Blisters

Hi,
I have really small feet(size 6), but wide at the toe, and it seems like no matter what shoes I'm wearing I get hot spots and then blisters on the balls of my feet. When I push off from my toes I can feel my foot sliding back just a little bit and it creates friction and after a couple of miles my feet really hurt. It doesn't affect my heels or any other part of the foot, just the balls of my feet. I bought my boots a little big for the toe room, but I"m wondering if I'd be better off with tighter fitting boots though my tennis shoes cause the same problem even though they fit pretty good. Anyone else have this problem or does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks for your help. We've decided to go to the Sawtooths in Idaho in August for 2 weeks, Can't wait!

I am no expert, but I will give it a try. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Do the balls of your feet slide forward when you plant your foot? I think your laces are too loose. Try tightening the last two laces closest to your ankle. These are the laces that keep your foot from sliding. Good luck. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I will sometimes put a piece of duct tape on the ball of my foot to prevent hot spots. The smooth duct tape slides easily, reducing friction. I have very sensitive tops of my feet and can not abide tight shoes. Try it at home first.

MNS

Thanks for the advice. I'll try taping my foot and tightening the laces. I've worried about how my tender feet will hold up in the Sawtooths next month. I hike in Smartwool midweight socks and high volume superfeet insoles so my boots fit better and may try a liner sock too if that will reduce the friction. I got my boots a little bit too big I think but am hoping they will work out. I might have to look at different ones though, they are pretty hot in the summer too. I got merrel radius mids. I was advised by a forum member that they looked like they would be hot and he was right but I got them anyway because they felt comfortable in the store (a mistake I think). <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Pick up some Bodyglide. Slather it on the usual hotspots. No more blisters.
Make sure you have a proper shoe fit, but Bodyglide ended my blisters completely, no tape, no bandaids.

I agree. I just finished a 200 mile hike using Body Glide and not even a hot spot. Going down some steep trails could have caused some blisters but my feet were fine. It also helps to have your shoes properly fitted as well. I wear 1/2 size larger trail runners.

Thanks, I'll try the Body Glide. I bought my boots a full size larger, but I heard they run small and the 7's felt good in the store. I tried foot powder when I walked yesterday and it helped quite a bit so I"m thinking the body glide might be the answer. I just need to stop the friction. The boots are comfy and don't rub my heels or toes like most other boots I've tried so I hope I can use them. My feet do get hot in them though.

Body glide does definately help, but it really does sound like your boots are a bit on the large side.
I've had issues like you describe in footware that was too large, so my feet were slipping around
in them. In my case I have wiiiide feet, and a narrow heel - I would sometimes (stupidly) buy standard width footware and compensate for the width by buying larger sizes. The result was
never as good as a proper fit - which should not pinch your toes of course, but your foot should
also not be moving around in there. ensure you've got them laced up snug, but if you still get no luck you may need to consider a different shoe with a good snug (but NOT pinching - that's worse)
fit.

One other thing to try....and should generate a bunch of controversy here, your socks.
A few years ago, I was an avid thick sock wearer, Thorlo (?), was my sock of choice. Still fought blisters but I was convinced it wasn't the socks....until....I applied the same thinking I use with ski boots, really thin socks.
I now wear the thinnest, cheapest nylon socks I can find, from Walmart. Puritan is the brand, about $2 a pair.
Going thin did two things...
1) my feet sweated less
2) cut pack weight

I can even double up a pair and still be thinner than what most folks call "hiking socks".

So, thin socks, and Bodyglide have eliminated hotspots and blister woes, period.

Phat is right, check that shoe size and wear the socks you are likely to hike in at the fitting. If not already, try some super thin ones.

You may also want to try a higher-end shoe store. I go to a specialty running store where they measure all parts of my foot, analyze my gait, and don't grumble when I try on 15 different shoes. They charge about 25% more than the same shoe at other stores, but they make sure it fits correctly. Some manufacturers make half sizes, wider or narrower versions, and other such modifications that aren't available at generic stores.

Also remember Ray Jardine's advice (no, not corn pasta): feel free to modify your shoes as you see fit. Cut and mangle them until they're comfortable. Punch new lace holes, shorten the tongue, draw a map on them.. whatever you like <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This advice does apply more to trail shoes rather than boots, but the same sort of logic applies. I bought boots at MEC where the sales rep insisted I needed 8 pounds of leather for $400. When I went to a specialty outfitter, I got ultralight, ultracomfortable goretex boots for $150. (I now normally wear runners, but still like my boots for very mucky areas)

Thanks for all your replies!
Phat, I think your right about my boots being a little too big. I'm hoping if I keep the laces tight they will work out with the body glide, but I'm considering looking at trail runners. I've always been concerned about whether they would protect the bottoms of my feet from bruising on rocky trails (I have really tender feet). I know they would be more comfortable and I could wear lighter socks with them. It sounds like the Montrail Hardrocks have more protective soles that some of the other shoes, maybe I will try on a pair of those. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> After using your trail runners if you get some, take them back to the store and tell them that you only used them once and show them how scratched and dirty they look. See what they say.:) I have some Hardrocks and they sure took a beating on a week long trip, but I was happy with them, others like there own brand of choice. A few years back, some had mentioned that liner socks didn't help, sure enough, I went without them and saw no change in the condition of my feet. Even the trail runners give me blisters on the ball of my feet.

We went to town and got some body glide today, and I will try it tomorrow on our day hike with loaded packs. Hope it works. I asked a couple stores about trail runners and no one had them in size 6 or 6.5 so I tried on a pair of Keen low cut hikers in a 7 just to see if I might like them but had no intention of buying them in a 7. If I need new hikers I may have to order online to get my size and then just send them back if I don't like them. It seems like the best way to go anyway since I always feel pressured in a shoe store and have left with a pair of shoes many times in the past that I ended up being unhappy with later. Thanks again for all your help everyone. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I preempt blisters by putting larger bandaids on potential hotspots. For me, that's the heel. I also tie my hiking boots tight, which prevents the foot from sliding inside the boot. I also use plastic shoe liners covered with foam. The hard plastic supports my arch, which is my problem area. I tried 5 types of foot insoles 1 winter before I found the right one. I have been using that particular pair of insoles for 10+ years.

Wow, the body glide works really well; no more hot spots. I still feel like my foot is sliding around too much though and I don't feel like they're as supportive as they could be because of that so I went ahead and ordered some boots online in a 6.5. I sure hope they fit well. If not, I can always send them back and try something else but I got a good deal at Campmor on these. $60 for Garmont Synchro nubuck. They have polyurethane midsoles and vibram soles and I got some nikwax to waterproof them if they fit.