Many of the hunters I have in camp end up with a blister on their heel blow the narrow spot from the tendon running up the back of the heel to the calf muscle, or right on the back of the foot above the heel.

It seems no matter how well they think the boots are broken in they don't spend time walking up hills for an hour. This stress on the backs of the heels against a ill fitting boot or sock can cause a hella bad expereince and ruin the rest of the trip. Walking up hills for miles or very steep sections for even a few hundred yards can cause fast "hot spots" on your feet.

When I have a client that cannot walk due to raw feet after the first day of a ten day hunt, it's a really bad situation! I have searched high and low for the best solution and am always open to new Ideas. I use Mole skin and double socks with the boots tied loosely and we shuffle along as far as we can. Is there anyone anyplace that can provide a better fix?

Is it better or not to puncture the blister? I think it's worse to do this so I never suggest it. I think the water inside is the best protection it can have. But I just don't know what to do. Clearly the best thing to do is stop the very instant that a problem is considered. Most guys seem to think "oh it's nothing". Problem is that by the time you feel a little bit of a hot spot the damage is done. Going further is going to create an un-repairable condition. I have also found.......... on myself that as soon as I feel a hot spot if I take my socks off apply mole skin and replace with dry socks, I'll usually be just fine. If I let it go until a while later, I'm in big trouble!

No matter how tough your feet are or how well broken in your boots are, problems can come up. Wet sweaty feet are a primary cause. A folded or crumpled sock is another primary cause. Extreme angles for a long distance are the biggest killer for me.

If there are any new blister solutions please share them. My hunting season starts in May so I have a month to buy the proper stuff to help foot sore clients, or even myself before I leave for Africa.





Hard to walk and hike in this condition, an Expensive hunt can be ruined on the first morning hike if not prepared with good boots. Or if you do not understand the warning signs of early blister developement.

The only thing that ever works for me is to puncture the blister and gently squeeze the fluid out of it and then carefully clean it with your choice of an antiseptic.

I then take a piece of moleskin that would cover the blister and extend about 1/2" around it. Next I cut a hole in the moleskin a little larger than the blister and place it so it completely surrounds the blister. I then take a little larger piece of moleskin and cover everything. Doing it like this the blister is covered, protected and padded. It's a two-person job to get it placed just right.

Hack:
In my younger days I used to chase goats and sheep up and down hills a lot. In those days we didn't have the fancy hunting boots we do today. I hunted in a pair of RedWing work boots. They were the only boots that would take it.
Here's my idea. It worked for me. Worth a try. I cinch them suckers up like putting a saddle on a fat mule. If your foot moves in the boot, you will get blisters. If the boots fit to start with and you don't allow any movement, you will not get blisters. Make sense?

By the way, thats one ugly picture! That poor guys hunting is over for a while.
Forgot. I think they have a new product kinda like superglue. You paint it on the hot spot and it protects the area. Someone else probably knows more about this than I do. Good Luck.

My experience with moleskin is that for it to work the skin has to be in the stage usually before "hotspot", when it starts hurting to where I really notice it, things are too far along.

For those feet in the pic to be able to hunt the next day, here is what I'd do- first,cut away those flaps of skin, then clean them really really well with an alcohol pad, next put antibiotic ointment on them and then use a large band aid to cover the blister. When the blister is covered cover everything with athletic tape- this is the most important part!

Well no, actually the most important part is keeping them clean and sanitary, if they get infected so much for walking any distance. But athletic tape over a large band aid does a suprising job, and they can become forgotten at times they feel so good. At the same time though remember clean clean clean- new bandaid in the morning, when back from the hunt, and before bed. And any other time if they get wet. use alcohol or something else each time too, it is important to keep sanitary as possible.

Oh, on that subject here is another piece of useful advice- bacteria is what makes your armpits stink, so any deodorant soap is by nature also antibacterial. Deodorant soap is always a good choice for cleaning wounds and keeping them sanitary. A small bar snagged from a motel room takes up no room when camping.

.

