- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2017, 2018, 2019, 2025
Due to word count limits, this is posted in two parts. Part Two appears below as a separate post in this thread.
PART ONE
Engo is a company which has created a line of friction-reducing products related to various health and safety concerns. One of these products are known as “Engo Blister Patches”. This is what I will be talking about in this posted review.
I will also note that there have been a few Forum members who have successfully used this product, are enthusiastic about the Patches, and who have also posted information about Engo Blister Patches on the Forum for all to read. I mention this so that Forum readers can also seek out those postings using the Search Engine.
Let me underscore the fact that I have no vested interest in any Engo products, including the Blister Patches. I have never been in contact with the company that manufactures the product, nor do I have any wholesale or retail or stock market, etc. connections which will earn me cash if someone purchases this product.
Conclusion and Bottom Line:
When applied properly, and as a part of one’s blister prevention strategy, Engo Blister Patches can be remarkably effective at preventing or reducing the incidence of blisters. There are a few things to consider when purchasing Engo Blister Patches, including the permanence of installation, and varied experiences of this product’s usable longevity. Those concerns will be addressed.
Background
As I have mentioned in previous posted reviews, many Forum members are aware that I have been employed by various backpacking gear, footwear, and clothing manufacturers to test their products for quality assurance, usability, and the workability of modifications and prototypes. As a contracted gear tester, my reports only go to the company that has hired me for their internal use; I do not publish those reports for public consumption as reviews of those items, or to provide public recommendations. I make mention of this because as an experienced professional gear tester, I feel I have the skill set and objectivity to cut through Engo’s claims in order to examine the Blister Patches’ actual effectiveness at blister prevention.
Engo did not hire me to test their product. Nor did I inform Engo of my intentions to review their Blister Patch products. I purchased the Engo Blister Patches myself, from an online vendor.
Rationale and Motivation for the review
Blister prevention is a primary interest to Forum members, as it is to the general backpacking community. I wanted to know for myself if Engo Blister Prevention Patches effectively implements blister prevention. I also wanted to provide increased knowledge to Forum members about this product, especially if the Patches perform as marketed.
A second aspect of Engo Blister Prevention Patches grabbed my attention: They act in a manner that, if they ARE effective, replaces the need to incorporate liner or dual socks as a strategy for blister prevention. Engo Patches would perform the same function. This would be good because dual sock systems add extra heat retention to the foot which can be largely eliminated. It also removes the need of keeping track of the increased blister risk of having more sock material which can ruck and rub against the skin of the foot, sometimes undetected until it is too late.
The Manufacturers Explanation of How the Engo Blister Patch Works
On its website, Engo’s explanations of how and why the Blister Patch works appears consistent with my understanding of the known facts of how blister formation occurs, and how the risk for blistering can be reduced. In looking at the published opinions of training specialists and blister prevention experts, there is much positive regard for the Engo Blister Patch products.
There is no specific mention of how Engo manufactures the Blister Patch, or the formula for producing the product’s slick top coating. I did not research whether the Engo Blister Patch ‘ingredients’ are proprietary and patented, or whether this a new use for an existing formula.
How does Engo claim that its Blister Patches prevent blistering?
It provides a surface which is slippery to sock material. This is attached to individual problem areas of a shoe. Some people may find that they only need to apply them to one area in the shoe; others may find that they need several of the Patches installed.
The slippery surface of the Patch allows the sock to slide over the surface of that Patch. This keeps the sock in place against the foot, thereby keeping it from sliding against the skin. This eliminates the shear friction from the sock that creates a blister.
Engo Blister Patch: Testing
Note: I do not usually blister. The appearance or absence of blisters is not important for the purposes of this testing. What is important is the ability to determine if the Engo Blister Patches function to reduce shear force friction, and the long-term durability of that effectiveness.
