8
votes
Accepted
Sliding Insoles: does this need to be resolved?
Most insoles are either sized to fit, or cut to fit in your shoes, if your insoles don't fit right then you should probably buy new ones. But first I would question whether or not your new boots are ...
- 53.3k
5
votes
How do I treat hot spots and blisters when I have no moleskin?
In such cases I try to tie my shoelaces differently, to change the way my foot sits in the shoe - if my ankle is too loose (thus the blisters), I would try to change that in case I cannot get any help....
- 2,812
5
votes
Accepted
How does zinc oxide work?
Zinc oxide has a very slight antimicrobial effect, whilst having little to no impact on human cells.
This is more that the material is toxic to microbes than activating a body defence. It's the Zn^{2+...
- 106
4
votes
Blisters on small of back
Prevention is easy, wear your pack on your hips where it's supposed to be, and never let anything rub. Friction is bad, all hot spots need to be taken care of long before they are allowed to develop ...
- 53.3k
4
votes
Sports tape to prevent blisters while backpacking?
Foot health and blister prevention is a large subject - you can literally write a book about it. My understanding was greatly increased by John Vonhof's Fixing Your Feet, which is regarded as the ...
- 11.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Post-hike Care and Pain Relief for Blisters and Hot Spots
As someone who thru-hiked the AT, and has had many a blister, I can safely say that you really need do nothing for them other than to remove the dead skin once the blister pops, off load any pressure ...
- 76
3
votes
Sports tape to prevent blisters while backpacking?
I've personally used it to prevent blisters (and also tried going without it for comparison).
In my experience it works wonders. I am quite prone to blisters when going without, but by going a day ...
- 233
3
votes
What do you risk when you ignore blisters and carry on walking?
It might act like a pressure sore. From what I understand, the whole reason why pressure sores normally only affect physically disabled people is that anyone else would stop putting pressure on that ...
- 31
3
votes
How to harden feet to avoid blisters on long hikes
I have routinely done week hikes with sufficient creek crossings that we didn't even try to keep dry feet. (Coral Creek has 22 crossings in 3 miles. Most of the trails in the area have at least a ...
3
votes
How to harden feet to avoid blisters on long hikes
Soak feet in salt water. It dries out bottom of feet so blisters don't occur
- 31
3
votes
How to harden feet to avoid blisters on long hikes
Having various long hiking experience I find the following seems to help reduce blistering:
Toe socks .. big help.
Stopping and changing socks OFTEN or as soon as tehre is any burn feeling. This is ...
- 31
2
votes
Should you pop a blister?
A blister can be drained with just a small pinprick using a sterilized device. However, do not remove the overlying skin. As it remains natures best Band-Aid to cover the wound. One exception would ...
- 39
2
votes
Accepted
Blisters on small of back
Ah, that sounds really painful and disturbing.
Your description is more like its a Boil than a Blister.
Medically,
A boil is a localized infection in the skin that begins as a reddened, tender ...
- 31.7k
2
votes
Sports tape to prevent blisters while backpacking?
I have used sports tape before and it does work to prevent blisters. Sometimes people will also use duct tape. Personally other ways of preventing blisters are better because you have to peel the ...
- 69.1k
1
vote
Blisters on small of back
As Shem pointed out, wear the pack where it was designed to ride on you. Making sure the pack is tightened snug so it's not rubbing is just as important. Loose straps cause added motion which cause ...
- 4,662
1
vote
Accepted
Blister Prevention/ Heel hardening
I think that if your feet are going to harden, then they're going to harden. Chances are you just don't get out as often as you used to. I used to have massive calluses on my heels, but I simply don't ...
- 53.3k
1
vote
How do I treat a blister? How can I prevent getting them in the first place?
The most successful method for me is using a lot of shea butter. Before and after a physical activity. Before it reduces friction and acts as moisturizing. After it can be used as a treatment cream ...
- 379
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