Rain is one of the biggest issues that someone might encounter when hiking. Your hike may be ruined by rain if it slows you down. Rain makes you more aware of your clothing, gear, and especially your shoes since they are less protected on the ground during a trek. How to keep shoes dry while hiking in the rain should be considered before doing so. and generate little responses to that. Don’t worry, however; I’ll give you some advice on how to keep your shoes dry while trekking in the rain today.
Why should you keep your hiking shoes dry?
Trench foot is a condition where your feet get wrinkled and red by wearing damp boots for an extended period of time. Even though this issue may seem trivial, it sometimes poses a danger to life. Trench foot caused many American and British army troops to die during World War 1. Yes, you may be startled, but this is a less-discussed subject, particularly while trekking, when trench foot can occur due to water in your boots and socks. Do not panic; this will only occur if you wear damp boots for a prolonged period of time without drying them off.
Trench foot may result in wrinkles and a rosy complexion and inability to walk due to blisters; skin deteriorates and comes off. There are other trench foot symptoms as well, but these are some of the most typical ones that hikers encounter on the route. In order to prevent any of them from occurring. the directions listed here.
As soon as you get the opportunity, clean your feet by taking off your damp socks. Use bottled water or a clean, flowing faucet to wash your feet.
When trekking in the rain, how can I keep my shoes dry?
- Cover your shoes
Use a river crossing cover if your hiking shoes are made of a material that readily absorbs moisture. This is also effective in rain; typically, you put a cover over your hiking boots that may extend up to your knees. If the path surface permits it, you may utilize the river covers even though they are often used to bridge rivers. If the ground is muddy and excessively slippery, avoid using them since you can lose your balance and grip. This works well on trails with hard surfaces and rocks. Although it may not be the finest choice, it will keep your hiking shoes dry if it rains. Use it just if you feel secure and at ease if you are trekking in the rain.
- Use gaiters
Use Gaiters When utilizing a gaiter may assist keep your shoes dry while hiking, it may not be completely protective, and no solution is 100% effective. The wonderful thing about a gaiter is that it may also shield your ankle and lower leg from injury, preventing water from entering your shoes from the top. The cloth shield known as a gaiter must be wrapped over your leg, ankle, and top of your shoes. While trekking in the rain, it covers more than 60% of your footwear with just the front half being exposed.
How do gaiters work? Put the strap between your foot and the cloth around your leg so that the front opening is in front to step into the gaiter. Next, secure the gaiter’s hook in the boot laces (when doing so, maintain the strap’s buckle on the outside).
- Put on aqua sneakers.
Use or carry aqua shoes with you and put them on in wet weather is another excellent approach to keep your hiking boots dry. Because they have excellent traction and are lighter than hiking boots thanks to a thin layer of fabric on top and a rubber sole at the bottom, aqua shoes are the best because you can use them on any terrain. Aqua shoes are a fantastic alternative to hiking boots in the rain, but despite all of their benefits, the biggest drawback is that they collect moisture and become heavier than wet hiking boots, but not by much. The pair may run you around $10, but they’re a terrific choice for trail walkers.
Aqua shoes are often shorter than your ankle, which invites insects, so if you wear them, you should be a little more aware of your surroundings. When the rain stops, quickly change into your hiking boots for protection.
- Wear hiking boots
When trekking in the rain, swap out your hiking boots with a pair of pool shoes if you don’t like the other possibilities. The nicest part about pool shoes is that because they are constructed of rubber, all water will drain off them and they won’t retain any moisture or water inside. Pool shoes don’t need to be dried; all they need to do is shake them to let the water drain out. Due to their excellent traction, pool shoes are also quite helpful while hiking on muddy paths. Some hikers who are aware of this utilize them since they are a better alternative to aqua boots and operate well in the rain.
- For flat paths, put on sandals.
Use your regular sandals if you have them on trails while it’s pouring if you don’t want to spend any money on other footwear. Although it’s not the best choice, most hikers choose this. Even if there is a little chance that you may be bitten by an insect or slide on the slick surface, you can easily avoid any of these situations if you are somewhat more aware of your surroundings and vigilant.
Boots should be waterproofed before trekking.
If you have hiking boots made of suede leather or any other material that absorbs water, this is a crucial choice. Avoid this procedure if your boots already contain Gortex membrane or other additional features; your boots don’t require this.
How to waterproof boots for trekking
- Know the material a boot is made of initially.
- Consider wax-based waterproof boot products.
- By rubbing or spraying the wax or cream on the boot, apply it.
Let the material’s open pores completely fill with wax or cream before allowing the boot to cure for the recommended number of hours.
How to Tell if Hiking Boots are Too Big is something else you may appreciate.
Which techniques for drying hiking boots work best?
