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Take whatever you guess might be useful - e.g. the sunscreen and fungal ointment you sometimes use at home. Consider some lotion that could be applied to your feet in case that is what your feet seem to want, but that can also be purchased easily in Spain.I am curious about what people use but more importantly how and why they use them and when they know to use them. It seems a bit basic but it's new to me! Any thoughts?
I think that is part of my issue. Never having used anything for walking or day hikes I am not sure what will be useful or beneficial.At home in our daily lives, some people use various creams, sprays and other products on their skin. On the camino, some people do that, too - either the same or different creams, sprays and ointments.
Take whatever you guess might be useful - e.g. the sunscreen and fungal ointment you sometimes use at home. Consider some lotion that could be applied to your feet in case that is what your feet seem to want, but that can also be purchased easily in Spain.
You will never know until you go through the experience, and even then you might need to try numerous options to find what works best for your skin. If you are not inclined to use those products now, you probably won't in Spain, either. However, if you are interested, you could try some of the suggestions (e.g. vaseline, cream for foot massage or dry skin) at home and see if you like them.Never having used anything for walking or day hikes I am not sure what will be useful or beneficial.
Sunscreen regularly . I also take a small tube of cortisone cream for bedbug bites. It worked well, but only used if necessaryWith just a few weeks before I start my camino I have reached that phase where I am scouring this message board for any nuggets to help make the "perfect" camino. It's a bit overwhelming and probably not too helpful.But I have noticed a lot of messages about various creams and ointments -from vaseline to pain killer creams - that people apply to their skin over the course of their Camino and I am wondering about this.
Over the course of my life I have rarely felt the need to apply any form of cream (other than sun or the occasional fungus) to my skin but I have also never walked the amount of miles of the camino in such a compressed period of time. So I am curious about what people use but more importantly how and why they use them and when they know to use them. It seems a bit basic but it's new to me! Any thoughts?
Thanks
M
My first degree was mainly in anatomy and physiology. I used to spend a lot of time trying to work out the technical explanations of what should work and what shouldn't. But now I just stick with what my own experience tells me works for me. If your feet are happy it's probably a good solution. Just make sure you are using genuine top quality placebos and not Poundland knock-offs.Maybe it's a placebo, but it makes my feet feel cleaner and refreshed when I apply it.
Wear a hat with a brim and sunscreen. With pharmacies everywhere I can buy something for pain if and when I hurt. You smell a lot of Ben Gay on the Camino but I'm not sure that it works.With just a few weeks before I start my camino I have reached that phase where I am scouring this message board for any nuggets to help make the "perfect" camino. It's a bit overwhelming and probably not too helpful.But I have noticed a lot of messages about various creams and ointments -from vaseline to pain killer creams - that people apply to their skin over the course of their Camino and I am wondering about this.
Over the course of my life I have rarely felt the need to apply any form of cream (other than sun or the occasional fungus) to my skin but I have also never walked the amount of miles of the camino in such a compressed period of time. So I am curious about what people use but more importantly how and why they use them and when they know to use them. It seems a bit basic but it's new to me! Any thoughts?
Thanks
M
I always found where soaking your feet may feel good but it also softens the skin. Soft skin in a walking shoe or boot sounds like a blister invitation. We each have our habit's I reckon.I am doing the Portugués Coastal right now…. Tomorrow is day 6 and so far no blisters or issues. I don’t use any ointments on my feet. Double socks (with liner) worked for first few hours but got too warm after noon these last few warm days. I have been using every Waterfall or fountain to cool off my feet - sometimes 2-3 times a day. I have been using hikers wool every time I feel a hot area. I had to file one nail to ensure it was smooth. I have tried to be attentive to my feel- especially in the afternoon when it gets warm. I have changed my socks during the day as well if they feel warm. I have 2 pair of smart wool socks and wearing ankle boots. Hope it helps and happy to answer any questions. Buen camino
Hello. I am in the UK and a chiropodist recommended that I use Flexitol Heel Balm when I was preparing for my first big Camino in 2013. I used it daily with thin liner socks and other socks. I also wore shoes several sizes larger than normal. I know it is fashionable to choose Smartwool, but my outer socks have always been cheap Lidl hiking socks but making sure there is no seam across the toe. I got no blisters, so that is now my 'foot uniform' for all hikes.With just a few weeks before I start my camino I have reached that phase where I am scouring this message board for any nuggets to help make the "perfect" camino. It's a bit overwhelming and probably not too helpful.But I have noticed a lot of messages about various creams and ointments -from vaseline to pain killer creams - that people apply to their skin over the course of their Camino and I am wondering about this.
