Police officers, EMTs, firefighters, and other public safety officers depend on their footwear every day to stand up to emergency situations and long shifts while remaining comfortable and durable. However, buying these boots is a big investment, as most quality options cost upwards of $100 dollars or more. To ensure that your investment lasts, it is essential to care for your boots and retain their original, polished shape and style for as long as possible.
Daily Duty Boot Maintenance
The next step to ensuring long-lasting footwear is to break in your boots properly and maintain or replace your insoles. Durable footwear is inadequate if they don’t fit or result in pain or discomfort. Look for comfortable men's boots and women's boots with PU foam insoles and heel support that provide an instant broken-in feel. To further break in your boots, wear them slightly loosened for short periods of time to allow the soles to mold to your feet and build up to everyday wear.
Many boots come with inexpensive insoles that wear out quickly. These can be replaced with better quality PU foam insoles for extra support, and comfort.
Cleaning Leather & Suede Boots
To keep your footwear looking shiny and new, it's important to clean and polish your boots every 1 to 2 weeks. For leather duty boots, use a soft brush or sponge to remove all dirt and dust and use a cloth to apply a leather conditioner to the boot to replenish the natural oils that may have been lost due to water exposure or previous cleanings. For tactical style boots, commonly made with suede, use a fine-bristled brush to remove dried mud and dirt from the boot. Use water or a gentle cleaner like dishwashing soap and water to remove any excess stains, trying a small section first as water may stain suede leather. For a more detailed guide, take a look at our conversation with expert State Trooper, Rick Cronin, on his best practices on how to polish police boots.
How to Dry Boots Properly
In addition to boots getting dirty, officers will often run into inclement weather conditions and other instances in which moisture will build up in the boot. One remedy for this is to look for insulated or waterproof boots (such as the Clash V2 Waterproof boots) with an interior membrane to block moisture from entering your boot while still allowing perspiration to vent out. Keeping moisture out will also ensure that bacteria does not grow inside the boot and create odor.
If your boots aren’t waterproof by design, be sure to leave them to dry after your daily wear or cleaning. Boots should be dried at room temperature, as direct sunlight or fire can severely damage the exterior of the boot. When exposed to high heat, leather boots can dry out and crack – be sure to use caution when drying leather boots and use a conditioner to replenish the material regularly. If boots are soaked through and through, remove insoles and set aside to dry. Place balled up newspaper in the toe and forefoot areas to absorb the moisture. Change the paper after an hour or two as needed and then air dry the balance and replace insoles.
How To Break in Boots and Tactical Footwear
The next step to ensuring long-lasting footwear is to break in your boots properly and maintain or replace your insoles. Durable footwear is inadequate if they don’t fit or result in pain or discomfort. Look for boots with comfortable PU foam insoles and heel support that provide an instant broken-in feel. To further break in your boots, wear them slightly loosened for short periods of time to allow the soles to mold to your feet and build up to everyday wear, or consider boots with dual side zippers such as the Rift Boot.
Many boots come with inexpensive insoles that wear out quickly. These can be replaced with better quality PU foam insoles for extra support, and comfort.
Remember the Small Stuff
Don’t forget the small stuff! Your duty boots can falter due to broken zippers, frayed laces, or ripped seams. If you choose a duty boot with zippers, ensure that it is waterproof and durable in construction. For laced boots, remove the laces prior to cleaning or drying and use a cotton swab to clean the hard to reach eyelets along the boots.
Many of our boot styles feature a unique BOA closure system which forgoes zippers and cloth laces and is tightened using an outer dial. BOA is much more durable than traditional lace and does not create an entry point for water or mud to leak into the boot. Apart from the boot’s lacing system, it is important to care for the seams of the boot. Dirt can often build up in this area – use a cotton swab to properly clean and condition around the seams.
Invest in Backup
For officers who work in seasonal climates, it may be a worthwhile investment to purchase insulated duty boots fit for the cold and snow. It is always a good idea to have a backup pair of duty boots or shoes if your budget permits when the others get wet and need to dry.
Regardless of the specific style or brand of boot that you choose, it is essential to properly care for and maintain your footwear to guarantee long-lasting wear. Investing in a quality pair of tactical or duty boots is not always cheap - justify your investment by choosing a boot that is durable, functional, and comfortable that will perform for countless shifts with proper care and maintenance.
FAQ's
How Do You Waterproof Tactical Boots?
Some boots are made with membranes designed to be waterproof. Others are water resistant using leather treated to be waterproof. Treated leather can be damaged by oil, dirt, salt, and repeated water exposure, so it might be a good idea to take additional action to protect your duty boots. Use a silicone spray for new boots, or apply a leather wax sealant for boots that you've had with you on the job for a while.
Can I put my tactical boots in the washer?
You should never put your duty boots in the washing machine, especially with suede leather. This can permanently damage the boots.
How do you get the smell out of combat boots?
There are several DIY and commercial options for deodorizing tactical boots, but a common thread is removing and cleaning the insoles with hot soapy water, as they can be a perfect medium for bacterial growth. Be sure to let the insoles dry completely before replacing them. You may have heard that putting your boots in the freezer will do the trick, but not that that will prevent bacteria from growing, but bacteria will likely survive and odors could return once you’ve thawed your boots. There are also ‘odor eater’ powders and sprays that can help reduce odor in boots. Wearing Blauer socks can also help as they are treated for resistance to odor causing bacteria.
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