Getting your feet soaked in water while hiking is the most uncomfortable feeling. Your feet get stinky, and the socks slip against the boots. Also, the weight of the boots may increase a bit because they are wet. Throwing them away is not the option here, nor is getting a panic attack in the middle of the terrain.
Many pro hikers have claimed to experience this many times while being on the trail during a rainy season. Also, it’s not just about the rainy season. Maybe, you accidentally put your feet in mud or a puddle, which caused your feet to get wet along with the boots. So, what now?
How to keep shoes dry when hiking in the rain?. Before diving deep into this question, you must know the importance of dry feet on the terrain. Remember, you can’t have dry feet if it’s heavily raining on the trail. The best shot now is staying at home and waiting until the weather gets pleasant.
When your shoes get wet, try to take them off quickly and place them in a shadow or somewhere where it isn’t wet. Don’t try to walk barefoot and wait till the boots get somewhat dry. Go back to your vehicle and head back home rather than finishing off the trail. It will save your feet and shoes from getting damaged.
Why keep Shoes Dry When Hiking In Rain?
First and foremost, the dry hiking boots will be lightweight and won’t be stinking. Second, if you let the boots be wet and continue hiking, it may cause pain in the feet because you’ll be putting extra effort into maintaining the feet in the place. Also, your socks will be wet, causing a weak grip which will ultimately get you to twist or slip on the terrain.
Athletes’ feet or itchy red blisters can be caused by hiking boots if your feet remain wet for a longer time. If you’re on a short hike, then it’s okay if you try to finish off the terrain and reach home late. But, if you’re on a terrain that will take hours to finish, you must take a break in between, try to dry off the shoes and socks, and then head back home.
How To Keep Shoes Dry When Hiking In The Rain?
To avoid trench feet or athlete’s feet, keep the shoes and feet dry. Sometimes, the feet also sweat while hiking. Although it seems to be a minor inconvenience, it can have a huge impact. Historians say that many soldiers had lost their feet during world war 1 because of blisters.
There are a few tips that can help you in getting the shoes dry and keeping your feet healthy:
Getting A Boot Cover
Prevention is better than cure. Why wait for the boots to get soaked in water and then cry over spilled milk?. Manufacturers have designed tools or gadgets that keep the boots dry or protect them from getting wet from the rain.
Such a product is a boot cover. It is used to cover the boots and protect them from getting wet. Usually, it covers the knees and the boots, and rainwater cannot reach the boots or your feet. Moreover, there are river boot covers specifically designed to cross rivers, but you won’t need them unless you are hiking near a river area.
Boot covers work best in a rocky area, if the surface is smooth, it will get slippery after rain, and the boot covers will not provide you enough traction.
Stepping Into Gaiter
Gaiter is a fabric material that covers the ankles and lower knees area along with the shoes, while only the front area is left uncovered. So the boots are almost protected 90% from the rain.
However, it seems difficult for people to get to know the gaiter. The simplified method is to step into the gaiter and place the fabric on the top side of the boot such that the edge cut area comes to the front side of the boot. Put the hook into the boots’ laces and finally button it up.
Using gaiters is an efficient way to protect the boots from water because it almost covers all shoes. But the protection percentage is 85-90% means that there is still a chance of getting wet boots if there is heavy rainfall.
Apply “Water-Proof” Wax
Hiking boots are made of suede leather mostly, and it tends to absorb water easily. Even if your hiking boots are made of other synthetic materials, they will soak up the water, so you must seal them.
Use the water-proof wax on the surface of the boots and apply it all over. Wax takes time to dry and sit in the material. Use the wax cream or spray it before going on the hike (say 1-2 days). Place the boots in a cool or dry place so that the wax absorbs completely.
Apart from applying wax, a foot balm called” hydrophobic” keeps the feet dry during the hike. We would suggest you use both to get the optimum results.
Wear Synthetic Fabric Socks
If your hiking boots are water-resistant, then there is a chance that they are heavy duty and your feet tend to sweat while wearing them. It is optimum if you use trail socks made of synthetic fabric to absorb the sweat quickly and keep the feet dry.
These socks will also maintain the PH of the feet and retain the moisture needed to keep the feet fresh.
Other Tips And Tricks
- Pro hikers use their sleeping bags to keep their boots dry.
- You can also use shopping bags to keep the water away from the boots.
- If your boots got wet and it’s a cold night, place them in a plastic bag and then in a backpack to avoid freezing.
- You can use special drying tools to dry out the boots quickly.
- Don’t put the boots in direct sunlight.
- Avoid heating with blow dryers or campfires
- Keep some papers or newspapers with you in the backpack and put them inside the boots to dry them up.
- You can use towels made from synthetic material to dry the boots.
Final Thoughts
Wearing wet hiking boots can be a threat to your feet. It can cause blisters and athletes’ feet. Keeping your shoes and feet dry during the hiking is one of many reasons for making your venture an unforgettable memory.
To keep your boots dry, try using the boot cover and gaiters so that the boot covers can prevent water from coming inside the boots. If you are using water-resistant boots, then there are chances of getting sweaty feet, so it is good to use serums or sprays that are hydrophobic so that your feet remain dry. Likewise, there are serums and sprays for the hiking boots to keep them dry and protect them from heavy rainfall.
Other tips include wearing special trail socks to prevent the sweat, and if soaked with water, they will dry quickly. Also, carry plastic bags or sleeping bags with you so that if the weather is cold, you can place the boots inside them to keep them from freezing. Avoid heating them directly under the campfire or in the sunlight as it will damage the fabric of the boots and will make them shrink.