Blisters ?

[Roger]

What do you guys pack in the field for blisters on the feet from hiking ? I always break in a new pair of boots but always seem like I end up with blisters on my heels. Any tricks to prevent this other then not go hunting

[limon32]

If your still getting blisters after break in, your boots don't fit.

In the field I use mile skin and liner socks, they both help a lot.


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[Tearbear]

Duct tape works pretty good to prevent blisters...or after you get a blister. You could try to toughen up your feet some by running around barefoot. Like Limon says, you're boots don't fit very well if you're getting blisters. Wet or sweaty feet in boots don't help any in the blister dept. either.

[mike h]

Good quality socks.

Break in your feet, not just the boots. You've got to toughen those dogs up.

I think some blisters are pretty much unavoidable and am pretty jealous of those people that never get any.

[AGL4now]

I soak my boots in warm (Not HOT) water every night for weeks. Inside and outside totally soaked, then wear them all day. Sometimes I put on dry socks after several hours. I keep around thirty pair of hiking boots in varying stages of being broken-in to being fully used-up.

[ASUS-DAG]

Take a pack of mole skin with you. Foot powder & mole skin are in the same section of the store. When you start to fell a soft spot on your foot, cut out saction of mole skin and stick it over the tender spot and hike on.

[johnny_reb]

I soak my boots in warm (Not HOT) water every night for weeks. Inside and outside totally soaked, then wear them all day. Sometimes I put on dry socks after several hours. I keep around thirty pair of hiking boots in varying stages of being broken-in to being fully used-up.

Thirty boots?! Wowzers! Are they all the same kind?

[AGL4now]

No.......but they are all leather. Or mostly leather with some manmade products.

Thirty boots?! Wowzers! Are they all the same kind?

[Happily]

Only time I've ever had blisters was poorly designed boots. Like stitching up the back. I ran duct tape from the heel up the back of my ankle to help. I am one of those people who spends a lot of time wearing an ankle brace and found its much more comfortable to cinch a strap or duct tape outside the boot rather than a brace rubbing on your foot inside.

[FL2AK-Old Town]

I know some guys back in the day (in the Army) who wore chick's nylons/pantyhose against their skin to avoid blisters. It supposedly eliminated the friction that caused blisters. The worse case of blisters I've ever seen (also in the Army) was from wearing wet leather boots and wet wool socks. (Looked like ground beef in the store.)

Mole skin is pretty much your best and only treatment for them. Merino Wool socks will go a long ways toward preventing them. Proper fitting socks that is. I find if I wear socks sized smaller than my feet, I don't get a bunching of extra fabric around the heel or toe and thus, no blisters. With socks that are my size, I get blisters. Cotton socks = LOTS of blisters. (I don't even own cotton socks anymore-not even for my running shoes. Merino Wool for me only now.)

[Roger]

Maybe my boots are a little big then. It's mostly on the heel. I was thinking of putting in a green pair of superfeet in them. Anybody have any luck with them ?

[Fin Chaser]

Bingo Roger, that's what I was about to suggest. The Superfeet will not only help lock your heel in place, they help keep your whole foot from shifting and elongating too much. That excessive movement can be a real problem. Quality socks, quality insoles (Superfeet) if needed, and a well fitted piece of footwear and your good to go. If you've got the first two dialed in, then you've got a problem with the boots and may simply need to go with something different that fits your foot better. I know for me there are only about two companies that make a boot/shoe last that really fits my foot. Good Luck.

Scott

[DoubleBugle]

Get a copy of Fixing Your Feet: injury preventing and treatments for athletes. By John Vonhof.

Full of strategies to prevent and treat blisters. Much more then use mole skin.
Talks about
Boot fit
Pre-taping
Using lubes to prevent friction
Socks
Lacing strategies to prevent rubbing
Treatments for blisters
When and why to drain
How to pad a blister
Etc etc.....
Best $20.00 you will spend


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[limon32]

Maybe my boots are a little big then. It's mostly on the heel. I was thinking of putting in a green pair of superfeet in them. Anybody have any luck with them ?

I've been fighting the same problem with some $360 Kennetreks, pisses me off. They are great boots that fit great right up until they were about broke in, then they compressed enough that they are too loose. Insoles didn't help.

Eventually I aired to myself I need to find something else...


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[FL2AK-Old Town]

Maybe my boots are a little big then. It's mostly on the heel. I was thinking of putting in a green pair of superfeet in them. Anybody have any luck with them ?

Superfeet are awesome. I put a pair in my Lowas when new, and have moved them to other boots. Very comfortable, very durable. I wear them standing all day teaching in a classroom. Best $40 I'e spent on my feet.

Lowa/Darn Tough right out of the box in my opinion has been an impossible to beat combo, zero break in. Perhaps they dont work for you, I know everyone is a little different. On occasion I'll swap out the insole but pretty much only after a couple weeks on the original. I just picked up some Tibet Hi's but have a couple pairs of Tibets and Hunters currently in various stages of wear. One set of each with hex heads in the sole for icy grip. I had terrible heel issues in a few different brands around 2000 until I got in the Lowas, cant say enough good and im in them with a pack around 200 days a year. Good luck figuring it out.

I don't ubderstand why everyone rates those Lowas so high. I've had two pair and both were crap crap and more crap. I'm wearing a par now that, in less than year, I've had the heels replaced ($35) and now the sides are separating from the soles near the toes. These were an REI replacement (back when they actually replaced stuff you returned) for another pair of Lows that the uppers separated from the soles. Yeah, those Lowas are crazy awesome.....Pieces of S#!7.