Finest Mountaineering Foot Care Merchandise


Mountaineering blisters, athlete’s foot, damaged toenails, and plantar fasciitis could be simply averted or alleviated through the use of and carrying a small set of trail-proven foot care aids.  As Leonardo Da Vinci wrote, “the human foot is a masterpiece of engineering and a murals,” however like all climbing gear, you could handle it to make it carry out optimally.  That mentioned, mishaps occur, and we encourage you to hold cures for the commonest foot care points to attenuate your discomfort.

Listed here are the highest foot care merchandise we use and advocate for hikers and backpackers.

1. Leukotape Sports activities Tape

Leukotape_P_Sports_Tape

Leukotape is a sticky blister prevention tape that includes a powerful zinc oxide adhesive that received’t come off, even in essentially the most excessive moist situations. It’s additionally breathable, so runners and backpackers can safely put on it for a number of days at a time. It’s finest used as a preventative barrier over potential scorching spots. Leukotape just isn’t supposed to be used on pre-existing blisters, nevertheless, as a result of the adhesive can pull off free and damaged pores and skin. Whereas it comes on a roll, the easiest way to hold Leukotape in your first assist package is to pre-cut it into strips and fix it to the shiny paper (known as launch paper) that adhesive labels are hooked up to. Go into any UPS or FedEx workplace they usually’ll provide you with tons of the stuff without spending a dime. I’ve been utilizing Leukotape for years and nonetheless tape my heels earlier than day hikes and backpacking journeys.

2. Darn Robust Socks

Darn Tough Hiker
Darn Robust’s Merino Wool Mountaineering Socks are the preferred socks utilized by hikers to forestall blisters, wick moisture, and preserve your ft cool and comfy on the path. They’re additionally powerful sufficient to face as much as the abrasive sand and grit that will get into path runners and climbing footwear, which rapidly eats by way of different producers’ socks. They’re obtainable in a variety of colours, lengths, weights, and sizes, with and with out additional cushioning. When backpacking, it’s important to maintain a dry pair of socks in reserve to sleep in, which helps your ft get well after a protracted day of climbing. My favorites are the Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks.

3. Soiled Woman Gaiters

Dirty Girl GaitersDirty Girl Gaiters
Soiled Woman Gaiters are low gaiters designed to maintain sticks, pebbles, sand, and different floor litter that you just kick up when climbing from stepping into your path footwear or boots, the place they’ll irritate your ft. They’re primarily used with path trainers and low to mid-ankle climbing footwear. They’re ultralight, weighing lower than 2 ounces per pair, and are well-liked with hikers as a result of they’re cheap and are available in a variety of untamed colours and printed patterns that let you specific your self on the path. They don’t have a strap that runs underneath your climbing footwear however connect to your laces with a hook and a velcro patch that you just persist with the heel of your footwear. They’re not supposed for winter use and dry rapidly once they get moist.

4. Superfeet Insoles

Superfeet Run Support LowSuperfeet Run Support Low
Insoles have two huge advantages: they assist help your arch which is essential when carrying a loaded backpack and lock your heels in place to forestall extreme pronation or supination that may result in plantar fasciitis, a painful irritation of the heel that may put you on the sideline for weeks at a time. Superfeet makes 1,000,000 completely different insoles, however the two hottest ones for hikers are Superfeet Run Help Low Arch Insoles (previously known as Superfeet Carbon), that are skinny sufficient to suit into low-volume path runners and climbing footwear, and Superfeet All Goal Help Excessive Arch Insoles (previously known as Superfeet Inexperienced), that’s finest worn in climbing boots.

5. Vaseline Ointment

Vasoline 1.75 ozVasoline 1.75 oz

Low-cost and plentiful, Vaseline ointment is sweet for decreasing the friction between your toes or between your footwear and ft, which might result in blisters. It’s additionally helpful for treating dry and cracked pores and skin, which is the precursor to a callous, by locking within the pores and skin’s pure moisture and serving to it to heal from inside. Vaseline is out there in a 1.7 oz journey measurement, which is sufficiently small to hold, or you possibly can repackage it in a small tub to hold with you. Vaseline additionally makes a wonderful firestarter when smeared on a cotton ball, one thing that different anti-friction powders and lotions can’t declare.

