Frequently asked questions about leather hiking boots

Content reviewed by the tannery Perwanger (founded in 1780) – specializing in highly functional leather for outdoor, mountain, and safety shoes.

How do leather and synthetic hiking boots differ?

Breathability
Leather is naturally breathable without an additional membrane. Synthetic materials require Gore-Tex or similar membranes.

Durability
Leather shoes last 2-3 times longer (5-10 years) with proper care. Synthetic shoes: 2-4 years.

CO2 footprint
Leather is a by-product of meat production. Synthetics are based on petroleum, which has a higher CO2 footprint.

Comfort
Leather adapts to the individual shape of the foot. Synthetics remain dimensionally stable. Weight Synthetics are 15-25% lighter. More relevant for ultralight tours.

  1. Never use oil or grease—it clogs the pores and destroys breathability.
  2. Only use water- or silicone-based waterproofing agents—e.g., sprays for suede leather.
  3. Dry slowly at room temperature—never use a heater, hair dryer, or direct sunlight.
  4. Stuff with newspaper – this preserves the shape and binds moisture. Impregnate regularly – after every 3-4 uses or when water is absorbed. Brush off coarse dirt – with a soft brush when dry. Important: Never treat suede with conventional shoe polish!

Yes, with restrictions:


  • Nepal Perwanger suede leather achieves >8,000 mm water column (Gore-Tex level)
  • The hydrophobic chrome tanning makes the leather water-repellent
  • Regular impregnation is necessary. Seams must also be sealed


Advantage over membrane: Leather remains functional even when damaged, whereas a damaged Gore-Tex membrane becomes completely leaky.

Typical break-in period: 2-4 weeks or 40-60 kilometers


Accelerating the break-in period:


  1. Wear thick socks at home (1-2 hours daily)
  2. First tours on easy terrain
  3. Lightly moisten shoes before the first tour and wear until dry
  4. Do not start too early with heavy luggage

5 technical advantages of suede leather:


  1. Better impregnation: The sanded surface absorbs hydrophobic treatments more deeply.
  2. Robustness: The grain layer is exposed and extremely abrasion-resistant.
  3. Bonding: Enables seamless connection with rubber edges.
  4. Appearance: Scratches and wear are less noticeable than on smooth leather.
  5. Breathability: More open fiber structure than smooth leather.

Sustainability aspects:


Pros of leather:


  • By-product of meat production (no additional animal husbandry)
  • Long service life = less resource consumption per year
  • Biodegradable (vegetable tanned)
  • OEKO-TEX certification at Perwanger (tested for harmful substances)

Critical:


  • Chrome tanning: Use of chemicals (but recyclable)
  • Transport routes for raw hides
  • Water consumption in tanning


Conclusion: With high-quality, certified manufacturers such as Perwanger, the overall balance over the product’s lifetime is better than with synthetics.

Key messages of this page

  • Leather is a tried-and-tested material for mountain and outdoor shoes.
  • High-quality leather is breathable, water-repellent, and durable.
  • Proper care preserves its function and longevity.
  • Many common myths about leather are based on inferior quality or incorrect use.

This is the only world we have, which is why we do everything we can to preserve human health and the natural environment: this of course includes ensuring that Perwanger leathers contain no harmful substances.

We are proud to have been awarded the stringent OEKO-TEX® LEATHER STANDARD environmental certification for our high-performance NEPAL leather.

Learn more …