cathyke said:
Clearly, not in the big picture...
But to prevent blisters - do I need to invest in proper walking socks, rather than the usual cotton ones I wear everyday?
And if so, what are proper walking socks? Wool? also have some thicker nylon-y ones but they make my feet hot.
Advice gratefully received
Cathy
In answering your first question, cotton is absolutely the worst material for socks because of it's liquid absorption and retention characteristics. More perspiration exits your body through your feet than from any other area. If your socks are a non-absorbing wicking material it serves to push the water away from the skin, towards the outside of the material, keeping your feet reasonably drier. But if the material is of cotton, the perspiration is absorbed by the fibers which tends to hold the sweaty liquid against the skin until the skin begins to soften, turn whiter and wrinkle like a prune-then blisters easily appear upon the slightest friction upon the softened, wrinkled skin.
The socks I wear depends upon the pace I set. If it is casually strolling, even for all day, then just a single pair of some merino wool sock like Smartwool or Bridgedale is usually sufficient. But when I want to go faster, picking up the pace, then I always add a thin polypro liner between my foot and the wool sock. If I don't, and with the much faster pace, blisters may appear.
I generally do not apply any lubricating ointment upon my feet, although in the past I have used Body-glide. I prefer the liner with wool combination. At least it is not as messy.