We Help With Beckham's Blisters...

Oooh, those poor footballers with their blisters - Beckham, apparently, Campbell and most of the Italian team too, if you believe the sports pages.

Well, it's that time of year when blisters become a problem for walkers as well, so we thought we'd put together some advice for Beckham and Co should they log onto OM, as they no doubt often do...

Heat is a serious problem, since in hot conditions, feet can produce half a pint of sweat in a day. This is a bad thing since when wet, skin swells to over twice its normal thickness and loses both elasticity and tear strength, so at a stroke, your boots can become overtight and your skin more prone to destruction - a kind of double whammy for the footsies.

Boot Fit is also crucial. You need boots that have no tight spots where they can rub painfully. Just as importantly, you need to try and buy in the afternoon, since your feet swell up over the course of the day and a morning-bought boot can be too tight by the afternoon,

Socks It's crucial to wear a sock that wicks and protects. Look for fabrics like CoolMax that are designed to transport moisture away from the foot and avoid cotton, which will trap moisture close to the skin and soften it. Traditionally walkers used lining socks, but that shouldn't be necessary with modern boots and sock design. Good socks will have additional padding over pressure-prone areas like heels, instep and the ball of the foot.

Boot Liners Our advice is to avoid waterproof / breathable liners in hot conditions, they simply can't cope with foot moisture output and tend to stop the water getting out. You're better with a leather boot lined with a wicking material like Cambrelle or even a mesh constructed, unlined, fabric boot for maximum breathability.

Surfaces Hard surfaces, like well-baked football pitches, are tougher on the feet. If you're going to be walking a lot on roads, say, look for a very cushioned, flexible sole unit, a bit like a running shoe. Stiff soles encourage your foot to shift within the boot and up the chances of blistering....

Pre-Treatment Regular walking will toughen the skin up to a point, plus rubbing with surgical spirit also helps some walkers. Beware of creating a thick, hard layer of skin though, since it can simply leave you with thicker, more deeply buried blisters.

Treatment The classic treatment for a blister is to lance it with a sterilised needle, drain the fluid then give it rest and ventilation till the area dries up. Don't rip the skin away, what's underneath will be very sore.

If you can't stop, modern blister treatments like Compeed are designed to create a padded, sterile environment to help the blister heal and allow you to carry on walking. Follow the instructions carefully or they won't stick. We find an extra top-layer of zinc oxide tape helps keep them in place. Oh, and be prepared to find Compeed stuck to the inside of your expensive socks. Try nail varnish remover to get the stuff off.

Super Prevention Apparently the Royal Marines have been known to wrap zinc oxide tape round their entire feet to prevent blisters on big exercises. We wouldn't recommend this, the tape isn't very breathable, but if you're desperate, maybe desperate measures are called for.

Good Luck Against Switzerland. Fercrissakes, don't screw up again :-)