Quick Query On Vaseline

[Excited but Nervous]

Hi All,

Have read on this forum that it pays to put Vaseline on your feet prior to your socks before walking each day. When I went to purchase today I got a little confused…do I need the normal Vaseline in the tub (the gel type stuff) or do I need the Vaseline Intensive Care Cream ?

Thanks

[Lapun Mama]

I've heard about people using vaseline & as far as I know it's the petroleum jelly one. I chose to use fixamol (also called mefix) an adhesive dressing that you can buy at the chemist – lots of sports people use it for blister prevention & treatment & great for anytime you lose the top layer of skin ie burns & gravel rash too. When I walked we had dry weather & fixamol worked well. I've heard some say that the Vaseline idea helps with the moisture problem as well as the blister thing.
I'm heading back again this year trek 447 in August & if I get wet weather I'll be able to see how my foot care works under those conditiond too.
Enjoy your trip. KTL are fantastic & soo are all the people you'll meet in the villages along the way.
Cheers.

[Shepherd]

Hi,
To Vaseline or not to Vaseline ? I didn't have to, I wore wicking socks with hiking socks as an outer with Gore-Tex boots and did everything to keep my feet dry. I suffered from some blisters on some practice hikes before Kokoda and believe this was because of the length of my second toes. Consequently I took with me a few packs of blister pads (approx $8 a pack) and applied a whole 2 pads for the whole trek. The pads work great, you just apply them over the blister and leave it there till it falls off (about 4 days for me). I applied them when I felt there was a chance of a blister. I think the most important thing is to keep your boots dry, DO NOT SUBMERGE THEM. Once they are wet they will more than likely stay that way for the whole trip. You can try and dry them by the fire but this can damage the leather. I wore gaitors as it was pretty muddy and rained a couple of times, this stopped my socks getting wet and wicking through into the boot.
I guess you should find out what works for you. Also, don't forget to apply some conditioner to your boots before you go, it helps keep out the water and softens the leather a little.
Good Luck.

[Emma]

Hi,

I have just got back from Kokoda (last week), I did use vasleine and it worked a treat! My feet were the one thing i was worried about before i left, i always seemed to get blisters on my little toes. I didn't get any blisters or any major soreness on my feet the whole trek. Just normal valeline in the tub, smother it on and put on your socks.

Good luck

[Earthboy_rod]

I also just got back yesterday, used vaseline well daily and had only 1 blister. related? not sure, but worth the try anyway.

[petedowling]

trekked in April. Wet and many flodded crossings and muddy swamp areas. Feet constantly wet/ socks wet/ boots wet. I taped my toes as a preventitive/ using the Band Aid extra large tough strips. Worked a treat.
Each night I made sure before bed that I gave my feet a thorough clean with medical alcohol swabs followed by the anti fungal foot powder. As well we gave our boots a swirl with dettol- pretty standard for swampy muddy conditions.
If you get broken skin, liberal splashing and cleaning with Betadine/ then a Dressing. Regular checking/ betadine swabbing and redressing when needed. Commonsense stuff.
Just look after your feet. One guy in our group got an infected foot and he was very sore for several days. Vaseline -use it if you think necessary- I didn't.

[Freray]

The vaseline works by stopping any friction between your feet and socks, that way you will not get any blistters. It is also helpful in preventing any fungal infections of the toes or feet.

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