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I am preparing to walk Kokoda towards the end of the year and I have started the process of breaking in the boots. However, I now have blisters the size of 50 cent pieces on my heels. I am wearing 2 pairs of hiking socks.
Has anyone got any suggestions for either softening my boots and/or preparing my ankles.Hi Krisaust
Whilst I'm no expert but I would advise to perservere with your boots but ensure they are laced up firmly and that your socks are not loose.
Additionally you can toughen up your feet by
a) walking barefeet as often as you can
<img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//cool.gif” style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”B)” border=”0″ alt=”cool.gif” /> walking/running on beach sand as often as you can, hard or soft
c) soaking your feet in methoWear your boots everywhere you can, work/fashion permitting of course.
I'm walking the Track in April and I'm have been using mine on mountain walks for a couple of months. Carry band-aids with you and use them as soon as you feel a section of skin starting to rub, if not you will end up with another 50c.
Good luck and keep in touch.
Waza <img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//rolleyes.gif” style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”:rolleyes:” border=”0″ alt=”rolleyes.gif” />
Thanks Waza. Good luck with the April trip. I am determined to go in September, so there is not a chance that I am giving up on the boots
In the boots section I gave a suggestion that helps me to stop blisters. Cover your feet with vaseline befor putting your socks and boots on. This will stop any friction or fungal infectiond of the skin.
After about 1 month of constant wear the boots should be worn in enough, and your heel tough enough to stop them.
Mine gave me blisters for a month and a bit, then they stopped..Also, try soaking your feet, boots and all, in a tub of warm water. This should soften them up, and mould them to your feet.
Hi Krisaust, there are a couple of products you can use. Both can be used as a preventative, the first product is Hyperfix, you place this on any unbroken areas, put double layers as a precaution. The other product you can use is called Opsite and this also provides a barrier, fix this in place with the hyperfix as it will just roll off with the constant walking. Both of these should be available at the Pharmacy if you don't know anyone in the hospital/Physio area. Enjoy your trip.
coriojo
Hi Krisaust
Good to see you have had a few replies and thanks for replying to me.
How are your feet and boots coming along?
I have one other suggestion for you and that is to purchase Bees Wax ('The Original Australian Leather Seal') from Belpard International Trading Pty Ltd
PO Box 3090 Auburn Victoria 3123.I had a pair that looked disgraceful and hadn't been used for years, one application of Bees Wax and within 2-3 weeks thay were very soft and easy to use. You could also smear the outside of an old pair of socks and then go for a walk in the boots, to get the wax on the inside of the leather.
What date are you walking the Track Kris? (Is your name Kris?)
Have been walking on a regular basis, with only 9 weeks to go TODAY! Should be just struggling into Isuarava in 9 weeks from now. Doesn't seem to far away.
Look forward to hearing from you soon
Regards
Warren
As they say here in PNG, hi Olgeta (everyone reading this)….
One thing that hasnt been mentioned and that is THICK SOCKS….yes the best thing in the first instance to avoid getting a blister.
Russell Eroro gave me six hints when it came to my feet:
1. Purchase good quality boots
2. Cut my toenails short
3. Purchase good quality thick camping socks. When I saw the price tag I asked myself what they were made of….over $30 and I bought 3 pairs. Guess what the best thing I could have purchased.
4. Purchase ankle straps to wear inside socks. They come in pairs and can be purchased from a chemist shop. Be careful you select the right size however to fit your ankles.
5. If you feel a blister coming on…stop immediately and tape it up.
6. Rub Vaseline on your feet before putting on your socks. This was a previous tip from a guy in the Army.<img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//wink.gif” style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”;)” border=”0″ alt=”wink.gif” /> Hi Krisaust
Received your reply through the Forum but can't find it on there, so hope you receive this. You asked me to drop you a line, could you drop me a line on
and I'll reply directly to you.
Only 15 days and a few hours to go now, very excited but still apprehensive about it. 95% of my gear is weighed and packed and I have five mountain training walks to do in the meantime, plus Squash, cycling, aerobic classes, weights and running.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Regards
Warren
hi Wazza,just curious to know how close to departure are you going to train,and how strenuous will it be Cheers Bazza
<img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//ohmy.gif” style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”:o” border=”0″ alt=”ohmy.gif” /> Hi Bazza (The Smilie is supposed to show how tired I am!)
I have been doing a bit of training pretty much every day since prior to Easter and on an irregular rate prior to Easter.
I'll train up to the Thursday morning before I drive to Brisbane and then I fly to Moresby on Friday morning, before we fly to Kokoda on Sunday morning.
My training has included 6k up & down North Brother track with 15kg pack, interspersed with a couple of speed runs (only on the way down), just with my Hydration Pack and my trusty walking stick.
Also with aerobic classes, exercise bike and some weights.
Not sure if I'm ready for it physically, but time will tell.
Having said that however, with in excess of 400 trekkers with Gail and Co last year, it is achievable but never the less difficult for most I'm sure.
When are you walking Bazza?
All the best
Waza <img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//biggrin.gif” style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”:D” border=”0″ alt=”biggrin.gif” />
Hey Wazza,We are trkking on 9/06/05.Owers to Kokoda.Three of us ,myself,my wife and her brother.A training week for us is 10k road hill walk with weight vests,deep water running,step climbing.Mt Warning one and a half times,and a 16 k walk @ Binna Burra.Knocks you around trying to fit it in with work etc.Sometimes we have had 3-4 days off and just completely off and come back so fresh,hence my original question.Some of my fit sports friends have said that you should not do anything at all 7-8 days prior,just relax your body and just strtch???What do you reckon,Cheers Mate and keep in touch Bazza
Hi Baz
Just a quick response before I go to Squash. Yes I agree, some rest before an event is certainly beneficial, but I don't believe I'm pushing myself to the limit in what I'm doing. Hopefully I'm still doing enough to help me achieve my goal, time will tell. I will be resting Thursday, Friday & Saturday before the initial walk on Sunday.
I'll be driving past you enroute from Port Macquarie to Brisbane, where exactly are you?
If you wish to answer on my email with contact details, that's fine, it is
waza.col@bigpond.comI'll keep in contact before I go and up to when you go. Good luck to all the family.
Regards
Warren (Waza) <img src="http://developer2/board/upload/style_emoticons//unsure.gif” style=”vertical-align:middle” emoid=”:unsure:” border=”0″ alt=”unsure.gif” />
Hi all.
I had great trouble breaking in my new boots.I have got some Scarpa Trek boots that gave me some dreadful blisters and totally wore the skin from my heels.And I was wearing 2 pairs of socks.
The way I have found to successfully wear my boots in and avoid blisters was to buy proper walking socks that have a thin pair for my feet and a slightly thicker pair that go over the first pair(Wigwam brand approx $35 at any hiking/camping shop).
And the other trick that was explained to me by the girl in the shop was,to lace the boot to the part where your foot meets the bottom of your shin(e.g. the middle of the "L"),and at this point double loop the laces and then continue lacing the boots up to the top as normal.The reasoning behind this is that it pulls / pushes your heel to the back of your boot.
I have done this since I was told and not had a problem.I also told a fellow trekker last weekend and it stopped his blisters dead.
I hope this helps.
I am walking the track between 05/07/05-14/07/05.
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