i tore my feet up. limping now.

[pointysticks]

dang it. my boots!! i hiked with my hunting boots all summer. i did a 50 miler backpack trip with them! no issues.

this weekend, i wore them deer hunting. we ended up in a no holds barred death-march. the terrain is the steepest and gnarliest i have ever encountered. there were times i would have loved a climbing rope. steep steep sidehilling. downhills so steep you just kinda slide. we did 17ish miles in 14 hours of hiking. (long story).

i blistered my feet. maybe my old boots are not as broken in as i imagined?

[aron]

What boots were you wearing? It seems a lot of boots feel great until you find the steepest of steep terrain causing more hot spots and rub points.

[pointysticks]

Schnees' Beartooths.

kinda disheartening. my next trip will be the same area, but with a rifle.

[aron]

I use Leukotape P sports tape on hot spots and it works great to prevent blisters. I used it this season on one spot and it lasted 5-6 days to the end of the hunt without having to change it and could of went longer. Stays on even with wet feet. Trick is to get it on before it is a blister though.

Works much better than duct tape or athletic tape. Probably could put some mole skin underneath if you already have blisters for a little cushion.

[pointysticks]

I use Leukotape P sports tape on hot spots and it works great to prevent blisters. I used it this season on one spot and it lasted 5-6 days to the end of the hunt without having to change it and could of went longer. Stays on even with wet feet. Trick is to get it on before it is a blister though.

Works much better than duct tape or athletic tape. Probably could put some mole skin underneath if you already have blisters for a little cushion.

I appreciate the advice. I'm gonna get some.

[fenderhunt4]

Were you wearing a liner sock? I know a lot of guys have blister problems when they don't wick the sweat away from their foot.

[Broken arrow]

I wore my lowa renegades poly liners and merino socks for 8 days. They were wet after day one and never dried out. I never got a single blister! I either have some tough feet or that combo worked well.

[Bowhunter]

I wear a pair of anti blister socks and a pair of coolmax hikers over them. My boots are tight with 2 pair but I have found if I can wiggle my toes I will get blisters. I lace up tight and had no problems for 7 days with wet feet also from all the darn rain.

[pointysticks]

i wear merino wool socks. medium weight ones.

i dont think i laced things up as tight. i need to pay attention more next time.

amazing how fast feet heal. i bet i could jog today.

[Bowhunter]

I learned about the loose boots long ago. That is something I will not forget. This year I had an infected finger like you did last year Pointysticks. I opened it with the hunting knife sueeezed out some infection and covered it with an antibiotic salve and bandaid. It is funny how the smallest things can make a tough hunt even tougher.

[ElkNut1]

Sissy! Ha Ha just kidding! Try two pairs of socks instead of one heavy one. Your feet will rarely if ever blister this way because the socks will slide & take all movement leaving the tender parts of ones feet alone. I've done this for 45 years & rarely ever a blister! I even wear socks as this in the hottest temps, it's worth it!

ElkNut1

[Lefty]

My daughter use to sell boots at Sportsmans, She said one of the biggest problems is poor fitting boots and cheap socks.
May that why she gets me a good pair of socks every year

Ive been lucky with my feet, I froze them over 30 years ago so I dont know when Im huring my feet but havnt had the issues so many do have

[Vanish]

Don't mean to hijack your thread, but it was my boot experience this year!



Somehow I managed not to get any blisters. Lucky me!

[elkmtngear]

Thin Poly Sockliners (under your merino wool socks)!

Made a World of difference when I started using them.

[wapitibowman]

I keep duct tape in my pack wrapped around a pen. Cheap and works like a charm!

[WindedBowhunter]

I always wear a liner sock under my wool sock, swap them both out mid-day. Let your feet dry out, while you get something to eat. This assists in keeping your feet dry, not wet.

Wet>friction>heat=blisters...

Additionally, for the hike in and out of the backcountry, I will place duct tape on my heels prior to starting the hike.