If you talk about high-quality hiking boots, they highlight longevity. Generally, a quality hiker’s boot lasts 500 to 1,000 miles. However, it greatly depends on how often you hike and whether you use the boot roughly or not.
That said, the trail runner hiking boot would last anywhere between 300 to 500 miles. Hiking boots can last several years, but if you are an avid hiker interested in exploring different places, the ground difference can impact their long-lastingness.
So how long hiking boots last has many factors depending on it. Therefore, I’m explaining the hiker’s boot durability in detail below. After all, you can’t buy a boot without knowing the insights about its durability, right? Let’s get started.
How Long Should Hiking Boots Last?
Here is the video telling how long boots should last and various facts about it:
Factors That Affect Hiking Boots Lifespan
There are different brands like Keen, Merrel, or Salomon that launch the best boots lasting for a long. Actually, the average lasting time for hiking boots from these brands is 500-1000 miles. However, the exact lasting time of hiking boots depends on different factors given below:
1. Boot Type (Light, Mid, Heavyweight)
There are several types of hiking boots based on their weight, for instance, the heavyweight trekking boot usually lasts up to 5 years. Each hiker’s boot has its dedicated terrain to be worn on, and a heavyweight boot work with durability on rugged terrain.
And a mid-weight hiking boot has a lifespan of 5 years if you use them regularly; however, it may last less than that if you use them on abrasive ground regularly.
On the contrary, the lightweight hiking boot has a mediocre life span ranging from 1 to 2 seasons. You can expect 500 to 750 miles of coverage from a lightweight hiking boot.
2. Material and Its Quality
The material choice of the boot greatly affects its durability in the longer term. It is obvious that a high-quality material always lasts longer, yet some materials have the natural tendency to perform better than others. Generally, the full-grain leather hiking boot offers more durability than a boot with synthetic uppers.
3. Terrain and Ground for Hiking
As mentioned above, the terrain for hiking has a great role in determining the boot lifespan. The rugged terrain, rough and coarse grounds, and lots of pointy objects certainly impact the boot’s outsole. And if you go on hiking every other week, the boots will certainly become less durable.
In other words, the rocky mountain and rough ground will decrease the durability of the hiker’s boot than if you hike on gooey or smooth dirt pathways. It’s evident that an abrasive ground surface can also damage the boot outsole if you are an avid hiker.
4. Care and Maintenance
You might not consider it an important parameter, but a dirty boot has a reduced lifespan. Like anything, boots also need proper cleanliness and if you don’t clean the hard dirt or don’t dry inside out the boot will either tear or crack.
The reason is, dirt is abrasive, and it can damage the leather or synthetic material if it’s there for longer times. Leather hiking boots need to be moisturized to avoid cracks and dryness over the course of time. You can use a high-quality, durable water-repellent coating to increase the lifespan.
5. Miles and Distance Covered by the Boot
How many miles you have worn the hiker boot is another factor that affects durability. If you are keen on wearing boots for hiking thousands of miles in a single session (which seems impossible), the footwear will either crack or get damaged for sure. Simply put, a good hiker boot can last up to 600 to 1,000 miles. But then again, it depends if you have used it roughly or occasionally.
Signs of Wear and Tear in Hiking Boots
- Broken midsole
- Wear out boot laces
- Poor ankle support
- An outsole that features fissures or has holes
- Too loose interior due to overwearing/usage
- Weary eyelets that are about to fall off
- Soreness and queer discomfort during boot wearing
- Worn uppers or materials such as stitching on fabric
How to Take Care of Your Boots So They Last Long?
1. Protect From Extreme Temperature
Too much of everything is terrible. Always protect your boots from scorching sunlight or enormously dropped temperatures. Don’t keep the hiker’s boots in an open area unless you’re drying them!
Too much of everything is terrible. Always protect your boots from scorching sunlight or enormously dropped temperatures. Don’t keep the hiker’s boots in an open area unless you’re drying them!
If the boot has an insulation rating of -20°F or above for extreme cold weather, it will keep your feet warm and survive in otherwise harsh temperatures. 200g of insulation in the boot will protect it from too-hiked-up and dropped-down temperatures.
2. Keep It Stain Free
Cleanliness is half faith and half durability. If you keep your boot free from stains and stubborn dirt, it will add to its lifespan. Use salt stain remover,z especially when you come home from snow. Let the salt remover air dry from your hiking boot by leaving it overnight.
3. Save From Liquid Spills and Rain
Even if the hiking boot is waterproof, try to save it from rain and water exposure; it decreases its lifespan. Likewise, liquid and chemical spills also impact the boot’s durability.
4. Use Shoe Tree
Shoe trees are an excellent way to keep the boot to your perfect stretch. Use the shoe tree according to your boot style and adjust the width and length nicely. The shoe tree will help maintain the boot shoe, and hence the durability will remain.
5. Use Boot Moisturizer or Polish
Moisturizing is the key to the best appearance. It falls right for leather boots as well. The moisturizer on the leather boot prevents it from cracking or brittleness too soon. Also, it’s best for shining. You can also use boot polish. Apart from dedicated leather polish, use daily care and keep the insole cleaned.
6. Replace the Weary Heel
You don’t have to replace the whole boot when you can easily replace the heel if it is damaged. Be careful of the outsole and if it needs replacement and replaces it timely. It will greatly add to the overall boot lifetime.
7. Use a Gentle Wiping Cloth
Using a damp wipe to clean hiking boots is always a good idea. You use a soft fabric to wipe excess dirt or scum each time you wear it. It is best to avoid build-up dirt that slowly decreases boot durability.
8. Replace Insoles, Laces, Etc.
If you have a hiking boot that works fine for quite some time, make sure its laces or insoles are new. Occasionally, replace laces, insoles, etc., and ensure the interior is comfy. The plush insoles are essential for a hiking boot, so replace them if they have become saggy or flat.