Over the course of my life I have rarely felt the need to apply any form of cream (other than sun or the occasional fungus) to my skin but I have also never walked the amount of miles of the camino in such a compressed period of time. So I am curious about what people use but more importantly how and why they use them and when they know to use them. It seems a bit basic but it's new to me! Any thoughts?
Thanks
M
I am in the camp of take your favorite sunscreen and lip balm and you can pick up anything else you may need at a local pharmacia. That said, for me I discovered, particularly on the mesta, that my skin got so dry it started to itch and even crack in places. I had to pick up something that would heal. Second time around I took something with me for this purpose. Don't know which route you are taking or where you are from (i.e. what you are used to) but for me, am from the USA mid-south mountains, I found both Spain and Portugal to be dryer than what I am used to and the sun felt more brutal. If you add in wind it is even harder on your skin. Remember, you will be outside, exposed to the elements, probably every day for maybe 5+ hours.With just a few weeks before I start my camino I have reached that phase where I am scouring this message board for any nuggets to help make the "perfect" camino. It's a bit overwhelming and probably not too helpful.But I have noticed a lot of messages about various creams and ointments -from vaseline to pain killer creams - that people apply to their skin over the course of their Camino and I am wondering about this.
Over the course of my life I have rarely felt the need to apply any form of cream (other than sun or the occasional fungus) to my skin but I have also never walked the amount of miles of the camino in such a compressed period of time. So I am curious about what people use but more importantly how and why they use them and when they know to use them. It seems a bit basic but it's new to me! Any thoughts?
Thanks
M
A Spanish pharmacist recommended a foot cream which I aleays use when walkimg now. Can only be biught in Spain. Ciuld not find it in southern Spain, only from Madrid north. It is called Saltratos.With just a few weeks before I start my camino I have reached that phase where I am scouring this message board for any nuggets to help make the "perfect" camino. It's a bit overwhelming and probably not too helpful.But I have noticed a lot of messages about various creams and ointments -from vaseline to pain killer creams - that people apply to their skin over the course of their Camino and I am wondering about this.
Over the course of my life I have rarely felt the need to apply any form of cream (other than sun or the occasional fungus) to my skin but I have also never walked the amount of miles of the camino in such a compressed period of time. So I am curious about what people use but more importantly how and why they use them and when they know to use them. It seems a bit basic but it's new to me! Any thoughts?
Thanks
There are plenty of chemists along the way if you find you need anythingI think that is part of my issue. Never having used anything for walking or day hikes I am not sure what will be useful or beneficial.
Having said that, I take small tube antiseptic cream and suntan creamThere are plenty of chemists along the way if you find you need anything
I’m in the Camino now and I put aquafor in my feet each morning before two pairs of socks and shoes. I’ve gotten 4 blisters anyway!With just a few weeks before I start my camino I have reached that phase where I am scouring this message board for any nuggets to help make the "perfect" camino. It's a bit overwhelming and probably not too helpful.But I have noticed a lot of messages about various creams and ointments -from vaseline to pain killer creams - that people apply to their skin over the course of their Camino and I am wondering about this.
Over the course of my life I have rarely felt the need to apply any form of cream (other than sun or the occasional fungus) to my skin but I have also never walked the amount of miles of the camino in such a compressed period of time. So I am curious about what people use but more importantly how and why they use them and when they know to use them. It seems a bit basic but it's new to me! Any thoughts?