Band-Aid brand now has a specific blister bandaid that is padded in the middle and made to stay in place in weird places. What works for me is not to cut a whole in the blister, but just a small hole with a clean sewing needle for any drainage. Put peroxide on it. Put on the bandaid and then the mole skin or a corn pad over that if you are going to be doing alot of walking. If not, just the bandaid works great.

I have found that if one decides to puncture/drain a blister, it is best to use a needle (sterilized of course) in from outside the blister itself. In otherwords, several millimeters from the the blister edge thru healthy tissue,. And preferably from the lower side of the blister (if on your heel etc., which will let it easier continue to drain a bit when you start walking soon afterwards). Doing it this way will lessen the chances of the skin covering the blister tearing apart when you start walking again. If you on the otherhand puncture the blister directly thru the "puffed up"skin, it is far more likely that the skin will soon rip, leaving the raw wound open to infection.

I seem to recall a similar product as Alf mentioned used by medics in the British Army...it really is good stuff; especially if being applied to someone else!

Erik point of not puncturing the blister directly is also a good one. if you go in through healthy skin at the side of the blister, the skin tends to "seal" again to help keep the infection out...And make sure the needle is sterilised...

I have been in the same boat as that guy in the picture and eventually ended up with a severe blood poisoning/infection in both legs simply because I was treating other peoples blisters and not looking after myself. So please keep every thing as clean as possible.

Regards,

Pete

BEFORE you have your hunters develop the blisters, have them put athletic tape over the critical spots. Have them wear two pairs of socks if their boots are large enough. Either in an ettempt to have the rubbing occur on material, rather than the skin.

Once the blisters have developed, it gets a lot more painful. Athletic tape has still (sort of) worked for me, but once on the blister, don't try to remove it again, unless you have to. Tea Tree Oil (or whatever the Antipodeans call it?), is also supposed to help.
- mike

Another preventive measure is to have a pedicure shortly before going on a hunt to get rid of unwanted calluses, and so that your toenails don't stick out and cause blisters on the other toes. Using footcreams for a few weeks before the hunt such as Gehwol (a German product: http://www.gehwolusa.com/ ) to keep the skin on your feet supple also helps.

I know that a pedicure sounds faggy, but it's been tested and proved to be worth it by lots of soldiers doing the Nijmegen military march (30 miles a day for 4 days carring 10 kg) and other forced marches.

So it's worth the potential embarrassment of your buddys hearing you got a pedicure!

A few years back (more than I would like to think about), I did a lot of backpacking. Blisters were much more common then because boots weren't as good as they are now. I suffered with them until I figured out how to treat them and keep on moving.

I used wide athletic adhesive tape on the hot spots BEFORE they became bubbles. If one did bubble up, I taped right over it. If it bursts, you basically are done hiking. An infected blister is worse than one can imagine. I used tincture of iodine back then as an antiseptic.

I still carry part of a roll of white athletic tape with me on hunts, just in case, but haven't had a blister in years. The other problem is toe jam. When you aren't used to steep uphill and downhill hiking, your toes jam in the front of your boots and can severly bruise the tissue under the nail. I have actually had to use my pocket knife to drill a hole in my toenail to let the blood out. Nasty solution, but better than bearing the pain.

I have had and treated my fair share of blisters although I have never in my life had a blister like the one in the photo by JJ. That man was in need of advice on how to choose boots and socks as well as working out before his hunt wich IMO would have avoided 98% of his problems. Buy good boots that fit ! Don't wear cotton sox ! Wool is the order of the day. I still prefer sock liners but the current hiking trend seems to suggest just wool sox. I always treat with anti-bacterial cream like neosporin, then moleskin and athletic tape. That stuff Alf mentioned my dad used when I was a kid. Hell it brang tears to my eyes just rememberig that ! LOL

I am not sure it would help with blisters as such, but for sore, painful feet/ankles I can recommend one of those pain relief gells containing Ibuprofen. It is also good for other muscular aches, pains and sprains and a tube lives permanently in my first aid kit...

Never let your first aid kit be without duct tape !

