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Search 69,459 Camino Questions

Specific hot spots for blister. Looking for suggestions...

LynneR

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
CF '16, '18
Hello,
I've searched several "blister" posts, but I can't find the answer to my specific blister question and I'm hoping someone out there might have a suggestion.

I tend to get blisters on the pad of my foot: front, a bit below my second and third toes. Even after a long walk on paths around my town (training for my Camino) the area feels tender. During my last Camino, I struggled with blisters in that area for nearly the entire walk.

I have decided to go with boots instead of trainers, but now I'm even questioning that decision. Last time I used Salomon light-weight trail shoes and I've upgraded to something a bit more stable. They're comfortable and give me more ankle support.

It seems everyone has a different opinion.

I'm not sure if the boots or the socks are the problem....

I would appreciate advice anyone can give me about how to prevent blisters in that area.

Thank you,
Lynne
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Depends on each individual, I both had and saw a lot of blisters on the side of the heels. In my case I realized that it was from my foot sliding forward on the downhill portions early on and my heel(s) were lifting in my boots. On the flats, no pain and they healed up. Tie and re-tie your boots. Fortunately, they never caused me any real problems.
 
I get hot spots on the ball of my foot, so I put some Omnifix tape on them every day. It's a thin flexible tape that stretches to fit the contours of your foot. It comes in about a 4 inch width with a peel off paper backing, that you can cut to any size.
 
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Blisters are a product of friction.... often referred to as shear force friction. The skin of your foot, and the sock that is in contact with that area of skin, are sliding and rubbing together.

Strategies for the prevention of shear force friction and blisters have changed and matured over recent years.
  1. A properly fitting shoe. In brief, it needs to be long enough and wide enough to accomodate any insoles, orthotics, metatarsal pads, etc, PLUS the socks that you will be wearing, PLUS the increased pressure on the feet from wearing a loaded pack.
  2. Light padded Merino wool sock designed for walking or backpacking, or the same type of sock in a good synthetic blend. A heavy pad on a sock allows potentially more movement against the skin, takes longer to air out, and takes longer to dry when washed.
  3. A sock fit that is snug and form fitting to the foot, but not gangrene-inducingly tight. You want the shear force to be between the sock and the interior of the shoe, not the sock and the skin. A snug fitting sock will help to make that happen.
  4. Allow the sock to move a bit in the shoe. By keeping the shoes a bit looser on the feet, the sock will take the brunt of the shear force. If a shoe is tied snug, then that forces the foot to move more in the sock, which means the sock and skin are absorbing the shear force. An exception occurs on long downhill grades; the shoes need to be tied tight enough to keep your toes from hitting the front of the shoe which can cause injury and trauma to the nail bed and toe joints.
  5. While there are foot lubricants, from Body Glide and Hiker's Goo to plain old vaseline, the have a fairly short viable working span as the material rubs of the skin and is absorbed by the socks. For prophylactic protection from shear force friction, a long lasting barrier is the better option. The placement of tapes, like Leukotape P, or moleskin-type products, if adhered correctly, will last the whole day.
  6. To apply tapes and moleskin type products,
    1. Clean off the area of application with a bit of alcohol to remove grease, dirt, and body oils. A bit of regular hand sanitizer works for this, in addition to hand cleansing.
    2. Cut a piece of your chosen barrier material to fit the area you want protected; be sure to cut rounded corners rather than square in order to help the material from rolling up away from the skin.
    3. Apply a thin smear of Tincture of Benzoin to the skin area where the adhesive will stick. This will increase the holding power of the tape or moleskin.
      1. If the tape or moleskin, etc. is going on top of a blistered area, avoid getting the benzoin on the roof area of the blister, and add a thin coating of ointment/vaseline onto the blister roof, avoiding the surrounding skin area. This will allow removal of the product without hurting the blister wound.
    4. Place the barrier on the area, taking care to not handle the adhesive; spend a bit of time rubbing the material to create friction so that the adhesive will heat up and adhere more firmly.
    5. At the end of the day, remove the barrier and use some alcohol to wipe the area that was covered.
      1. Since fungus (athletes foot) and pathogens splash around in showers, shower shoes are not necessarily preventative to one's feet being exposed or infected. It is helpful to use an alcohol or astringent product applied to the feet after showering.

