Person in walking boots on wet ground

Winter can be dreary, dark, and dull, but if you ask me, frosty walks more than make up for it.

If you also love a cold-weather hike, though, you might have another reservation about the season – if there’s so much as a millimetre-long rip in your boots or a single patch in its waterproofing membrane, you’ll feel every drip of the storms, rain, and snow.

This, sadly, can happen despite the best of care. Costwolds Outdoor says that after about 5-10,000 miles of road, even the best-built boots can start to fail.

But according to experts, three common mistakes could lead to premature leaking, too.

1) Not wearing the right-sized shoes

Often, the lining of your boots includes a waterproof membrane. A tear in this can lead to water entering your shoes.

And speaking to The Guardian, James Turnbull of outdoor clothing specialists

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