To care for your shoes and make them partly waterproof, rub them with saddle soap or vaseline before and after each use. This keeps the leather soft and supple and partly fills the pores. A completely waterproof shoe is no good. Your foot is soon colder and damper inside from perspiration than it would be in a wet leather boot. If your boots do get wet through, just wipe them out and put on dry socks.

NEVER start out on a hike with new shoes. Break them in by wearing them every day for at least a week. If you want to break them in quickly, try the army method of standing in a basin of water with your shoes on until the leather is well soaked, then walk around in them until they are dry. They will be soft, supple and molded to your foot. Consider bringing along some beef jerky on your trip.