Where Do Your Hiking Boots End Up?

Your mom bought them for you before that trip to Yosemite. Or maybe she passed down her own pair when her knees couldn't handle the trails anymore. Or you bought them yourself, thinking this year I'll finally start hiking, and then... life happened.

Now they're in the back of your closet. Still sturdy. Still good. But you haven't laced them up in two years.

So where do hiking boots go when we're finally ready to let them go?

The Real Answer

Most hiking boots, like 95% of all shoes end up in landfills. Not because we're careless, but because letting go wisely is genuinely hard. Donation bins are easier than researching resale. Trash is faster than finding someone who actually wants them.

We get it. Life is full. Decision-making is exhausting. And figuring out the "right" thing to do with a pair of barely-worn boots shouldn't take an hour of Googling.

What Actually Happens

When boots hit the landfill, they can take 25-40 years to break down. Leather lasts even longer. Rubber soles outlast both. And the synthetic materials in most modern hiking boots? Some of those will outlive us.

But here's the thing: we're not here to guilt you about that. You didn't design the system. You're just living in it.

The Paths Boots Can Take

Before the landfill, there are other options, if you know they exist:

Resale works beautifully for quality hiking boots. REI Used Gear, Poshmark, Facebook Marketplace, local gear swaps. Someone out there is planning their first backpacking trip and can't afford new boots. Your barely-worn pair could be perfect for them.

Donation can work, but not everywhere takes boots. REI and some outdoor retailers accept gently used gear. Local trail clubs sometimes collect boots for new hikers. But you have to know where to look.

Recycling programs do exist. Some outdoor brands will take back their own products. Vibram has a sole recycling program. But again you have to know about them, find a drop-off location, and actually make the trip.

Repair is the quietest option, and often the best one. A good cobbler can resole boots and add years of life. But how many of us think to repair before we replace?

Pass them on to someone who'll actually use them. Your niece heading to summer camp. A friend training for their first fourteener. Your mom's hiking buddy who just decided to get back on the trails.

When Gatheron Helps

This is where we come in.

When you add those boots to your Gatheron inventory, you're not just making a list. You're creating a decision point for later. A moment when you can ask: Am I still using these? Do I want to keep them? If not, where should they actually go?

We don't tell you what to do. We just make it easier to figure out what makes sense for you.

Maybe that means holding onto the boots because you realize you do want to hike again, you just need to actually book the trip. Maybe it means finally letting go and passing them to someone who'll wear them this weekend. Maybe it means discovering a gear swap or repair shop you didn't know existed.

The goal isn't perfection. It's progress.

Start Where You Are

You don't need to audit your entire closet today. You don't need to become a zero-waste warrior or a gear resale expert. You just need to start seeing what you already own. One pair at a time. One closet at a time. One decision at a time.

Because when it's easy to keep with care and let go wisely, positive change naturally follows.

Want to see where your boots could go? Start your inventory in Gatheron. We'll help you figure out the rest.