I was hoping some veteran elk hunters could share some tips on how to protect ur feet from blisters???
thanks
Hike a lot before you get there in the shoes or boots you are going to wear, with the pack you are going to wear and the weight you are going to carry in the closest terrain to your hunting area. Train for your game.
Wear polypro sock liners.
Wrap some duct tape around your water bottle or something else (trekking pole, quiver, pack, bow). It can be use for many things, including taping up hot spots...before they become blisters.
Downhill is often worse than uphill for blisters and black toenails. Make sure your footwear fits.
Down hill can definitely do you in, make sure you don't skimp on the footwear and make sure you get someone knowledgable to fit them properly. I wish I had pics to show you how I know. Ouch!
Burnsie
Broken in, well fitting boots. If your toes touch the front of your boot on downhills, they will pay in the mountains. I wear heavy socks like Smart Wools, and change them regularly. And pre season conditioning wearing the boots you are going to hunt in is a must. Lots of hiking prior to your trip, preferably in hilly, rough country will help a bunch.
And, if you get blisters, moleskin is handy to have around.
THANKS for the info. Moleskin an duck tape good tips. The polypro liners are they called blister free socks or is that something different.I take it that u guys wear 2 pairs a liner an a wool?
Hattrick,
There is a majic substance that will prevent any blisters. It's called Body Glide, it comes in speedstick format. It is an anti chafing protectant made for runners. Around here the only place that carries it is specialty running shops. I have used it for years whenever breaking in new boots and on mountain hunts. It is fantastic and can be used anywhere on body that you may develope chafing problems. It's not cheap, regular size about $20.00/tube but I never leave home without it. I now carry it in my pack all thre time.
In 30 years of hunting I have not gotten any blisters. I attribute this to proper foot wear & good socks. For the early season, warmer weather, I wear a pair of hiking boots made by Lowa. They feel like wearing tennis shoes with lots of support. They breathe, they are water proof and very comfortable. The pair I am using now I have had for the last 6 seasons and have logged somewhere between 500 and 600 miles in them. I like to hunt the back country, so these have stood up to rugged terrain giving me full support. I only wear them during hunting season, stump shooting or scouting. The best $125 spent on my feet. Next are socks. Don't skimp. Smart wool type socks are what you want. They are not cheap either, about $14 a pair but worth it. I have many pairs I have bought over the last 5-6 years that are in great shape. Again I only wear them hunting, stumpin or scouting. For cold weather I have a pair of Lacrosse boots with 400 grams of thinsulate and gortex lined. I have been very happy with these. I got lucky and found them in the Danner outlet store for 1/2 price so they didn't set me back as much as I had planned on spending giving me more to buy some socks.
Prior to these boots I have worn Danners. No matter what you buy if they do not fit correctly you will be sorry. Out here in the Northwest we have a chain of outdoor stores called REI and another one with a couple stores called the Mountain Shop. Both have a great selection to choose from and a very knowledgeable staff to help get you into a pair of boots that will fit you correctly. The 2 kinds I have have not needed to be broken in. But if you buy a pair that is a little stiff spend 3-4 days of good hiking to break them in. Buy the best you can afford. It is to your benefit. Your hunts will be more enjoyable. If your feet are hurtin, it may cost you the shot of a lifetime.
Brock
Good socks. Don't wear cotton! Smartwool is my personal favorite.
When you feel a "hot spot" coming on, stop and take off your boots and socks. Drink some water, take a few minutes. if you need too, put some duct tape or mole skin donut on then.
Broken in boots. That said, my favorite elk boots are a pair of LL Bean Maine hunting boots that don't lace. Can't figure out for the life of me why I've never had a blister in them...
Mike
Try a thick "winter weight" polypro sock. They wick the moisture away so well the toes will be dry but the outside soaking.
The way you lace your boots can make a big difference too. Tie an overhand or surgeons knot where the the ankle bend starts on your boot and cinch it down tight. Then go over and down with the first hooks that start up the leg.If you have eyelets skip the first one, got through the second then back down to the first, then up to the third. This will stop your foot from sliding forward in the boot on downhill walking.
Again great tips, thanks. That body glide sounds like good stuff i`l be checking that stuff out it sounds like its good for a lot of things :thumbsup: . I picked up a pair of cabelas whitetall hunter boots to day. They seem nice and are light weight with good soles i`l start braking them in.
I wear merino wool hiking socks, and a silk liner sock under those.
