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If you have had a lot of blisters with the socks you wore, you should try something (anything!) different. I have had good success with socks from the bicycling department, and also just liner socks.My question is does anyone wear running socks and how do these compare to hiking sock. Surely if someone can run a marathon with no blisters they might be good for walking? I have Merrell women's Capra bolt which are very comfy and lighter weight. I need a boot for support for my ankles.
Hi, is hard skin a no no ?, Hubby has really hard skin on his feet, should we be tackling this and giving baby soft feet before we goI am a wool-hater. I like Thorlos socks, which are very similar in feel to a sports sock, but in a boot length. They last a long time and are cool on your feet. I am rigorous about preventing hard skin and putting on blister plasters 'prophylactically', i.e. when I feel a hint of soreness coming. I think a proper foot cream is much better than vaseline, e.g. CCS.
Thanks, sounds like a plan. Cracked heels are aweful.Dear Karen 2017, Hard skin should be got rid of both before and during the walk. There are some old school hikers who go on about 'hardening up your feet' with stuff like surgical spirit. Absolute rubbish. Deep cracks in hard skin are way more painful than blisters and more difficult to get to heal. Nice and soft is the best basis to start from. I strongly suggest a visit to a good podiatrist before you go, as they can remove even bad hard skin very quickly, safely and effectively. You'll probably get a blister or two at the start, then your feet will settle with daily care using a pumice or file and CCS cream.
Having walked two Caminos I would have thought your foot would have hardened (adapted) to long walks by now. It illustrates how challenging it is to keep ones feet dry. I have walked two Caminos without any blisters, wearing lightweight leather boots (no gtx) and synthetic/merino wool socks. I got only a single blister at the back of my heel towards the end of the Camino when water got into my boot during heavy rain.For the last two years I have worn 1000 mile double layer fusion socks for my two caminos. I have suffered with many blister and my feet get so hot very quickly. I do change my socks regularly during the day and have used Vaseline.
This year I am not going to use Vaseline. We are walking from Porto to SDC and so I have been preparing my feet by making sure I have no hard skin which is cracked.
My question is does anyone wear running socks and how do these compare to hiking sock. Surely if someone can run a marathon with no blisters they might be good for walking? I have Merrell women's Capra bolt which are very comfy and lighter weight. I need a boot for support for my ankles.
Actually, studies have proven Dr. Reid regarding vasoline. See the articles in www.blisterprevention.com.au. Those that have "success" with vasoline do so in spite of their use of it, not because of it.I'm afraid I must respectfully disagree with Dr Reid regarding the use of Vaseline, unless she is talking strictly about running. I don't know anything about running except that it doesn't compare with walking day after day after day.
My first camino 12 years ago was a nightmare caused by blisteres. Since then I've learnt a lot about what suits my feet and now, never get blisters on long distance walks. I was putting on too much stuff on my feet and the boots were getting tighter and tighter, thus causing friction in different places.For the last two years I have worn 1000 mile double layer fusion socks for my two caminos. I have suffered with many blister and my feet get so hot very quickly. I do change my socks regularly during the day and have used Vaseline.
This year I am not going to use Vaseline. We are walking from Porto to SDC and so I have been preparing my feet by making sure I have no hard skin which is cracked.
My question is does anyone wear running socks and how do these compare to hiking sock. Surely if someone can run a marathon with no blisters they might be good for walking? I have Merrell women's Capra bolt which are very comfy and lighter weight. I need a boot for support for my ankles.
Yes I am also a fan of Rebecca's work on sports blister management.Actually, studies have proven Dr. Reid regarding vasoline. See the articles in www.blisterprevention.com.au. Those that have "success" with vasoline do so in spite of their use of it, not because of it.
Actually, studies have proven Dr. Reid regarding vasoline. See the articles in www.blisterprevention.com.au. Those that have "success" with vasoline do so in spite of their use of it, not because of it.
Yes, I have, in detail. And, I have looked up a number of her referenced studies and saw no signs of bias or skewing. Moreover, she is up front about her limited and very specific interest. And she shows no particular signs of skewing to support her specific products; quite to the contrary, if you really read her advice in detail, most of it relegates her commercial interests to a supporting role only, as opposed to a more primary one, which would be more likely in the case of bias.Have you watched these all the way through and the downloads? She is selling blister prevention products. It's hardly unbiased advice.
Yes, I have, in detail. And, I have looked up a number of her referenced studies and saw no signs of bias or skewing. Moreover, she is up front about her limited and very specific interest. And she shows no particular signs of skewing to support her specific products; quite to the contrary, if you really read her advice in detail, most of it relegates her commercial interests to a supporting role only, as opposed to a more primary one, which would be more likely in the case of bias.
And if we're going to apply a hermeneutic of suspicion to her commercial interests, cannot similar be applied to you defending the use of Vaseline because you have previously extolled it on your blog? The suspicion would be bias to your present posts to defend your past posts. (That's in no way meant to be hostile, by the way; it's just that the line of reasoning you used to dismiss the doctor's advice can be used to unravel almost any argument because it hides a fundamental logic flaw.)
