Hi all,

I need some advice. I bought a new pair of boots about a week ago and went out snowhsoeing. The insides (amazingly) stayed dry and warm but the outsides were beaten up (mostly snow). These boots were expensive and I'd like to make em last as long as possible. They are northface gortex boots. Any suggestions?

rinse the dirt off ... every season apply nik wax for gore/leather on them

if the membrane ever starts leaking ... contact the NF ... or gore ... you should be able to warranty it either way

Always remove the insole and let the insoles and boots dry out thoroughly.
Never leave damp socks inside the boots.
Don't dry your boots near a campfire or wood stove.

It so depends on the boot and materials - why not send a query to TNF asking what they recommend? Why take the chance doing something else?

Most important thing is to let them dry right after a trip. No matter what, for at least 24 hours.

If it's leather boots, use leather products to reproof them, if it's any other material, use the appropriate reproofing.. It's going to be either wax or liquid, or maybe even they would suggest to not reproof them. For my leather boots, I prefer wax as you have to apply it yourself with fingers or cloth, and then use something like a hair dryer to melt it on the boots. You can even use baby oil! It's cheap and takes longer but it works.

For most other materials it's going to be a spray that you let dry for 24 hours or so.

Since you have NF boots, it's unlikely to be leather boots, so check out what's the outside material and reproof it with the right product.

With all that said, if you want your boots to live long, the really really important things that you always have to do are to:

- Remove them right after snowshoeing. You're most likely to damage/destroy your boots when they are damp and you're moving around. It's always better to have a second set of dry socks and shoes in the car for when you come back, sucks to put on cold socks and shoes but you'll save a lot of gear by doing so.

- Wash them with a clean cloth and warm water.

- At home, let them dry, dry, dry. And not heat them when they are wet.

- After a couple of small/medium trips(5-6), reproof them after cleaning them and letting them dry for 24hours. After a very very long trip in wet snow where your boots are soaked, you can reproof after letting them dry for 24-48 hours. I know it's a long time to dry but damp boots are like wet bread.

Hope that will help your boots. Cheers!

Thanks guys, appreciate the advice.
It didn't even occur to me to check what the manufacturer suggests. Good idea.