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Compeed available in the U.S.

jeffnd

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
March/April 2014
In a few days, I set off on the North Country Trail. When I walked the Camino, I used Compeed to deal with 2 very large blisters on my heel. Compeed literally saved my Camino. So with my upcoming walk I knew I needed some in my pack, but being from the States, my only option was to buy it on Amazon, which is pretty expensive. But, it's worth it, so I ordered some.

But today, I was going through the medical department at my local Walmart and saw these:

https://www.band-aid.com/products/advanced-protection/band-aid-hydro-seal-medium-extreme-5-count

Same green packaging as Compeed and everything. And under $4. So I bought them. And yeah, it's Compeed, just rebranded under the Band-Aid brand. Same packaging and the strips themselves are identical. I don't know how long these have been available here and this might be old news, but I thought I'd share for any future pilgrims. Now you can have the magic of Compeed right away when you start out, and you don't have to worry about finding a pharmacy your first day.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.

I found Compeed at Walgreens a couple of years ago. And there are other brands of hydrocolloid bandages in the US now.
 

The product is virtually identical because the same company manufactures both products.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
davebugg said:
The product is virtually identical because the same company manufactures both products.
Click to expand...
I think that you will find that the adhesive is weaker than Compeed. For some, that may be a good feature, but expect them to come off much easier and more frequently.
 
trecile said:
I found Compeed at Walgreens a couple of years ago. And there are other brands of hydrocolloid bandages in the US now.
Click to expand...

Yup. In fact, Second Skin was the first product of its kind, long before Compeed came to market in Europe. Second Skin was thought to be revolutionary in its concept for the treatment of deroofed blisters. It was actually an ancillary product, redone from the original product first made for the healthcare industry for burn care and pressure sores (bed sores).
 
falcon269 said:
I think that you will find that the adhesive is weaker than Compeed. For some, that may be a good feature, but expect them to come off much easier and more frequently.
Click to expand...

When I've used it, I never felt that to be the case, but that is just a subjective observation, so it may be a different formulation than Compeed. It seemed about the same as Compeed, but I'm not betting on it for a certainty

I know that both products have a 'non-allergenic' adhesive, and that the formulation for it does produce a weaker adhesive that is more subject to degradation from moisture like seat and shower water.

In any case, I usually don't trust the adhesive of tapes and dressing; I will use tincture of benzoin on the area of the skin to which the adhesive is to be attached, and that multiplies the holding power.
 
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
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