How do I maintain my canyoning shoes?
With good canyoning shoes you can enjoy the best of your trips. But how do you keep your canyoning shoes in good condition? With regular maintenance of course! However, it differs per material how you clean the shoes and which maintenance product you need. Here Canyonzone has included a number of tips on how to maintain your canyoning shoes!
We first show you how to clean leather canyoning shoes and then how to clean your synthetic canyoning shoes. This way your shoe gets the care and attention it deserves.
Are your shoes not only dirty, but also broken or do they need a new sole?
Canyonzone works with a master cobbler who can often make the necessary repairs.
See: Repair, adjust and tailoring material.
NB: Minor repairs may be able to be carried out yourself with eg: Gear Aid Aquasure + SR shoe repair glue.
Cleaning and maintaining leather Canyoning shoes
It is very important to properly maintain your leather canyoning shoes. It keeps your leather shoes supple, beautiful, dirt-repellent and prevents excessive wear and thus expensive repairs. It extends the life of your shoes, which is better for the environment.
Supplies
In addition to a shoe brush, you also need a good professional cleaner for cleaning. For example Nikwax Maintenance Footwear Cleaning Gel.
- Soft (shoe) brush for cleaning the top of shoes
- Hard (shoe) brush for cleaning the sole of the shoe
- Nikwax Maintenance Footwear Cleaning Gel
- Clean cleaning cloth
Step 1: Remove dirt and mud
To start, remove the laces from your shoes. You can then easily reach everything and do not lubricate your laces with the cleaning and maintenance wax. Also remove the insoles from the shoes. Then remove as much mud and dirt as possible. Use a stiff brush for the soles and a softer brush for the uppers of your shoes. If your shoes are very dirty, you can rinse them with lukewarm water.
Step 2: Cleaning the shoe
The best way to clean the leather shoes really well is with Nikwax Cleaning Gel. Shake the vial well before use. Then squeeze the vial firmly and run the gel over the shoe. With the brush on the bottle you can clean the shoes in no time. Then rinse the shoe under the tap with lukewarm water until all foam and gel residue is gone. Then let the shoes air dry thoroughly. Do not place them on a radiator, near another heat source or in direct sunlight to dry. This dries out the leather and the sole.
Step 3: Applying the wax
You can only apply the wax when the shoes are dry. Apply the wax sparingly and not too thickly. Make sure that you also include the lip and all seams and stitching in the treatment. You get the best result if you apply two to three thin layers of wax. In between you always let the wax dry. Here too you let the wax dry in the air and not on or near a heat source.
Grangers G-wax is suitable for smooth leather and oiled nubuck. Please note that after applying the wax to nubuck, the matt appearance of the leather will disappear. That is not a problem for the leather, it just looks a bit different. So be prepared for a slightly different 'look' of your shoes.
Advice: prevent the sole from drying out
To prevent dehydration, it is useful to lubricate the bumpers and the side of the sole with something greasy. This can be done with Vaseline, for example.
Cleaning and maintaining synthetic canyoning shoes
Synthetic canyoning shoes are best maintained by cleaning them thoroughly with a special cleaning agent and then treating them with an impregnating agent. Taking good care of synthetic shoes keeps them supple, beautiful and protects them from dirt. There are a few things to keep in mind when cleaning your synthetic shoes. We give you step-by-step instructions on how to maintain your shoes.
Supplies
In addition to a shoe brush, you also need a good cleaner for cleaning. For example, the Nikwax Footwear Cleaning Gel. Impregnation is done with Nikwax Fabric & Leather Proof Spray On.
- Nikwax Fabric & Leather Proof Spray Maintenance Product
- Nikwax Maintenance Footwear Cleaning Gel
- Soft (shoe) brush for cleaning the top of shoes
- Hard (shoe) brush for cleaning the sole of the shoe
- Clean cleaning cloth
Step 1: Remove dirt and mud
Before cleaning the shoes, remove the laces from the shoe so that you can reach everything properly. Then you remove mud and dirt with a shoe brush and by rinsing the shoes well with water. With synthetic shoes it is important that sand is properly removed from the material of the shoe. Residual sand can start to chafe, causing your shoes to wear out faster.
Advice: rinse off your shoes after a trip
If your shoes are very dirty and covered in mud after a trip, rinse them immediately with lukewarm water. This prevents the sand from penetrating into the material on the next trip and causing the shoe to wear out faster.
Step 2: Cleaning the shoe
The best way to clean synthetic shoes really well is with Nikwax Cleaning Gel. Squeeze the bottle firmly and run the gel over the shoe. Shake the bottle well before use. With the brush on the bottle you can clean the shoe in no time. Then rinse the shoe under the tap with lukewarm water until all foam and gel residue is gone.
Then let the shoes air dry. So do not place them near a heater or another heat source: this will dry out the material.
Step 3: Impregnating the shoe
Shake the bottle of Nikwax Fabric & Leather Proof Spray On well before use. Spray the shoes, keeping the bottle at a distance of +/- 5 cm from the shoe. Let the impregnation soak in for about two minutes and then wipe the shoes with a clean and dry cloth. Finally, let the shoes air dry, so don't put them on or too close to a heater. Once dry you can put the laces back in the shoe.
This is how you store your canyoning shoes
Store your canyoning shoes in a dark and well-ventilated place and let them dry at room temperature. A shoe tree is useful to keep the shape before you put them on again for the next adventure. The leather remains taut and the nose does not collapse. If you don't have a shoe tree, use a wad of newspaper.
Please note: never dry your shoes on a heater, as this will cause small cracks in the material.
Advice: test your canyoning shoes before use
Have you not used your shoes for a while and are you planning a long trip? Then make sure you test your canyoning shoes first. Then you know for sure that they still function properly and you will not be faced with unpleasant surprises.
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