Help: 6 weeks to go

[Corned Beef]

Promised to take my daughter with me when doing the GSB on the Swiss/Italian border. She has been doing a lot of walking in preparation but now has terrible blisters.

Searching the threads here suggests she should try apply specialist cream (Nok) then concentrate on getting suitable merino wool socks with silk liners.

Any other advice?

 

[duncanwhyte]

It could be the shoes.
Maybe soft skin. It will harden.
But don't go so far the skin rips, it will take weeks to heal.

 

[Opiemoore]

I got a few blisters - used “compeed” ( it’s an adhesive pad similar to bandaids, found at pharmacies) - it padded and protected the blisters. Pure heaven… the blisters went away in three or four days, stopped using compeed after about a week, didn’t get any more blisters for the remainder of the Camino.

 

[Goyo]

I bought a small bag of lambs wool (Amazon) after hearing good things about it from experienced Camino walkers. I haven’t had to use it yet, as I’ve had no blister issues while using Merino wool socks over toe socks, but I’d rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. And it adds practically no weight to your load. Buen Camino to you and your daughter.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Personally if she has terrible blisters as stated I would have them professionally treated and then deal with the cause of the problem.

1/Poorly fitting shoes? 2) Shoes too tight ( the same as 1 really). 3/ Bad shoe /sock combination? 4/ overdoing things? 5/ not addressing hot spots as soon as they start to occur?

Some people swear by foot glide or Vaseline, the only time I've had a major blister in 40 plus years is when I tried it ! Softened my feet too much and I didn't even feel the Hotspot forming let alone the blister.

Personally I am a huge fan of lambswool/ hikers wool, call it what you will. Ever since I learnt what 'hotspot' meant I've used hikers wool as soon as I've felt a hotspot and never had another blister. You don't have to replace it every day, you can use the same piece for several days in a row so long as you let it dry. It moulds or laminates into my Merino wool socks so I have to remove it carefully but it's almost like a molded toe piece so much easier to reapply.

In Europe good quality lambswool is often sold in drug stores for nursing mothers. A box of it costs a fraction of what you pay for a small bag in a hiking store or online.

 

[duncanwhyte]

For the wool, try Romneymarshwool.

 

[C clearly]

Larger shoes. Then for protection, every morning before a long walk, and certainly every day on the Camino, put paper tape or stretchy Omnifix dressing retention tape on the vulnerable spots to protect them.

 

[Corned Beef]

I think we’re leaning towards having a professional opinion as well as the cumulative knowledge here.

Best to be informed and prepared before going

 

[Sacha]

Shoes could be the issue. It is recommended to go one size up. Don’t use hiking boots, trail runners are best. Merino wool socks. Change them for fresh ones every couple hours or whenever you are sweating.

If I feel a hotspot, I stop immediately, air out the feet and possibly apply “KT Tape Blister Prevention Tape” (make sure to follow instructions when removing)

My secret weapon is Gehwol Extra. I start applying this a week before starting the camino. It helps hydrate and toughen skin. It is also antibacterial and it is antitranspirant.
On the trail I will apply before bed and in the morning.

I never get blisters anymore. I know I should now have said that… but I am very confidant haha.

The liner idea is also a great idea. I have never used it unless I am wearing waterproof socks. That brings me to my final advise: no goretex.

 

[trecile]

Now that she knows where her blister prone spots are, she can apply tape to those areas each morning. I like Omnifix and the similar Hypafix tapes. They are soft and have a bit of stretch so they conform to the contours of the feet.

 

[Pafayac]

Every time you can, take off shoes and socks, and let your feet dry. Blisters come when the feet remain wet and warm.

 

[Kathy F.]

I agree with idea that the problem points to the shoes. I had to go through several brands of shoes before I found one that really worked for the shape of my feet (I buy men's shoes, not women's). I always go for a size 1/2 size larger that my normal shoes, minimum.

Also, good socks are often overlooked. Merino wool. For blisters I use Injinji (toe) socks.

Once you get a hot spot, you should start treating your feet carefully. Your feet are your most important equipment. How far did she walk with very bad blisters that developed during training??

With 6 weeks to go before starting the Camino, she should have enough time to recover from the blisters and find good hiking equipment that will take her through the roughest days.

Buen Camino.

 

[C clearly]

Just to illustrate the uniqueness of each person's blisters, I do not like merino wool socks for long walks, although I wear them most days at home. They are softer and move on my foot, sometimes causing blisters. I prefer a thin, fairly tight synthetic sock for the Camino.

She needs to experiment with socks, shoes and the different prevention methods.

 

[HelenVanW]

Promised to take my daughter with me when doing the GSB on the Swiss/Italian border. She has been doing a lot of walking in preparation but now has terrible blisters.

Searching the threads here suggests she should try apply specialist cream (Nok) then concentrate on getting suitable merino wool socks with silk liners.

Any other advice?

We have a short video about treating blisters,

, and another one about lacing techniques

. You might find help here. Also, we do a demo about our "footwear system" :

. I wish you both well, and Buen Camino!

