Impregnate shoes: How to protect your treads from moisture

If shoes get wet more often, their breathing activity decreases over time – this applies above all to sensitive materials such as leather, since their pores are not closed during further processing. Therefore, they are neither waterproof nor dirt -resistant and therefore automatically more susceptible to dirt or moisture. However, if you impregnate your shoes, preferably before wearing the first time (but also at regular intervals), protect the treads from moisture and dirt. But which products are best suited for this and how do you use them correctly? We’ll tell you.

Most use a classic impregnation spray to protect their shoes. But there are also other products that achieve the same effect. You can find out which these are and how to use them.

1. Impregnation spray
This is the most common product for impregnating shoes. Most sprays are suitable for textiles, leather and high-tech fabric-but you should always take a look at the packaging before buying. Depending on the manufacturer, the type of application can differ, so you should always read the small print. Basically a always be suitable for shoes made of rauleder (i.e. velor and nubucley leather) or synthetics. And so the product is used: spray the shoes with a safety distance of at least 30 centimeters all around. Let the product pull in briefly, repeat the process (if recommended by the manufacturer) and wait 24 hours before wearing it for the first time.

Important:
Use an impregnation spray only outdoors and make sure that you do not inhale the vapors.

2. Shoe wax or cream
As an alternative to the impregnation spray, you can also one or a Use for outdoor and hiking shoes. Both products have a nourishing and protective function. In particular, smooth leather can be treated well with a wax or cream, since the content has to be incorporated into the surface of the shoes with a clean cloth. If possible, remove the laces in advance to impregnate the entire area. Then you should also wait at least 24 hours before you wear your shoes outside. In order for the wax or the cream to move in more easily, it also makes sense to add the leather in advance – the same also applies to the use of an impregnation spray.

Another note: If you want to impregnate so-called Gore-Tex shoes, you should not use oil-containing or heavily fatty care products such as shoe wax-because it would affect the functionality of the membrane. Here the classic impregnation spray is the better choice because it does not clog the pores. There are even special for bicycle shoes (and clothing) that you can use.

Unfortunately, if you impregnate new shoes, it is far from being done: The treads are exposed to all weather conditions by wearing – and sooner or later will lose your protection. In order to maintain this permanently, sensitive leather, sports and outdoor shoes made of rough and suede (smooth leather is a little less wet and dirt and dirt) should be treated regularly: before they are treated with the actual Start, dried dust and dirt residues must be removed. It is best to use a suitable shoe brush for this. The next steps were explained in the previous paragraph.

After the first impregnation, your shoes should be treated at regular intervals. How often exactly depends on the respective materials. In principle, however, you can assume that protection against dirt and wet wins within four to eight weeks – depending on how often you wear the shoes. At the latest, however, if you notice that you get wet feet because the material is sucking up with water, it is time for a new impregnation with the right spray, a cream or wax.