As to the commonly held beliefs about boots providing protective ankle support:

First, unless there are medical issues, the ankle is best protected with exercise and use, where the ankle is allowed to use uneven surfaces, exercise, and balancing on one foot in order to build strength and endurance and lessen susceptibility to injurious fatigue.

The only sure ankle support for medically indicated need are ankle braces which can fit inside of the shoe. Despite anecdotal evidence and subjective opinion to the contrary, research has repeatedly shown that boots do not provide the level of stiffness and the shear rigidity needed to keep ankles free from injury.

They can, in fact, exacerbate the risk of injury. A foot in a boot is sitting higher off the ground than when in a shoe because the outer and midsoles are much thicker and built up. Additionally, the outer sole of boots are trimmed closer to shell of the boot, meaning that the outer sole has a fairly narrow profile. Both of these factors have been shown to have a higher risk of the footwear 'rolling' when stepping on an unstable surface or piece of debris like loose rocks or uneven surfaces.

As the boot begins to roll, the boot carries the foot with it, the higher material of the boot above the ankle exerts more force against the foot to make it roll with the boot. That material is not stiff enough to keep from flexing, which means that your ankle is going to start bending as the roll of the boot continues. And because the foot is higher off the ground inside the boot, the ankle can be forced into a more significant bending.

Another factor about boots that helps lead to injury is their weight. The heavier the weight that the foot and lower legs need to lift, the more stress and fatigue the ankles and supporting structures are exposed to. Such weakens the ability of the ankle structures to maintain resiliency.

Trail shoes and trail runners, on the other hand, do the opposite when confronted with the same type of uneven surface or debris. The outer and midsoles are much closer to the ground. They are also wider than the shoe making for a contact point with the ground that is more stable. Their much lighter weight keeps ankle structures from fatiguing.

Now here is the thing researchers found as most significant: A foot in a shoe that is kept a bit loose can compensate, to a large degree, when the shoe starts to roll off of an uneven surface. As the shoe rolls, the shoe tends to slip around the foot. In other words, the shoe moves around the foot for the most part, so the ankle won't immediately bend out of place with the shoe. This allows the wearer of the shoe to have enough time to react to the rolling and twisting shoe to keep the ankle from injurious strain.

Yes, there are people who get ankle injuries in trail shoes and trail runners. But those injuries are less frequent and less severe, on an average, than with a foot encased in an above the ankle hiking boot.

As I stated above, there will be any number of folks that, with no predisposing medical conditions, will state anecdotal evidence along the lines that they, or a friend, or other family members, et al, were saved by above the ankle boots. Subjective opinion is like that. :) But objective evidence begs to differ on the best way of protecting ankles from injury.
 
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Masterful replies. Tried my best, but still have some whoppers. With Compede, bought here in Portugal , I walk on unhindered. And, they make a Compede patch especially for the area you have sensitivity in.
 
Really good post by Dave. I had the same issue, and used what I had, which was Kineisiology tape, (sounds just like the omniflex tape Trecile wrote about above). I also used some A&D ointment in the morning and stopped once mid day and reapplied. It helped a lot. I also highly recommend trail runners and poles, but to each his own on that. Good luck, and Buen Camino!
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Great reply by Dave, but I'd like to add that some people (me included) have had success with the socks that have both an inner liner and an outer Merino wool layer. This sock within a sock allows the foot to move around without the friction impact (or at least as much). I used to get a lot of blisters but since using "1000 Mile Socks" from the UK I've had only minimal problems. There are a lot of these on the market. They aren't necessarily cheap but they have worked well for me.

Also, and this may be anecdotal but I've found that every two hours or so, just taking off your shoes and socks, and rubbing what normally would become blistered helps as well.
 
