New boots, new blisters :-(

[Toddy]

Might move this to First Aid

Anyway..........new boots, and they felt wonderful so I went for a walk in them.
The right one was as comfortable when I finished as it was when I started. The left one though, 100m down the path, I redid the whole thing from my sock to my laces. 200m more and I knew I was going to be sore. Sorted it out again. Walked another 400m and turned round and came home hirpled

Left heel is red hot and feels almost bruised. I've stopped quickly enough that I haven't raised a wet blister, but I'm going to be uncomfortable for a day or so.
I've checked my socks, the boots, and there's nothing different left from right that I can feel

My heels are a matching pair, I laced both boots the same way, my joints are sore but RA is always an even handed thing, both knees, both hips, sort of thing, so I'm not walking funny/one sided, and I wasn't striding out or walking hard.

I know that I can plaster up, probably moleskin or compeed, and I'll try another pair of socks, but what do you do to stop your boots causing you grief ?

cheers,
M

[Greek1983]

Till they get soft enough, you'll have to put Compeed and maybe some elastic cotton bandage around it. Done it during my Army service with the god-awful issued leather boots.

If problem persists, check for alternative insoles.

[maddave]

yup... keep feeding the leather Mary and wear them round the house till they break. I use Meindl sport wax to supple up new boots

[lou1661]

What boots are they Mary?
I have a tendancy to soak mine in warm water till sodden then wear till dry, seems to work for me!

Louis

ps. its a good call on the insoles, i find that ones with a heelcup are more prone to giving me blisters

[Lister]

Soak them in pee and hot water, wear and walk in them as they dry out.

[Toddy]

They're a pair of Magnum panther 8.0 with the side zips. Like these
http://www.patrolstore.com/Magnum-Bo...p-p-13804.html

I got a bargain though Tog24 outlet store had them on special offer

Not much of a bargain if I'm blistered however :/

cheers,
M

[swright81076]

I've had no feet problems since switching to merrells.

Used to have all sorts of problems with new boots, first thing I used to do was slap a pair of sorbothane insoles in them and a fresh pair of 1000 mile socks or something similar. That seemed to work. But since wearing merrells, like I say, no probs at all. I swear by them. Second only to a pair of danner's which lasted years.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[tinderbox]

Is the sore bit the base of the heel or the back of it. If it's the base then look for better insoles. If it's the back cut a strip of plaster and stick it inside the boot, not on your foot, the extra cushioning will help until the boot wears in a bit. A two sock strategy also helps. Whatever you do don't soak them in pee it'll rot the leather. Most of us have one foot bigger than the other as well, so you might want to lace them differently, but that generally helps with pressure on the top of the foot not the heel.

[Dreadhead]

everybodys feet are different sizes ever so slightly arent they so im sure its down tae that. i always get problems with right foot yet my left has never had a problem besides me dropping knives onto/into it. you could try those blister patches/plasters to stop some of the rubbing until you wear them in more though im most likely teaching you how tae suck eggs

[Shewie]

Is your left foot much smaller than you're right Mary? It might be worth trying a liner sock on the left foot as well as your normal sock, blisters usually come from friction so there must be a bit of room back there.

If you think it's a sore pain from a lack of cushioning I have some Scholl Orthaheels in mens medium if you want to try and hack a pair up.

[Toddy]

Boots are a bit of a bother tbh.
I've got little feet and if the boots are hard, with a steel shank, it can take forever to break them in enough to bend at all
This pair just felt so comfortable until I tried walking outdoors in them

It's the back of my heel, and I'm one of the (lucky?) ones who's feet really are pretty much the same size, so it's not a size thing, I think.

Trying to work out how to lace them up so that my heel doesn't move inside the boot. I thought the zips were a great idea ; get the lacing right and just zip in and out
Maybe not

cheers,
M

[Greek1983]

See here for various lacing methods

http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/lacingmethods.htm

[tinderbox]

It might also be worthwhile flexing the boot, across the sole and pulling the leg back, and then feeling around the inside of the heel. sometimes the edge of the heel reinforcement can press through the boot lining, or even just stitching can create a ridge. Either case is grounds for returning the boot.

[cbr6fs]

I know that I can plaster up, probably moleskin or compeed, and I'll try another pair of socks, but what do you do to stop your boots causing you grief ?

Personally if a pair of shows or boots cause me discomfort then i throw them out or sell them and get a different pair.

No boot is good enough to warrant discomfort IMO, even if you soften them up they'll still never be 100% right.
Likewise giving them a few month to "wear in" is just crazy in my eyes, as you've spent weeks in discomfort only for your boots to be wearable near the end of their life.


