available) during this time is a great way to let nature speed up the process, but don’t leave them by the fire or a heater if at all possible. If you absolutely must leave your boots near a heat source, be sure to place them far enough away from it to avoid any unintended damage.
Just a few simple considerations can go a long way in making sure your good hiking boots are dry hiking boots!
Pictures via dno1967b, Google Images