Liner socks work great for preventing blisters and if you already have a blister then try "2nd Skin" by SPENCO (spenco.com). These work great!! they help the healing a little faster and when wearing them you don't even realize you have a blister, if it works for sheep hunting it will work anywhere.

Moleskin

The heels of the man shown came about because his boots did not fit him, entirely to loose. ----- Experience from years of backpacking and climbing taught me that the boots must not move if you stand on a 45%incline the backpacking stores provide when trying on boots. If the boot moves at all it is not snug enough. A must is wear polyproplyene liner socks next to the skin then Smartwool or wool socks as the outer sock, absolutely no cotton socks. The moisture will wick away from the foot and dissipate. 10 to 15 miles up and down may cause a hot spot, apply moleskin immediately and daily. Moleskin on top of the blister after deflating it with a pinprick at one point on the edge and gently squeezing out the water. Leave the skin on the blister after deflating then cover with moleskin daily. I have left the moleskin on for days with no ill effects, it will eventually wear off. This worked for me for years with heavily loaded backpacks. Walking with those hunting boots before is also a must, and not just one week before the hunt, start months ahead. Good shooting.

JJ-Chuckwagon has it. I know this sounds hillbilly-like, but what I have done for years is like the above treatments and then OVERLAY the whole shebang with a layer of duct tape.Try scratching your fingernail over some std 1st aid tape and do the same with duct tape.The reduction in friction is HUGE.Regarding the 2nd pair of socks- It is critical that these are specifically designed for lining. They should be very light in weight and offer a more friction free surface that your regular socks.

I never get blisters, but I also walk a hell of a lot. My wife always gets blisters, and we've tried everything without much luck. One thing that seems to help is a product called Bodyslide or something like that, used as a preventative. It is put on places that tend to get blisters and works as a lubricant, petroleum jelly will work in a pinch. The number one prevention is snug boots that are well broke in.

Careful of the duct tape idea. I have seen where it was applied to skin and then walked hard for quite a while. it took the guy who used it days to peel it off with tweezers, small pieces at a time. In heavy sweaty boots, it will break down and almost bond to the skin. If moleskin is not available, then the tape is better than nothing, but change it often.

To prevent blisters I use:

Fox River’s Wick Dry® Health System socks which moves moisture away from the feet. This unique design helps stop friction to eliminate blisters and hot spots. Fox River’s Wick Dry® socks keep feet dry and comfortable under even the most strenuous conditions. Incorporates Dupont's Cool Max fiber. Proper fitting footwear is also a must.

To nurse already blistered feet like in the picture, I would use maximum strength Neosporin first aid antibiotic ointment and moleskin.

Trapntrav is correct...use Spenco products (Waco, TX) called 2nd skin..they have a blister gel kit that has saved my bacon and that of my wife too more than once while on safari.
You get a blister and use this according to directions and you will still be hunting.
I had to use it in TZ in '92 and wife had to use it in Namibia in 2000. IT WORKS PERIOD!

To prevent blisters you need to eliminate friction between your skin and socks and you need to reduce foot moisture. I hunt in Teva sandals for this reason - no friction and no moisture.

If you hunt in boots, you need a thin polypropylene sock which will reduce skin friction and wick moisture to an outer sock. Change outer socks several times a day and allow boots to dry.

There is a product called New-Skin which is like cyanacrolate (crazy glue) which will add a tough layer on top of your skin. Also great for cuts.

But my standby when all else fails is duct tape. It eliminates skin friction and you can remove it easily once your feet have sweated a little. I have never had a “bonding†problem with it, but if you do, hot water will turn the adhesive very gummy. Cover the blister with a single layer of gauze and tape over it. I avoid athletic wrap tape because it increases friction...

Ask anyone who has been on a generic special forces selection whether it be for the SAS or US army or as in my case SADF 1984. These pictures are the norm and what is more that is what your back looks like from an ill fitting Bergen.

Boots have to fit well If there is movement between boot and skin you are hooped. Next thing are socks, problem today is you do not have good socks cause all have crap in them to keep them from creeping or to get them to dry quickly.

We bought Meindel socks out of Germany, same guys who make Meindel boot's, good natural wool socks, problem is got to wash them with cold water, cant put them into the washing machine warm water and then the drier, they shrink !

