My Walking Boots have started to rub

Q. I have had my walking boots for about 2 years now and have worn them on expeditions at least 4 times before and have never experienced any problems, until now.

I went on a practice walk for a day and after an hour, the back of my heels started hurting especially going up hill.

I'm not sure if it was a blister or just rubbing because the skin had been rubbed down and one of my heels had been bleeding.

I though it might be because I've worn the shoes too many times so they're stretched too big or that the socks I was wearing were old and too thin?

Any explanations and what I can do to prevent it from happening again is much appreciated.

A. Hello my friend, good quality and well fitting boots that are two years old should not give many problems. Well used they will have moulded to your foot pattern and providing you prepare your feet well and have appropriate thick socks, there should be no problems. Uphill is usually the more comfortable direction for feet after several hours walking. Your boots might be a little small for you and that may be the reason your damaged heels while going up hill?

I recommend the following as a guide to blister free feet for the shortest to the longest of walks.

Keep toe nails well trimmed but not too close to the quick and use a file to take away rough edges.

Address any ingrowing nail problems.

Use a foot scrubber and remove all dead and hard skin especially around heels outer edge of big toes.

Apply an appropriate foot skin cream and wash you feet daily and apply a little athletes foot cream between little toe and the one next to it to prevent athletes foot occurring.

Wear quality thick socks and change them every four hours of arduous walking. Apply powder to sweaty damp feet after drying them off.

Finally apply a small amount of vaseline to the soles, heels and around toes.

Never walk on if you feel a nip, by that time it is too late and the skin has died at the rubbing point. Best always to stop and check and make good your feet comfort.

During long walks, your feet are king and need all the care and attention you can give them to really enjoy the day. Compede plasters are great for covering damaged areas and in this instance you could have helped yourself by pulling up your socks and tightening your laces and applying a compede plaster over the rubbed area on the heels before bleeding and blistering occurs.

Perhaps your boots are on the small side and this caused the rubbing and damage at the heels. If you have got them wet many times, then perhaps the drying process has caused them to shrink a few millimeters and you need a new pair.

Happy walking and I hope this has helped you and others have a blister free walking experience.

Good luck

Willie Logan, Greenock

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