 

[Joynz]

Blisters are caused by ‘shear’between the skin layers so a couple of layers of socks can really help by moving the ‘shear’ to between the socks.

I highly recommend injinji synthetic liner toe socks. They have ‘coolmax’ which wicks away moisture from the feet. Pair them with a wool mix hiking sock over the top.

Make sure the shoes are long enough (a good thumbs width of extra length longer than the longest toe and wide enough to be comfortable when feet swell.

Apply a Compeed plaster immediately a blister forms as it will protect and relieve pain - follow the instructions for application and let it fall off naturally.

If some areas are problem spots - applying tape (micropore paper tape, even duct tape etc). before hiking works for quite a few people.

 

[Rita Flower]

Some great advice already - particularly getting some expert medical help. As stated the blisters should be healed well before you leave.
However it’s important to identify the cause- otherwise they will return.
* Foot health. The shape and structure of the foot is involved - especially if the toes are pinched from previously wearing tight shoes. Suggest a visit to the podiatrist - with the shoes you will wear.
* Shoe size. People often wear shoes that are a bit small on a daily basis. And the feet widen and go up a size or two as we age. In my 20’s I used to wear 8.5 now many years later I am most comfortable in a 10. One way to check is to draw around your bare foot- cut out and place on the sole of your shoe.
* Shoe / sock combination- is it working.
* Some people are more blister prone so working out the best prevention and treatment before you leave will help.
* Distance walked. I heard for some they need to stick to a particular distance- otherwise blisters develop
See this as a blessing. Your daughter has time to work all this out and be trail ready when she leaves.
Buen Camino on happy feet

 

[Rita Flower]

Just to illustrate the uniqueness of each person's blisters, I do not like merino wool socks for long walks, although I wear them most days at home. They are softer and move on my foot, sometimes causing blisters. I prefer a thin, fairly tight synthetic sock for the Camino.

She needs to experiment with socks, shoes and the different prevention methods.

@C clearly - Was interested to hear merino socks move on your foot. But you have it sorted.
So jusy sharing …
I wear lightweight Bridgedale merino socks - wouldn’t wear anything else. They are not 100% wool (most hiking socks aren’t) and they really hug my feet like a second skin.
For all my summer and winter walking I have found Bridgedale to be most reliable in preventing the skin sheer that causes blisters.

 

[Richard Smith]

For me, I have found that taping the places where I get/have blisters works best, and removing shoes, sox and airing everything at rest stops is worthwhile.

 

[Eamonrodden]

Promised to take my daughter with me when doing the GSB on the Swiss/Italian border. She has been doing a lot of walking in preparation but now has terrible blisters.

Searching the threads here suggests she should try apply specialist cream (Nok) then concentrate on getting suitable merino wool socks with silk liners.

Any other advice?

I have use vasaline, since I was a young person in football boots and now as a much older person I have used it on many Caminos. Apply liberally on areas around heel and between and on toes. Good luck

 

[Juno]

I got a few blisters - used “compeed” ( it’s an adhesive pad similar to bandaids, found at pharmacies) - it padded and protected the blisters. Pure heaven… the blisters went away in three or four days, stopped using compeed after about a week, didn’t get any more blisters for the remainder of the Camino.

Just don’t try to remove compeed until it’s been on a few days and then only when soaking for a while as you can pull your skin off. Best remedy when you get a hotspot is to apply Moleskin, it’s very cheap in Spain compared to the UK at least and it creates padding and comes off more easily. Better still you can cut it out to any shape you need.

 

[Northside415]

Promised to take my daughter with me when doing the GSB on the Swiss/Italian border. She has been doing a lot of walking in preparation but now has terrible blisters.

Searching the threads here suggests she should try apply specialist cream (Nok) then concentrate on getting suitable merino wool socks with silk liners.

Any other advice?

I’m incredibly blister prone, no matter what I do so I e just learned to be preventative. I wear merino socks, air my feet out at every break, and carry a large roll of leukotape. Every time I even get an itch of a hot spot I tape it up. By the end of the thru hike, I am usually wearing “leukotape sandals”, but those are a heck of a lot better than feet full of blisters!

 

[CWBuff]

Searching the threads here suggests she should try apply specialist cream (Nok) then concentrate on getting suitable merino wool socks with silk liners.

Any other advice?

On the Camino I used some kind of ointment (i.e. Vaseline or SportSalil) as well as roll-on (like deodorant type) Compeed on the blister proper and Injiinji/Darn Tough socks combo.
I have heard of Nok from numerous people; actually got my hands on it in Nice last year and will give it a try on my upcoming TNB

 

[Corned Beef]

Out testing the gear today in front of interested bystanders.
View attachment 9f536b8c-4b18-4f72-b6d7-48c933b5b7e4.mov

 

[Corned Beef]

Just an update. Martigny to Aosta completed without blisters. 50 miles and 10,000 ft. Boot and sock choice main contribution. Thanks to all.