If youve ridden a motorcycle, then you know just how important a good pair of boots is; you cant comfortably and safely ride your bike with just any old pair of sneakers or shoes. Most avid riders will tell you that your boots are just as important as any other safety item that you can buy, so you need to to buy a high-quality pair of boots, and when you do, you need to make sure that they stay properly maintained.

Leather boots can last you for years when you take proper care of them; you need to make sure that the leather stays clean and moisturized. Follow these tips to keep your boots properly treated:

Cleaning

We all know that you can get pretty dirty after a long ride, and this dirt tends to settle in on all of your gear. After youve gone for a ride, make sure to wash all the mud, grime, dirt and debris off of your boots, and rub them down with a towel to make sure that there isnt any excess moisture on them. If you cant get the dirt off with your towel, then you can use a soft brush to loosen it up. Always make sure to clean the soles of your boots to prevent mud from caking up in your boot treads.

Condition Your Boots

When you condition your leather boots, you make sure to lock moisture into them, and this keeps them looking fresh and clean for years to come. You can use either a chemical cleaner or a natural oil; they both help your boots repel water and stay new.

If you have black boots, you can use any type of conditioner. If you have boots that arent black, you may want to stick with a chemical-based conditioner; natural conditioners change the color of your leather, so if your boots arent black, youll see a noticeable difference after treating them.

Always condition boots when you first buy them. When you do, youll be sure that your boots are always protected from the elements. Most people condition their leather boots at least once a year; it keeps the leather in great condition.

Some conditioner comes in cream form. If youre using a cream conditioner, then make sure that you use it at room temperature. When your boots are at room temperature, the pores in the leather open up, and the cream can effectively seep into the leather to protect it.

What About Boots That Are Made From A Variety Of Materials?

Lots of boots arent made of strictly leather. If you have a pair of boots that are made of more than one material, then youre going to need a conditioner that works with all the materials.

Youre best off using a chemical conditioner that works on all your boot materials; always check the conditioners label to make sure that you are using a conditioner that protects your whole boot. If your conditioner doesnt work on your boot materials, then youre going to need to buy one that properly protects all the materials that they are made of.

Store Your Boots Properly

Its tempting to throw your boots in the closet when you are done using them, but storing them improperly can ruin them before their time. If you store your boots when they are wet and dirty, mold can form on them, and this makes them unwearable.

Before storing your boots, make sure to clean and dry them; this guarantees that nothing funky will grow on your boots during the off-season. If youve have some extra money, you can invest in a boot dryer; its a stand that you can hang boots, hats and gloves off of to make sure that they dry completely after you use them.

If you take proper care of your boots, theyll last you a lifetime. The leather is the most important part of your boots. If you notice that your soles or seams are coming undone, you can always get them repaired at a shoe shop for a relatively low price, but if you let the leather get cracked and worn, you need to completely replace your boots. Boots are a great investment for people who ride, so make sure that you take care of them, and when you do, theyll last you forever.