Gear Maintenance: Shoes

I just finished one of my most gratifying gear maintenance tasks: treating all of my shoes. Not just my hiking boots... we're talking my sandals, dress shoes, and some of my wife's shoes (including her high-top hikers I bought her when we were dating that she's rarely worn since... but that's another story).

This event is an annual process that takes probably 3-4 hours from beginning to end, and it includes fixing laces or doing any other minor repair my meager cobbling abilities will allow. It is a sight to see a row of clean, treated, supple shoes ready to be put to use. I am a bit embarrassed to admit that my row is a bit longer than expected, but I'd like to think that each pair is utilitarian; in addition I take pride in a proactive sale purchase that may save money in the long run.

So, I said "annual"... I suspect shoe maintenance is much like car maintenance - most people know it's supposed to be taken care of at some point, but many people neglect it at times because "it's just fine for now." Now I said annual, but if you check with hiking boot manufacturers you may find them saying every six months or so, and on some of the footwear care products you may find ranges as low as every two to four months. I'm not saying they make the interval so small to up their bottom line, but I have found that an annual treating makes it not so much of a chore and seems to do my shoes well. So why do it? A clean, treated shoe is a happy one that will have a longer life, which means saving you money and keeping your feet in better shape. Plus, waterproof boots can eventually wet out like a jacket; you need to waterproof the outer layer before water has a chance to soak in to the Gore-Tex layer and weight down your feet.

Now I treated all of my footwear, but for the balance of this post I'll focus on the outdoor shoes. There are numerous products out their to treat your dress and casual shoes and I'm sure you can find them with some research. I've just picked up some various polishes, etc. at local shops when I've needed them and they have gone a long way.

For my Birkenstocks I make sure I use Cork Life every year, otherwise your footbed could breakdown and crumble much faster. There are a few Cork Life knockoffs out there; perhaps I'll try one of them next year since my years-old bottle was struggling to make it through this year.

For sandals, whether you've got Chacos, Tevas, Merrells, or whatever, I'd recommend giving Nikwax's Sandal Wash a try. I gave it a chance this year and I like the results. Otherwise a careful dip in the clothes washer shouldn't hurt!

But the real fun comes in reconditioning your hiking shoes. There is quite a variety of fabric and leather combinations out there, and I'd recommend Nikwax for whatever shoe you have. Their Fabric/Leather treatment works well for most trail runners, while their Nubuck and Suede treatment will be great for those leathers. But I must admit that nothing gives me greater pleasure than polishing up a smooth leather with their Aqueous Wax. My Vasque Sundowners always look ready for a Sunday church service after they've been worked over! Some people still prefer mink oil, and I even have the remnants of an old can lying around, but why slay a mink when there are many comparable options consisting of beeswax, lanolin, and other materials.

So there you have it - get some goop and treat your shoes! I know I'll enjoy it on the next rainy hike when water beads up on boots like a freshly waxed car, and next year I'll be ready to do it all over again.