Warning! Warning! Warning! Personal opinion ahead!!!
I think the number one cause of blisters (and the wildly divergent approaches to preventing them) is that we don't have proper fitting shoes with proper support. We think we do, but we don't.
The first sign of bad fit is the advice to get a size larger. Feet don't elongate so much as swell, which means that a properly fitting shoe has the room to expand. Proper lacing allows you to dial in or out the pressure where you need it and where you don't. And, the shoe shouldn't have a lot of fancy design work on the sides that will interfere with adjusting lacing from the toe box to the throat for independent fitting in each area.
Inserts like Superfeet are good, but custom-fitted, heat molded inserts are better because nothing fits your foot better than something molded from your foot.
With proper lacing to lock the heel in place, the problem of losing toe nails should also be solved. And it solves the problem of water was well.
Water isn't a cause of blisters, it is only a contributor if actual causes are present, which primarily are slippage and rubbing due to lack of good fit. Solve the fit, and you should be able to walk in water all day without worry (or need to constantly change socks).
And, to the point of the OP, once you have proper fit, a single pair of wool (or synthetic, if you prefer something like Coolmax) socks should suffice without need for liners, etc.
For the last two years ... I have suffered with many blister and my feet get so hot very quickly. ... My question is does anyone wear running socks and how do these compare to hiking sock.
I use bridgedale medium socks and have never had a blister . At the end of the day it's the footwear that counts and what suits one person doesn't always suit another. I personally like the Scarpa Terra, a soft leather boot, very light with some ankle support but not too restrictive., A pair of sandals to allow your feet to dry out and breathe in the evening.For the last two years I have worn 1000 mile double layer fusion socks for my two caminos. I have suffered with many blister and my feet get so hot very quickly. I do change my socks regularly during the day and have used Vaseline.
This year I am not going to use Vaseline. We are walking from Porto to SDC and so I have been preparing my feet by making sure I have no hard skin which is cracked.
My question is does anyone wear running socks and how do these compare to hiking sock. Surely if someone can run a marathon with no blisters they might be good for walking? I have Merrell women's Capra bolt which are very comfy and lighter weight. I need a boot for support for my ankles.
Here is my sure fire way to avoid ALL blisters.For the last two years I have worn 1000 mile double layer fusion socks for my two caminos. I have suffered with many blister and my feet get so hot very quickly. I do change my socks regularly during the day and have used Vaseline.
This year I am not going to use Vaseline. We are walking from Porto to SDC and so I have been preparing my feet by making sure I have no hard skin which is cracked.
My question is does anyone wear running socks and how do these compare to hiking sock. Surely if someone can run a marathon with no blisters they might be good for walking? I have Merrell women's Capra bolt which are very comfy and lighter weight. I need a boot for support for my ankles.
And check where to seams are on the socks. I like bamboo socks. So soft yet strong.Warning! Warning! Warning! Personal opinion ahead!!!
I think the number one cause of blisters (and the wildly divergent approaches to preventing them) is that we don't have proper fitting shoes with proper support. We think we do, but we don't.
The first sign of bad fit is the advice to get a size larger. Feet don't elongate so much as swell, which means that a properly fitting shoe has the room to expand. Proper lacing allows you to dial in or out the pressure where you need it and where you don't. And, the shoe shouldn't have a lot of fancy design work on the sides that will interfere with adjusting lacing from the toe box to the throat for independent fitting in each area.
Inserts like Superfeet are good, but custom-fitted, heat molded inserts are better because nothing fits your foot better than something molded from your foot.
With proper lacing to lock the heel in place, the problem of losing toe nails should also be solved. And it solves the problem of water was well.
Water isn't a cause of blisters, it is only a contributor if actual causes are present, which primarily are slippage and rubbing due to lack of good fit. Solve the fit, and you should be able to walk in water all day without worry (or need to constantly change socks).
And, to the point of the OP, once you have proper fit, a single pair of wool (or synthetic, if you prefer something like Coolmax) socks should suffice without need for liners, etc.
Have you watched these all the way through and the downloads? She is selling blister prevention products. It's hardly unbiased advice.
But I guess we are all victims of our own experiences to a degree.
We only know what we know and what we have experienced using the gear we had.
So any advice here from members is purely subjective, isn't it?
But the old 'standard' advice has worked for me, so i have no intention of changing. In a 'previous life' I used to get terrible blisters from long 'forced marches' and don't ever want that again. The more 'modern' thinking that seems to work for me is.....
Boots a size too big
2 pairs of socks (a thin 'wicking' inner and thicker outer)
Lots of vaseline
Air the feet frequently during the day. Every couple of hours.
If socks are wet, replace with dry ones.
After airing the feet, REPLACE the Vaseline
Any hot spots, fix immediately.
The only variation I use on this, is Sheep's wool for the hot spots. (see link)
I gave away lots and people thought it a wonder product!
As they say........your results may vary.
I gave a full account of foot care here:
http://robscamino.com/foot-care/
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