There are hundreds of decent boots out that you can wear and use extensively without blistering or discomfort i would advise to just use different boots.

[awarner]

Those boots are the same as a lot of police officers use instead of the normal ones they are given according to a friend of mine in the force. These boots are more for general work use rather than hiking as such even though you did not get that far especially with the steel which adds to the weight.

Go Outdoors (not an advert) stock these as well for a penny less, but got them for a good price, there are other stores around but they will price match so good if a store is local to you.
The other advantage in using a store rather than online is you can try them out first, most stores that specialise in walking etc will have test bridge or similar to give them a quick comfort test.

Nothing worse than boots that rub, I spent around the same price on some Hi-Teq boots, a week later I binned them because of blisters etc. As I use my boots all the time for hiking and general scouting activities a bought a pair of Saloman Quest 4D that were on sale at the time, this was something I would not normally do as I hate paying for any sort of clothing but it's the best move I have ever made. Right from the start they fitted perfectly and I would not hesitate to buy them again.

Also with my knees I have to use something that is lightweight otherwise an hours hike would cripple me.

I know the above is a bit late as you have already bought them but hopefully this may come in handy in the future.

[johnboy]

Yep if I was getting issues with hot spots after 400m in a pair of what look to be fairly softly constructed fabric and leather boots I'd be looking for some new boots TBH.

Boots with Zips eh. I can remember a fad for Zipit's which were a zip you laced into a pair of Boots combat High. Ok for cutting around camp but total gash for anything else..

[Ivan...]

I have just replaced my faithful old Bates , with as new British Army Issue and they rub my heels , two of my ex squaddie pals have told me the same thing to pee in them and wear till dry , just can't bring myself to do it ! So for the mo i have reverted back to my old leaky 1/2 worn out pair.

Just a query , I know wearing seal skins in my old boots will keep my feet dry , but if i do pee in my new ones , should i wear them to help relieve the problem , or as i am thinking am i just going to smell like a tramp , and will the smell go and how quickly ( i was worried it was a wind up )

Thanks

Ivan...

[Toddy]

I have problems with boots.
I need boots, I wear them a lot, but sizings now mean that often the most comfortable size are children's boots, and I'm not 'that' small, just at the cross over of large child/small adult. 3 or 4, 36/37

I cannot wear heavy boots unless they are flexible, it just knackers my already sore joints if I do.
I have seven pairs of walking boots just now, from North Face, Merrel, Brashers, lechamonsomethingor other, Hi-tec, etc., the most comfortable pair are the ancient kids plain black leather hi-tecs :rolleyes, but the soles are worn nearly smooth. No shame to them, they've had a tremendous amount of work over the years, from field walking to digging, rambling to gardening.
This new pair, will I hope, replace those ancient hi-tecs.
The North Face and Brasher ones are a classic example of a small boot that's so stiff I'll never get them to flex at all The Merrels needed new padding put in at the heels since they were too wide there, but it's a pest getting them on with socks now unless I get them on in the dry somewhere I can sit down to do it.

I try to buy relatively lightweight, adjustable, and comfortable boots that don't (I hope) need broken in much. Mostly because to do so means blisters and aches.

The hot spot from last night has raised into a blister the size of a 50p It looks like the kind that will reabsorb though and it's not hot anymore. I'll pad it up, try a different lacing and thicker socks, and have another dawdle tomorrow. See how it goes.

Thanks for the help folks

cheers,
Toddy

p.s. piddling in your boots just softens the leather with liquid and ammonia, you can buy commercial softeners that won't leave you stinking like an incontinent jaikie.

[Biker]

I think this could be another example of teaching you to suck eggs, but here goes anway.

When I was back in the UK in the Fire Brigade we had a total kit change, so my lovely broken in wellie type leather boots had to be handed back and I was issued with two pair of buckets, with about as much give in them as galavnised steel. I had some problems withthe right boot from day one, until they issued me with some fancy double-lined socks. Basically these are normal dark blue cotton socks on the outside with a white silky lining on the inside both seperate from the other. It allowed a certain about of slide within themselves so that any friction took place between the surfaces of the socks and not your skin, sock and boot.
This system solved the problems for my boots and once they'd been broken in a bit more they were as comfortable as anything, in fact when I left they let me keep a pair and I use those to walk the dog in the heavy snow over here and they're great.

Like I siad maybe this method isn't new to you but it worked for me.

Hadn't heard of that soaking the boots and wearing them till dry, like that method a LOT. Wet forming boots to your feet seems soooo logical when you think about it. Thanks for that.

