'Radiators wreak havoc': how to look after your walking boots, according to experts

This article provides tips and advice for caring for hiking boots, including how to store them properly, resole them when necessary, and maintain their longevity.

Here are some key points from the article:

1. **Store boots in a cool, dry place**: Glue or bonding can fail on boots if they're not used for a long time, due to hydrolysis (a process where chemicals break down due to reaction with water). Storing them in a cool and dry place helps prevent this.

2. **Use the right drying method**: Instead of forcing dry by sitting in front of a radiator, it's recommended to use a Therm-ic Dryer V2 or similar device that circulates air inside the boot to speed up the drying process.

3. **Resole boots before wearing through to the midsole**: As soon as the sole is damaged, there's little that can be done to fix it. Resoling is possible but only if you do it before wearing your boots down to the midsole.

4. **Repairing or resoling boots is cost-effective and better for the planet**: Most repairs are relatively cheap (laces, regluing areas that are coming unglued). Resoling or repairing boots can extend their lifespan and reduce waste compared to buying new ones.

5. **Consider using a boot repair service**: The Boot Repair Co offers resole services starting at Β£70 per pair, making it an affordable option for maintaining hiking boots over time.

By following these tips, hikers can help extend the life of their boots, save money, and reduce waste in the process.
 
πŸ€” I've had my fair share of hiking trips and trust me, a good pair of boots can make all the difference. I love that there's this growing awareness about taking care of our gear instead of just chucking it after one use. Storing them properly makes sense - who knew glue/bonding could fail due to hydrolysis? πŸ˜‚ Throwing away a Β£70 resole job because of a mistake is just crazy. I've been using these drying methods and they work like magic! Therm-ic Dryer V2 is on my wishlist now πŸ›οΈ
 
πŸ™ I'm a big fan of taking care of my gear, especially when it comes to my hiking boots. Storing them properly is key, you know? It's like keeping your house tidy – it helps prevent unnecessary wear and tear. That glue or bonding stuff isn't gonna hold up if it gets exposed to water for too long... it's just not worth the risk of having to replace everything.

And instead of trying to dry 'em out yourself with a radiator, I think using a Therm-ic Dryer V2 is the way to go. It makes sense that circulatin' air inside the boot would be better than just sittin' there. Plus, resoling before it's too late can save you from a whole lot of trouble down the line.

I'm also loving the idea of repairin' or resoloin' my boots instead of chuckin' 'em in the bin. It's all about savin' a buck and doin' our part for the environment, right? πŸ’‘
 
I don't usually comment but I think it's a total game changer that boot repair services are becoming more popular 🀩. Β£70 per pair is still kinda steep for some people, but if you consider that resoling or repairing can extend the life of your boots by years, it's actually pretty affordable in the grand scheme. Plus, think about all the waste that gets avoided - old boots that could've just been chucked in the bin are being given a new lease on life instead 😊. I personally have an old pair of hiking boots that need resoling and now feel less guilty about getting them done πŸ’ͺ
 
I'm totally down with storing my boots in a cool dry place πŸ€—... but like, what if I have to leave them out for a while? Wouldn't that just speed up the whole hydrolysis thing and mess everything up? 😬 And honestly, who has one of those fancy Therm-ic Dryers V2 things just chillin' in their closet? It's all about the money, right? πŸ’Έ I mean, Β£70 is a pretty penny to pay for someone else to fix my boots... unless it's gonna last me forever, obvs. But repairing them at home is also super cheap and easy... so maybe I should just do that πŸ€”.
 
I'm thinking about the relationship between maintenance and letting go... Like with our hiking boots, we gotta take care of them but also know when to replace 'em πŸ€”. It's like, if we're attached too much to stuff, it can weigh us down. On the other hand, holding onto something for too long can lead to neglect. Resoling and repairing our boots is a reminder that sometimes, giving up on an old friend (or in this case, a pair of boots) can be better than clinging to something that's no longer serving us 🌸.
 
omg i totally agree w/ this article!!! πŸ™Œ i've been struggling w/ my hiking boots too and it's soooo frustrating when they start to fall apart 😩 storing them properly is a game changer! i also love that resoling/repairing boots is way cheaper & better 4 the planet πŸŒŽπŸ’š
 
