One of the most significant aspects of a good pair of shoes is their durability and the likelihood that they will last you a long time through all kinds of conditions.
However, to ensure you get the best from even the most hardy pair it is best to put in the effort in looking after your shoes - so how does one go about maintaining deck shoes? Water resistance is perhaps the primary consideration for shoes owners, and some manufacturers recommend applying oil to make sure water is deflected.
It is important to exercise some caution when working with your deck shoes, as traditional polish may have an adverse affect on nubuck or suede.
Consequently, it may be sensible to invest in a kit complete with specialist protectant, a cloth, brush and sponge as soon as you buy your shoes and to use it every six months.
The specialist grip on deck shoes is very efficient but with frequent use it is likely to become worn.
If this happens then they should be replaced completely by a specialist shoe repairman or cobbler.
It is traditional to wear Deck Shoes without socks and perhaps unsurprisingly they have something of a reputation for smelling.
It is good to consider this as soon as you purchase your shoes, because odour can be deterred by cedar wood shoe trees, which are inserted when not in use and absorb any excess moisture.
Using medicated foot spray such as Gold Bond is also said to kill bacteria, eliminating odour (as well as the risk of athlete's foot) from the outset.
If shoes start to smell over time it is a good idea to regularly wash your insole, yet other specialists also suggest simply washing the entire shoe - especially if you are in a sufficient location for them to dry quickly.
Simply dunking you deck shoes in old fashioned sea water, or even swimming pool water, then letting them dry out is expressed by many to kill off bacteria - at least for a long enough while for a cedar wood shoe tree to work its magic again.