Trekking boots wear out faster than city shoes: they rub against stones, get wet in the mud and dry out in the sun. Proper care of membrane shoes starts with regular cleaning. To prevent your shoes from falling apart next season, clean them immediately after returning home.
Wash after each hike
Why: dirt clogs the pores of nubuck and membrane. If you leave the boots dirty, the material will dry out, crack and lose color. Water repellent will not work on a dirty surface.
How: take out the insoles and laces. Wash the dirt off the nubuck and sole by hand. The water should be at room temperature.
Do not scrub wet nubuck with a hard brush - you will tear the pile. Use a soft sponge.
Remove stones from the tread.
When you have cleaned the boots outside, pour water inside. Wash out sand and dust - they rub the membrane. Water will not damage Gore-Tex, but will restore the material's breathability. This is what the membrane manufacturer recommends.
Dry the boots at room temperature. Do not place the shoes near a heater or expose them to the sun. Heat causes nubuck to crack and deform. To speed up drying, stuff paper inside or aim a fan at the boots.
Remove stubborn dirt with cleaning foam. Apply it to a dry boot or soft brush, wipe the surface and rinse off the foam with water. I use Grangers Footwear+Gear Cleaner - the foam cleans nubuck, camping mats and backpacks.
If there is no foam, use a brush. It will remove a layer of dirt and prepare the boot for impregnation. Finally, wash the insoles and laces and rinse off any remaining chemicals from the boots.
Soft brushes and foam clean stains and do not tear the pile. A brush for 300 rubles and a can of foam save boots worth 20 thousand from the trash bin.
Treat with impregnation
Read the instructions for the impregnation: some products are applied to dry shoes, others to wet ones. Spray from a distance of 15-20 centimeters. Apply to seams, joints with the sole, toes and tongues. Let the impregnation dry for 24 hours.
Impregnation repels dirt in the city and protects against water on the trail. In urban conditions, the layer lasts three months. On a hike, in wet grass or snow, the boot loses protection in two weeks.
Spray the impregnation on the balcony or staircase - the cans have a pungent smell.
Minor repairs, sealing
Apply shoe super glue to peeled rubber and torn seams.
Stones on scree tear double stitching on the heels. The shoemaker sewed these areas, and now I drip three grams of shoe glue where the rubber peels off after each hike.
Wax, waxing
Shop assistants in outdoor stores rarely know how to wax nubuck. I had to write to the shoe manufacturer.
Why: let's figure out what shoe wax is for. It nourishes nubuck, repels water and prevents the material from drying out.
How: beginners often wonder if it's possible to treat nubuck with wax. Yes, it is: the membrane is inside the boot, the outer layer of wax does not damage it. The main thing is to choose the right composition and apply it so as not to clog the pores.
On forums, people argue if it's possible to put shoe cream on nubuck. The short answer is no. Do not put nubuck with regular shoe cream, fat or soap. Do not wash the boots in the machine and do not store them in plastic bags.
Dry nubuck before and after wax. The composition nourishes the material but makes it darker. The dark area at the toe is a wax test.
Manufacturer Meindl produces Sport Wax. The instructions say it is suitable for 'smooth leather'. To avoid damaging Meindl Kansas GTX boots, I wrote to the German customer service.
The gist of the correspondence:
Meindl employees replied that the ideal wax for nubuck is based on beeswax and recommended Grangers products. Sport wax also works, but makes the surface darker and smoother. First, apply a water-repellent impregnation, then wax.
After waxing, nubuck darkens and smooths out. It does not spoil the boots.
Remember how to apply wax to shoes made of genuine leather: do it only on a dry surface. How to apply wax to shoes without damaging the material? Do not heat the shoes with a hairdryer or dry them in the sun - otherwise the wax will melt, clog the pores, and the nubuck will stop breathing. Only the membrane and trekking socks will be left to wick moisture away from the foot.
How to apply wax to shoes? Rub the composition with your finger or a cloth in circular motions. Spread a thin layer over the entire boot, including the tongue. Apply 2-3 layers, drying each.
Deodorant
Hydrogen peroxide from a spray bottle does not kill the smell of sweat inside the boot. Replace it with a sports deodorant for gear. Spray the product over the entire inner surface and leave for a day.
Storage
Stuff the toes of the boots with crumpled newspaper - it will preserve the shape of the last. Hide the shoes until the next season in a cardboard box or fabric bag.
This video contains instructions for caring for shoes, membrane, down, tents and mats.
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