Getting Your Money’s Worth from Kids’ Combat Boots

Kids are tough on their stuff. They outright neglect it in most cases, and don’t think it’ll be any different with their combat boots. 

To make matters worse, kids grow fast, which means that first pair of kids’ combat boots you get likely will not last more than a year or two, even if your kid cares for them well. 

With that being said, teaching your kids how to care for their footwear responsibly is a good life lesson that will translate to other areas of life as well. 

Here’s how to make sure your kids’ combat boots go the distance, even if he or she outgrows them within a year or two. 

Don’t Abuse Them 

This first note is a relatively general one. The best note here is just not to abuse the boots. Teach your kid to be mindful of how and where he or she wears the boots, and to avoid situations that will damage the uppers. 

Don’t Leave Them Wet

Your kids’ combat boots are going to get soaked through, sooner or later. That is foregone. What happens next is what determines how long the boots will last. 

You don’t want to leave a pair of boots wet for long, regardless of whether they’re combat boots, jungle boots, work boots, or logger boots. 

Let alone the fact that a pair of boots that’s allowed to remain wet will smell terrible, quickly, the moisture will damage them. 

Even were it not for the smell, moisture exposure will allow mold and mildew to grow inside and out of the boot. 

On top of that, moisture accelerates decay, and can cause rot. This is especially true of boots that have leather uppers.

The bottom line is not to leave them wet for long. However, you also have to be conscientious about how you dry them off. 

Don’t Dry Them Out Too Aggressively 

If you dry out your boots too quickly, such as putting them by a radiator or stove, you will stress the adhesive that’s used in the boots, and can stress the upper material as well, especially if it is leather. 

Therefore, the best way to dry your kids’ combat boots off is in metered fashion. One thing you can do is stuff the boots with newspapers that will help dry them out. 

Otherwise, place them in a cool, dry location with plenty of airflow. Outside in a breezy spot in the shade is great for this as long as the relative humidity is low enough. 

Keeping Them Clean

A pair of clean boots will last longer, whether they’re yours or your kids’ combat boots. Cleaning a pair of boots doesn’t have to be super-involved, either. 

Once they’re dry, use a stiff-bristled brush to scrub off any dirt or mud that’s caked on there, and do the same for the soles. 

Also, make sure to loosen the laces and clean off the gusseted area inside the tongue as well, as dirt can accumulate here where it will abrade the uppers. 

Waxing the Laces 

Waxing your kids’ combat boot laces will make them last much longer, not to mention that they will hold knots better. This in and of itself is a reason to wax the laces since kids’ laces tend to come undone chronically on their own as it is. 

Anyway, waxed laces will last longer because they will resist abrasion and the fibers will stick together more efficiently, making them much more robust. They also won’t absorb moisture readily which will help prevent moisture-induced deterioration. 

Notes for Kids’ Combat Boots with Leather Uppers 

If your kids’ combat boots have leather uppers, there are some special notes for care. 

First, the other notes here about not allowing them to remain wet, and about drying them off responsibly, are important. This is because leather will become damaged much more easily than synthetic uppers if it gets wet or is allowed to remain wet. 

Also, you will need to keep the leather uppers clean, the same as any other combat boots, but more importantly, you will need to periodically condition the uppers with an appropriate leather treatment. 

Leather treatment or conditioner will help keep the leather soft and supple, so that it does not become dry, brittle, and warp, crack, or delaminate. 

There are prefabricated leather treatments you can buy or you can make or mix your own with neatsfoot oil and beeswax. Either way, make sure you treat the leather as needed, typically twice per year or a little more, depending on how heavily the boots are worn. 

Here for a New Pair of Kids’ Combat Boots?

Hopefully you found this guide helpful and the tips mentioned here will help you keep your kids’ combat boots in better shape for longer, but if you landed here because you need a new pair, shop through our collection today. 

Just make sure you follow the pointers listed here so that the new pair will last longer.