The only sure ankle support for medically indicated need are ankle braces which can fit inside of the shoe.
They work. I use Swede-O brand. You will need to add lubricant (I use silicone) at the friction points of the brace, and don't tighten the boot laces too much; it may cause pain even if tight laces do not cause blisters.

s-l500.jpg
 
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Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
I have 3 close friends who suffered from blisters in many and varied areas on their feet, including the spots you mention.
I suggested Armaskin sock liners to them, and they now have a 100% success rate and for the first time , as one friend put it, her feet no longer look like they’ve been through a meat grinder.
I personally don’t have blister problems, but I still wear them on the Camino every day..I guess they’re my “ security blanket”.
Good luck with whatever method you choose..
 
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
Blisters are a product of friction.... often referred to as shear force friction. The skin of your foot, and the sock that is in contact with that area of skin, are sliding and rubbing together.

Strategies for the prevention of shear force friction have changed and matured over recent years.
  1. A properly fitting shoe. In brief, it needs to be long enough and wide enough to accomodate any insoles, orthotics, metatarsal pads, etc, PLUS the socks that you will be wearing, PLUS the increased pressure on the feet from wearing a loaded pack.
  2. Light padded Merino wool sock designed for walking or backpacking, or the same type of sock in a good synthetic blend. A heavy pad on a sock allows potentially more movement against the skin, takes longer to air out, and takes longer to dry when washed.
  3. A sock fit that is snug. Not excruciatingly tight. You want the shear force to be between the sock and the interior of the shoe, not the sock and the skin. A snug fitting sock will help to make that happen
  4. Allow the sock to move a bit in the shoe. By keeping the shoes a bit looser on the feet, the sock will take the brunt of the shear force. If a shoe is tied snug, then that forces the foot to move more in the sock, which means the sock and skin are absorbing the shear force. An exception occurs on long downhill grades; the shoes need to be tied tight enough to keep your toes from hitting the front of the shoe which can cause injury and trauma to the nail bed and toe joints.
  5. While there are foot lubricants, from Body Glide and Hiker's Goo to plain old vaseline, the have a fairly short viable working span as the material rubs of the skin and is absorbed by the socks. For prophylactic protection from shear force friction, a long lasting barrier is the better option. The placement of tapes, like Leukotape P, or moleskin-type products, if adhered correctly, will last the whole day. You clean off the area of application with a bit of alcohol to remove grease, dirt, and body oils; cut a piece of your chosen barrier material to fit the area you want protected; be sure to cut rounded corners rather than square in order to help the material from rolling up away from the skin; place the barrier on the area, taking care to not handle the adhesive; spent a bit of time rubbing the material to create friction so that the adhesive will heat up and adhere more firmly; at the end of the day, remove the barrier and use some alcohol to wipe the area that was covered.

As to the thought about boots and ankle support:

First, unless there are medical issues, the ankle is best protected with exercise and use, where the ankle is allowed to use uneven surfaces, exercise, and balancing on one foot in order to build strength and endurance and lessen susceptibility to injurious fatigue.

The only sure ankle support for medically indicated need are ankle braces which can fit inside of the shoe. Despite anecdotal evidence and subjective opinion to the contrary, research has repeatedly shown that boots do not provide the level of stiffness and the shear rigidity needed to keep ankles free from injury.

They can, in fact, exacerbate the risk of injury. A foot in a boot is sitting higher off the ground than when in a shoe because the outer and midsoles are much thicker and built up. Additionally, the outer sole of boots are trimmed closer to shell of the boot, meaning that the outer sole has a fairly narrow profile. Both of these factors have been shown to have a higher risk of the footwear 'rolling' when stepping on an unstable surface or piece of debris like loose rocks or uneven surfaces.

As the boot begins to roll, the boot carries the foot with it, the higher material of the boot above the ankle exerts more force against the foot to make it roll with the boot. That material is not stiff enough to keep from flexing, which means that your ankle is going to start bending as the roll of the boot continues. And because the foot is higher off the ground inside the boot, the ankle can be forced into a more significant bending.

