What causes a blister like this?

[rhendrix]

Trying to break in a pair of schnees beartooth boots. Started getting a blister about halfway through my hike, I could feel my heel slipping, and no matter how I tried thing the laces I couldn't get my heel to lock in. It's only on my left foot though. Is this just from the heel up being too low? Improper fit? Or improper lacing? I realize it's hard to tell any of this just from a picture of a blister, was just hoping to get some input from you guys that have been there and done that.

Ron

 

[orionsbrother]

I had a buddy who sold boots. He told me that a frequent problem is that people lace the "foot" portion of the boot too tight and then the heel moves. He instructed me to loosen the laces in the "foot" portion of the boot and tighten from the ankle cleat up. That has worked very well for me with all kinds of brands of boots.

I am not a boot guru though. And I can't question my friend further, he passed away.

 

[Archerm]

Heat, moisture and movement are the main culprit for blisters.What type of sock are you wearing? You need a sock to wick away the moisture. The above is right don't over tighten the ankle to toe part of the boot. You also need to set your heel in the heel cup of the boot to make sure you can lace it correctly. I have a viseo somewhere. I will find it and post it.

 

[Archerm]

This is a technique that works well for me. There are many variations.

[video=youtube;JuhszEC0-yw?rel=0]https://www.youtube.com/embed/JuhszEC0-yw?rel=0[/video]

 

[rhendrix]

It's interesting you say that since I had the boot laced tight around my foot from toe to ankle on the left foot (the one with the blister), but the right one was a tad loose and no blister.

And I had a pair of darn tough full cushioned socks on.

 

[trkyslr]

Id try Leuko tape... The stuff is legit and helps prevent blisters and hot spots.

 

[Archerm]

Wait for the blister to heal first. If you put the L Tape over the blister then take the L Tape off it will rip the skin off the blister.Other than that I am a firm believer in L Tape. It is a good preventative step to take when trekking.

Id try Leuko tape... The stuff is legit and helps prevent blisters and hot spots.

 

[tttoadman]

I am a firm believer in lace locks like the Tibets have. I barely snug on the lower foot and go tight on the rest with my heel driven into the back. I think everyone's feet will swell up a little after lacing up, and you need to allow for that. I have gone all day without needing an adjustment.

 

[Highcountry_Hellrazor]

Not only do you need to break in your boots you also need to break in your feet.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Play with some lacing variations. Soak the boots in water for an hour and then walk them out wet (terrible for some laminated soles apparently but still works for me).

At the end of the day, you may just have a hot spot. I have four. Who each on the soles of my feet and two on the heels. Over the years of trying different combinations of boots and socks, they bother me to varying degrees. After some army training that required 15-20 miles a day for a few weeks I learne to pad those spots with a layer of mole skin and then cover it with duct tape. I would use the doughnut technique if I had an active or healing blister. I still do this for serious movement with heavy loads.

 

[rodney482]

Duct tape and go hunt

 

[Kevin Dill]

Blisters are simply a result of friction. Moisture will increase friction between skin and almost any surface. A dry foot is less likely to blister. A tough foot is MUCH less likely to blister, but can take many weeks to toughen through hiking and boot use. If nothing else proves to eliminate foot movement and friction, the best you can likely do is to cover the sensitive area with an adhesive tape, pad, moleskin etc. These will all work but keeping them securely in place is problematic. Adhesives don't like heat and moisture, plus friction can cause peeling. If I'm applying anything adhesive to my heel or toes, I start by getting the skin 100% dry. Next I apply a light coat of benzoin tincture (REI) and let that air dry for 2 minutes...sticky stuff. After the benzoin dries I apply the adhesive pad carefully and securely. The benzoin coat needs to extend past the edges of the adhesive pad for best hold.

Waiting until a blister has formed is not good. As said, adhesives may remove the damaged skin. Bandaids are next to worthless primarily because the pad area is not adhesive and can continue to move/rub the blister as you walk. Prevention is the only good strategy, even if a hassle. Apply the padding to your feet as needed and keep them protected. Carry a kit everywhere while hunting, and use. Pull the boots and dry your feet/socks as often as possible. Wear liner socks next to your feet. If you do get a blister, pad it adequately and do what you can to minimize the rub. I have seen as much as 1/4" of good padding required to protect hot spots.

View attachment 27418

 

[5MilesBack]

I always wear a thin liner sock under my merino boot socks and haven't had a hunting or hiking blister in years. However, the Leuko tape is legit. Climbing up really steep stuff for a prolonged period can put a hot spot and blister on the heels. I generally put a strip over that section when I know I'm hunting a specific climb area. The tape will stay on for days, and still be tough to peel off. Good stuff.

 

[darcytribe]

I always wear a thin liner sock under my merino boot socks and haven't had a hunting or hiking blister in years. However, the Leuko tape is legit. Climbing up really steep stuff for a prolonged period can put a hot spot and blister on the heels. I generally put a strip over that section when I know I'm hunting a specific climb area. The tape will stay on for days, and still be tough to peel off. Good stuff.

X3 on L tape and merino with a thin poly liner sock. works great

 

[snowcamoman]

Agree totally on the Leuko Tape if you get a hot spot or blister. That stuff goes on and stays on for good.

I've been using the Injini toe liner socks this year and they've worked out extremely well. They look goofy, but really keep my feet dry and keep friction from building up. I'm using plastic boots with an Inverno liner too, so my feet can get extremely hot in warm weather. The Darn Tough socks are pretty damp after hiking, but my feet are dryer than with any other system I've tested out.

That type of blister on the back of the heal like you have is also exacerbated by your heal lifting or moving as you hike. You might want to try testing a variety of insoles. Some of the various Superfeet can really help to lock your heal in place with a good solid, locking lacing technique. Good luck.

 

[stinky]

The poly sock liner for always seems to slide off my foot and halfway down my foot. Maybe it's the brand? Any suggestions on a certain pair?

 

[Stid2677]

I have never been able to use liner socks, tried many combos and the liners always walk down to my toes. Proper lacing, Leukotape P Sportstape, Tuf-foot starting 2 weeks before and lots of walking in my HUNTING boots.

I treat my feet with Tuf-Foot and spray them with antiperspirant, I start doing this a couple weeks before. The TF and Antiperspirant both toughen feet and help reduce sweating. I then PRE-tape my feet before I start and keep them taped until I get back.

Over 20 years on road marches and hunting and taught me to care for my feet as they are all I have to get me around and the only hunt I ever quit in was because of blisters from boots that stretched when they got wet.

 

[5MilesBack]

The poly sock liner for always seems to slide off my foot and halfway down my foot. Maybe it's the brand? Any suggestions on a certain pair?

I always just use the regular polypropylene white liner socks. My problem was always the merino socks riding down and having to stop 1/2 a dozen times a day to fix them. But the Smartwool Classics have been outstanding and stay put all day over my liner socks. The Darn Toughs seem like they have a Teflon coating on them. They're in the bottom of my boot before I can barely get out of camp.

 

[Brianb3]

27 miles in 30 hours can do it. But seriously my boots this year just started blistering. Figured I was getting soft as I near 40

 

[CA Karen]

My suggestion on your blister problem is to get knee high compression socks as your liner sock, these have never crept down on me or my hiking buddies who turned me on to these and if needed use Blistop by Flexitol- you spray it on your hotspot/problem areas and it keeps the blisters from forming, a 1.1 oz can states it has 50 applications. I don't use it very often but keep it with me when I am hiking with others or long hikes with alot of elvation +/-.