Thanks
M
What I use and why after 8 caminos and now 61 years old with known achilles tendonosis and tendonitis, but never blisters. Small tube of vaseline for between tight toes because I cannot get perfectly fitting shoes for my strangely shaped feet. I've had some occasion to use it for chafing underwear during very hot sweaty days, plus as lip balm on rare occasions with dry lips. Works on squeeky albergue doors also. You probably should not pack this because it can be had in Spain for about 2 euro per tube if you do start to develop issues. Small tube sunscreen; I am fair skinned and wife claims direct bright sun is not good for skin in any case. Voltaren gel as of 3 years ago when I started to get the tendonitis. I tried Arnica at that time with absolutely no effect-- I understand that clinical tests show no proof of effectiveness; although its alcohol content gave my skin nice cool feeling and it was slippery to facilitate massaging muscles. I used up the Arnica, but don't ever plan to get it again. I combine the Voltaren gel with Ibuprofen 600mg pill at 6am, and about 2pm only if I plan to do more than 35 km that day. If you start to have inflammation/sore muscles/painful joints, you might start with Ibuprofen or Voltaren pills to avoid the gel. I carry a micro 5 gram tube of triple antibiotic burn cream just in case. I have not needed it, but have treated other pilgrims' bloody feet with it; especially if there is no pharmacy immediately available; you can always get bigger tube if you get torn up. 27 gram dropper bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol to clean hotspot skin areas before applying duct tape, and various disinfections for others' messed up feet. Just came back from 600 miles SJPP to Finnisterre and beyond, and only used 1/3 of the alcohol and 1/4 of the antibiotic cream. Toothpaste. Very small bottle hand sanitizer. Most albergues and cafes have plenty of hand sanitizer on hand, so you can refill the small bottle as necessary. Zycam nasal cold medication repacked into small dropper bottle. I have gotten colds on 5 caminos, and the Zycam greatly reduces their duration and symptoms for me. I have not been able to find Zycam in Europe through 20 years of traveling there. First camino I took mosquito repellent, cortizone cream, antifungal cream, lip balm, but never used any of that stuff. I do carry a very light mosquito head net, but never used it. One pilgrim told me he and his group fought numerous mosquitos in a small village just beyond Sarria in May this year; otherwise, I have never heard of mosquito problems on CF. Most of this stuff I repack into special smaller tubes and bottles you can get on AMAZON, etc, to save size and weight, and of course, all that excess. I carry a very small, wide mouth, pill bottle that I fill toward the end of each day with liquid hand soap. It is enough to shampoo, wash and do laundry. No need to carry slimy bar soap or other liquid soaps.With just a few weeks before I start my camino I have reached that phase where I am scouring this message board for any nuggets to help make the "perfect" camino. It's a bit overwhelming and probably not too helpful.But I have noticed a lot of messages about various creams and ointments -from vaseline to pain killer creams - that people apply to their skin over the course of their Camino and I am wondering about this.
Over the course of my life I have rarely felt the need to apply any form of cream (other than sun or the occasional fungus) to my skin but I have also never walked the amount of miles of the camino in such a compressed period of time. So I am curious about what people use but more importantly how and why they use them and when they know to use them. It seems a bit basic but it's new to me! Any thoughts?
Thanks
M
I didn’t think of doing that? Sounds a plausible use of Voltaren, might try that.I’m in the Camino now and I put aquafor in my feet each morning before two pairs of socks and shoes. I’ve gotten 4 blisters anyway!
When we get to accommodation I usually put Voltaren in feet for pain. Husband puts on hip sometimes.
We put sunscreen on during day if it’s sunny.
With just a few weeks before I start my camino I have reached that phase where I am scouring this message board for any nuggets to help make the "perfect" camino. It's a bit overwhelming and probably not too helpful.But I have noticed a lot of messages about various creams and ointments -from vaseline to pain killer creams - that people apply to their skin over the course of their Camino and I am wondering about this.
Over the course of my life I have rarely felt the need to apply any form of cream (other than sun or the occasional fungus) to my skin but I have also never walked the amount of miles of the camino in such a compressed period of time. So I am curious about what people use but more importantly how and why they use them and when they know to use them. It seems a bit basic but it's new to me! Any thoughts?
Thanks
M
Try Vick's First Defence. It's similar to the original Zicam which I swore by. I've bought it on London, and it's available on Amazon.Zycam nasal cold medication repacked into small dropper bottle.
I 'm glad you like it. Can you let us know how many other anti-chafe preparations you have used to come to this conclusion and what they were?Squirrel's Nut Butter is the best anti-chafe stuff out there!! all my ultrarunner friends use it and ill def be bringing it on my Camino.
Exactly right!Like the OP I had never used a foot cream or vaseline on probably a hundred day hikes. But on the CF and the Via Podiensis, it's a day after day after day effort. And with a pack, I think my feet flattened out. I got blisters. So I bought a pair of hiking boots a half size larger. And I learned to do the following:
When I first notice a hotspot - an irritation on part of a foot or feet - I stop. I do not wait for the next village. I just stop and take my shoes and socks off. I air my feet and massage them. If my socks are damp I put a new pair on.
Also a German recommended a foot cream called Gehwol. It seems to refresh my feet and I have used it since. It also makes my feet smell better. I apply that when I start and when I air my feet (once or twice a day). Result has been blister free hiking for over 1000kms.
