How to maintain hiking shoes? What are the differences between hiking shoes and ordinary shoes?

Hiking shoes, as the name implies, are shoes for hiking. Hiking shoes are specially designed for hiking, so they can protect people from injuries when hiking to the greatest extent. However, a good pair of hiking shoes needs to be well maintained. So how to maintain hiking shoes? What are the differences between hiking shoes and ordinary shoes?

Maintenance before wearing: Apply waterproof agent to the seams and pinholes to improve the waterproofness of the upper and seams. It is best to apply waterproof agent repeatedly for a period of time on newly purchased hiking boots. It is best to apply it one to two days before the activity to allow the leather to fully absorb it, and then the leather will be dark brown. Nylon hiking boots are not easy to waterproof due to their pores. Silicone derivative spray can be used. How to wear: Try not to wear a pair of shoes for a long time. Long-term humid and fatigue environment will shorten the life of the shoes. How to clean: Generally, you can wash it with water, but you must pay special attention to it after cleaning. Never put it in the sun. The shoes are easy to debond after being exposed to the sun. It should be placed in a cool and ventilated place to let it dry naturally; it is also not allowed to use fire to dry at high temperature, the leather will become dry and easy to crack; but you can put it in the sun when the upper is wet, but not for a long time. How to store: Shoes are most afraid of moisture. After being damp, the waterproof, breathable, leather, and thread properties of the shoes will be damaged. If you want to store it for more than a few months, it is recommended that you let the shoes dry inside and outside before storing them. Place them in a cool and ventilated place and do not fold or press the shoe body. It is best to remove the insole before short-term storage (after normal activities) and long-term storage, because the insole itself is relatively damp. How to repair: If the shoe is debonded, clean the debonded area first and let it dry before repairing.

Support, the restraint of hiking shoes on the feet. A pair of hiking shoes, especially high-top ones, can effectively prevent the deformation of the feet during walking, prevent sprains, and relieve foot fatigue. The three parts of the upper, shoe last, and sole are relatively hard, but after running-in and full fit, they can provide sufficient support and restraint for the feet, overcome the force of the feet dispersing to the surroundings, and keep the shape of the feet intact. As for why our feet get tired during our usual walking, it is actually closely related to the continuous twisting and deformation of the feet in the shoes. Therefore, the fundamental support is hard support and full fit. Balance, from the perspective of shoe manufacturing, the shoe last of hiking shoes is relatively narrow and fit, which can guarantee the maximum support, while the toe is relatively wide, so that the toes have sufficient space to expand and exert force, taking into account the stability of hiking shoes, which is the secret of hiking shoes to better maintain body balance. Shock absorption: The design of the sole of hiking shoes takes into account both wear resistance and grip, while taking into account the shock absorption effect of hiking shoes through the mid-bottom layer and the buffer layer, providing a relatively comfortable walking environment for the feet as much as possible and reducing sports fatigue during walking. Waterproof and breathable: The waterproof performance of hiking shoes requires the water repellency of the surface leather fabric and the inner waterproof film to achieve together. This determines the waterproof and breathable fabric of the hiking shoes, and of course also determines the price of the shoes from one aspect. Anti-slip: The rubber of the sole of hiking shoes is not anti-slip for all media, and each type of hiking shoes has different sole patterns due to different environments. This determines that each sole is designed specifically for a certain environment.

1. The first thing to do is to remove the shoelaces, take out the insoles, and wash them separately. Use a nylon shoe brush or a discarded toothbrush to clean the dust on the upper, remove the dirt in hidden places and gaps. For some difficult-to-handle stains, you can first rinse with a detergent, slowly brush them off with a soft brush, and then spray them with hiking shoe care liquid. 2. If it is a leather upper, wipe it clean with a sponge or soft cloth; if there are oil stains, sweat stains and other dirt that are difficult to remove, you need to use a special leather cleaner to clean it. The lining material inside the shoe should also be wiped with a damp cloth. Be careful not to soak the hiking shoes with leather uppers in water. 3. For the upper of nylon material, if there is only dust, just use the above-mentioned aspects to remove it with a soft brush. If it is relatively dirty, you need to use a detergent to scrub it, or you can soak it in water for a period of time, but not too long. 4. After cleaning, in order to avoid deformation of the leather of hiking shoes, do not expose them to the sun or bake them near the stove. It is best to air dry them in a cool and ventilated place. When air drying, you can put newspapers and other items that easily absorb moisture in the shoes to speed up the drying process. 5. Add some detergent to the shoelaces and wash them by hand. Brush the shoelaces lightly with a shoe brush. These are relatively simple. Shoes, shoelaces, and insoles should be dried separately.

Generally, hiking shoes weigh about 300 grams, and professional hiking shoes are heavier. There are professional and casual hiking shoes, and there are many types of hiking shoes. If you are walking on a tourist attraction road that is paved by humans, similar to the stairs we take every day, and there are generally various hotels in tourist attractions, and you generally don’t go out hiking when it rains, then you can wear ordinary tourist shoes. This kind of shoes is more suitable to be called tourist shoes, not hiking shoes. Generally speaking, hiking shoes are not prepared for this kind of tourist attractions. Real hiking shoes are prepared for the wilderness without artificial paved stairs. There are generally no tickets or hotels in the places you go to. You need to bring your own tent, and even your own cooking utensils, lighting, etc., which is similar to adventure. Now people generally call this type of activity "outdoors".