Audrey McAllister
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances 2020
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Welcome and all best wishes with your planning.Check out the medical section of this forum and you should find all the information you will need.Buen Camino.Hi everyone,
I am about to do my first Camino Frances in March, it will be my first long distance hike and I would be grateful for anyone’s advise on blister kits (what to take) and any tips to prevent or help with muscle pain/fatigue along the way.
I am reasonably fit but have never hiked for longer than 3 days so want to be prepared.
Thanks!!
Thanks a lot!Welcome and all best wishes with your planning.Check out the medical section of this forum and you should find all the information you will need.Buen Camino.
I’m actually already in France, do you know of a French/European equivalent?Welcome Audrey, as you are from Australia I would recommend that you buy some Silic 15 cream, my brother brought me some from there when we walked in 2012 and it works, nary a blister. Rub a little into your feet first thing in the morning before you sock up, in the areas where blisters are likely to occur, heels toes etc, give it a minute to dry in and the sock up. We also used the double sock method, light innner socks or pop socks and your regular sock outside, this also helps to reduce friction and prevent blisters.
Happy planning and Buen Camino.
If you can find a Booths pharmacy, they stock "Gloves in a bottle" its pretty much the same product. Failing that my next product is Vicks believe it or not, I find it much better than Vaseline and won't make a mess of your socks.I’m actually already in France, do you know of a French/European equivalent?
That helps a lot thank you.If you can find a Booths pharmacy, they stock "Gloves in a bottle" its pretty much the same product. Failing that my next product is Vicks believe it or not, I find it much better than Vaseline and won't make a mess of your socks.
Hope this helps.
Try those tight fitting calf socks. I got shin splints the first one. Tried these worked a treat. Make sure they fit tight for support. Compeed is everywhere in Europe. Much better range.Hi everyone,
I am about to do my first Camino Frances in March, it will be my first long distance hike and I would be grateful for anyone’s advise on blister kits (what to take) and any tips to prevent or help with muscle pain/fatigue along the way.
I am reasonably fit but have never hiked for longer than 3 days so want to be prepared.
Thanks!!
Try to find a product called NOK. I believe it is made in France. I swear by this stuff.I’m actually already in France, do you know of a French/European equivalent?
Hi everyone,
I am about to do my first Camino Frances in March, it will be my first long distance hike and I would be grateful for anyone’s advise on blister kits (what to take) and any tips to prevent or help with muscle pain/fatigue along the way.
I am reasonably fit but have never hiked for longer than 3 days so want to be prepared.
Thanks!!
Hi everyone,
I am about to do my first Camino Frances in March, it will be my first long distance hike and I would be grateful for anyone’s advise on blister kits (what to take) and any tips to prevent or help with muscle pain/fatigue along the way.
I am reasonably fit but have never hiked for longer than 3 days so want to be prepared.
Thanks!!
That’s all great advice thanks so much!! With the tape for hotspots do you just put a patch on like a bandaid or do you generally need to tape around the foot or ankle to prevent movement?Hola @Audrey McAllister I also welcome you to the forum. I am another of the "two sock" brigade. I walk with a thin liner sock (Injinii toe socks) and a thicker outer pair. Given that you are starting in March there is a greater likelyhood of rain so I would go with medium thick socks. Try to start every day with clean dry socks. (Thus I take three pairs)
My other tip when you stop for lunch or a 10.30/11.00 am coffee take your boots off and maybe even the outer socks. This lets your feet "breath" and the socks release some of that sweet. The moment you feel a "hot spot"; stop; take-off your boot(s) and socks and check out the hot spot.
From here on it depends upon your personal preference as to what you do next. For me its Kinesiology Tape (it comes in three colours at least - blue; black and red - its the tape you often see on the back of footballers(soccer) legs). My "camino daughter" put me onto it back in 2017, I taped a few hot spots on my heels (you can keep in on for two or three days) and it stopped any blister. Buen Camino!
The Omnifix tape comes in a wide width. I cut it generously.That’s all great advice thanks so much!! With the tape for hotspots do you just put a patch on like a bandaid or do you generally need to tape around the foot or ankle to prevent movement?
That’s all great advice thanks so much!! With the tape for hotspots do you just put a patch on like a bandaid or do you generally need to tape around the foot or ankle to prevent movement?
For a small blister you can use corn cushions to cushion the area around the blister, perhaps enlarging the hole a bit.Hola Audrey - as long as they are still "hot spots" I just taped over. If a blister (small or large) was evident then I put some "non-stick" padding over the blister and then put the tape over the pad. In this case I would usually change the pad and tape each day (after shower) I would also try to let it dry before putting the dressing on at night. Cheers
It depends on how much area you think you need to protect, and how well the tape sticks to your feet in that position. Generally I find it sticks quite well, so I apply enough to cover the possible blister area and a little extra, perhaps to wrap around the curve of the foot or toe. I certainly don't need to bind the whole foot.With the tape for hotspots do you just put a patch on like a bandaid or do you generally need to tape around the foot or ankle to prevent movement?
