For a hiker, hiking boots are the most essential gear that he owns. Hiking boots act as a layer between your feet and the ground and protects them from abrasion. In order to make your hiking consistent and enjoyable, you must ensure that you own a good pair of hiking boots.

Over a period of time, when you use them too often your hiking boots start to wear out. This is the time when you need to decide whether you want to get them repaired or purchase a new pair. We’ll tell you 4 ways that’ll help you make this decision easily and will make the hiking boots last forever.

Thin Outsoles

As the boots are designed for walking and their continued use makes the material of the outsole thin. It is essential for you to check the bottom of your boots, especially at the heels. If the outsole is becoming thinner, there are high chances of injuries to your feet. Check whether the sole is getting thinner to a deeper level and if this is a case you need to analyse whether they can be resoled or not.

How to Get Them Fixed?

These days boots come with the moulded soles rather than the stitched ones. This makes the task of re-soling difficult. So, it is better to consult a manufacturer whether they can be resoled or not. If it is possible, don’t try it at home, but get them fixed by a footwear repair company. It will cost you around £30-£40. It is advisable to check the boots thoroughly. If they require repairs to other parts also, it is better to purchase a new pair.

  1. Check the Material of the Midsoles

The midsoles are made of two types of material- polyurethane or EVA foam. The boots with EVA midsoles are more durable than those having polyurethane foam. The boots with polyurethane midsoles wear out even without using. Keeping them packed in your wardrobe also reduces their life. The midsoles provide underfoot comfort, making your walk comfortable. Therefore, if the midsoles are old or your feet feel uncomfortable, it is advisable to get them checked by a cobbler.

How to Get Them Fixed?

Generally, cobblers replace the old midsole with the new one, but the cost of repairing can go higher than the cost of buying a new pair of boots.

Keep an Eye on Other Parts of Your Boots

You need to check for the busted hardware of your boots. There could be several reasons that can lead to wear and tear of hooks and eyelets of the boots. These include abrasion against rocks, excessive pressure while knotting the laces and more.

How to Get Them Fixed?

It is advised to take preventative measures to protect your boots from wear and tear. It is necessary to carefully knot the laces with minimal pressure, clean the boots properly after contact with ocean water, give them time to dry up as the deep penetration of water can damage the midsole. If you still get the hardware of the boots damaged, get them repaired with the boots repairing company. You can purchase the new boots if they require repair to various parts.

Broken Stitching

There are high chances that the stitching of your boots gets undone. A simple reason for broken stitching is by putting the boot on and off. You need to keep an eye on the stitching as broken stitching can lead to injuries.

How to Get Them Fixed?

You must check your boots carefully after using them and apply some aid to fix the broken stitching. You can opt for Gear Aid Aqua seal that costs you around £5.  It is great if you apply the aqua seal on the stitching from the first day you buy them.