The Mystery
Houston, we have a problem. I very recently bought some new walking shoes, and they are pretty much perfect in every way. Lightweight, breathable, comfortable out of the box. Except... What's that smell? Has a cat got in my car and had a wee whilst I was loading up (my shoes live in the car)? It took a fair few days to realise what it was 😁 I know what you're thinking, and it's not true! Some more reviewing later and other people have noticed it too:
"I have had at least 20 pair of Salomon hiking and trail running shoes over the years. I love everything about them. However, my recent 2 pairs of Gortex trail running shoes started to have an overwhelming cat urine odor. I tried everything to clear the odor and nothing would remove it. They would smell up an entire area. None of my hiking shoes, or any other shoe for that matter, has ever had this issue. It happened both times with these shoes. I did contact Salomon and they apparently haven't had this issue before but if you go on-line, you will see it is an issue with several shoe brands. So love the shoe, but had to throw out two fairly new pair in great condition due to the intense cat urine smell."
"I hiked in a torrential downpour with these shoes. My feet kept dry, however, after I had let them dry, they smelled terrible. I washed them with baking soda, vinegar, Downy Unstoppables, and Tide TWICE, removed the insoles, let them dry in the sunshine and they still smell absolutely horrible. The odour smells like cat urine. On a positive note, the shoes are incredibly comfortable and supportive. I walk approximately 15-25km 5 days per week. Love the gortex option, but I've never experienced such a smell after washing and drying other gortex clothing/articles that I use."
Oh dear... Thanks Cross Hikes 😂
The Mystery
Houston, we have a problem. I very recently bought some new walking shoes, and they are pretty much perfect in every way. Lightweight, breathable, comfortable out of the box. Except... What's that smell? Has a cat got in my car and had a wee whilst I was loading up (my shoes live in the car)? It took a fair few days to realise what it was 😁 I know what you're thinking, and it's not true! Some more reviewing later and other people have noticed it too:
"I have had at least 20 pair of Salomon hiking and trail running shoes over the years. I love everything about them. However, my recent 2 pairs of Gortex trail running shoes started to have an overwhelming cat urine odor. I tried everything to clear the odor and nothing would remove it. They would smell up an entire area. None of my hiking shoes, or any other shoe for that matter, has ever had this issue. It happened both times with these shoes. I did contact Salomon and they apparently haven't had this issue before but if you go on-line, you will see it is an issue with several shoe brands. So love the shoe, but had to throw out two fairly new pair in great condition due to the intense cat urine smell."
"I hiked in a torrential downpour with these shoes. My feet kept dry, however, after I had let them dry, they smelled terrible. I washed them with baking soda, vinegar, Downy Unstoppables, and Tide TWICE, removed the insoles, let them dry in the sunshine and they still smell absolutely horrible. The odour smells like cat urine. On a positive note, the shoes are incredibly comfortable and supportive. I walk approximately 15-25km 5 days per week. Love the gortex option, but I've never experienced such a smell after washing and drying other gortex clothing/articles that I use."
Oh dear... Thanks Cross Hikes 😂