Footwear must fit well, and be well broke in. I wear Vasque hiking boots W/full steel shank for high country hunting. The flexible shank boots just kill me when walking in steep terrain, though others have no problems with them.
Carry 4-5 pairs of socks and liners. Change them often, and wash the used pairs at night if possible.
Moleskin can be a trip saver. Better to have some and not need it, then to need some and not have it.
Treat your boots well with whatever product the manufacturer recommends for a water proofing. Wet feet ain't going to be happy feet.
Lace the boots up as Noelkman recommends. THEN, after you have hiked for an hour or so, relace them to your liking, as your feet will swell a bit, and your boots may get tighter than you are comfortable with.
Don't try to dry your boots by a campfire unless you are WATCHING them! Burning your boots is not a good thing to do! :knothead: And don't ask how I knows this! :banghead:
R.W.
THAT`S ONE TIP I ALL READY KNOW, LETS JUST SAY MY FOOT GOT VERY WARM :campfire:
Walk less, sit more. dave
Of all the money you can spend on gear, boots and socks are NOT the place to skimp! Nothing will ruin your hunt faster than blisters, and nothing will cause blisters faster than poor fitting boots and cheap socks. But them now, and break them in all summer. :thumbsup:
Do though; just in case; take some moleskin with you...
All of the above and put unscented underarm stick deodorant on your feet.
Your feet will stay dry and also slightly lubricated.
Works really good.
John
An ounce of cure.... but band-aid brand makes these little deals especially for blisters. If you get a blister you just stick one of these things on and leave it for three or four days. They are padded a little and they have some sort of medicine to help the blister heal. They work great and the instant you put one on, problem solved. They come in a silver box but I don't remember the exact name. Walmart carries them, definately worth the four or five dollars!
I wear a silk or polypro liner sock (very thin) and a rag wool sock (very thick) over that. Make sure your feet are dry. I have never (knock on wood) gotten blisters yet. I carry some band aids and have the "other stuff" back at the truck, but my way is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
As above.. don't underestimate downhill or side hill. It is different and causes your feet to wear on ways you never dreamed of. Keep you boots snug to fit your foot and be aware if something is not right down there.
Blisters are no fun. I knew a guy who got them so bad on his second day that he was camp bound for several days after that. I actually watched him walk up some hills backward (to keep pressure off his achilles area) so he could at least get somewhat back in the woods and maybe see an elk.
ChuckC
I had never thought of using duck tape. I just carry athletic tape in my pack. I put it on before I hike. I never get blisters. Gary
I have scar tissue on my heel from a scald years ago which is prone to blister. I've done a lot of mountain walking over the years and to prevent blisters I wrap the heel with micropore tape, the stuff they use to stick dressings on with. It's light, breathable and won't roll off until you want it to. But like everyone has said, you need well fitting boots and good socks to start with.
Of all the advice for ELK HUNTING (not just hiking), dave2old's advice is the best.
Mike
Different people are different. For me, the liner socks cause problems. I just wear a GOOD pair of Merino wools socks (typically at least 70-75% merino wool.)
As said before, the downhill part is tough on you. Kills my knees. I started doing lunge-walking for that and made a huge difference last year.
If you're going to be covering a fair amount of hiking getting to your main hunting area get a good pair of HIKING boots, not necessarily hunting boots.
While in Colorado last year we ran across several guys from CO. Most all of them were wearing hiking type shoes rather than big hunting boots.
Of course well fitted and broken in quality footwear is the most important thing and something that took me a while to figure out, "life is to short to wear cheap socks!" I like Thorlo socks and they make about a 100 different styles designed for specific activities. I prefer a midweight sock with a coolmax or polypro liner. It is VERY important to get your boots fitted with the socks you are going to wear. I also ALWAYS sprinkle foot powder(cornstarch) in my boots and socks, it helps keep your feet dry makes it easier to slide your feet into the boots. I also ALWAYS take an extra set of socks and liners(treated with cornstarch)in a ziploc bag in my pack. At lunch time I take my boots and socks off and let my feet cool off, at bare minimum I switch socks from one foot to the other. I also try to have two pairs of boots and alternate them daily. As soon as I get back to camp, I take my boots off and put on a pair of camp shoes.
Danner Boots
I am a recent Wigwam socks convert. I used to like Smartwool a lot but the Wigwam really wick the mositure plus they don't have the shrinkage problem that smartwool does for me.
Why you walkin'? Get an ATV like everyone else!
lathrop and sons blister kit
stepen will put together what you need.
not cheap but these guys know what to do.