The test began September 2018 during training hikes then continued during a pilgrimage on Camino Frances. The testing continued after returning back home and was completed on June 5, 2019. Now, in June 2021, I have spent the last 17 days reviewing this review by testing a new batch of Engo Stuff, looking for any significant changes outside of some new sizes, and determining if the 2019 review needs any 'freshening'.
Not so surprisingly, very little has changed as to the functionality of Engo Patches and as to how they work to help prevent blisters. I feel that the first posted review is still valid as to my findings, and so is posted as it was initially written.
There were three primary reasons for my deciding to conduct this length of testing:
The insoles I used were the Timberland Pro Men's Anti-Fatigue Technology Replacement Insole. I would expect that any shoe or insole combination would have produced similar results.
The socks I wore were primarily Smartwool’s PhD light padded crew socks. I also tried socks made of various synthetics, and cotton (I do NOT advocate or recommend cotton socks for distance walking) for brief periods in order to compare their performance with the Engo Blister Patches to my Smartwool socks.
Note: Although I found that all the sock materials that I wore for the test performed as intended with the Engo Blister Patches, cotton-heavy sock fabrics would become a bit ‘grabbier’ when they became wet with either sweat or water. Wool socks and synthetic blend socks performed the best under wet conditions.
Normally, the socks I purchase and use fit snug, but not horribly tight, on my feet. This keeps the socks in place, reducing or eliminating their movement on my feet, which dramatically reduces a sock’s ability to create the shear force friction which causes blisters. As part of the test I purchased socks which were purposefully much larger than what I like to wear. I wanted socks that were very loose on my foot and would be noticeable if they slid around while walking. Why?
To help me determine the limits of the Engo Blister Patch’s effectiveness, wearing the baggy socks for a period of time during the testing was an important evaluation tool. I had to observe IF the Engo Blister Patch could prevent poorly fitting socks from sliding around over the skin on the foot and therefore still prevent blistering.
Placement of the Engo Blister Patches was just below where the tips of my toes sit at the front of the insole, to the point on the insole where the arch of the foot begins. In other words, a large portion of the forefoot area.
The Engo Blister Patches were installed about two weeks prior to leaving for Camino. I began using them on training and workout and recreation day hikes and backpacking. Conditions included dry and dusty trails, rain and wet shoes, steep uphill grades and downhill grades, rocky and rutted trails, pavement, sand, and grassy paths.
On Camino Frances, I began in St. Jean Pied de Port and ended in Santiago de Compostela. My son, Caleb, joined me in Leon and brought me a new pair of Hoka One One Bondi v6 shoes. I mailed the old pair back home. (The old shoes are far from worn out, and I am currently wearing them when I go out on day hikes).
I kept the same insoles, with the attached Engo Blister Patches, and continue to wear them the rest of the Camino. I began daily training day hikes again in March, using the same insoles with the same Patches, until just a few days ago.
Findings
Installation
Installing the Engo Patches was straight forward. I found it easy to refine the shape of the Patch for the proper fit by using scissors. The backing that covers the adhesive on the Patch was easy to remove.
I did add one additional step to the Engo instructions. I used a rag, lightly dampened with alcohol, to wipe the area of the new insoles where I would apply a Patch. I wanted to make sure that any left-over oily residue from manufacturing and handling was removed. The area was then allowed to thoroughly dry, which did not take long.
Once I positioned the Patch and pressed it into place, I made sure that I applied firm pressure to the installed Patch from the center to the outside to reduce any trapped air bubbles. Then I applied additional pressure all around the edges, as well as the center.
I choose to forgo the hair dryer option, as accidentally over-doing the heat with the dryer can harm or degrade the material of the Patch, as well as the adhesive’s holding power. I used the friction of rubbing the material with my fingers to do the job of heating the adhesive, instead.
END OF PART ONE
PART ONE
Engo is a company which has created a line of friction-reducing products related to various health and safety concerns. One of these products are known as “Engo Blister Patches”. This is what I will be talking about in this posted review.
