Most all blisters you get on your feet come from “NEW BOOT and SHOES” rubbing
your feet. Therefore it is imperative that you; “break-in” your new walking
boots or shoes completely… before attempting to do any walking in them.
This is what I do when I have new
boots… Mind you it is a good idea to have two pair of walking boots/shoes
that’s if you are serious about your walking. But you already know that don’t
you!
You know when the ladies go out to
buy a new pair of dressy shoes to match the outfit they brought, to go out in
on Saturday night!
They take three hours to choose a
pair of shoes, and then go back to the shop that they started from and buy the
first pair they looked at…!!! {I know; but
we still love them for it}
My point is, the new shoes fit great
at the point of trying them on and they look amazing! Now on a night out ladies do not normally
walk very far?
But
I always find it funny that, three hours into their evening out, the lovely new
shoes are crippling them to the point where they dis-guard the new shoes under
the table; and end the night out walking around in bare feet…???
“Oh the price of vanity” There is only getting to the taxi to worry
about… and our lovely ladies walk bare foot to the taxi; and bare foot from the
taxi to the house. {The distance covered
in the new shoes, LESS than a quarter-mile} all night!
The price of some new shoes for the
evening for our lovely ladies; some pain and discomfort and one or two small
blisters on the heel and around the big toe, the ball of the foot & the
small toe. Never mind, in a couple of weeks they will do it all over again…
{Bless their hearts}
Walking in new boots is a
totally new ball-game; if
you are on a long walk in new boots over rugged and or uneven ground… you will NOT be able to kick your boots of and
walk bare-foot; you will have to suffer the pain and discomfort of the rubbing
and burning on your feet till you reach your destination.
When you eventually stop walking for the dayand
remove your boots, the blisters will be able to evolve from the burning patches
on your heels, toes and the balls of your feet, your ankles and your lower
shins.
Plus the back of your lower leg
these are all the places that new boots can and will rub you! Especially if you
have never worn; ankle boots before?
Even if you are used to wearing
ankle boots, new boots will still rub you because they are stiff and need
softening up
O M G, the relief! Unfortunately this relief will not last…
because as soon as you put your boots back on the pain will return! Only this
time it will be 100 times worse.
A good treatment for soft and
delicate feet is to apply surgical spirit several times a week for two weeks,
while you are breaking in your new boots. This is an excellent way to harden the skin on
your feet especially where your boots will rub you!
And that’s just putting them on, now
you got to walk in your new boots some more. Believe me the pain… it just gets
worse until in the end you can’t walk any further in your new boots, because they
have tore your tender little feet to shreds’.
It’s
going to be at least two weeks or more before your feet get back to normal,
providing your Blisters are not to sever; and you now associate your new boots
with pain and discomfort! Naturally you will shy away from the thought of ever
wearing your new boots again!
Let’s get the facts down…
Always chose the correct type of
boot for the terrain you are going to be walking on! If you are in doubt, ask
at your outdoor store for assistance!
Always
ensure your wearing your walking socks when trying on new boots/shoes! Make sure your boots/shoes are the correct
size for you! {Do not by new boots while wearing normal socks}
Once you are happy with your choice
and have taken the above advice into account. The first thing I do when I get
my new boots home is…
The First thing I do…
Leave my walking socks on, Take the
laces out of my new boots and wear my new boots and walking socks around the
house for a couple of hours a day, for several days!
The second week I
put the laces back into my boots put my walking socks on and tie my boots very
lightly on my feet. Again as above; do this for several days
Week three, wear your socks and boots as you
would normally wear your ordinary boots and shoes… But guard against
over-tightening your laces, especially across your instep? Adjust your laces
several times if necessary until they are comfortable.
By week four my boots are beginning to feel very
familiar to me, my walking socks and my feet. We are becoming very good friends
and we are starting to trust each other! {This is what we want to achieve}
Please note; Leather boots
take a lot longer to soften up than other walking boots, do not rush
this process or you will find that you’re walking boots will very quickly
become your enemy.
By now your boots should be feeling
like a pair of comfortable slippers… and when you slide your feet into them
with your walking socks on you should hardly notice that you are wearing them!
{Nice}
O K, Providing that you are happy
and comfortable with your new friends; {Your Boots} let’s go for our first walk
outside in our new socks and boots “Yes”
Now… because the ground outside can
be uneven and can vary greatly from being flat, to being sloping, going uphill
or downhill.
My advice is to keep your first walk
short say no more than 1 mile: You may be wondering why…? Well you have up to
now, only worn your boots in the house… the terrain in the house is very flat
and easy on the feet! Outside is a different story.
Your
feet will be twisting and bending and adjusting in your new boots to cope with
the uneven surfaces, this may cause some rubbing where your boots have not
rubbed before? This is normal, so keep
your first walks short for a couple of weeks.
Well done; your new best friends
{Your Boots} will look after you now for months to come while you are enjoying
your walking and hiking, When walking, Your boots are the most important part
of your walking equipment. Look after them, treat them with respect and they
will take you a long way, and get you back again!
I wish you many miles of happy
walking, and please remember; you can’t enjoy your
walking with sore or blistered feet, Blisters are a direct result of
ill-fitting boots/shoes that have not been properly prepared for your feet or
for walking.
I cannot advise you on which
boots/shoes would be right for you as everyone is different, and I would not
dare presume that I know best! I only know what has worked for me, so if my
advice stops you getting just one blister then I am very happy to have been of
some assistance, and this article has done its job.
PS. Don’t skimp on your socks either,
buy good quality socks and make sure they are the right ones for the type of
walking that you will be doing, if you are in any doubt always ask at your
local walking and outdoor store.
The correct socks will add more protection
for your feet against rubbing!
