30 replies to this topic

[geebus]

karlpowell, on 05 June 2011 - 09:11 AM, said:

thanks for the replys folks , the main Issue I have is the width of my feet tends to make my toes squash together causing dry sky to rub and blisters then form

I have quite wide feet too - I just tend to be pretty particular about what shoes I buy - so will try on quite a lot before I settle on ones with a decent fit.
I do find that generally walking and army boots tend to be a bit squarer.  Some places will have some basic with options too.

[James Bolivar]

Staggers, on 05 June 2011 - 11:03 AM, said:

You need to have properly fitted boots. Its amazing how many people don't understand their foot type/shape and how different manufacturers all have different boot shapes. Some will not got along with certain feet at all whilst some will be perfect. Often footwear brands are consistent across all their styles. In terms of walking boots Meindl area German brand which have particularly wide fitting. If you went to a proper 'outdoors' shop they should be able to offer you a proper fitting by a trained boot fitter. Though Meindl boots are much more expensive than the others quoted here they are superb, high quality boots and as others have said look after your feet and they will look after you.

I'd second the praise for Meindl, but, BUT, they are proper walking boots/shoes/sandals and come with an appropriate price tag. My new Meindl Magics (basically ugly trainers) were over £100! Fantastic, but overkill for strolling round a field for a couple of days. Brasher are cheaper and well loved, though they tend to be favoured by older walkers. Karrimor used to be OK(ish), but now they are owned by Sports Direct the quality might have slipped (plummeted) a bit; though I've not tried the new KSBs personally.

If you have good walking boots use them, but I couldn't recommend spending £150 when most of their advantages of good boots are pretty useless at a festival; they are stiff and clumpy for a reason. Just get good fitting, comfy shoes and you'll be fine. As for insoles, Sorbathane are the best I've tried - a special gel than absorbs impact better than anything else. Not as cheap as bits of foam from Boots, but they really work.

As for sock, lots of people have suggested two pairs. It used to be standard advice for serious hikers too, but the jury is out on that now. If you do want to try this use liner socks,  they are very thin, slippy socks that help move sweat from your feet. Liner socks are available from outdoors shops and are quite cheap.

[pondlife]

I have to agree regarding the sorbothane insoles. No matter what quality boots I buy I always change the insole. My walking boots have sorbothane double strike insoles fitted and I regularly cover 15 to 20 miles in total comfort.

http://www.sorbothan...p/produits.html

Some good deals on fleabay.

[orbiter]

I have massive problems with rubbing boots.  But I recently found some brasher soft leather boots that fit me like a glove, what i found i needed to do was buy smaller boots than i was used to.  i always buy trainers probably size too big because i like them roomy, but the boots needed to be a snug fit.

as for glastonbury i'm usually a sandals/trainers/wellies man.  this year, i've bought some crocs.  i know they fugly as hell, but i fully expect massive comfort!  I also got some of those short, light wellies from decathlon for a tenner.  much lighter and easier to get on and off than my trusty old dunlops.

EDIT: oh, and for blisters i recommend either putting gaffer tape over your heels or that compeed blister stick or vaseline over the rubbed areas.  and compeed plasters too.

Edited by orbiter, 05 June 2011 - 01:36 PM.

[pie_and_a_pint]

Apply Compeed to places you think you might get blisters. Don't leave it until the shoes start to rub. Apparently (and I have no experience to back this up) Vaseline is a suitable emergency (and cheaper) alternative to Compeed, but I guess you'd need to reapply frequently which might not be practical.

[Aliandsas]

I do a bit of walking and can recommend zinc oxide tape taped on the areas where you're likely to get blisters. Mkae sure it is actual zinc oxide tape though, not just fabric strapping tape. You should be able to get it at a decent chemists.

[4AssedMonkey]

Staggers, on 05 June 2011 - 11:03 AM, said:

You need to have properly fitted boots. Its amazing how many people don't understand their foot type/shape and how different manufacturers all have different boot shapes. Some will not got along with certain feet at all whilst some will be perfect. Often footwear brands are consistent across all their styles. In terms of walking boots Meindl area German brand which have particularly wide fitting. If you went to a proper 'outdoors' shop they should be able to offer you a proper fitting by a trained boot fitter. Though Meindl boots are much more expensive than the others quoted here they are superb, high quality boots and as others have said look after your feet and they will look after you.

From what you've said the blisters are probably from your toes being squashed together in a too narrow shoe.  As such, this the best advice on here.  I also have wide feet so go to proper running shops for my running trainers and proper hike shops for walking boots and shoes.  In my experience, Hi-Tec and Saloman brands tend to fit my Hobbit feet and aren't ludicrously expensive.  If you are going to stick with the current boots, try them with the thinnest sock you have to free up some space and loosen the laces a little.

2 pairs of thin socks will help better than 1 pair of thick ones if you have the room in the shoe.  I get blisters from squash and football but 2 pairs of socks and a bit of talc prevents it well.

Avoid blister plasters or any strapping as this just adds friction and hot spots so can be counter productive.  Insoles (like sorbothane) are good for comfort but in your case I'd again avoid as adding an insole will just make the inside of the shoe smaller, again crushing your toes together.

[mrfunk]

Had a similar problem,as I have wide feet,

you can get your boots "stretched" at a decent coblers, they use special shoe trees with nodules on, just to stretch in toe area etc. like this

[LittlemissC]

Don't usually have any probs with my feet, but today I've just bought a pair of new walking shoes so to make sure all is good I'm going to wear them from now on constantly to bed them in.

Always get well rub though damn hurts too

[LusciousLucy]

Not sure if I have got heel spurs or just very very painful heels.

Following working 2 contracts recently, both of which had me on my feet for between 12-16 hours a day with little to no rest, the shooting pains I now have in both feet are like the sensation of having nails hammered in them. I do partly have myself to blame because of the footwear I wore but this is not fun at all.

On top of that, I have a blister on my left ankle pre G and all the walking boot wearing action! I am not looking forward to the forthcoming added pain I will be inflicting on myself but now have a plethora of goodies to try and keep my feet as painless/comforted as possible:

shooting stick to use as a walking stick and seat, Lekki stick as back up walking stick, new gel insoles, heel spur cushions, minty leg and foot rub, camomile and witchhazel foot lotion, exfoliation gloves, Ped Egg and plasters galore. Dont be too alarmed by the cries and moans of both pain and pleasure coming from my tent if you happen to be walking past. I may even purchase a washing up bowl in G Town pre fest to do foot spas and I'll definitely be seeking out a foot masseuse at some point.

I managed to buy some perfect fitting galoshes to wear over my Merrells at a carboot sale today so that is an added bonus (and money saved as I was going to buy some at the G for 5 times the price), I call them Trellies™.

The thought of having to be upright for 16+ hours a day with gig watching plus not being able to sit properly cos of the mud plus dancing into the night does have a fair old level of apprehension.

Heyho.

[markeee]

im gonna go jjb sports tomorrow get some football socks for wellies..just in case it does rain!

apparently shorts and wellies are a problem unless you wear long socks

i guessjust causes sore feet/blisters or something? and i guess rain gets in which is a prob

Edited by markeee, 20 June 2011 - 01:49 AM.