How To Clean Smelly Hiking Boots

Hiking boots are quite an expensive investment and you want them to last as long as possible. I find there is also an emotional connection to a great pair of hiking boots that fit, protect your feet, and are super comfy to wear.

You have taken the time to find them, break them in, and love going hiking in them. They add something special to every hike as you know, no matter what peak you’re summiting or long walk you’re going on, your feet are going to be comfy and happy every time.

It’s always a bummer when they start to smell, which inevitably will happen, especially when you’re hiking in damp conditions which is pretty much always the case. So, how do you clean smelly hiking boots so that they stay fresh for longer?

How To Clean Smelly Hiking Boots

In order to remove the odor from your smelly boots, you need to reset them and this required three stages of cleaning.

Step 1

Wash your boots with warm soapy water, focussing on the insoles as much as possible. Your insoles will hold the most odor as this is where your sweat or any outside moisture will have been soaked up more than anywhere else, and it’s likely the main colony of the smelly bacteria and fungus.

Remove your insoles and run them through the warm soapy water ensuring that the soap goes right through them. The same goes for hiking boots. Make sure to rinse them all thoroughly so that there is