FOOTWEAR CARE
MEINDL SPORT WAX (80G) £4.99
Maybe it’s just us, but it doesn’t feel like proper boot care unless you’re scooping gunk out of a tin and applying it lovingly to your cherished boots. Meindl’s Sport Wax is an all-natural beeswax designed to nourish and protect full-grain leather. One of the Trail team once used it for eight years on a pair of old school, non-Gore-Tex Lowa boots that we can honestly say never, ever leaked.
VERDICT If you own a more traditional pair of smooth full-grain leather boots – we’re talking the Zamberlans, Scarpas and Meindls of this world – this is the stuff to buy. It smells wonderful too.
BOOT BANANAS ORIGINAL SHOE DEODORISERS £14
Smelly and wet hiking boots are never a pleasant thing, yet this quirky, banana-shaped product solves the problem. Simply place the bananas – which are made from naturally absorbent salts, minerals, plant extracts and lavender essential oils, all wrapped in a 100% cotton banana skin – inside your footwear and the moisture will be absorbed and the odours neutralised. Simple. VERDICT These fragrant and moisture-absorbing shoe deodorisers make ‘fruity’ boots a thing of the past.
NIKWAX FOOTWEAR CLEANING GEL (300ML) AND FABRIC AND LEATHER PROOF (300ML) £12.49 (TWIN-PACK)
It’s the chore every hillwalker hates, but it needs to be done – dirt can dry out leather, corrode fibres and ruin your boots’ performance. But with Nikwax’s footwear products cleaning your boots is hassle-free. The footwear cleaning gel helps wash off caked-on mud with a deep clean, before the re-proofer maintains breathability and restores waterproofing.
VERDICT A reliable, simple-to-use system for keeping your boots in a clean, tip-top shape.
OOFOS OOAHH SPORT SLIDE SANDAL £55
Originally sceptical of this ‘recovery sandal’, we now never finish a hike without sliding our feet into its soothing embrace. The OOfoam footbed is so opulently soft and squashy it reduces stress on knees and ankles by 37% (apparently), and feels like you’re walking on clouds. Ideal for wearing around the house as you nurse tired and sore post-trail feet.
VERDICT Ridiculously comfy and cushioned flip-flops that are perfect for a spot of post-hike foot care.
SUPERFEET TRAILBLAZER COMFORT £40
The standard footbed of most walking boots provides little support. Aftermarket insoles can enhance cushioning and stability, which can make you feel less footsore, reduce joint stress and stop your feet from shifting inside your boots, a common cause of bruised toenails and blisters. Visit a decent outdoor shop for fitting advice and to try out different models – but the Trailblazer Comfort certainly made a difference for us.
VERDICT If you often feel footsore, or suffer with joint stress or blisters after long days on the hill, these could be the answer to your walking woes.
LEMON SOLE SHOE FRESHENER (60ML) £9.99
After Trail gear tester Matt Jones finished the 300-mile Cambrian Way his boots smelled more than a bit funky, and he wasn’t convinced they'd be rescued. But a good clean and a few pumps of this all-natural, lemon-scented spray did the trick, which even meant they were finally allowed inside the house again. Made with six essential oils, it’s naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. VERDICT Powerfully scented, all-natural spray with a pungent lemony-fresh aroma that can conquer even the most fetid footwear.