 Did a 30-miler in the heat on saturday and about 20 miles in my feet started to develop some meaty blisters, and strangley they seemed to be all sorts of unusual areas (of my feet!)
I was wearing well worn-in boots and my normal socks (liner & outer) which don't usually prove a problem. I'd come to the conclusion that it must have been due to sweaty feet (boots are fabric but Goretex lined). Other than purchasing another pair of boots, does anyone have any tricks that they swear by to prevent the pain I'm suffering today?
Thanks
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 you can buy compeed sticks, sort of like a lip balm stick which you apply to your feet to recuce the chnaces of blisters
i havent used it yet but it does smell nice
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 Sounds like your feet swelled a little in the heat, not helped by lined boots. That'd be enough to blister. Try thinner socks, smartwool light are good or 1000 mile to go even thinner. Carry some moleskin plasters to stick on hotspots as they develop.
On a walk of that length, you should also be taking off your boots and socks frequently to let them air.
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Thanks guys. Feet may have swollen (probably did!) but based on the comfort of the boot I don't think that was the direct problem. Using some smartwool socks instead of the 2 bridgedales sounds interesting. Anyone else got any thoughts on this?
I would have loved to take my boots off, but that would have meant stopping! And there always seem to be two schools of thought on this - some people swear on not taking there boots off during a walk as their feet swell and it makes getting the boot comfy again tricky. Again, any thought would be welcome.
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CT, the walking guru, says to take off your boots & socks regularly. I find it makes a big difference.
Stick 'em in a stream on a hot day and if you are stopping for a while, enjoy the view by lying back and putting your feet on your pack or a rock so they are higher than your knees . This will reduce blood pooling.
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 Same thing happened to me - wearing my faithful SLs due to rocky terrain; I walked 9 Km on Sunday in great heat and ended up stopping to sort out eight blisters....
They are NOT Gore-Tex lined boots...
What is the answer?
Would I get twisted ankles if I wore my non-G-T approach shoes in summer? I have lightweight boots but they have G-T liners and make my skin into mush when it's hot. Thinner socks would make my boots loose and they'd slide round leading to...blisters.
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BTW I was wearing Smartwool socks and stopped to cool off in a ghyll.
Same result as CCD
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 Is there such a thing as prevention..?
Before and after every walk (20 miles per week.) i check my feet for damage (calluses etc)i also take and use on route Tea Tree footbalm..
As for foot wear, it's Scarpa Ranger GTX leather boots with smartwool Hikers and bridedale liner socks that lot sees me through anything...
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Ecco, bought the latest version of CT's backpacking bible on Sunday. I'll have a read of the guru's advice tonight.
JJ, I'll think of you when I'm hobbling round. I'm actually wishing I wore my Mantas - I'd happily take the tired legs instead of the blisters! And I think I've found your problem - you need to take your socks off before paddling in the ghyll.
I did spend an hour in Cotswolds on Sunday morning considering some mesh-based trail shoes, but none of them seem to have enough bite in the soles for edging and scrambling. :(
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I still think it's heat related, foot swelling. SL's are unlined but are about the heaviest full on leather walking boot thereis . Many consider them winter boots. There's no easy answer, probably experimenting with unlined fabric boots for good weather (pair of sealskinz in the pack just in case) would yield the best results.
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Yeah, Ecco, but I wore them cos I was on rocky terrain and I'm used to their weight. (dead 'ard, me lol)
I KNOW it's heat related as they have been fine for years. I am seriously considering unlined fabric booties but - at more expense I can't afford!!!!!
CCD - very funny - not.
;oPPPP
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 Unless you suffer from chronically weak ankles, i'd go for unlined shoes unless the terrain is extreme. High cut boots don't actually offer that much support, it's more about the strength of your ankles themsleves, and your balance and control will be better without carrying 2 kilos on your feet anyway
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I occasionally get blisters on my right heel in my 16 year old leather Zamberlans, especially if doing steep assents.
Did the three peaks of yorkshire on Saturday and wore 1000 mile socks under some brasher 2X2's. No problems at all after 25 miles in twenty odd degree heat.
Using an approach shoe would not have been a good idea coming off Pen-y-ghent through all that bog.
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 When I've had blisters it's usually a combination of hard ground (eg forest tracks) and sweaty feet. The sweat seems to be what really does for you.
On Sat (15 miles in 29 to 30 C here in the SE, hard paths) I decided to take my boots off at every stop and it seemed to help: feet a bit sore but no blisters and not wet with sweat.
I've experimented with blister plasters and to me they seemed useless (Scholl). The old boy scout trick of lancing them, squeezing out the liquid and covering with a plaster seems far more effective.
(Sorry if anyone was eating...)
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 I've heard it said that you should leave a blister for 24 hours before bursting it. This is supposed to allow the water do it's magic by protecting the damaged area. Premature bursting can lead to infection.
Could any medics out there advise?
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I was in a rush to get back for Dr Who so stopping except for momentary breathers wasnt an option...
I have to keep popping one of mine that didn't burst and get rubbed away on the day; cos it's in such a horrible position underneath the centre of my heel that I can't put my foot down otherwise....
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It is just possible that your feet have changed shape. Two or three years ago my (previously very comfortable) boots suddenly became uncomfortable and caused blisters. I think my feet had changed shape. Retail therapy provided the cure!
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 I was out on Sunday for a search and out in +30c my feet were pretty comfortable using my tried and tested combination of 2 pairs of smartwool sock and my Scarpa Ranger boots. OK, after 5 hours I was shattered and when I took my boots off and let them dry the insoles were coated in dried sweat.
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 I too had surprise blisters last Saturday and I thought it must have been to do with the heat. I was wearing new boots and I did walk a fairly long way. But, I'd worn these boots once before for 5 hours without much discomfort. These are the first goretex lined boots I've ever had and I wondered if it was the goretex that caused it. It couldn't really have been the length of the walk because the blistering started after just an hour and a half. It was extremely hot though, so I guess I'll just put it down to that and hope that the boots will be OK next time. Otherwise, that's £130 down the drain! I haven't had to put plasters on my feet for years so was quite peeved.
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John - I wear the boots week in week out - unless my feet have changed shape in a week...
;o)
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