Another factor about boots that helps lead to injury is their weight. The heavier the weight that the foot and lower legs need to lift, the more stress and fatigue the ankles and supporting structures are exposed to. Such weakens the ability of the ankle structures to maintain resiliency.

Trail shoes and trail runners, on the other hand, do the opposite when confronted with the same type of uneven surface or debris. The outer and midsoles are much closer to the ground. They are also wider than the shoe making for a contact point with the ground that is more stable. Their much lighter weight keeps ankle structures from fatiguing.

Now here is the thing researchers found as most significant: A foot in a shoe that is kept a bit loose can compensate, to a large degree, when the shoe starts to roll off of an uneven surface. As the shoe rolls, the foot tends to slip around the shoe. In other words, the shoe moves around the foot for the most part, so the ankle won't immediately bend out of place with the shoe. This allows the wearer of the shoe to have enough time to react to the rolling and twisting shoe to keep the ankle from injurious strain.

Yes, there are people who get ankle injuries in trail shoes and trail runners. But those injuries are less frequent and less severe, on an average, than with a foot encased in an above the ankle hiking boot.

As I stated above, there will be any number of folks that, with no predisposing medical conditions, will state anecdotal evidence along the lines that they, or a friend, or other family members, et al, were saved by above the ankle boots. Subjective opinion is like that. :) But objective evidence begs to differ on the best way of protecting ankles from injury.
I enjoyed your information about ankle support. I have a weak left ankle and for years wore boots which reached above the ankle. On long hikes, I would twist my ankle several times a day,when my foot rolled over,stepping on uneven ground. When I went to low cut shoes,my ankles must have gotten stronger,as I have not twisted my ankle in years. I think encasing your ankle in a rigid boot is not the way to go.
 
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Dave has given plenty of good advice about reducing friction on the foot but the blister prevention blog article below tells about a product, a Teflon patch, that reduces the friction between the sock and shoe at the areas where your blisters happen.

https://www.blisterprevention.com.au/blister-blog/engo-blister-prevention-patches

They are a unique solution and can work very well, indeed. What they do is to reduce the shear force between the sock and shoe, which further reduces the risk of friction between the foot and the sock. I'd forgotten about them. Thank you for posting about them, Rick :)
 
I had 2 minor blisters last year on the CF. I had purchased Hikers Wool from New Zealand in advance as I had read what a great product it is. It turned out to be true and I now swear by it. I just wrapped a bit of wool around my toe every morning. No tape or bandaids needed as it stays in place perfectly. I believe the lanolin in the wool is the reason the product is so effective. I walked pain free and the blisters healed very quickly. Incidentally, I wore Zamberlan hiking boots with custom orthotics (for plantar fasciitis) and Wigwam merino wool socks.
 
Blisters aren't necessarily a function of sock/skin friction per se. They can be a function of our anatomy/mechanics and hundreds and hundreds of steps. I.e., if someone has a toe that rolls under another a bit and every step pinches it there, multiply that by hundreds of steps, a blister will form. So sometimes the cure is addressing the mechanical/anatomical issue. i.e., prevent the toe from rolling/pinching under there.
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Blisters aren't necessarily a function of sock/skin friction per se. They can be a function of our anatomy/mechanics and hundreds and hundreds of steps. I.e., if someone has a toe that rolls under another a bit and every step pinches it there, multiply that by hundreds of steps, a blister will form. So sometimes the cure is addressing the mechanical/anatomical issue. i.e., prevent the toe from rolling/pinching under there.

That's true, but it is relatively rare in the whole blister scheme of things :) It does point out the importance of not letting uncomfortable or unusual feelings with one's feet go unattended; it is something that makes paying attention to one's feet vital when walking long distances.
 
Hi Lynne. Without seeing your foot/feet and footwear it is difficult to tell .. but, you have a specific point that fails each time, just behind the middle toes, and I am wondering if your footwear is too narrow and causing that area to crease together, or even bulge at that point, and if you have a long big toe then that could be being pushed inwards causing the same effect ... is a possibility. It isn't the way you walk .. too hard, etc .. as that would give the blisters or tenderness on the ball of the foot.

