Removing Scuffs From Hiking Boots

Hiking boots are an essential piece of equipment for the serious hiker. Good boots keep your feet dry, warm and well protected and give you stability and grip on uneven ground. Over time they will get dusty, dirty, scuffed and muddy, but with proper care and regular cleaning they should last through many seasons of hiking. There are several ways to remove scuff marks and they are different for full-grain leather hiking boots from those made from suede or nubuck.

  1. Scuffs On Full-Grain Leather

    • Most hiking boots are full-grain leather and are very hardy, but can still get scuff marks. The easiest way to remove scuffs is to apply a small amount of toothpaste onto the area and lightly buff, then wipe off with a damp cloth. Other proven treatments are petroleum jelly or baking soda applied on a damp rag, or lavender oil applied with a cotton ball. All these products require a little elbow grease to remove the mark and should then be wiped off so that no residue remains. Occasionally, you will get a very bad scuff mark that can’t be removed using one of these methods, and you will need to refinish the leather.

    Refinishing Leather to Remove Scuffs

    • Most people do not regard their hiking boots as fashion items and can live with the battlescar a bad scuff leaves. However, if you have a scuff that bothers you, you can take them to a shoe repair shop for refinishing, or you can do it yourself. Take your shoes to a repair shop and use a color chart to get the right color-refinishing spray. Clean and dry the boots. Use masking tape on the sole and heel so that only the leather is exposed. Apply spray evenly and lightly in a well-ventilated area. After drying, remove the masking tape and polish the boot.

    Scuffs On Suede and Nubuck

    • Suede and nubuck have a soft feel and should be treated differently than full-grain leather for scuff removal. Brush the boots with a suede brush to remove dirt and mud. If they are wet from hiking, then blot with paper towels and allow them to dry. Once dry, you can remove scuff marks by gently rubbing with a clean pencil eraser. There are also proprietary suede cleaning products that can be applied with a foam applicator. These are massaged into the scuffed area until the mark is gone. Brush the boots with the suede brush again after removing the scuff to raise the nap of the surface.

    Hiking Boot Care

    • Proper care of your boots will make them last longer and will reduce the severity of scuffs. Clean them thoroughly after every hike, as dirt left in the creases will dry out the leather and make any scuffs more visible. Normal shoe polish will work, or use saddle soap and warm water followed by a leather dressing. Regualr maintenance will keep boots in good condition for many years. Always store them at room temperature, as heat will dry the leather and make it more susceptible to abrasions and scuffs. Re-waterproof them to keep the surface in good condition by rubbing in beeswax on a soft cloth or using proprietary spray-on and brush-on products.