When To Replace Your Walking Boots

Your favourite pair of walking boots are like an old friend. You’ve worn them in, they’ve accompanied you on countless adventures, and you’ve been to some amazing places together. Unfortunately, unlike an old friend, your walking boots will need to be replaced once they’ve reached a certain age. Our guide will help you identify when the time has come to start investing in a new pair for next adventure.

There’s no hard-and-fast rule about when it’s a good time to retire your boots, or how long they should last. 500 miles walked on concrete will wear soles down more quickly than 500 miles out on the hills, and anything from the way you walk to how well they’re looked after can affect their longevity, with different materials and soles wearing at different rates too.

Forking out for a replacement pair unnecessarily is not only bad for the environment, it's bad for your bank balance too. Equally, struggling on in shoes that have seen better days could damage your feet. Worn or damaged soles can even be dangerous as they won’t offer you the grip you need to stay safe, so it’s important to know what signs to look out for.

Tip

If you’re unsure about how worn your boots are, compare them side-by-side with a newer pair of the same boots.

• Shape: Misshapen boots won’t provide the support to your foot and ankle that they were designed to.
  
  
• Fabric or leather: Check the boot fabric or leather. Worn leather or damaged fabric can soon start leaking.

Boots that need replacing won’t perform as well as they should when they’re out and about. The signs below can mean that your footwear’s past its best:

• Do they leak? If your boots have been regularly reproofed and they start leaking, it’s likely that they’re on their last legs.
  
  
• Are you slipping more? If your boots start to feel unstable or aren’t gripping uneven surfaces like they used to, the sole may be too worn.

• Do they feel uncomfortable? Unusual aches and pains (especially in the legs) or more blisters than normal can mean they’re not providing the support they should.
  
  
• Can you feel stones underfoot more than usual? Overly worn-down soles expose your feet to all the lumps and bumps beneath.
  
  
• Are things getting inside that shouldn’t? Older, looser boots can let in more stones and dirt than they should. If you’re collecting dirt and debris on every walk, it may be a sign it’s time for some new boots.

There are a few things you can do to extend the life of your favourite walking boots:

• Save them for walks. No matter how much you love them, don’t be tempted to wear your walking boots up town or to the pub. Concrete wears down soles quickly, and they’ll last much longer if they’re reserved for the hills.
  
  
• Keep them clean! Mud, perspiration and other nasties left on your boots between outings can lead to cracks in the leather or deterioration of the fabric. Dirt can also clog up membranes like GORE-TEX®, preventing the breathable membrane from working and causing sweaty feet, so keep them clean to ensure that they can do their job properly. After a muddy walk, clean your boots with warm water to keep them in tip-top condition. Take a look at our Boot Care Guide for more handy tips.

• Treat them well. Both leather and fabric boots should be reproofed regularly in order to keep them at their best for longer.

Our Boot Fitting Guide will help you to get the perfect fit, and once you’ve got your boots, our Boot Care Guide will help you to take good care of them.

Alternatively, pop into one of our stores for a free in-store boot fitting.