I will also note that there have been a few Forum members who have successfully used this product, are enthusiastic about the Patches, and who have also posted information about Engo Blister Patches on the Forum for all to read. I mention this so that Forum readers can also seek out those postings using the Search Engine.
Let me underscore the fact that I have no vested interest in any Engo products, including the Blister Patches. I have never been in contact with the company that manufactures the product, nor do I have any wholesale or retail or stock market, etc. connections which will earn me cash if someone purchases this product.
Conclusion and Bottom Line:
When applied properly, and as a part of one’s blister prevention strategy, Engo Blister Patches can be remarkably effective at preventing or reducing the incidence of blisters. There are a few things to consider when purchasing Engo Blister Patches, including the permanence of installation, and varied experiences of this product’s usable longevity. Those concerns will be addressed.
Background
As I have mentioned in previous posted reviews, many Forum members are aware that I have been employed by various backpacking gear, footwear, and clothing manufacturers to test their products for quality assurance, usability, and the workability of modifications and prototypes. As a contracted gear tester, my reports only go to the company that has hired me for their internal use; I do not publish those reports for public consumption as reviews of those items, or to provide public recommendations. I make mention of this because as an experienced professional gear tester, I feel I have the skill set and objectivity to cut through Engo’s claims in order to examine the Blister Patches’ actual effectiveness at blister prevention.
Engo did not hire me to test their product. Nor did I inform Engo of my intentions to review their Blister Patch products. I purchased the Engo Blister Patches myself, from an online vendor.
Rationale and Motivation for the review
Blister prevention is a primary interest to Forum members, as it is to the general backpacking community. I wanted to know for myself if Engo Blister Prevention Patches effectively implements blister prevention. I also wanted to provide increased knowledge to Forum members about this product, especially if the Patches perform as marketed.
A second aspect of Engo Blister Prevention Patches grabbed my attention: They act in a manner that, if they ARE effective, replaces the need to incorporate liner or dual socks as a strategy for blister prevention. Engo Patches would perform the same function. This would be good because dual sock systems add extra heat retention to the foot which can be largely eliminated. It also removes the need of keeping track of the increased blister risk of having more sock material which can ruck and rub against the skin of the foot, sometimes undetected until it is too late.
The Manufacturers Explanation of How the Engo Blister Patch Works
On its website, Engo’s explanations of how and why the Blister Patch works appears consistent with my understanding of the known facts of how blister formation occurs, and how the risk for blistering can be reduced. In looking at the published opinions of training specialists and blister prevention experts, there is much positive regard for the Engo Blister Patch products.
There is no specific mention of how Engo manufactures the Blister Patch, or the formula for producing the product’s slick top coating. I did not research whether the Engo Blister Patch ‘ingredients’ are proprietary and patented, or whether this a new use for an existing formula.
How does Engo claim that its Blister Patches prevent blistering?
It provides a surface which is slippery to sock material. This is attached to individual problem areas of a shoe. Some people may find that they only need to apply them to one area in the shoe; others may find that they need several of the Patches installed.
The slippery surface of the Patch allows the sock to slide over the surface of that Patch. This keeps the sock in place against the foot, thereby keeping it from sliding against the skin. This eliminates the shear friction from the sock that creates a blister.
Engo Blister Patch: Testing
Note: I do not usually blister. The appearance or absence of blisters is not important for the purposes of this testing. What is important is the ability to determine if the Engo Blister Patches function to reduce shear force friction, and the long-term durability of that effectiveness.
The test began September 2018 during training hikes then continued during a pilgrimage on Camino Frances. The testing continued after returning back home and was completed on June 5, 2019. Now, in June 2021, I have spent the last 17 days reviewing this review by testing a new batch of Engo Stuff, looking for any significant changes outside of some new sizes, and determining if the 2019 review needs any 'freshening'.
Not so surprisingly, very little has changed as to the functionality of Engo Patches and as to how they work to help prevent blisters. I feel that the first posted review is still valid as to my findings, and so is posted as it was initially written.
