Blisters are Totally Optional

VNwalking

Out walking

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Yearly and Various 2014-2019
Via Monastica 2022

• Jul 20, 2016

• #1

This just out from the Australian podiatrist and expert about blister prevention and care, Rebecca Rushton:
A 'must read' before setting foot on the way:

http://www.caminoadventures.com/bli...uly_2016)&mc_cid=7261eb17bd&mc_eid=1591c17ea4

After my first Camino was blighted by terrible blisters, I took her advice and haven't had a serious blister since.

 

Last edited: Jul 20, 2016

wayfarer

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2012, 2013, 2014.

• Jul 20, 2016

• #2

Good article Viranani, commom sense, thank you for posting.

 

VNwalking

Out walking

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• Jul 20, 2016

• #3

The article has particularly good and specific information about tape and prevention--as well as a link to her detailed blister prevention guide that has more specific details about care and how to best deal with blisters if they happen.
It's a great dispeller of old wive's tales.
I took the taping part seriously, and that's what has made all the difference. Taping my feet has become a lovely and essential ritual.

 

Waka

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Some but not all, and other routes too.

• Jul 20, 2016

• #4

Good article with valuable advice, I'm also one for taping, works well for me.

 

november_moon

Veteran Member

• Jul 21, 2016

• #5

"A hot-spot is a brief and subtle sensation of rubbing, irritation or warmth. If you feel a sting, you’re too late – a blister is on the way."

This is the first time I have read this description of a hot spot. Lots of people say that as soon as you have a hot spot, stop and take care of it, but never describe what a hot spot is. And then she goes on to tell us what to do about it - very helpful.

Regarding tape though - I taped my feet were I usually get blisters on my heels - and got blisters under the tape... Yeah, I was not pleased about that. The tape kept bunching up and no matter what I did, would not stay smooth. So I think that the advice to test the various tapes out before you go is important. Apparently, I had the wrong tape for my particular feet.

 

VNwalking

Out walking

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• Jul 21, 2016

• #6

november_moon said:

Apparently, I had the wrong tape for my particular feet.

Click to expand...

Different tapes for different places.
I use paper tape around my toes and omnifix on my heels. The paper tape only lasts a day but the omnifix lasts much longer and cannot bunch up (it's great stuff!). It took a bit of experimentation to figure that out--and I guess the same holds from person to person. All our feet are different so 'try it and see' is the name of the game.
(Edited for spelling.)

 

Last edited: Jul 21, 2016

C

Chris B.

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Frances (Sept-Oct 2016)

• Jul 21, 2016

• #7

Lots of good info....thank you for sharing!
Along with changing socks in the middle of the day, it was recommended to me to put sandals on when stopping to eat for lunch and allow the feet to breath and dry out.

 

Waka

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Some but not all, and other routes too.

• Jul 21, 2016

• #8

I use good old gaffe tape on my feet, it works for me but not everyone will find it works for them.
One of the things that was suggested while I was preparing for the CF , was to remove shoes/boots overtime you had a break, this will allow the feet to dry out and cool down.
I didn't take this advice and did end up with a couple of small blisters, nothing serious.
The bottom line is to practice with all the different methods before you step foot on the camino, and hope you got it right.

 

VNwalking

Out walking

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• Jul 21, 2016

• #9

The only thing about taking off the boots during a break, @Waka and @Chris B, is that all too soon you have to put the darn things back on.

 

JennyH94

Pilgrim in progress

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CF whole & part 12-19, VF 17, VDLP+ptSbres22

• Jul 22, 2016

• #10

Hi Viranani - thanks for posting these very useful tips.

Another thing I like to do when having a break is to take JohnMcM's advice and have a lovely toe wiggle when the shoes and socks are off! I think of John and the Forum every time I do this, and give silent thanks to John for his top suggestion.

Cheers - Jenny

 

trecile

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• Jul 22, 2016

• #11

So far on my practice walks I've been having success using the Body Glide stick all over my feet. I walked 10 miles carrying my pack today, and my feet did fine. But I'll probably bring some tape for hot spots, should they occur. I just need to figure out which tapes works best on Body Glided feet.

