The Wide World of Walking Equipment

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.

Technorati Tags: outdoor shoes, shoe maintenance, walking shoes, walking sneakers

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As has been mentioned several times in various blog posts, your walking shoes are the most critical part of walking equipment assortment. Improper fitting or worn out walking shoes can and do lead to any number of injuries, everything from blisters to stress fractures. So how do you know when it’s time to toss or demote those old shoes and look for something new?

Often times you hear that you should replace your shoes every 2 to 6 months or every 500 mile. But everyone’s walking pattern and style is different so these broad guidelines are not especially informative or helpful. The only way to really get an idea of whether or not to replace your walking shoes is to look carefully at wear patterns on the sole and heal. Here are some things to check.

• Place the shoes on a flat surface and look at it from the heal. It should lay flat. If it leans or there is a gap of more that a 1/8 of an inch between heel and surface, it won’t proved your foot with the proper support and need to be replaced.

• Place the shoes on a flat surface and place downward pressure on the heal and toe. The rock the shoe in toward the instep and back out again. If there is excessive rocking with the downward pressure being applied, it’s time to replace the shoes.

• Push into the shock absorbing pad on the heal and instep. They should be firm and resilient.

• Examine the tread, if worn through or smooth it is time for a replacement

• How do they feel? Are your feet or legs sore? Time for a replacement

• Have wrinkles appeared on the side of or in any indented part of the heel. The shoe will not provide support and should be replaced.

Remember, too, that moisture wears out shoes. A wet shoe cannot stabilize the foot as well as a dry one, and the shoe will stretch out. In addition, wet shoes cannot absorb shock as effectively and will tend to over compress. Rotating pairs so they have a couple of days to dry out before running in them will help. An additional reason to have two pairs of walking sneakers is to have a comparison. By alternating between to sets of shoe, you’ll be able to more easily identify which pair is not giving you proper support and cushion.

One final tip. Take your old shoes along with you when shopping for a new pair. Look for a replacement that has good support and tread in the areas where your old pair shows the most wear.

The age and condition of all your walking equipment is important in keeping you comfortable and injury free while you walk. There’s always the temptation to put off replacing worn out gear but it’s usually a false economy. So always take the time to inspect your walking gear and replace what’s necessary

Technorati Tags: walking shoes, walking sneakers, worn out shoes

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