Wifes Boots and Blisters

[BOW HUNTER13]

The wife and I have big pans to go camping/hiking in Idaho.  BUT, a mile in she is getting blisters on her heals.   On our 2nd set of boots, good quality boots.  Kenetrex, Keen, Ozbo (?)  We are going to try moleskin, but looking for any other ideas?? 

PS -  bandaids do not help

[Buckhunter24]

Theres quite a few variables, does she do fine taking walks in tennis shoes?

If theres not much movementin the heel it may be a matter of working through it for a couple hikes. But the issue should not persist beyond a few hikes.

If there is a noticeably poor fit, I would go knto a shop that will help fit you. REI has a lot of options.

Depending on the height of the boot, you can find alternative ways to lace that can help too, but not quite as effective for the heel as it is the bite on top of the foot.

A break in period is.necessary for solid leather boots with vibram soles,my experience with the nicer hikers is there is a bit of a break in but they should be comfortable from the get go.

[HAGEMANIAC]

Maybe a good quality sock with some extra padding? I'm assuming the boots fit, but maybe they are a little big?

[BOW HUNTER13]

Boots fit weve changed sizes and have good socks,tennis shoes are ok.I think she has soft feet from not wearing boots a lot.Just looking for ideas to help her go further with out hurting while her feet toughin up.

[Buckhunter24]

I would go less far to start. Starting now try going for short walks and stop before a hotspot develops and keep working up to longer distance to build a bit of callus. Once youve got a hotspot/blister its easy to keep making it worse without building up any callus.

[jackelope]

Can’t just head out in the mountains in brand new boots like that. Wear them around town, work, etc. and get the break in process started. Build up to the hiking trips. Some manufacturers say 50 miles before they’re broke in.

[BOW HUNTER13]

Thanks ,that's what were trying we went a mile up river flat ground to get out.WE will keep it slow and keep the boots on her feet.

[300rum]

Mole skin works for a time but eventually rubs off. Duct tape is better. You absolutely have to stop as soon as there is a hot spot and put it on, you can not wait.  Try wool socks too, no cotton or synthetics. You can leave duct tape on for days and days.

[Weehunt66]

Try lacing to prevent heel lift.

[PacificNWhunter]

Leukotape, you can find it on amazon. Pre-tape before you go. Expect to leave it on for a few days. Stuffs amazing.

[ghosthunter]

The lacing trick worked for me. I can get them on so tight they are hard to get off.
Blisters are caused by friction. Reduce friction any way you can.

Two pairs of socks.
Lacing
Break in
Lube her feet with petroleum jelly or bag balm. You do it for her. It pays off in more ways than one.

Good luck.

And if she get sore at end of day soak in espson  salts for 30 minutes. Ahhhhh

[kselkhunter]

And if she get sore at end of day soak in espionage salts for 30 minutes. Ahhhhh

And if spies steal your espionage salts, you can also use espom salt.

[jackelope]

Epsom?

[ghosthunter]

And if she get sore at end of day soak in espionage salts for 30 minutes. Ahhhhh

And if spies steal your espionage salts, you can also use espom salt.

Darn spell check

[kselkhunter]

And if she get sore at end of day soak in espionage salts for 30 minutes. Ahhhhh

And if spies steal your espionage salts, you can also use espom salt.

Darn spell check

At least your spell check is working. Mine clearly wasn't.   

[mazama]

2 pairs of socks liner pair first,even with wet boots I don't get blisters.

[vandeman17]

Leukotape, you can find it on amazon. Pre-tape before you go. Expect to leave it on for a few days. Stuffs amazing.

This. I got hot spots on my heels for a while and would put a little piece of this on there and problem was solved

[TheStovePipeKid]

I usually take a pair of wool socks and wet them down then wear the boots around town for a day or two to break them in. Then do the lacing trick. I lock lace to keep the heel from sliding around. Wet socks feel horrible but it works for me so I keep doing it.

[pianoman9701]

Are they new? I like the lacing instruction and the tape and socks ideas. If the boots are new and stiff, it may take a while to break them in. I break in stiff new leather boots by filling the boot with warm water, letting them soak for a little while, put on thick socks and walk in them until the boot is dry. It'll help form the boot to the foot.

[baker5150]

Leukotape, you can find it on amazon. Pre-tape before you go. Expect to leave it on for a few days. Stuffs amazing.

This. I got hot spots on my heels for a while and would put a little piece of this on there and problem was solved

 

Proper fit
Proper break in
Proper sock
Proper lacing
Re-tighten lacing as needed
Then Leukotape if needed.

[CoryTDF]

I have tested A LOT of boots. One motto I live by is that you must break your feet in as well as the boot. You have to get your feet broken in by wearing your boots on short adventures or even to work. Once you have calluses you should be good. Problem I find for ladies is that they don't want to have those big ugly patches of tough skin on their feet. So, what are you to do?

Here are a few things my wife does to keep her feet blister free, well mostly blister free.

1) Duct Tape on the heal.
2) K-Tape on the heal.
3) Thin liner socks within a thicker hiking sock.
4) Develop and maintain a good callus. No lotion or pumice stone. Think Cody Lundin!   

[OltHunter]

Leukotape, you can find it on amazon. Pre-tape before you go. Expect to leave it on for a few days. Stuffs amazing.

