Club Benefits
As the winter snow melts away and the rain starts to welcome itself back into our lives, hikes have become a lot muddier. I think that’s all part of the fun. If I get back to my car after a long hike covered in mud, I know it was fun and a little bit of a challenge. But when I get back home and have to clean up, that’s when I start to question my choices a little.
It can feel so tempting to let your hiking boots sit in the mud until your next hike because, let’s face it, they’re just going to get muddy again anyway. But that’s exactly the opposite of what you should be doing! And it’s not just about keeping the shoes looking like new. The waterproofing materials that you pay for can also become damaged and stop working if the mud is left to sit for too long.
A good waterproof shoe
If you live in an area with a lot of muddy trails surrounding you, it will be in your best interest to pick up a pair of the best hiking boots, and these often come with waterproofing technology. Some of the favorites that I tested in 2025 are the Icebug RB9X GTX. These shoes have Gore-Tex outers to make them waterproof, but to ensure they last a long time, you need to take care of them.
If left to sit, the mud can get into the pores of the Gore-Tex, making it far less breathable. This means your feet won’t get the same breathability. It will also degrade the waterproof coating on the outside of the shoes, meaning your feet won’t be as protected from the elements.
So, what do you do?
1. Act fast!
The answer to solving this problem? Act fast. The sooner you get the majority of the mud off your shoes, the better. If you can, you should first remove the laces of the shoes so you can get into all of the crevices, as any hiker will know, mud has the tendency to get everywhere.
2. Get brushing
You can then brush all of the mud off the shoes. I usually use a soft-bristle brush for this, as it’s not too abrasive on the shoe but can still effectively break up the dirt.
3. Wipe down
Then you can take a cloth and wipe down the exterior of the shoe. I use a reusable microfibre cloth cloth but anything will do. Try not to get the shoe soaking wet here, the goal is to gently remove all of the grime.
4. Use a firmer tool for the soles
For the underside and sole of the shoe, you can take something a bit firmer to remove more stubborn mud and any stones that may be stuck.
The final steps
As important as it is to clean the shoes, the drying process is what really leaves the longevity of your footwear hanging in the balance. Drying them too quickly will affect the material, but too slowly will leave them smelling a little damp. It’s a precarious process.
If the weather is good, I’ll leave them outside to let the sun do most of the work and then bring them in when they’re mostly dry. But it’s a little trickier in the winter. An old trick that I still swear by is loosely stuffing the shoes with paper towels and leaving them to air dry. This will take a while, but it’s super effective. If I need to speed up the process, I turn the heat on in the house, but set the shoes a good distance away from the heater so they don’t dry too quickly.
Cleaning your shoes or boots is the best way to make sure they last as long as possible. It’s also a good idea to top up the waterproofing now and again to make sure your feet are always dry, even on the wettest walks.
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