It is not only the blister kit, but......
I am about to do my first Camino Frances in March, it will be my first long distance hike and I would be grateful for anyone’s advise on blister kits (what to take) and any tips to prevent or help with muscle pain/fatigue along the way.
...
Hi everyone,
I am about to do my first Camino Frances in March, it will be my first long distance hike and I would be grateful for anyone’s advise on blister kits (what to take) and any tips to prevent or help with muscle pain/fatigue along the way.
I am reasonably fit but have never hiked for longer than 3 days so want to be prepared.
Thanks!!
Bring a tube of Vaseline. Put some between your toes and under your feet, heels, daily. Yes it gets your socks greasy but it will save your feet. Trust me!
Compeed blister cushions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hi everyone,
I am about to do my first Camino Frances in March, it will be my first long distance hike and I would be grateful for anyone’s advise on blister kits (what to take) and any tips to prevent or help with muscle pain/fatigue along the way.
I am reasonably fit but have never hiked for longer than 3 days so want to be prepared.
Thanks!!
Hi everyone,
I am about to do my first Camino Frances in March, it will be my first long distance hike and I would be grateful for anyone’s advise on blister kits (what to take) and any tips to prevent or help with muscle pain/fatigue along the way.
I am reasonably fit but have never hiked for longer than 3 days so want to be prepared.
Thanks!!
He suggested that each morning I put tape ( I used Ace athletic tape) on all the places where I had blisters previously
I've always been told never to get a pedicure within the 2 weeks prior to starting so I wonder if you mean your final pedicure before heading out was a month before.Hi Audrey,
Everyone here has their own story and advice and I’m no exception! I walked it twice. The first time I followed standard advice: I had hiking shoes that fit me well that I wore for many hikes in the months before the Camino. I wore two pr of socks: an under liner and an outer. Well, I ended up with blisters all over both feet and eventually threw the shoes away at about the halfway point. When I got home I saw a podiatrist that was very helpful. He suggested that I get a pedicure each month prior to walking it again and that I wear one thin pr of sox and hiking sandals. He suggested that each morning I put tape ( I used Ace athletic tape) on all the places where I had blisters previously. The second time I walked the Camino I followed his advice regarding pedicures, daily tape, single socks, and Keen hiking sandals and I did not get a single blister or hot spot on the entire CF and the 200 km I walked afterwards on the CN.
I always get a pedicure just before I start my Camino.I've always been told never to get a pedicure within the 2 weeks prior to starting so I wonder if you mean your final pedicure before heading out was a month before.
I'm glad that works for you, Trecile. It takes too much off the callouses I built up training and makes me prone to splits in the skin. Maybe the pedicurists where I live are too aggressive!I always get a pedicure just before I start my Camino.
Hi everyone,
I am about to do my first Camino Frances in March, it will be my first long distance hike and I would be grateful for anyone’s advise on blister kits (what to take) and any tips to prevent or help with muscle pain/fatigue along the way.
I am reasonably fit but have never hiked for longer than 3 days so want to be prepared.
Thanks!!
I've always been told never to get a pedicure within the 2 weeks prior to starting so I wonder if you mean your final pedicure before heading out was a month before.
I'm glad that works for you, Trecile. It takes too much off the callouses I built up training and makes me prone to splits in the skin. Maybe the pedicurists where I live are too aggressive!
I did use something called Green Goop (or a name similar) that really worked surprisingly well at keeping my feet in good condition.
He suggested that each morning I put tape ( I used Ace athletic tape) on all the places where I had blisters previously. The second time I walked the Camino I followed his advice regarding pedicures, daily tape, single socks, and Keen hiking sandals and I did not get a single blister or hot spot on the entire CF and the 200 km I walked afterwards on the CN
How do you use the vaseline? I've always hesitated to go that route since it looks so gross! I saw a few people in the arbergues basically covering their whole feet with it and shoving them into their shoes. I was sort of hoping I could avoid that mess if possible.To follow up on Koilife’s contribution I agree. I’ve walked two Caminos. The first one I did everything “right”—properly fitting hiking shoes broken in, 2 pr of socks. I was so blistered by day 5 I was ready to quit. I made an appointment with a podiatrist after I returned home. He told me to chuck the shoes and socks. He suggested: hiking sandals, a light pair of Merino socks, daily application of athletic tape in the places I get blisters, and a light application of vaseline. He also showed me how to give myself a pedicure and emphasized doing this each week for 3 months before hiking: sanding down all callouses, trimming nails and sanding them as far as they can go and daily application of one’s choice of body, hand, or foot creme. This did the trick for me!! No more blisters. I walked the CF pain free and at the end walked 100 km of the CN. I’ve continued the same ritual on my feet post-Camino. A side benefit is that my feet look a lot better than they ever have!
That's what I do - hiking sandals with socks, and I tape my blister prone areas.He suggested: hiking sandals, daily application of athletic tape in the places I get blisters,
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