If you look after your footwear, it will look after you!
These are a few simple tips, to ensure you get the best all round performance from your footwear.
CLEANING
Regularly wash all the dirt off with clean water and a brush. Use a soft brush so that you don’t damage the leather or other materials on the upper. Animal manure/urine especially damages footwear, being harmful to the leather upper, stitching and sole, especially the midsole on some models, therefore regular cleaning is essential.
After cleaning, your footwear also needs to be dried. Footwear that’s constantly wet will likely have a negative effect on your foot health and also reduces the longevity of your shoes/boots.
DRYING
It is essential to dry footwear gently. Rapid drying through excessive heat will likely result in damage through shrinkage, deformation, or damage to the upper, membrane and/or sole that often results in premature failure and a reduced life span. Best practice is drying them gently, ideally by using a convection style boot dryer as these are both gentle and very effective. Store them dry and away from direct sunlight.
A boot dryer (convection) is ideal for both footwear and you, the wearer, as they dry footwear gently overnight and you’ll have warm dry footwear in the morning . . . nice!
CONDITIONING
After your footwear is clean and dry, it is also important to care for the leather. The leather upper is your footwear’s first line of defence and will assist the membrane to perform at its best, so it’s important to ensure the leather is well cared for. Leather is naturally porous and therefore also breathable, but needs to be cared for by applying or ‘feeding’ with suitable conditioners. Suitable being products that condition, waterproof yet also retain the leathers ability to breathe. Premium quality membranes serve to keep feet dry, by keeping water out and dissipating perspiration.
We recommend you select a conditioner that:
- Conditions and feeds the leather
- Provides waterproofing
- Allows leather to breath
- Is easy to apply
Failure to condition the leather will result in it becoming dry, hardening, cracking or splitting, deforming and ultimately causes failure. Avoid overly viscous or stodgy waxes that provide a complete seal, as this adversely affects the breathable characteristic of leather to breathe, you will get wet feet!
So in short, feel good about giving your footwear some TLC and know they will perform for you!