Arguably the number one enemy of walkers everywhere, the common or
garden blister stalks the outside with predatory intent, striking
down those with ill-fitting boots, gnarly matted socks or simply
sweaty, softened feet.
The best solution is, obviously, cool, dry feet, good quality
socks and well-fitting, breathable boots with no hot-spots. Sometimes
though, even that's not enough, which is why Compeed has come up with
the Anti-Blister Stick. The brand's best known for its second skin
blister plaster system, so the new product's a logical extension.
Looking like a miniature anti-perspirant stick, you simply smooth
the vegetable oil based ointment over blister prone areas of your
delicate footsies and go walk. The prinicple seems to be the same as
that used by runners when they smear vaseline on their feet, but the
Compeed stuff is a little less greasy and smell quite pleasant into
the bargain.
By reducing friction, it should lessen the tendency to blister
and, according to Compeed, in tests involving 200 guinea pigs - human
ones as real guinea pigs don't blister - it stopped blisters and
chaffing in nine out of ten people.
As the boot-hardened OM test feet aren't really blister prone,
it's hard for us to say whether it works, but there's a definite
lessening of friction without any obtrusive mess or greasiness, so it
has to be worth a try. The stick applicator also means you don't get
vaseline all over your fingers which is always nasty if you're off
scrambling or climbing.
Available from shops at a cost of around four quid, which seems an
awful lot for quite a small 10-gramme stick though maybe the multiple chemicals listed as ingredients make it cleverer than simple Vaseline ... Maybe you could use
it as lip salve as well?