Second this

Also, liner sock and merino over sock.  I use Kenetrek's liners and canada socks, even in hot temps.

If you do this, i would be willing to bet her foot issues will be eliminated.

[farmin4u_98948]

You might be using too heavy of a boot for your application. Go lite they’re more flexible and you should have less break in time. Once again don’t get too much boot for what you’re doing

[MtnMuley]

Leukotape, you can find it on amazon. Pre-tape before you go. Expect to leave it on for a few days. Stuffs amazing.

Best advice given. Second best piece of advice is the non heel slip video posted above. Both eliminate 95% of foot problems hunters/hikers face.

[Schmalzfam]

I had this same issue. Hard to break in anything, because everything blistered my heels. I bought a pair of La Sportiva low hikers. I laced with the special ankle lock lacing, darn tough socks and was good to go. No issues ever. I wear Danner pronghorns for hunting and darn tough socks, sometimes two pair.
I know the pain and frustration. I hope she finds the best set up for her.

[slim9300]

Have her try on a pair of Salomon Quest 4d GTX’s at REI. They have them in stock. My wife has used them for many years now with great success, and no blisters. This boot prevents heal lift better than anything I have worn. Trying boots in person and buying them at a place that will take them if they don’t work is probably ideal.


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[BoomWhop]

Leukotape, you can find it on amazon. Pre-tape before you go. Expect to leave it on for a few days. Stuffs amazing.

Second this

Also, liner sock and merino over sock.  I use Kenetrek's liners and canada socks, even in hot temps.

If you do this, i would be willing to bet her foot issues will be eliminated.

I have fought the same issue my whole life. I have soft feet as I don't walk up and down hills in regular life. The advice on here is spot on. i got blisters even with really good boots, I loved my Kenetreks but still got blisters even after 3 years and 100+ miles on those suckers. I switched to Lowes (spelling?)

2 pairs of socks inner pair thin liners
Leukotape is wonderful

[RockCreek]

As a young Boy Scout back when dinosaurs roamed the woods..  The best advice I ever got from our very experienced scoutmaster was wear a pair of tight fitting men's dress socks (nylon/polyester slick type) under your heavier wool socks. This stops all friction directly against the skin.

He also recommended sizing boots to allow for more than just one wool sock but instead two.  This give more padding front on toes and back on heel .   i know it sounds hot to do this in summer with lighter hiking boots but in my experience feet are going to be sweaty anyway no matter the temps or number of socks you wear. 

This has saved me problems with blisters or toe smash and heel rubbing for the last 50 odd years.....  my 2 cents       -Rock

[Stein]

Leukotape, you can find it on amazon. Pre-tape before you go. Expect to leave it on for a few days. Stuffs amazing.

 

This is probably your best option.  If you start with clean and dry feet and apply iodine this will stick to your feet for days.  Cut a strip big enough and then round the corners and make sure you get it on smooth.  If you know where you are likely to blister, tape those areas and if you get it on good it will give you excellent protection.

I've had this stick with submerged feet for a couple days.  My normal process for long stuff is to make sure I don't have any callouses, wash, dry, iodine and tape and then right before going out I apply a very generous amount of lubricant, I like GurneyGoo.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0150EFHU8/?coliid=I37HER2WKHOMEX&colid=12E8G8KHTKR5X&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Band-Aid makes blister patches that stick pretty well too.

Boots and socks are very personal, what works for one person won't work for the next.  Unfortunately it's a process of trial and error.  It's not the case that expensive boots = no blisters.

Some people never blister, I almost never do until I go over about 14 miles at once and then it's almost guaranteed to start at some degree.  After about the marathon distance it's almost guaranteed, then it's all about management and treatment.

Learn to treat them, I pack a hypodermic needle, tape, lube and super glue.  You can glue down blisters or cover rash or worn skin with it and it will work great for a day or so but it's not for the faint of heart, it will hurt more than you can imagine for a few minutes and then you are good to go.

You can buy hypodermic needle tips that are sterile and packaged, something like this:

https://bmglobalsupply.com/product/sterile-hypodermic-needles-size-21g-x-1/

Finally, make sure your feet are in good condition going in, callouses are bad news if blisters form under them they are nearly impossible to treat.

[Pegasus]

The wife and I have big pans to go camping/hiking in Idaho.  BUT, a mile in she is getting blisters on her heals.   On our 2nd set of boots, good quality boots.  Kenetrex, Keen, Ozbo (?)  We are going to try moleskin, but looking for any other ideas?? 

PS -  bandaids do not help

Do you know how to do the fireman's carry?

[Jonathan_S]

Lots of good advice already on here. And some people have soft feet that need some toughening up. Not saying her in particular.

[James]

Couple things from someone with odd shaped feet that hikes/climbs a ton:

-Boot fitment is the most important aspect to buying boots, not brand. Buy what fits and will do the job you are looking for.
-Fit the boot to your foot. front end sliding around, you can get thicker insoles or shims to put under the insole to reduce volume.  If the heal is getting blisters by rubbing on the heal pocket of the boot as it curves forward, lower the foot in the boot by having an insole thats thinner under the heal.

hopefully she doesn't have Haglunds deformity, it makes boot fitment a nightmare.


I have enough foot issues I make my own orthotics now, its a pain but cheaper and better than podiatrist made ones.