Help - Boots and Blisters

imported
#1

Hello everyone…

I am hitting the trail this upcoming Tuesday (April 2nd). I have been wearing a pair of Vasque leather boots that felt fine until I fully loaded my backpack and went on a six mile hike. On my right heel I developed a major blister. These are the boots I had planned to hike in. Any thoughts besides putting moleskin over the area? Should I just put on the moleskin and tough it out until the boots and my feet break in?? OK, so I’m a novice here and any advice would be very welcomed.

Thanks,
Scooter

Scooter

#2

Ouch, starting out day one with a blister will suck. But by day two a good third of the other hikers will also have blisters. I was one of the lucky ones not a sigle blister the whole trip. So my advice is more from a past medical background then personal experience. 1- delay hike and let it heal (yeah right!) 2- forget the moles skin get some compeed, sold under the bandaid brand name. Put it on appropriately.(Follow the directions carefully). Even though the purpose of the compeed is to breathe and let the wound heal, it maybe prudent to cover the compeed with ample duct tape. Make sure that the wound is very clean and dry before applying the compeed. Alcohol works well (it will sting) but the dry skin from the alcohol helps the compeed to adhere. If applied correctly the compeed should last for days and give a good cushion to the blister. Be extrememly careful in removing the compeed, stretch it out from the sides to cause it to release. DO NOT pull it up and off. Good Luck. Sue/Hammock Hanger

HammockHanger

#3

Do yourself one very big favor: Put the boots on and honestly ask yourself if they fit. If they are even a bit snug, you are likely to get more and, perhaps, worse blisters. If this is the case, then, I would recommend new boots. It will be easier to replace them now than on the trail.

On the other hand, if the boots truly fit comfortably, then, just follow HH’s very sound advice and join the club because almost everyone else will have the same problem. In time, your feet and the boots will both break in and your problem should go away.

Ken G.

#4

Probably need a different hiking shoe. A good rule of thumb is to buy your boot or shoe 1 size larger than you normally wear. Fill the space with a good insole and good socks. ThorLo brand socks are the best I have found. Ever thought about trying a lightweight shoe like the New Balance 804?

jerryg

#5

I would recommend a lighter hiking shoe too, but I started in a boot. I think the first month of hiking in a boot strengthened by ankles and knees and allowed me to get away with it. I developed nasty numb spots on my feet from my boots, so switched to 804’s. Anyhow enough babbling. Definitely check to make sure the boot fits. If your heel slips, too big. If you can jam your toes into the front of the boot and feel them hit, too small. I actually managed to get away w/o blisters too. I thought maybe it was because of the liner socks I wore. Might want to try a pair of liners. Duct Tape! Bring plenty of duct tape!

Grimace

PS 804’s have been discontinued and replaced by 805’s. Less aggressive but fix the inversion problem that the 804 were prone too.

Grimace

#6

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out footwear. Whatever you do, I would suggest superfeet for stopping blisters. That’s right, for blisters. They support your arch, preventing foot elongation, and thus blisters. The heel cup also helps hold your heel in place and keeps your natural padding under the heel to help with the impacts.

Gravity Man

#7

Although it’s too late for the blister you have, for blisters, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Do whatever you can to avoid developing further blisters. A good sock combination, dry feet, and broken-in, properly fitting footwear will go a long way towards healing your first blister and preventing future ones. Stop on the trail to to care for your feet before you get another blister. Follow HammockHanger’s advice on how to handle the one you have.

If I already had a blister, I’d be looking at a new pair of lightweight boots or shoes, the kind that require little or no breaking-in. From what I saw last summer, the worst blisters were on the feet of folks wearing the heavier leather boots. I’m a firm believer in “No Pain, No Rain, No Maine,” but take the time to care for your feet properly, and part of that may be reducing your mileage early on.

Colter

#8

Scooter,
That sure brought back memories! my first day on the AT in Vasque boots resulted in major blisters. The boots were broken in and so were my feet, but I got blisters anyway. This was before running shoes, goretex, etc. so after ditching the waffle-stompers, I bought a pair of Air Force leather boots and went through three pairs to Katahdin. I would advise let your blister heal before you start. The compeed advice is good, but if your blister is showing signs of infection, dousing the wound itself with alcohol will only impede healing, but wiping down the healthy skin around the wound to keep germs from migrating into the broken area is good. Consider: isopropyl alcohol will kill germs, but it will also kill the new skin cells that are trying to repopulate the wound edges, as well as the white blood cells that are trying to clean up any infection. If the blister is deep or infected looking, get thee to a dr. or clinic, and get some antibiotics; it’ll save you a ton of pain, delay, and expense if you can start out with healthy feet and lighter boots that fit. I guess it’s old news now, but two pair of socks will help save the skin on your feet, especially if the inner sock is something like Coolmax that will wick moisture off your feet.

ATRerunner