Waterproof Boot Care That Extends Their Life

A waterproof boot is an investment, and care is what returns it. Ten minutes of attention after a trip adds years to the membrane and the leather.

Dirt is the enemy. Grit works into seams and wears the waterproof layer from the inside out. Clean boots stay waterproof far longer than neglected ones.

• Rinse mud off while it is still wet, never after it hardens.
• Dry boots at room temperature, never against a heater.
• Reapply a proper waterproofer when water stops beading on the surface.
• Store with shoe trees or paper to hold the shape.

I treat my boots like any gear I expect to rely on. The people whose boots leak at the worst moment are usually the ones who never cleaned them at all.