Mountain boots4 June 2026 · 11 min
How to start hiking: a complete guide for beginners
How to start hiking from scratch: what to wear, how to choose your first boots and the essential kit, with recommendations from Decathlon.
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Tips and tricks to care for your technical footwear.
40+ years repairing boots, climbing shoes and technical trainers add up. Here we share what we learn at the bench every week.
At Zapatería Hípola we have been repairing technical footwear since 1986 from our workshop in Usera (Madrid). This blog distils that experience: how to care for your mountain boots, when a Vibram resole is worth it, and how to extend the life of climbing shoes or trail-running trainers before binning them.
These aren't generic tips off the internet: it's what we see at the bench every week, with federated athletes, mountaineers and runners from all over Spain thanks to our nationwide shipping. If after reading an article you want a quote, we give you a fixed one on WhatsApp in under an hour from a single photo.
Mountain boots
Mountain boots3 June 2026 · 6 min
How to choose a Vibram sole for your hiking boot (2026 guide)
Megagrip, Mont, Ibex, Mulaz: which Vibram compound to choose based on terrain, activity and your boot's upper. The workshop's honest guide.
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Trail running1 June 2026 · 5 min
Resole vs buy new: the real maths on a pair of €200 trail-running shoes
Is it worth paying €50-70 for a resole or buying new shoes? We run the real numbers and tell you when each option makes more sense.
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Mountain boots29 May 2026 · 5 min
How to care for your hiking boots in winter · workshop maintenance
Cleaning, drying, waxing, storage. 7 habits that double the life of your hiking boots in winter, from someone who's been repairing them for 40 years.
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Trail running26 May 2026 · 6 min
The Pegafort system explained: why your trail-running shoes will last longer
Pegafort isn't glue: it's a two-component system with press and heat that rebuilds the outsole-to-midsole bond on your trail-running shoes.
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Climbing shoes22 May 2026 · 5 min
How long do well-resoled climbing shoes last (real workshop data)
How long a climbing shoe resole lasts, how many times you can resole them and why two identical pairs last differently. Data from 40+ years in the workshop.
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