6. Lotrimin Extremely Athletes Foot Cream

Lotromin UltraLotromin Ultra

Athlete’s Foot is a extremely contagious fungal an infection that impacts the pores and skin on the toes and ends in a scaly rash that itches like hell and may be very disagreeable. It’s simple to choose up if you happen to go to public locations barefoot together with bathe stalls, locker rooms, or swimming swimming pools, and thrives in scorching and sweaty closed footwear. Athletes’ foot is well handled with a prescription power topical cream, like Lotrimin Extremely, however you need to be vigilant and constant if you use it to eradicate the an infection or it can persist. Remedy normally takes a few week, though you could wish to proceed longer to make sure the fungus is totally eradicated. Lotrimin Extremely will also be used to deal with jock itch, one other frequent and ugly pores and skin irritation skilled by hikers and backpackers.

7. Victorinox Nail Clipper

Victorinox Nail ClipperVictorinox Nail Clipper

The Victorinox Nail Clipper folds flat to maintain your toenails trimmed quick, stopping them from banging towards the entrance of your footwear, turning black, and falling off, which is usually a painful course of. Additionally they embrace a rough folding file that can be utilized to file down thickened or flaking toenails which have grown away from the nailbed because of repeated nail trauma. That is fairly frequent amongst severe hikers, however the coarse file makes it simple to maintain them quick and flush with the highest of your toes, thereby avoiding irritation additional.

8. Engo Blister Prevention Patches

Engo Blister Prevention PatchesEngo Blister Prevention Patches
Not like conventional blister bandages, ENGO Blister Prevention Patches are adhesive patches which are utilized on to your shoe, to not your pores and skin. They’re ultra-thin, 0.015 inches thick, so your shoe match is unchanged. Meaning they last more (as much as 300 miles) they usually received’t irritate your pores and skin. They’re additionally waterproof and keep hooked up even when they get moist. They work in all varieties of footwear from climbing boots to path runners, gown footwear, and ski boots.  You’ll be able to trim them as wanted to forestall blisters in your heels, toes, the ball of your foot, the facet of your foot, the arch, and so on. I found these about 10 years in the past and nonetheless use them at present.

9. Band-Help Hydroseal Blister Cushion Bandages

Band-aid Hydroseal bandagesBand-aid Hydroseal bandages
Band-Help Hydroseal Blister Cushion Bandages are hydrocolloid gel bandages which are state-of-the-art for contemporary wound care. You need to use them on popped or unpopped blisters. They supply a moist therapeutic setting by using the physique’s personal moisture and enzymes to maintain the wound hydrated, selling correct wound therapeutic. They’re designed for use by themselves, with out the necessity for additional antibiotic ointment, and you’ll preserve them on constantly for days at a time whereas your blister heals. You’ll be able to inform that the method has begun after 24 hours, when the bandage plumps up a bit after absorbing your physique’s moisture.  They’re the very best therapy for blisters I’ve ever discovered, which lets you proceed climbing whereas letting a blister heal. They’re equal to Compeed bandages, well-liked within the UK, however cheaper.

10. Professional-Tec Athletics PF Sleeve

PF SleevePF Sleeve

The Professional-Tec Athletics PF Sleeve is a compression sleeve designed for plantar fasciitis that may considerably cut back your heel ache and preserve you on the path. Overuse accidents equivalent to plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis may end up in important swelling within the foot, ankle, or decrease calf. Compression of those areas prevents fluid from accumulating in them and relieves the ache related to swelling. Compression additionally helps blood circulate from the extremities again to the center by way of the venous system, growing the circulate of contemporary oxygenated blood by way of harm websites, notably the place blood circulate is generally poor just like the Achilles tendon and foot fascia. I’ve used this PF sleeve myself. It slides over your foot and gives added help for the arch of your foot. You’ll be able to put on a climbing sock over or underneath it and nonetheless put on your favourite footwear whereas it’s at work.

See Additionally

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