If you remove your laces and put them back starting, say, from the third set of holes then you will still be able to lace up comfortably but the front of your footwear will open up and flex more - this may ease things, worth a try. I have had great success on Camino getting pilgrims to do this.

Also, have you tried walking in wide sandals for a day or so to see if it still happens? With your problem I would go the opposite direction to closing the feet up in boots and move to good quality trekking sandals, wide ones (and no socks). Although possibly the ugliest footwear in the world Keen Newport H2 trekking sandals are very good.
Another thing I would try is to do those practise walks without your pack for a couple of days and see if it still happens. If it doesn't then whatever the foot/footwear problem you may have, as in above, it is exacerbated by extra weight on the feet.
A positive is that you know it will happen and you know exactly where, so if you cannot remove the problem then put a good patch on that area before even starting walking.

Buen Camino!
 
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That's true, but it is relatively rare in the whole blister scheme of things :) It does point out the importance of not letting uncomfortable or unusual feelings with one's feet go unattended; it is something that makes paying attention to one's feet vital when walking long distances.
Well, it's not rare on my feet.
 
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Blisters are a product of friction.... often referred to as shear force friction. The skin of your foot, and the sock that is in contact with that area of skin, are sliding and rubbing together.

Strategies for the prevention of shear force friction have changed and matured over recent years.
  1. A properly fitting shoe. In brief, it needs to be long enough and wide enough to accomodate any insoles, orthotics, metatarsal pads, etc, PLUS the socks that you will be wearing, PLUS the increased pressure on the feet from wearing a loaded pack.
  2. Light padded Merino wool sock designed for walking or backpacking, or the same type of sock in a good synthetic blend. A heavy pad on a sock allows potentially more movement against the skin, takes longer to air out, and takes longer to dry when washed.
  3. A sock fit that is snug. Not excruciatingly tight. You want the shear force to be between the sock and the interior of the shoe, not the sock and the skin. A snug fitting sock will help to make that happen
  4. Allow the sock to move a bit in the shoe. By keeping the shoes a bit looser on the feet, the sock will take the brunt of the shear force. If a shoe is tied snug, then that forces the foot to move more in the sock, which means the sock and skin are absorbing the shear force. An exception occurs on long downhill grades; the shoes need to be tied tight enough to keep your toes from hitting the front of the shoe which can cause injury and trauma to the nail bed and toe joints.
  5. While there are foot lubricants, from Body Glide and Hiker's Goo to plain old vaseline, the have a fairly short viable working span as the material rubs of the skin and is absorbed by the socks. For prophylactic protection from shear force friction, a long lasting barrier is the better option. The placement of tapes, like Leukotape P, or moleskin-type products, if adhered correctly, will last the whole day. You clean off the area of application with a bit of alcohol to remove grease, dirt, and body oils; cut a piece of your chosen barrier material to fit the area you want protected; be sure to cut rounded corners rather than square in order to help the material from rolling up away from the skin; place the barrier on the area, taking care to not handle the adhesive; spent a bit of time rubbing the material to create friction so that the adhesive will heat up and adhere more firmly; at the end of the day, remove the barrier and use some alcohol to wipe the area that was covered.

As to the thought about boots and ankle support:

First, unless there are medical issues, the ankle is best protected with exercise and use, where the ankle is allowed to use uneven surfaces, exercise, and balancing on one foot in order to build strength and endurance and lessen susceptibility to injurious fatigue.

The only sure ankle support for medically indicated need are ankle braces which can fit inside of the shoe. Despite anecdotal evidence and subjective opinion to the contrary, research has repeatedly shown that boots do not provide the level of stiffness and the shear rigidity needed to keep ankles free from injury.

