I just discovered that electrical insulation tape makes a 100% waterproof solution - had it on a couple of rucksack pocket - rubbed finger-ends throughout a very wet Red Rose marshals' walk, and both pieces were still on afterwards (in fact had to be cut off) and fully intact, even after a hot shower.

The type I used (blue, if that's helpful, and about half an inch or 1cm+ wide) is very easily tearable but does not break. It has just enough adhesiveness to stay on but didn't take any skin off when removed. Not at all porous, so would need to be changed if used for more than day or two.

Iain

We have a chiropodist who advised duct tape as a treatment for verucas. While hard evidence of it's effectiveness is hard to find, it is featured on : http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Warts/Pages/Treatment.aspx
Not sure of it's validity as a blister treatment though.

Clearly a difficult problem as this post was started in 2010!!!

I find 1000 mile socks help a treat.

I have a bump of bone (exostosis) on the back/outside of each heel bone where the tendo achilles inserts. (Haglunds Deformity aka Pump Bump [what would we do without the Americans and their wonderful adaptation of the English Language...?]).

The skin would blister and used to come off in sheets. Particularly bad during a quick traverse of the Pennine Way. Same with almost any distance of fell race, especially when the feet get wet.

Since finding 1000 mile socks I've never looked back (no pun intended...) Ho! Ho! Ho!

I'm sure any double skin sock arrangement would help, but I stumbled upon the 1000 Milers (again, no pun intended...)

It is possible to have the bumps removed, but if a scar is left, then the scar tissue can cause as much if not more problem than the bump. I think some people go in from the side, but these are specialist surgeons, and the usual way is to go in from the back. Also, if the excessive pronation is not controlled, then the bump can return.

When I look inside my shoes, the inside of the heel counter wears rapidly due to the rubbing of the exostosis, and my propensity to pronate. This exposes the plastic heel counter very quickly and renders the shoe useless until I stick either Duct Tape or Chiropody Felt (or both) inside the heel to protect me from the plastic heel counter. This takes up valuable room in the shoe and pushes my foot forwards, so it only really works in a shoe with enough room in the toe box.

I think running shoes used to have more padding around the heel than they do these days. Now they seem to have just a thin layer of lining to cover the heel counter. My Mammut Walking Boots are fine and I can walk for miles with no discomfort with the 1000 mile socks. I ALWAYS carry a rucksack full of blister patches just as insurance (Compeed and the ALDI equivalent when they are available...) and yes they are expensive but if applied properly to clean dry skin they work for me :)

Of course I never get any blisters when I sit on the settee, well, not on my feet anyway.

Hi all, with reference to this months Strider it was me who posted this years ago not Andrew Britton. How did such an old Bothy topic end up in Strider I wonder?

Anyway, I didnt try the ductape as thought it wouldnt be breathable. I now dont use anything as on the shorter 20 mile or so walks its OK. On 100s though - well the Wales experience tells me Boots! to keep my feet dry with 24 hours or more of rain ha ha. Otherwise just the tip of one toe causes problems and I think the nerves on that have been battered so much I cant feel much anymore!

Otherwise I apply iodine spray and walk through the pain!

Peter H,
Using the Leukotape, which I have just purchased, do you just use the white breathable one or the stronger brown tape too?
Dave.

I've used Engo blister patches in my shoes to successfuly prevent blisters on the balls of my feet,
http://www.goengo.co.uk/preventing-blisters/GoEngoPatches.aspx

I've been trying to solve the blister problem for years. Zinc oxide tape and elastoplast tape are useless as they fall off as soon as they get wet. Now I've discovered 'Leukotape' which works fine and even stays on in the swimming pool. Also, try googling 'climbers finger tape'

Peter Hamson

I swear by Thorlo socks too and wear two pairs with boots. I buy my boots at least one size bigger than normal to make room for them. Trouble is changing them every 25 miles, does work on a single non stopper trip up to 90 mile, as I have found, but what do you do when walking say the Pennine Way and doing 30 mile a day. The sack would be bulging with just the socks!
Dave.

Maybe a sports degree undergraduate could do a research project on this topic of preventing blisters- by a scientific method.They could use LDWA members as subjects! Mind you the students only have a few months for the work and this would be a long term study.

Maybe some footwear manufacturers would like to do a project??

I might try out the Thorlo idea. But you can years without any problems then get them!

Sorry me again.
Should have mentioned, i have gone through the mill over the years, feet like lumps of blubber
until i worked out this system.
Again best of luck.
Roy.

I've said it before ! I don't get blister's, Don't use anything either.
Wear 2 pair of socks, (Thorlo summer liner, & Thorlo double loop pile.)
Change every 25ml or so, simple.
May not suit everyone but worth a try.
Works for me & no fuss & palaver.
Saw a runner in showers after some 100, his feet were 50% raw flesh after he pulled off all the tape he had wrapped around!!
MAJOR LESSON LEARNED, NEVER FORGOTTEN !!
Hope this helps some of you,good luck.
Roy.

You really know when your life has hit rock bottom when your idea of fun is logging onto the LDWA forum to discuss the pros and cons of Duck Tape! I've found a website that sells merchandise that may be of interest.....

http://www.cafepress.co.uk/mostboring

I think we all try to prevent them in the first place, one way or another. Trouble is what works one time doesn't always work the next time.
Dave.

you could try to prevent them in the first place, try friars balsam apply to feet then use talc to get rid of the tackiness then insert foot in sock, you can also apply 24hr anti persparent the night before, you can also use friars balsam to help plasters stick better and if you want to wake yourself up apply to an open wound.

Thanks for all the help and advice. Compeed is very expensive and falls off in the peat bogs- infact it dissolves!

I think nothing helps, just grin and bear it. Isn't that a name of an event?

Try using Compeed instead of plasters. It's marvellous stuff. Seems to merge with your skin.

That won't come off in a hurry.

to use duct tape succesfuly you need to fold a piece onto itself so it doesn't stick and place this on the hot spot or blister then secure this with duct tape you can also use it on your boots where it rubs

I used a similar method on a friend I was walking the Heart of England Way with.He developed a large blister on his heel.The blister plaster rubbed off the heel and took more skin with it.So we used plastic electricians tape (borrowed for our digs in Balsall Common),which we used to hold the blister plaster in position around the edges and then wrapped around his heel until the area was completely covered in a second skin of tape.
This lasted for the two days from Balsall Common to Lichfield,and Lichfield to Milford without the blister getting any worse.Although,the tape had to be gently soaked off in the bath afterwards (he put a bag over his foot to bathe on the night we spent in Lichfield.

I tried something similar on the Poppyline 50 three years back. Trying to remove sticky tape from around well-pounded toes was total agony. NOT recommended!

I used duct tape to wrap around my feet on the Yoredale 100 and within 10miles it had pulled and blistered the top of my skin. When I pulled it off it took the top of the blister with it which promptly burst showering me with fluid....agony! Good luck though - maybe you'll be more successful with it!

I am going to try a new use for this wonderful invention. I get fed up of plasters (wether "blister plasters" or otherwise) falling off the first peat bog I wade into. So now I'm trying an experiment with some sort of padding like blister plaster or absorbant padding covered with Duck Tape. It ain't breathable I admit. But it is only for the long walks and temporary. As long as it stays on!

And if I'm not allergic to the sticky stuff.. zinc oxide tape makes me itch like crazy. but I can find that out easily enough.

I'll let you know how I get on.

After this years 100- I need something that will STICK!