Tips For Selecting Waterproof Hiking Boots

Tips For Selecting Waterproof Hiking Boots

All people who enjoy hiking understand the importance of buying good quality waterproof hiking boots, even it means paying that bit extra to get a high quality boot you should be prepared to do it.

When purchasing it is important that you make sure the boot is guaranteed waterproof, from experience I learned that trying to hike with wet feet can be a very unpleasant experience. So make sure you buy a good quality pair and look after them, when looked after properly they should last you for quite a few years.

The golden rule when caring for your waterproof boots is not to dry them artificially, using a hair drier or leaving them in front of the fire will cut there life span down dramatically. After doing your days hiking if the boots do get wet then you should place them undercover and let them dry naturally.

Don’t make the mistake of leaving them out in the sun to dry, this can seriously affect the leather or nylon materials that the boot is constructed from. After paying your hard earned money for a quality pair of waterproof boots you want to make sure you look after them, besides the main thing that can spoil a great hiking trip is wet and sore feet.

The place to check for damage to the boot is where the upper meets the sole, this area is normally the spot that hiking boots fail. If you do find a problem there then treat it as soon as possible with a waterproofing agent (I use a toothbrush for doing this), you can find out which waterproofing agent is right for that particular boot by checking the website of the manufacturer.

Some people prefer to buy the non waterproof boots and do it themselves before they go hiking, while there is no problem doing it this way you need to make sure you use the correct solution. For example synthetic material footwear will require some sort of silicone waterproofing, where as leather hiking boots will require wax based waterproofing.

The draw back of doing this process oneself is that not all manufactures use the same waterproofing agents, so checking their websites for the right one to use on your boots is vital. Even when you have purchased boots or waterproofed the boots yourself, boots can still get wet on those rainy days so packing extra socks is a must.

So to get the maximum enjoyment from your hiking trip make sure you buy good quality waterproof hiking boots, having comfortable and dry feet makes a world of difference to your enjoyment of the great outdoors.