We spend a great deal of time talking about your walking shoes and there’s a very good reason for that. Walking shoes are an essential piece of walking equipment gear. It’s important that they are the proper shoe for the task i.e classified as “walking shoes or sneakers”. It’s important that they fit properly and provide adequate cushioning and support. Its’ important that they be checked periodically for wear and tear. And it is important they they be properly maintained. You spent a bit of time and money to select and purchase just the right pair so it’s to your benefit that you spend a little time and money to properly take care of them.

With leather shoes or boots the first thing you want is to apply additional weatherproofing. Moisture is a shoes worst enemy. While most outdoor shoes claim to be “weatherproofed” the quality and durability of that feature will vary greatly. Therefore, it’s a good idea to go the extra step and apply an additional coating just to make sure. Weatherproof sealants are readily available at most athletic shoe or outdoor gear stores. Apply the sealant per the instructions on the product. Pay extra attention to the stitching and stitching holes. Those are usually the first things that rot. If your shoes are suede or fabric, there are waterproofing sprays that will do the job. Be sure to select the right product to your shoes material. One more tip…after you’ve got your new walking shoes waterproofed, wear them around the house for a day or two to break them in. Your shoes will thank you and so will your feet

OK you’ve taken your first walk, they feel great and you’ve taken them off. Now what? Don’t just throw them under the bed and pull them out again tomorrow. How you treat you shoes from this point will have a huge impact on how long they last and the level of comfort and support they provide. Moisture is the enemy of shoe, regardless of the material they are made of. First thing you need to do after your walk is clean your shoes of all mud, dirt, grass and any other type of grim you’ve pick up during your walk. With leather shoes a rag and brush usually will do the trick. With fabric shoes it may be necessary to use a little soap and water on the uppers to get out all the grit and grim. Never, never throw them in the washer and /or dryer. Don’t soak them either. Hand wash with a rag, a brush and a bit of soap and cold water. Let them air dry. With a suede shoes it’s best not to get the wet. Simply use a toothbrush to clean away the dirt and grim. Difficult stains will usually require a special stain remover. Nubuck and durabuck leather should be treated the same way as suede with regular brushing and an appropriate stain remover when necessary. Never put your walking shoes next to a heat source wet or dry.

Next either stuff them with newspaper or invest in a pair of cedar shoe trees and allow them to completely dry out. It’s really a good idea to have two pairs of walking shoes. This will allow you to alternate and give each pair time to completely dry out between walks. As the shoes age take a quick look at the soles and heels to check for excessive wear. Weatherproofing doesn’t last forever. It’s a good idea to occasionally reapply the weatherproofing materiel. Don’t over do it, follow the instructions on the can or bottle. If you’ve gotten caught in the rain and your shoes are soaked, allow them to air dry completely before you do any cleaning or polishing. Again NO DRYER.

With the popularity of fabric shoes, the art of polishing leather seems to be in decline. So for those who are unfamiliar with the process we offer the following. First buy a polish that contain both wax and conditioning agents. Don’t use liquid polishes. They dry out leather and cause cracking.

Use a brush or damp cloth to remove any dust and dried mud from the uppers, heel and sole. Next remove the laces. Apply the polish with your applicator brush in a circular motion. Be sure to work the polish into all the nooks and crannies .Once you done applying the polish let the shoes set for 15 minutes. After the wax has dried. brush them with a polish brush, soft bristled, and then buff them to a finished shine with a buffing cloth, Re-lace them and your ready to go.

.Just remember, moisture will shorten the life of your walking equipment and that’s especially true for shoes. A little time spent in proper care and maintenance can potentially increase the life of you walking shoe and provide you with undiminished comfort and support.

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