I have done a few 120+ mile backpacking trips plus other shorter trips. Always with weight, usually for climbing trips. Duct tape works the best, you can put it on preventatively if you know where you have hot spots. It eliminates all the friction points that cause the hot spots which lead to blisters, obviously. It is also one of the only products robust enough to handle sand and water exposure. The other great thing about it is, that it takes up very little space in your boots, which is nice if your feet are swollen from rucking. If you wait until you blister to put it on, then you have to use gauze and/or other things that increase the volume inside the boot which can lead to larger blisters. Moleskin is garbage, so are most of the gel/dr scholls products.
As for chafing I have to recommend Sportslick. No doubt the best product I've ever used for prolonged (fun..) activities. I don't know if its because its silicon based or what, but I've never tried anything that stays on for as long as this thing, 15 hours of running in the heat without having to reapply if you're generous with the first layer. Also its antifungal and antibacterial and all that, go get one! They should reimburse me for this.. Thanks for the videos guys!
FYI: As a Wilderness First Responder I have seen duct tape that literally pulled the skin off the foot, kinda makes the blister/hot spot not that big a deal after seeing that. That being said, I used duct tape for hot spots while climbing 10,000 vertical feet on Mt. Rainer in plastic double boots. I think using it before the foot becomes wrinkly and soft with sweat for hot spots works pretty good, after that It may make a pain turn into a disaster use with caution. Experimenting with using Leukotape for both hot spots and after blister, so far seams sticky enough to stay put but maybe not enough to do a skin graft.
Hey Jeff, have you dealt with ankle sprains? I've have a class 2 ankle sprain, so I was wondering what advice you have to deal with this issue. I can walk fine but I can't run at all. Should I wait it out?
I have - I have more than a dozen ankle sprains on both ankles from football / rugby. But when I went to BUDS and the boots we wore, I never sprained an ankle at BUDS. Any type of calve work helps, bands doing lateral movements with foot / ankle joint up/down/left/right... If you do sprain an ankle - ice when you can, tape it up, and go if you can.
I have done a few 120+ mile backpacking trips plus other shorter trips. Always with weight, usually for climbing trips. Duct tape works the best, you can put it on preventatively if you know where you have hot spots. It eliminates all the friction points that cause the hot spots which lead to blisters, obviously. It is also one of the only products robust enough to handle sand and water exposure. The other great thing about it is, that it takes up very little space in your boots, which is nice if your feet are swollen from rucking. If you wait until you blister to put it on, then you have to use gauze and/or other things that increase the volume inside the boot which can lead to larger blisters. Moleskin is garbage, so are most of the gel/dr scholls products.
As for chafing I have to recommend Sportslick. No doubt the best product I've ever used for prolonged (fun..) activities. I don't know if its because its silicon based or what, but I've never tried anything that stays on for as long as this thing, 15 hours of running in the heat without having to reapply if you're generous with the first layer. Also its antifungal and antibacterial and all that, go get one! They should reimburse me for this.. Thanks for the videos guys!
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where do you get this stuff
FYI: As a Wilderness First Responder I have seen duct tape that literally pulled the skin off the foot, kinda makes the blister/hot spot not that big a deal after seeing that. That being said, I used duct tape for hot spots while climbing 10,000 vertical feet on Mt. Rainer in plastic double boots. I think using it before the foot becomes wrinkly and soft with sweat for hot spots works pretty good, after that It may make a pain turn into a disaster use with caution. Experimenting with using Leukotape for both hot spots and after blister, so far seams sticky enough to stay put but maybe not enough to do a skin graft.
can you put things like insoles in your boots and shoes? or are those not allowed?
Pen Game yes you can
gotcha thanks
Hey Jeff, have you dealt with ankle sprains? I've have a class 2 ankle sprain, so I was wondering what advice you have to deal with this issue. I can walk fine but I can't run at all. Should I wait it out?
I have - I have more than a dozen ankle sprains on both ankles from football / rugby. But when I went to BUDS and the boots we wore, I never sprained an ankle at BUDS. Any type of calve work helps, bands doing lateral movements with foot / ankle joint up/down/left/right... If you do sprain an ankle - ice when you can, tape it up, and go if you can.
Costco sells a 75% merino wool stock for >$20 for a pack of 8.
We used a lot of moleskin in the USMC for blister care.
Yep - smart.
such a majestic beard