Author Topic: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails  (Read 3982 times)

Rhianon

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I'm doing Oxfam's Trailwalker Challenge (a 100km walk under 30 hours) this July, having done it previously two years ago.

Last time, I invested in a pair of good Berghaus boots, which were pretty comfortable during all my practice walks (a maximum of 40km). However, about halfway round the actual event, blisters started to form under the toenails of my second toes and by the end the nails had been totally lifted off, from the constant friction with the top of the boot (although they always feel fine for shorter walks).

Has anyone experienced this problem and can recommend a solution? For example, is there any particular make of boot which is roomier in the toe area? Or would a softer pair of boots be less likely to cause me problems? A friend has suggested investing in a sturdy pair of open-toed walking sandals, which I could use for some of the trail – but I'm not sure that being without the ankle support is such a great idea, especially as there's quite a bit of up and downhill involved. Is this a bad idea?

Any advice would be appreciated.

muymalestado

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #1 on: 20:27:11, 16/01/08 »
OOUUCCHH!

Welcome to the forum.

It would be nice to hear what advice, if worthwhile, you garner from various sources.  Sports injury clinics might help - wife was helped a a local one and 7 years after she still does the suggested exercises, she says to good effect.

First thing that comes to mind is socks - maybe two pairs would help. 

Also 'volume'.  Some boots have more, some less even from same maker and only where a shop assistant knows the score, has had training, can you trust what they say.

You did file toenails right down before setting out?
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yetanotherben

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #2 on: 15:59:53, 18/01/08 »

Sounds painful.... :-\

Walking boots advice can be found here:
http://www.walkandramble.co.uk/expert-advice/footwear-help.html [nofollow]

...it's very indepth but should do the trick!

Let us know how you get on....

Ben
"Walking is man's best medicine..."
Hippocrates (460 BC - 377 BC)

"Walking is man's and woman's best medicine..." or should it be "Walking is men's and women's best medicine..."???
Ben (1983 AD - Present Day)


http://www.cheaptents.com [nofollow] - Camping Equipment & Outdoor Shop

Rhianon

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #3 on: 15:10:26, 29/01/08 »
Hi there

Thanks for the advice... I did file toenails and wear two pairs of socks, as well as changing socks regularly etc etc. I'm beginning to think I just need to buy a bigger pair of boots! Thanks for the website link Ben – v.useful.

Rhianon

Ridge

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #4 on: 18:16:16, 29/01/08 »
If your boots are leather and you have a GOOD local cobbler/shoe repairer then they should be able to stretch them for you above your toes. This will take some time if they are good solid boots but should result in no damage to the boot.

I know who I would recommend you take them to in North London but this may not be local for you.

Rhianon

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #5 on: 18:13:32, 30/01/08 »
That's an idea. I'm Herts-based, so north London is not too far, if you can make a recommendation.

Ridge

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #6 on: 20:55:57, 30/01/08 »
Callis Shoe Repairs
Middle Lane (sorry I can not remember the number but the southern end)
Crouch End
Lonon
N8

I'm sure there are lots of other people who are just as good but I used to use them a lot for my work and although they are sometimes disorganised the work is always good.

howardfernlover

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #7 on: 13:16:04, 01/02/08 »
Sounds good - do you happen to know if they do vibram resoling?

tonyk

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #8 on: 15:25:42, 01/02/08 »
 Boots aren't the best type of footwear for an event of this distance.When tackling this kind of distance I have always worn running shoes.Again, its no guarrantee you will be blister free but there is far more chance of it happening.You need to prepare the feet for the event,get rid of areas of very hard skin and cover the places that will rub with vaseline.

 Sandals are okay,Roman soldiers walked miles in them and Greek foot runners were known to have run over a 100 miles a day wearing sandals but with modern technology there are far better cholices on the market.

muymalestado

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #9 on: 16:58:59, 01/02/08 »
The advice which ended 20 years of buying the wrong sized boots & shoes came from a well trained shop assistant who whipped out the insoles from a boot I was handling.  She got me to stand, wearing socks, on the insole ensuring the heel was right at the back of the insole.  She put my thumb down in front of the toes.  There was not really room for the thumb.  She said "Next size up!".  Or a different make.  I bought boots I would always have guessed were too big because of all the room for this 'extra' thumbwidth.  Wrong.  For every shoe or boot since 1st trial is insole length.  No more toe probs.

This was aided by yet more advice from her - lacing.  It had never occurred to me to vary the pattern, but she said keep it loose over the front part, do a 'tie-off' knot then bind the ankle part tighter.  This holds the foot back within the boot and coming downhill it makes a huge difference.
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Ridge

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #10 on: 15:02:57, 12/02/08 »
Sounds good - do you happen to know if they do vibram resoling?

Sorry, I just remembered that I never replied to this question, only 11 days late!

I'm pretty sure that they would NOT be able to do this as they are just a normal shoe repairers, I have used them a lot which is why I recommended them but they don't specialise in walking boots.
 I don't think I've ever come across some one who would be able to do them in my many years of using shoe repairers across the country (yes, really, don't ask)

howardfernlover

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #11 on: 18:25:13, 12/02/08 »
Oh well, it was just a thought!  Would have been convenient, as they're not a million miles from me. Thanks for your reply, anyway - better late than never, I say.

Walking boot repairers used to exist, I had a pair resoled some time in the 1980s by a bootmaker called James Taylor, I think, in the Marylebone area, and there used to be a specialist company somewhere in the north of England who had a half-page advert in TGO each month.

I'll think about it again when my boots have become even more worn, and maybe then I'll do a Net search, but to be honest I'm not sure it would be worth it with today's labour charges.  The money would probably be better put towards a new pair of boots.

muymalestado

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #12 on: 09:40:02, 13/02/08 »
Others on this forum have said that money is better spent on new footware rather than resoling.  Which, if you consider the lightweight nature of modern boots stands to reason - if you've worn out the soles you've probably worn out the support the upper can give you.
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Are we there yet

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #13 on: 15:33:30, 10/03/08 »
Hi Rhiannon,

I am also doing the trailwalker this year(my first time) and the shoe situation got me thinking. I went out and purchased a pair of trail shoes(inov) and have to say i am very pleased with them, our ream were there this weekend and did 36 miles as a practice, i did 20 miles in the shoes, and no pain, blisters etc, just like wearing a normal pair of trainers, but with alot more grip. I will probably wear boots during the night phase but found these excellent. I would recommend looking at them.
Also as suggested above, 2 pairs of socks may help with the blister problem.

muymalestado

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Re: Footwear advice to avoid blisters under toenails
« Reply #14 on: 16:15:52, 10/03/08 »
Are we there yet ?   Welcome.
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