[Man of Tanith]

if i have real trouble with pair of boots i have been known to cover them in newspaper and beat seven shades of hell out of the area giving me trouble.
its a little extreme but i have found it works.
mind you i don't get on with magnums in general either

[Toddy]

I like the sound of those socks...........gonna have a look and see what I can find

I walk around barefooted most of the time, but outside my gardens I wear shoes or boots.
I walked a midnight hike with the scouts when I was in my teens. I had to take the next day off school for the blisters to settle. My dad, who drew like Biker, drew on the back of my absence note a sketch of me sprawled out on my bed, feet dangling off the end in a basin of water, steam rising and a blissed out expression on my face My husband was a new-minted teacher back then and he minded that note being passed round the staff room to great hilarity
Boots have 'always' hurt doesn't matter how much I spend on them either, they're always a pain someway or other.
Should have known that this pair felt too good in the shop for it to be true

atb,
M

[The Lord Poncho]

Try either the 1000 mile socks (double layer, inner is thin and slippy, outer is thicker), or my personal choice - the bridgedale liner socks, and a pair of quality outer ones (which is a bit more versatile and cheaper if you already have good quality hiking socks). The premise is that the thin socks rub against the thick socks instead of your skin rubbing against the sock.

Other things you can try (as you mention)- taping up with Zinc Oxide and cracking on till (hopefully) they are broken in.

Additionally, and I don't think this has been mentioned yet, try something called 'Bodyglide'. It's a stick, looks a bit like solid deoderant, that you apply onto areas that rub. Good for chaffing between legs, but also work on feet to prevent rubbing. I use them between my toes and it has cured my blisters there. Try applying to your heel and see how you go. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bodyglide-Bo...ref=pd_cp_ap_1 One stick of it lasts absolutely ages.

[Toddy]

Ah, now, I have a tube of scholl stuff that's supposed to work like that; I'd forgotten about it, and will go and find it (edit, just found it, it's a compeed, anti blister stick, "Invisibly helps prevent Blisters and Chafing")
Do not use on ezisting blisters though.

I'm allergic to zinc oxide, break out in a wet itchy rash under it, so a lot of strapping tapes are a no go. The big compeed hydrogel plasters are brilliant though

1,000 mile socks another thing to have a search for. I'm really hoping I can get this pair to the stage that one pair of socks and I'm good in them. I've got thin silk ones that I wear under my heavier ones when working in my boots all day, supposedly to do what those ones sound like, but if they're all in one, I'm tempted

cheers,
Toddy

[Biker]

I walked a midnight hike with the scouts when I was in my teens. I had to take the next day off school for the blisters to settle. My dad, who drew like Biker, drew on the back of my absence note a sketch of me sprawled out on my bed, feet dangling off the end in a basin of water, steam rising and a blissed out expression on my face

That's going to a Bushcraft Betty drawing some day Mary. Thanks for the inspiration... and the comparison.

Those 1,000 mile socks The Lord Poncho describes sound about what I was suggesting. Good luck dear lady, persevere.

[nunzionuk]

I remember being told to stand in them, in a bath of very hot water, but I am guessing that is for fully waterproof army boots, mind you that was an CI from the ATC squad I was in.

[Bushwhacker]

Blisters are caused by friction, plain and simple. You need to eliminate the friction and Vaseline is very good at this.
Cover your feet in vaseline, wear an old pair of socks on top and go out for walk in your new boots. It works for me.

It sounds to me like Toddy is suffering from a 'hammer' effect (I've had this too) - the heel slopping around in the boot and each step hammering into the heel.
This could be because the boots aren't quite shaped for your feet. Padding would probably be the best option here should you wish to stick with the boots.

[tinderbox]

p.s. piddling in your boots just softens the leather with liquid and ammonia, you can buy commercial softeners that won't leave you stinking like an incontinent jaikie.

Problem is that pee also contains salt which causes leather to become dry and brittle.

[t1234]

I used to get real problems with heel rubbing in some boots and found that engo blister pads helped (no affiliation!). These are very low friction coated stickers that you stick in the boot where you are getting the rubbing. I think I got them in a running shop.

[ZEbbEDY]

pair of thin socks underneath normal socks

the thin pair acts like an extra layer of skin saving your heels, my scarpa m3 were a right bitch to break in

[tiger stacker]

Same problem but with doc martens, soaked boots mold to feet helped i was walking uphill to work. Every pair of army boots were done the same way, except the altbergs they molded them at the factory.

Bridgedale do a liner sock if you find the 1000miles expensive.