Maybe it's a placebo, but it makes my feet feel cleaner and refreshed when I apply it.
Above all that is my hope.Wear a hat with a brim and sunscreen. With pharmacies everywhere I can buy something for pain if and when I hurt. You smell a lot of Ben Gay on the Camino but I'm not sure that it works.
Wendy uses Vaseline and still gets small blisters so.....
Take sunscreen for your face and a small tube (pocket size) of Vaseline.
Happy walking.
And a "perfect Camino" is coming home uninjured.
This was very helpful, thanks!What I use and why after 8 caminos and now 61 years old with known achilles tendonosis and tendonitis, but never blisters. Small tube of vaseline for between tight toes because I cannot get perfectly fitting shoes for my strangely shaped feet. I've had some occasion to use it for chafing underwear during very hot sweaty days, plus as lip balm on rare occasions with dry lips. Works on squeeky albergue doors also. You probably should not pack this because it can be had in Spain for about 2 euro per tube if you do start to develop issues. Small tube sunscreen; I am fair skinned and wife claims direct bright sun is not good for skin in any case. Voltaren gel as of 3 years ago when I started to get the tendonitis. I tried Arnica at that time with absolutely no effect-- I understand that clinical tests show no proof of effectiveness; although its alcohol content gave my skin nice cool feeling and it was slippery to facilitate massaging muscles. I used up the Arnica, but don't ever plan to get it again. I combine the Voltaren gel with Ibuprofen 600mg pill at 6am, and about 2pm only if I plan to do more than 35 km that day. If you start to have inflammation/sore muscles/painful joints, you might start with Ibuprofen or Voltaren pills to avoid the gel. I carry a micro 5 gram tube of triple antibiotic burn cream just in case. I have not needed it, but have treated other pilgrims' bloody feet with it; especially if there is no pharmacy immediately available; you can always get bigger tube if you get torn up. 27 gram dropper bottle of 91% isopropyl alcohol to clean hotspot skin areas before applying duct tape, and various disinfections for others' messed up feet. Just came back from 600 miles SJPP to Finnisterre and beyond, and only used 1/3 of the alcohol and 1/4 of the antibiotic cream. Toothpaste. Very small bottle hand sanitizer. Most albergues and cafes have plenty of hand sanitizer on hand, so you can refill the small bottle as necessary. Zycam nasal cold medication repacked into small dropper bottle. I have gotten colds on 5 caminos, and the Zycam greatly reduces their duration and symptoms for me. I have not been able to find Zycam in Europe through 20 years of traveling there. First camino I took mosquito repellent, cortizone cream, antifungal cream, lip balm, but never used any of that stuff. I do carry a very light mosquito head net, but never used it. One pilgrim told me he and his group fought numerous mosquitos in a small village just beyond Sarria in May this year; otherwise, I have never heard of mosquito problems on CF. Most of this stuff I repack into special smaller tubes and bottles you can get on AMAZON, etc, to save size and weight, and of course, all that excess. I carry a very small, wide mouth, pill bottle that I fill toward the end of each day with liquid hand soap. It is enough to shampoo, wash and do laundry. No need to carry slimy bar soap or other liquid soaps.
I use Compeed brand foot glide/antifriction stick to help stay off blisters between toes, and use Voltaren ( an NSAID ) gel for my knees , shoulders, and tops of feet when needed for sore joints/muscles. Both can easily be found in farmacias in Spain and Portugal if you need them. I also carry Arnica gel...natural muscle rub, helps with recovery after long days.I think that is part of my issue. Never having used anything for walking or day hikes I am not sure what will be useful or beneficial.
You ask: Any thoughts? Plenty. Your feet, and all of your skin, are your trusted friends on camino. They need care and protection.With just a few weeks before I start my camino I have reached that phase where I am scouring this message board for any nuggets to help make the "perfect" camino. It's a bit overwhelming and probably not too helpful.But I have noticed a lot of messages about various creams and ointments -from vaseline to pain killer creams - that people apply to their skin over the course of their Camino and I am wondering about this.
Over the course of my life I have rarely felt the need to apply any form of cream (other than sun or the occasional fungus) to my skin but I have also never walked the amount of miles of the camino in such a compressed period of time. So I am curious about what people use but more importantly how and why they use them and when they know to use them. It seems a bit basic but it's new to me! Any thoughts?
Thanks
M
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