They can, in fact, exacerbate the risk of injury. A foot in a boot is sitting higher off the ground than when in a shoe because the outer and midsoles are much thicker and built up. Additionally, the outer sole of boots are trimmed closer to shell of the boot, meaning that the outer sole has a fairly narrow profile. Both of these factors have been shown to have a higher risk of the footwear 'rolling' when stepping on an unstable surface or piece of debris like loose rocks or uneven surfaces.

As the boot begins to roll, the boot carries the foot with it, the higher material of the boot above the ankle exerts more force against the foot to make it roll with the boot. That material is not stiff enough to keep from flexing, which means that your ankle is going to start bending as the roll of the boot continues. And because the foot is higher off the ground inside the boot, the ankle can be forced into a more significant bending.

Another factor about boots that helps lead to injury is their weight. The heavier the weight that the foot and lower legs need to lift, the more stress and fatigue the ankles and supporting structures are exposed to. Such weakens the ability of the ankle structures to maintain resiliency.

Trail shoes and trail runners, on the other hand, do the opposite when confronted with the same type of uneven surface or debris. The outer and midsoles are much closer to the ground. They are also wider than the shoe making for a contact point with the ground that is more stable. Their much lighter weight keeps ankle structures from fatiguing.

Now here is the thing researchers found as most significant: A foot in a shoe that is kept a bit loose can compensate, to a large degree, when the shoe starts to roll off of an uneven surface. As the shoe rolls, the foot tends to slip around the shoe. In other words, the shoe moves around the foot for the most part, so the ankle won't immediately bend out of place with the shoe. This allows the wearer of the shoe to have enough time to react to the rolling and twisting shoe to keep the ankle from injurious strain.

Yes, there are people who get ankle injuries in trail shoes and trail runners. But those injuries are less frequent and less severe, on an average, than with a foot encased in an above the ankle hiking boot.

As I stated above, there will be any number of folks that, with no predisposing medical conditions, will state anecdotal evidence along the lines that they, or a friend, or other family members, et al, were saved by above the ankle boots. Subjective opinion is like that. :) But objective evidence begs to differ on the best way of protecting ankles from injury.


Thank you so much for taking the time to share. That was extremely helpful. I will consider all of it. I think I will have to read it again to take in all of the tips.
Knowledge and preparation seem to be the best ways to avoid major problems.
Thank you!!
Lynne
 
I have had excellent results wearing nylon sock liners with thicker socks. Works similar to "1000 Mile Socks". I would change into a dry pair mid-day.

I bought a couple pairs of sock liners and I'm hoping they will help.
Thanks.
Lynne
 
Hello,
I've searched several "blister" posts, but I can't find the answer to my specific blister question and I'm hoping someone out there might have a suggestion.

I tend to get blisters on the pad of my foot: front, a bit below my second and third toes. Even after a long walk on paths around my town (training for my Camino) the area feels tender. During my last Camino, I struggled with blisters in that area for nearly the entire walk.

I have decided to go with boots instead of trainers, but now I'm even questioning that decision. Last time I used Salomon light-weight trail shoes and I've upgraded to something a bit more stable. They're comfortable and give me more ankle support.

It seems everyone has a different opinion.

I'm not sure if the boots or the socks are the problem....

I would appreciate advice anyone can give me about how to prevent blisters in that area.

Thank you,
Lynne
 
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
I strongly recommend using dressing material 'K-Soft K4'. It's available from chemists / pharmacies - although they may have to order it in for you, it's ridiculously cheap!
To use:
Cut a piece sufficiently large to cover the problem area twice-over.
Double the piece over and cover the problem area with it, secure it in place with micropore tape.

I received this tip from military walkers on the Nijmegen Marches (40-50km per day), it works extremely well.
 
Masterful replies. Tried my best, but still have some whoppers. With Compede, bought here in Portugal , I walk on unhindered. And, they make a Compede patch especially for the area you have sensitivity in.
Compede is the best! Blisters form from friction and wetness. I walked with compede on my hotspots, athletic socks, and hiking sandals for 80% of my Camino; the rest in hiking trainers. The sandals let my feet breathe so they were never sweaty. By the end of my Camino, I only used sandals and socks as my feet toughened up.
 
