Most all blisters you get on your feet come from “NEW BOOTS 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. I am sure you can relate to the following example…
You know when the ladies go out to buy a new pair of dressy shoes to match the outfit they brought for 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 our lovely ladies, to the point where they disguard the new shoes under the table; and end their night out walking around in bare feet…???
“Oh ladies: 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-of 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 plan 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 and 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.
Also 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.
And that’s just putting them on, now you have 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’.
A good treatment for soft and delicate feet {If you’re planning a walk} 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!
It’s going to beat 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…
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.
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 buy new boots while wearing normal socks}
Once you are happy with your choice and have taken the above advice into account. The first thing to do when you get your new boots home is…
Leave your walking socks on,
Take the laces out of your new boots and wear my new boots and walking socks around the house for a couple of hours a day, for several days! PLEASE… Do not attempt to walk “Up or Down” any stairs while wearing your boots in this fashion…???
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!
Now…because the ground outside is never even 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!
Just a note about buying new boots!It is false economy to go out and buy very expensive boots for your first pair…! Seek advice from the store, or someone that you know who has experience in walking/hiking.
Happy Hiking… And please; take Good Care… Stay Safe!
Walking for Fun; is the most important aspect of my articles about walking. Its Free, Its Easy, and most of all it has tremendous hidden benefits.
Benefits that you would not normally associate with such a gentle activity as walking? But; with very low impact you will start to see, very sure but steady results with your health, and all round well being.
When you start walking for fun; the benefits creep up on you real slow, and they are really effective. That’s the beauty of using walking for exercise. I know this to be true as I have experienced it personally.
My Best to You…
Micky Power
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