 

P

Pam Scott

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Camino de Santiago compostella 2015

• Jul 23, 2016

• #12

Viranani said:

This just out from the Australian podiatrist and expert about blister prevention and care, Rebecca Rushton:
A 'must read' before setting foot on the way:

http://www.caminoadventures.com/bli...uly_2016)&mc_cid=7261eb17bd&mc_eid=1591c17ea4

After my first Camino was blighted by terrible blisters, I took her advice and haven't had a serious blister since.

Click to expand...

Very good article

 

Richard A Stead

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Camino France's (2016) Portuguese 2017

• Jul 23, 2016

• #13

Viranani said:

This just out from the Australian podiatrist and expert about blister prevention and care, Rebecca Rushton:
A 'must read' before setting foot on the way:

http://www.caminoadventures.com/bli...uly_2016)&mc_cid=7261eb17bd&mc_eid=1591c17ea4

After my first Camino was blighted by terrible blisters, I took her advice and haven't had a serious blister since.

Click to expand...

Hi I'm just back from SJ to Santiago. No blisters. Each morning surgical tape across the ball of my foot then aquaphor foot rub and finally very thin inner sock. Sometime wore thicker socks over these but towards the end just the thin ones. Most importantly wore size 11 boots when my shoe size is 10. No blisters at all.

 

D

Deleted member 12253

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• Jul 23, 2016

• #14

Viranani said:

This just out from the Australian podiatrist and expert about blister prevention and care, Rebecca Rushton:
A 'must read' before setting foot on the way:

http://www.caminoadventures.com/bli...uly_2016)&mc_cid=7261eb17bd&mc_eid=1591c17ea4

After my first Camino was blighted by terrible blisters, I took her advice and haven't had a serious blister since.

Click to expand...

 

D

Deleted member 12253

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• Jul 23, 2016

• #15

Agree. Bought blister pack 5 years ago. Never used. Breaking in shoes/ boots very important

 

Peter Fransiscus

Be a Rainbow in someone else's cloud.

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All that we are is the result of what we have thought.

• Jul 24, 2016

• #16

Richard A Stead said:

Hi I'm just back from SJ to Santiago. No blisters. Each morning surgical tape across the ball of my foot then aquaphor foot rub and finally very thin inner sock. Sometime wore thicker socks over these but towards the end just the thin ones. Most importantly wore size 11 boots when my shoe size is 10. No blisters at all.

Click to expand...

Hi Richard, my boots are always a 1/2 size bigger than my normal size. I never have any blisters. Never use tape, I carry some with me just in case .
Wish you well, Peter.

 

MovingForward

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August 2016

• Jul 24, 2016

• #17

Thanks for the article - it makes perfect sense and I will be following her advice all the way. I have to tape my little toes anyway as they curl inwards from arthritis and I end up walking on my toenails which becomes very painful. I found this out in my training and have been experimenting with different ways to tape my toes. Have had some success but nothing is perfect so I will definitely be getting sore toes when we walk in August - pain killers and perseverance I think )

 

Magnara

Maggie Ramsay

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Santiago de Compostela (2005) Via Francigena (2010) Le Puy to St Jean (2014)

• Jul 26, 2016

• #18

I'll give a plug for old-fashioned Vaseline, all over my feet, twice a day, (with a change of socks and wearing ladies stocking socks as liners). the Vaseline sounds as if it would be sticky and disgusting, but it is not at all, and at the end of the camino, when everyone else's feet look like old rocks, yours will be soft and sweet.

 

Magnara

Maggie Ramsay

Time of past OR future Camino

Santiago de Compostela (2005) Via Francigena (2010) Le Puy to St Jean (2014)

• Sep 2, 2017

• #19

MovingForward said:

Thanks for the article - it makes perfect sense and I will be following her advice all the way. I have to tape my little toes anyway as they curl inwards from arthritis and I end up walking on my toenails which becomes very painful. I found this out in my training and have been experimenting with different ways to tape my toes. Have had some success but nothing is perfect so I will definitely be getting sore toes when we walk in August - pain killers and perseverance I think )

Click to expand...

Too late to help you (I hope you went well) but it might help someone else to know that podiatrists can fashion orthotics to help with all sorts of foot issues. My husband had one foot run over by a car, which did some serious damage of course, especially to the big toe. The podiatrist made him a specially crafted orthotic which enabled him to not only continue with long-distance walking but also to run several marathons.