How to Take Care of Your GORE-TEX Shoes – With GORE-TEX Brand Ambassador Aum Gandhi

Ultrarunner Aum Gandhi reveals how keeping a clean pair of GORE-TEX Shoes became an essential part of his running routine.
 

Aum Gandhi’s journey into the world of ultrarunning began in his mid twenties when he discovered an unexpected love for long-distance running. Since then he has competed in some of the most challenging races around the world, earning respect within the running community for his positive attitude towards mental health as much as his impressive stamina.

Whether he’s out training in his home trails of Southern California or taking part in an event, Aum says that cleaning his GORE-TEX Shoes has become an essential ritual that not only prolongs their lifespan but also enhances his performance. Below our newest GORE-TEX Brand Ambassador offers some indispensable first-hand advice on keeping your footwear in top condition.

“I like to mix things up with my shoes. When it comes to rainy days, light stream crossings, and dealing with muddy conditions, nothing comes close to the protective power of GORE-TEX Shoes. Typically, I’m not someone that is worried about getting my feet dirty, but if I’m doing a race where it can be avoided, the waterproof feature of GORE-TEX Shoes goes a long way.

“I’ve used GORE-TEX Products on some pretty long runs and found that my feet are bone dry even after splashing in a few puddles and accumulating mud on the outside of my shoes. As someone who is more susceptible to blisters, the time factor of not having to change socks and shoes is important, and keeping moisture off my feet is incredibly important. In longer distances, the time adds up so the GORE-TEX Shoes played a huge factor in making my run stronger.

Clean shoes, happy feet. 

“I’ll be honest, I’m often out on the trails so much during peak season that I will clean my shoes maybe once a month at best. Typically, it’s situational. Normal dirt can hold on for six to eight weeks. However, if I come back from a particularly muddy run on the trails, I clean my shoes right away. In my opinion, the type of wear and how you respond to the really gritty damage is what is most important.

“It’s a bit like owning a car: you have to maintain your shoes from time to time. GORE-TEX Shoes are resilient and do handle a lot of normal wear well, but you have to lend a hand when it comes to the really heavy stuff, like gobs of mud. So proper care and maintenance is essential.

“As resilient as GORE-TEX Shoes are, knowing when to replace your shoes is also important. When the bottom is thinned out from running or when you start to see visible wear and tear, it’s time to consider a new pair. Once you hit the 500 mile mark, it’s important to determine if the shoe can keep going. I’ve injured myself in the past where I’ve worn old shoes for too long. It’s not worth getting an extra 50-60 miles out of a well-worn pair of shoes!

“I’ve definitely had to get rid of shoes I didn’t properly care for after significant mud damage. This happened as recently as a race I did in Scotland, the Highland Ultra. The race had a ton of bogs and my shoes ended up damaged and muddy. Not responding to that in time broke the shoe down to a place where I just had to toss them.

Keep it simple

“When it comes to caring for GORE-TEX Products, my advice is to keep it simple. It doesn’t have to be complicated. The GORE-TEX Brand has great guidelines for taking care of their shoes that you can follow, no matter your budget. The little things you do add up, even if it’s not frequent. If you’re an everyday athlete, you may not have the time, but just know that anything you do, even if it’s every few weeks, is better than nothing.

“The first step I follow is to smack my shoes together outside to get the worst of the dirt off. When the really heavy stuff is off, I fill a bucket with water and a little bit of liquid detergent to remove anything that’s sticking. Lastly, I leave the shoes in a dry area but not in direct sunlight. Outdoors is best, like a backyard, but shoes will dry all the same as long as they are airing out somewhere. Follow these three steps and you can’t go wrong. Remember to keep it simple.”

For more wash and care tips visit the official GORE-TEX wash & care instructions.