There were three primary reasons for my deciding to conduct this length of testing:
- To allow me adequate time to make direct comparisons using identical insoles in the same shoes – one insole with an Engo Patch, the other without a Patch. The insoles would be swapped out every third day.
- To allow adequate time to determine the durability of the Patches.
- To find and test an easy and effective method for extending both the effectiveness and the longevity of the Engo Blister Patches.
The insoles I used were the Timberland Pro Men's Anti-Fatigue Technology Replacement Insole. I would expect that any shoe or insole combination would have produced similar results.
The socks I wore were primarily Smartwool’s PhD light padded crew socks. I also tried socks made of various synthetics, and cotton (I do NOT advocate or recommend cotton socks for distance walking) for brief periods in order to compare their performance with the Engo Blister Patches to my Smartwool socks.
Note: Although I found that all the sock materials that I wore for the test performed as intended with the Engo Blister Patches, cotton-heavy sock fabrics would become a bit ‘grabbier’ when they became wet with either sweat or water. Wool socks and synthetic blend socks performed the best under wet conditions.
Normally, the socks I purchase and use fit snug, but not horribly tight, on my feet. This keeps the socks in place, reducing or eliminating their movement on my feet, which dramatically reduces a sock’s ability to create the shear force friction which causes blisters. As part of the test I purchased socks which were purposefully much larger than what I like to wear. I wanted socks that were very loose on my foot and would be noticeable if they slid around while walking. Why?
To help me determine the limits of the Engo Blister Patch’s effectiveness, wearing the baggy socks for a period of time during the testing was an important evaluation tool. I had to observe IF the Engo Blister Patch could prevent poorly fitting socks from sliding around over the skin on the foot and therefore still prevent blistering.
Placement of the Engo Blister Patches was just below where the tips of my toes sit at the front of the insole, to the point on the insole where the arch of the foot begins. In other words, a large portion of the forefoot area.
The Engo Blister Patches were installed about two weeks prior to leaving for Camino. I began using them on training and workout and recreation day hikes and backpacking. Conditions included dry and dusty trails, rain and wet shoes, steep uphill grades and downhill grades, rocky and rutted trails, pavement, sand, and grassy paths.
On Camino Frances, I began in St. Jean Pied de Port and ended in Santiago de Compostela. My son, Caleb, joined me in Leon and brought me a new pair of Hoka One One Bondi v6 shoes. I mailed the old pair back home. (The old shoes are far from worn out, and I am currently wearing them when I go out on day hikes).
I kept the same insoles, with the attached Engo Blister Patches, and continue to wear them the rest of the Camino. I began daily training day hikes again in March, using the same insoles with the same Patches, until just a few days ago.
Findings
Installation
Installing the Engo Patches was straight forward. I found it easy to refine the shape of the Patch for the proper fit by using scissors. The backing that covers the adhesive on the Patch was easy to remove.
I did add one additional step to the Engo instructions. I used a rag, lightly dampened with alcohol, to wipe the area of the new insoles where I would apply a Patch. I wanted to make sure that any left-over oily residue from manufacturing and handling was removed. The area was then allowed to thoroughly dry, which did not take long.
Once I positioned the Patch and pressed it into place, I made sure that I applied firm pressure to the installed Patch from the center to the outside to reduce any trapped air bubbles. Then I applied additional pressure all around the edges, as well as the center.
I choose to forgo the hair dryer option, as accidentally over-doing the heat with the dryer can harm or degrade the material of the Patch, as well as the adhesive’s holding power. I used the friction of rubbing the material with my fingers to do the job of heating the adhesive, instead.
END OF PART ONE
I have used it many times without Engo patches. In fact, it was using the various anti-friction concoctions that made me wonder if there might be an effect on Engo patch longevity.
Well it may be a hellish way to earn a crust but someone may just have to do it
