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After dealing with a lot of wet feet issues I have learned some tricks. Keeping feet dry While hiking, use gaitors that come above your socks and divert water away from the wicking material. Keep your boots well oiled, using a product like Nikwax, or minkoil. This keeps the leather from absorbing water as much. In normal conditions (not marsh hiking) use ...

I've never succeed in "hardening" my feet, even when I was barefoot growing up. However these things have worked for me Vaseline or (preferably) diaper rash ointment before putting on socks Injinji toe socks (If i double socks, these are always my base layer) These worked on long hikes even when my feet got wet, and even in poorly fitting boots. ...

In answer to the original question: There are several products on the market designed for dogs with sore paw pads. These are often wax based, and adhere to the skin to provide some protection. (Google: Dog Paw Wax). Super-glue bonds well to skin, and can provide a layer of protection. A medically sterile version called "liquid stitches" in used in the ...

If you're going to walk outside barefoot then my advice is to just go with it - build up the strength on short distances and eventually you shouldn't have an issue with hiking long distances just barefoot. This article claims someone who hiked around South Island barefoot, so it's definitely possible, but I wouldn't try that straight away! If you decide you ...

This is one of the reasons I always hike with at least one extra pair of socks and tend to wear shoes that shed water quickly as opposed to being water proof. If you're in a consistently wet environment there really isn't much you can do as it won't really help to change your socks every 10 minutes as they keep getting soaked. Just make sure that when you ...

As an interim step, have you tried the Vibram Five Fingers running shoes - these still have protection under your feet, but give a lot of freedom as they are very thin. This could let you see how you get on.

Carry extra socks and a couple of kitchen-sized trash bags. When you soak a shoe or boot, squeeze out the wet sock and let it start drying on the back of the pack. Put on a dry sock. Then put the trash back over the dry sock, and put your foot, sock, and trash bag inside your wet shoe. After a while your shoe will dry out a little, maybe enough that you no ...

What you want is called "skin". However, that's not something you just add on one day and go hiking for days. Keep in mind that our species evolved to get around by walking and running with our feet. Our feet have evolved to handle that. Unfortunately, habitually wearing shoes eliminates the stimuli that the feet need to produce the necessary thick skin ...

I have gone on several barefoot day hikes and really enjoyed it. Easy peasy. I have a couple of thoughts for you: Barefoot hiking is fun. I never ran into any problems. If you want to be extra safe, maybe start running barefoot on weekdays. That will build up the callouses on your feet and really help out. I agree with Rory Alsop. Just buy a pair of ...

know if you will be going through marshy areas. If you are hiking in the Everglades, pack more socks than if you will be hiking through the Sahara. If you have to cross a river, try to not cross in your boots. There is a favorite trail in my area, and it ends with crossing a waist-deep river. I'll drop pack, change into my trail-sandals, stuff the socks ...

I do few things and they are helping very much: Walk around in Barefoot Running Shoes. You don't have to get the freaky once with the separated toes. I have once that look like normal sneakers. Learn the fox walk Wear double socks. One thin pair and on normal pair. The friction will get distributed. Try to walk slower and enjoy the hike by paying more ...

Overboots are a solution I don't see above. Some fabric based ones take up less space in the pack than an extra set of boots, and they can be taken off relatively easily when the rain abates or when you have cleared a marshy area. In warm weather on reasonable trails, Vibram Fivefinger shoes are quite comfortable even when wet, because when sized properly ...