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Tannic acid or strong tea will toughen your skin a bit. Soak in a foot bath daily for a few weeks before you go. Witch hazel dries and tightens the skin. Be sure athletes food is completely cleared.other ways to toughen them up
I do not "toughen" my feet, I pamper them. always did. walked the entire camino without one blister. have very high arched feet - so, paying nice attention to ones feet goes a long way, no pun intended. - pedicures are great (mine don't include nail-painting) and twice daily foot-massage during camino. good insoles can be very helpful too (i chose montrail and also had silicone ones with me as well. changed according to the surface that i was walking on). and of course great fitting shoes, and a sock solution that works for you. (mine was: sockliner and merino socks) and using body-glide.I know the best way to prepare your feet is to walk in your hiking shoes and have them well broken in before your Camino. But I am wondering if there are other ways to toughen them up. Something to insure they're not "baby soft" and prone to blisters.
Walk barefoot around the house, if you live near the beach take long walks on them, the abrasive qualities of the sand will harden up your feet.
I know the best way to prepare your feet is to walk in your hiking shoes and have them well broken in before your Camino. But I am wondering if there are other ways to toughen them up. Something to insure they're not "baby soft" and prone to blisters.
I know Eskimos in Alaska that would swear by it!I could never bring myself to try the old "soak them in urine" method so I have no idea if it really works. Ugh!
Its something I try to do as much as possible as well. There was a Philippine priest who blogged on here a few years ago about his attempts to walk the Frances barefoot, he usually had to put some form of protection on around midday as the sun heated up the surfaces he was walking on.This is what I do, but not especially for the camino, it's just what I do.
Its something I try to do as much as possible as well. There was a Philippine priest who blogged on here a few years ago about his attempts to walk the Frances barefoot, he usually had to put some form of protection on around midday as the sun heated up the surfaces he was walking on.
After having had super blisters on my first ( a mini, partial 8 day) Camino, I spent some time searching on the Internet, found the ballet dancers solution, as Falcon comments, soak your feet in a strong tea solution, which I do several times a day for about the last two weeks before my Camino. Since the, I have done many Caminos, mainly long distance and have remained blister free! So, strong tea solution for me! AnneTannic acid or strong tea will toughen your skin a bit. Soak in a foot bath daily for a few weeks before you go. Witch hazel dries and tightens the skin. Be sure athletes food is completely cleared.
I know the best way to prepare your feet is to walk in your hiking shoes and have them well broken in before your Camino. But I am wondering if there are other ways to toughen them up. Something to insure they're not "baby soft" and prone to blisters.
this I believe is the best method. Friends of mine who did the Camino Frances last year did the same. They had a daily ritual of foot massaging and moisterising to keep their feet supple. Their other trick was wearing those little stocking-ettes. The ones like little short sport socks. They both didn't get one blister.I do not "toughen" my feet, I pamper them. always did. walked the entire camino without one blister. have very high arched feet - so, paying nice attention to ones feet goes a long way, no pun intended. - pedicures are great (mine don't include nail-painting) and twice daily foot-massage during camino. good insoles can be very helpful too (i chose montrail and also had silicone ones with me as well. changed according to the surface that i was walking on). and of course great fitting shoes, and a sock solution that works for you. (mine was: sockliner and meriono socks) and using body-glide.
and i walked around the shoes a lot in the house as well ... just as another poster mentioned.
As also do I.....walking along the sand is so good.This is what I do, but not especially for the camino, it's just what I do.
I know the best way to prepare your feet is to walk in your hiking shoes and have them well broken in before your Camino. But I am wondering if there are other ways to toughen them up. Something to insure they're not "baby soft" and prone to blisters.
I know that works for you, but I have different experience. I stop walking every 2-3hrs (of course it partly depends on opened bars along the trackI would suggest that after you have done your training walk...dont take your shoes off. Stay in them for as long as possible.
On the Camino you will be on your feet for 5-7plus hours a day.
Wearing your shoes/boots for as long as possible will soon show you where natural hot spots are and how your feet will respond or if the sole is too thin and let's stones poke through.. etc.
Look for if your feet: swell, rub, or does your heel move or toe hit the end.
Hey, Al,I could never bring myself to try the old "soak them in urine" method so I have no idea if it really works. Ugh!
" ...pictures...pictures...pictures...."The subject of blisters is well covered elsewhere. I would repeat my previous comment...
BLISTERS:
This was my 4th camino. On the previous three I needed hospital treatment for severe blistering, which took much of the pleasure from the trek. I have tried all the usual remedies - Vaseline, powder, walking socks, massage, etc etc all to no avail.
This year I decided to use panty liners. If you fellows don't know about panty liners, just ask the lady in your life.
I would place the liner on the floor, sticky side UP, then carefully place my foot down onto it, so that it was at the same angle as my toes - and gave me protection along the ball of the big toe, and across the whole sole of my foot just below the toes. Just position it where you usually get blisters.
On occasion I had to buy the extra long liners/pads from chemists in Spain: the same principle applied, and the ends of the liner were simply folded across the top of my foot. I then put on my normal walking socks.
I am not suggesting for one moment that this will cure everyone's problems. Only that they cured mine. So it might be worth a try.
I also limited my walking distances to average no more than around 22-24 kms a day - ocassionally down to 15 kms.
If that helps just one of you to avoid blisters, my time has been well spent.
Buen camino! [Without blisters!]
There was an NPR segment sometime ago about people who had really stinky feet odor and they were advised to soak their feet in pee (urine)...Hey, Al,
my Grandfather used to do this. He was shoemaker and even when he incidently cut his thumb or such, he went to ... where ... and ... did... and... it was OK in a matter of hours. As I child I was thinking he must have been a magician
My first Camino I thought that logically one should harden their feet for such an experience, then speaking to many medical professionals none I found to agree on what is the best thing to do. then on to the internet I found conflicting information too. Should one harden or actually soften their feet.I know the best way to prepare your feet is to walk in your hiking shoes and have them well broken in before your Camino. But I am wondering if there are other ways to toughen them up. Something to insure they're not "baby soft" and prone to blisters.
I start people's days with a smile when I pick up my shoes in the morning and say " Hello babies. Did you sleep well? I'm sorry I left you alone all night. I had to but you know really love you."Like some others I do talk to them and tell them to be good...
Hello dear shell follower!" ...pictures...pictures...pictures...."
someone has to have gotten a picture of your routine!
Love it!
I know the best way to prepare your feet is to walk in your hiking shoes and have them well broken in before your Camino. But I am wondering if there are other ways to toughen them up. Something to insure they're not "baby soft" and prone to blisters.
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