Compede is the best! Blisters form from friction and wetness. I walked with compede on my hotspots, athletic socks, and hiking sandals for 80% of my Camino; the rest in hiking trainers. The sandals let my feet breathe so they were never sweaty. By the end of my Camino, I only used sandals and socks as my feet toughened up.
Compeed is designed to heal broken blisters. You can find better and cheaper products for prevention, hot spots and unbroken blisters.
 
Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance.

€149,-
Hi Lynne. Without seeing your foot/feet and footwear it is difficult to tell .. but, you have a specific point that fails each time, just behind the middle toes, and I am wondering if your footwear is too narrow and causing that area to crease together, or even bulge at that point, and if you have a long big toe then that could be being pushed inwards causing the same effect ... is a possibility. It isn't the way you walk .. too hard, etc .. as that would give the blisters or tenderness on the ball of the foot.

If you remove your laces and put them back starting, say, from the third set of holes then you will still be able to lace up comfortably but the front of your footwear will open up and flex more - this may ease things, worth a try. I have had great success on Camino getting pilgrims to do this.

Also, have you tried walking in wide sandals for a day or so to see if it still happens? With your problem I would go the opposite direction to closing the feet up in boots and move to good quality trekking sandals, wide ones (and no socks). Although possibly the ugliest footwear in the world Keen Newport H2 trekking sandals are very good.
Another thing I would try is to do those practise walks without your pack for a couple of days and see if it still happens. If it doesn't then whatever the foot/footwear problem you may have, as in above, it is exacerbated by extra weight on the feet.
A positive is that you know it will happen and you know exactly where, so if you cannot remove the problem then put a good patch on that area before even starting walking.

Buen Camino!


That makes sense. My old boots felt a bit snug in width after a bit of walking. My new boots are much roomier. Maybe that will make a difference. I will where them a bit looser in the front too - good suggestion. I'll experiment. Many people have given great suggestions. I'm so thankful.
Thanks for your time!
Lynne
 
Technical backpack for day trips with backpack cover and internal compartment for the hydration bladder. Ideal daypack for excursions where we need a medium capacity backpack. The back with Air Flow System creates large air channels that will keep our back as cool as possible.

€83,-
Such as???

Compede, socks, and sandals worked like a charm for me.

Compeed does not hold up well as a blister prevention for the majority of folks who try to use it. It is designed for after blister treatment. It provides a gel-like cushion for the blistered area to help reduce pain from continued rubbing and impacts.

The product manufacturers themselves do not list the product as a specific preventive. The fact that it works for one person is an anecdotal bias, not an objective measurement derived from research and comparative analysis. If it works for you, there are a lot of others who have tried the same thing and had compeed be ineffective in the prevention role, or even create bigger problems.

Better and proven products specific to blister prevention (examples):

Anti-friction emollients: Body Glide, Hikers Goo, Vaseline, and more

Friction Barriers: Mole Skin (mole foam), Leukotape P, Duct Tape, Athletic adhesive tape, Omniflex tape, KT Tapes, etc.

Mechanical Shear Force Reduction: Engo Patches, Preheels, some insoles, friction reduction tapes for interior shoe application (similar idea to Engo Patches)
 
Thanks for responding to the question for me Dave. The site upgrade really crippled me for posting long responses.

Probably not cheap but another thing that could help some prevent blisters are socks where the pair has a sock fitted for the left foot and another for the right (they exist.) This can make the toe box roomier. This might be worth a try for someone who might otherwise discard an otherwise good pair of boots.
 
Thanks for responding to the question for me Dave. The site upgrade really crippled me for posting long responses.

Probably not cheap but another thing that could help some prevent blisters are socks where the pair has a sock fitted for the left foot and another for the right (they exist.) This can make the toe box roomier. This might be worth a try for someone who might otherwise discard an otherwise good pair of boots.

There are some people who actually need two different shoe lengths and widths for their feet. So the sock thing is a good thought, Rick.
 
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