5 Tips to Get the Most from Your Hiking & Work Boots

When you buy a solid pair of work or hiking boots, you want to get plenty of miles out of them. Especially after you’ve broken them in, and they’ve become super comfortable. To help out, we chatted with the pros in our footwear department for their top tips to get the most out of your next pair of Carhartt or other hiking or work boots.

1. Clean Them and Keep Them Dry

Whether your Carhartt or other boots are leather or syntenic, water, mud, dirt, and other debris can affect the outer portion of your boots. If they’re waterproof, run a hose over them to get off any excess dirt and mud each day. Or try wiping them clean with a towel if they’re simply water-resistant. But don’t just stash them away in the garage after washing them off. Dry them off each day. A boot drier or placing them inside your home can help.

2. Remove the Insoles Each Day

Remove the insoles every time you take them off to prevent them developing an odor. This helps minimize moisture inside your boots and cuts down on pungent smells. That’s because the insoles suck up a lot of the moisture created by your feet. The insoles can also harbor bacteria. Be sure to inspect and replace your insoles when needed.

3. Reapply Waterproofing or Leather Treatment

Adding waterproofing or leather treatment every season can add life to your boots. This will keep the leather supple and/or the fabric on your boots pliable. Plus, they’ll just look better.

4. Avoid Saltwater

Saltwater can damage boots. Hiking near the ocean or even walking or working in areas where salt is used on slippery roads can damage leather and other materials. The telltale signs are salt stains that don’t go away without some scrubbing. If you find these, try to remove them before the salt can begin to dry out the fabric and cause cracks. To remove the salt, soak the boots and allow the salt to rise to the top. Then wipe the boots clean and allow to dry.

5. Replace the Laces BEFORE They Break

Adding a new pair of laces is one of the easiest bits of maintenance you can do for your boots. Be sure you get the right length and type of laces for your boots and needs. 

Coastal tip: If the heel on a boot is slipping, try taking out the slack over the top of your foot. Then, add a double-crossover across the eyelet closest to your heel. Then pull everything tight.

Coastal is your Carhartt Boot Headquarters

We carry one of the largest selections of hiking and work boots in the Northwest, including a full line of Carhartt hiking & work boots for the whole family. That includes boots for men, women, and kids from some of the best brand names you know and trust.