Boots are like our old friends - we love 'em, but sometimes they just need a bit of TLC πŸ’β€β™€οΈ. I mean, who wants to shell out cash for new ones when you can resole the ones that have been with you through thick and thin (and all those muddy hikes)? 🏞️ The tips on storing them properly make sense, don't wanna risk glue failing like that 😬. And yeah, using a drying method other than radiator is a no-brainer - who needs heat when air circulation can do the trick? πŸ’¨ Resoling before it's too late is key (literally). Not only is it cost-effective, but it's also good for the planet 🌎. If you're feeling lazy, just take 'em to someone like The Boot Repair Co - Β£70 a pop might seem steep, but think of it as an investment in your hiking boots' longevity πŸ’Έ
 
omg i just saw this article like 2 days ago and i totally agree with all those tips!!! i was at the lake last month and my hiking boots were literally falling apart but then i remembered reading something about storing them right or whatever so i did that and it saved my boots for like another season now
 
omg I totally agree with this article 🀩! Storing my hiking boots properly is like, super important - I remember once I left mine at a friend's house for too long and the glue started to fail and it was a total disaster πŸ˜‚. Using a thermic dryer to dry them out is genius btw πŸ”‹! And resoling them before they get worn down to the midsole makes so much sense - my last pair of boots lasted way longer than I expected πŸ™Œ. Plus, it's awesome that there are affordable options like The Boot Repair Co for those who want to fix up their gear instead of buying new ones πŸ’Έ. It's all about reducing waste and being more sustainable as a hiker, imo! πŸ‘Ÿ
 
omg i just got back from this epic hike last weekend and i totally forgot to bring spare laces lol now my boots are all loose πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ so i'm def gonna try out those therm-ic dryers to speed up the drying process... or maybe i'll just hit up The Boot Repair Co like they mentioned in the article, Β£70 is kinda steep tho πŸ’Έ anyway, resoling and repairing boots is a total game changer for us hikers who love the outdoors, it's way better than buying new ones every time πŸŒ³πŸ’š
 
I'm all for storing my hiking boots in a cool, dry place... but like, isn't that just gonna make 'em stale and gross? πŸ€” I mean, wouldn't it be better to use them? On the other hand, if you don't store them right, the glue will fail and they'll fall apart on you... so yeah, maybe storing them in a cool, dry place is a good idea? πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ And what's with using those fancy Therm-ic Dryers V2 or whatever? Can't I just sit by the radiator like my grandma does? πŸ˜‚ But at the same time, if it takes too long to dry, you'll be stuck waiting... so maybe those dryers are kinda necessary? πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ And honestly, resoling boots can be super cost-effective and better for the planet... unless you're just gonna get them done once and forget about 'em again. πŸ˜‚ Can't say I've ever used a boot repair service before, but Β£70 per pair does sound like a decent deal? πŸ€‘
 
πŸ€” storing them right away is def a must, don't wanna be stuck with soggy glue all summer... πŸ’¦ also, using that thermic dryer thingy really helps, i've tried it on my old boots and they came out looking like new again πŸ™Œ just gotta keep 'em away from direct sunlight tho, or the leather'll fade in no time... 🚫
 
Duh πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ! I'm like, totally obsessed with my hiking boots right now, especially after that epic thru-hike I did last year. Storing them in a cool, dry place makes total sense - don't wanna risk those glues failing on me mid-hike! πŸ˜‚ And resoling before the sole is all but gone? Game-changer. Saves so much money and reduces waste, which is like, super important to me. I mean, have you seen that movie "Princess Mononoke" where they're always talking about living in harmony with nature? That's like, totally what boot repair is all about πŸŒΏπŸ’š. The Boot Repair Co seems legit too - Β£70 for a resole service isn't bad at all. Now if only I could get my hands on those Therm-ic Dryer V2 thingies... πŸ’¨
 
omg u guys πŸ˜‚ i'm like super excited about this article! storing ur hiking boots properly is literally a game changer! i've been guilty of leaving mine by the radiator for months at a time and it's no wonder they've started to fall apart πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ. but now i know that i can just use one of those thermic dryers and speed up the process so much πŸ’¨. and Β£70 isn't even that bad for resoling ur boots! it's like, u'd rather spend that on a new pair anyway πŸ˜‚. plus think about all the waste we avoid by repurposing our old shoes 🌎. i'm def trying these tips out ASAP and will let u guys know how they work out πŸ’ͺ
 
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