- Avoid drying with a campfire.
Avoid using any form of heat to dry your hiking boots if they are damp in any situation since doing so can deteriorate the material. Instead, follow the steps to manually dry them; although the operation does take some time, it is the best and most effective way to dry hiking boots or any other kind of damp footwear.
- Clean the shoes
Clean your shoes first. You don’t need to wait for the dirt to dry before cleaning it up since it often becomes trapped within the pores of leather over time and clings there. So, wash your shoes in water, but first take off the lace and other shoe accessories.
- Dry with paper
Usually, it takes more than a day for damp boots to naturally dry. So, you may utilize the document to expedite things. Simply fold a large piece of paper and stuff it into your shoes to utilize this approach. After a few hours, the paper will absorb all the moisture and water from the boot and speed up the drying process.
- Allow the boots to dry in the sun.
Nothing dries shoes better than natural sunshine, therefore if the sun is strong, choose it to dry your shoes. What if the sun isn’t shining? You still have choices if the sun isn’t shining to dry the wet boots.
- Use towels
Towels may be used to dry your shoes. To achieve this, insert the towel’s two ends inside the boots, and then use the towel’s remaining two corners or ends to completely enclose the shoes. Remove it after allowing the towel to absorb the moisture for at least 30 minutes.
What disadvantages come with using waterproof hiking boots?
Hiking footwear’s waterproofing technology has advanced significantly. Waterproof footwear comes in a variety of proprietary forms, such as Gore-Tex or Merrel’s DRY, but they all provide essentially the same outcomes. Boots that are waterproof will keep your feet dry, but at the expense of breathability, weight, and price.
- Breathability
All waterproof boots feature a membrane to keep water out of the shoe, which also reduces airflow to your feet. This membrane is necessary for waterproof boots to keep water out of the shoe. Despite the breathability claims of certain waterproof shoes, they aren’t as breathable as non-waterproof shoes, particularly in warmer temperatures.
- Weight
Because of the additional water barrier, waterproof hiking shoes will weigh more than their non-waterproof equivalents. This is something you should absolutely think about if you’re attempting to become ultralight. Weight shouldn’t be a big factor if you’re not striving to lose every ounce since the difference is just a few ounces.
- Cost
The price of waterproof hiking boots is the final significant drawback. These hiking shoes include additional technology; therefore, manufacturers will often charge $30 to $50 each pair.
How to Dry Your Hiking Shoes
If your boots are fully drenched, the first thing you should do when you get to camp, or your destination is shake them out to remove any more water. You have no option but to hike in wet boots if it’s supposed to rain for the next three days since they probably won’t dry. However, if you’re fortunate and the sun is out, you may be able to dry your hiking boots. In order for water to drain out of your shoe opening and down the inside of your shoe, turn your shoes upside down and slant them.
Your best options are waterproof boots and merino wool shoes, although even they are not completely waterproof and may get wet. Your trek will be lot more enjoyable if you are only willing to have wet feet when it is raining. However, wearing wool socks and water-resistant hiking boots will significantly improve the likelihood that your feet will remain entirely dry. There have only been a few occasions when I have worn such garments and my feet have still been wet due to an intense or protracted rain. Enjoy the rainy trek you’re on!
Some additional tips to Make Your Boots Waterproof
Boots are not entirely waterproof, despite what the makers claim. A fully waterproof boot wouldn’t be comfortable to wear since your feet would perspire in it, making you wet from the inside rather than the outside. There are, however, certain boots that successfully balance breathability and waterproofness. You have three primary options:
- Finished leather that is water-resistant
Leather is inherently water-resistant and very durable, while being difficult to break in. In order to keep them from absorbing water, many leather hiking boots are now coated with a water-resistant coating. They take time to dry, so you still shouldn’t immerse them, but they can withstand a small to moderate amount of rain. Your current leather boots may also be waterproofed. There are products on the market that work very well, such Otter Boot Wax and Nikwax Leather Waterproofing wax.
- Membranes that block water (Gore-Tex/eVent)
A membrane is inserted within the boot lining in this instance. The membrane’s perforations are so tiny that water cannot get through them, but water vapor from your perspiring feet may. In this regard, boots with a Gore-Tex or eVent membrane are both waterproof and somewhat breathable. Additionally, they dry fairly rapidly, making them suitable for overnight treks or camping trips.
In a heavy rain, they won’t protect your feet from becoming wet, however. The boots have seams where water might seep through. They are especially horrible when immersed, such as while crossing streams, since the waterproof membrane prevents the water from leaving once it gets inside.
Final words
Follow the tips we shared in this article and keep your shoes dry while you are hiking in the rain. It will help you to enjoy your hiking experiences without having to worry too much about anything.
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