I'm telling you Mercurochrome is the answer, never mind that you may later in your life get the shakes from the mercury ( what is actually amazing is if you eat ocean derived fish such as salomn today your exposure to mercury if more than with a few rounds with the mercurochrome and they have not as yet banned the eating of fish )

You can probably find Mercurochrome in Africa but hard to find in the States anymore. Good to know it works for blisters...

Mercurochrome

quote:

I hunt in Teva sandals

Grasshopper,

Good to know I do good work!

Bill - What the hell are you trying to say?

In a pinch if there are no liner socks available, you can use womens ankle high nylon hose. I thought it was funny when a drill sgt suggested it and thought he was pulling our leg, but I saw several of them wearing nylons on long road marches. I have a problem with most liner socks being too tight on my calf, so something that comes up ankle high underneath a good quality wool sock is just the ticket. Laugh if you will, but in a pinch, nylons are available in most places and they are cheap and light weight. I use moleskin also to head off hot spots on my feet. No cotton socks either.

quote:

Bill - What the hell are you trying to say?

ZD,

I give you credit for most probably mentioning this on AR before me. Most likely everyone think we are nuts. No more hiking boots, Russell PH's, etc. I take two pair, and wear them on plane too.

I didn't know you did this as well. Now IF I could only get you to shoot a real gun, I'd hunt with you...

.

JJ:

This is a good post. Blisters end more hunts than being out of shape I bet (but there is no excuse for being out of shape).

One thing you could do if you are faced with blisters like this guy had is to switch to running shoes. They may not be as good as boots, but at least you can walk.

Alf,

I am surprised your ankles are up to sandles...a lot of guys end up with shot ankles and need the support....as well as tall boots I even resort to putties from time to time although they are a pita to put on!

Just to take the thread off on a tangent is that little 4x4 a "Jackel"?

Regards,

Pete

Enough about blisters, what's for dinner Alf???

I rasp it off with a horseshoe rasp, soak the foot in Kerosene, wrap the foot in rawhide, drink a fifth of cheap Whiskey, and get with the program! Theres hunting to be done!

quote:

Originally posted by ALF:
Tincture of Merthiolate ! or otherwise Mercurochrome...... cant get the stuff in the USA cause of fear for Mercury poisoning.

In the RSA you can get it. We ran our whole military campaign in Angola on the stuff.

The very best treatment for grass burns from playing Rugby ! It was and is still an essential item in any first aid kit !

Closed Blisters, aspirate fluid with a needle and inject cavity with this stuff, burns like hell but dries the wound fast !

Open blisters, just paint or dab the stuff on will smart an sting till the tears come out of your eyes but it works !

Not for the weak at heart though, putting this stuff on an open skin wound gives new meaning to the word burn !

Alf,
You are totally correct about Mercurochrome.My parents used the stuff on me as a kid and its great stuff.I wondered why I could never find it as an adult.South Africa's pharmacies other well known secret is Myperdol(spelling).

For open ripped blisters, I have used the spray on bandage stuff that is available over the counter these days. A few coats forms a protective cover over the raw flesh beneath.

I walk many, many miles hunting in Alaska for sheep and moose. A typical sheep hunt can run a minimum of 40 miles. Blisters do happen and all I can say is "COWBOY UP". Like it was said before, there is hunting to be done. Sure it hurts, but it would hurt me worse to "not hunt"!

I used to be bothered by blisters all the time. For the past 8 years I've not had one. I used to get blisters all the time on two of my toe, and also, on the back of both heels.

What I started doing upon the advise of my podiatrist is before I do any hikeing, is make sure that my callouses are trimmed down. Then, I place one or two wraps of adhesive tape around the toes that used to get blisters. One the back of my heels, I also place a couple of pieces of 2 inch wide adhesive tape. Apply the tape to any known areas that are prone to raising blisters before you start your walk in the morning. At the very least, if you start to feel a "hot spot" developing, stop immediately, and apply the tape over the hot spot. I hope it works for you, as well as it has for me.