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Started By
Message
Hunting Boots? Guys who get blisters on heels how to & what boot?
Posted on 9/30/24 at 5:48 pm
Posted on 9/30/24 at 5:48 pm
I have been trying several of my better broken-in boots on and something in my feet has changed. Every boot is threatening to give me or has given me heel blisters.
I am about two weeks from an elk hunting trip in Colorado and now am struggling to figure out what boot to wear. I have a pair of Irish Setters with over 150 miles on them in the mountains now giving me blisters. I have a pair of Rocky's that are newer (probably 20 miles on them total) and yesterday they gave me a hell of a blister on one heel and a small blister on another just walking a few miles in them. I have a pair of Kenetreks that are pretty new and they want to blister my heel as well.
I have only had blister issues one time and it was because I didn't break my boots in and went about 5,000 vertical feet and 12 miles in a pair of boots out of the gate. That was a couple of years ago, now I am just wondering if there are any boots out there for my feet.
Suggestions? I know it is a bit late.
I am about two weeks from an elk hunting trip in Colorado and now am struggling to figure out what boot to wear. I have a pair of Irish Setters with over 150 miles on them in the mountains now giving me blisters. I have a pair of Rocky's that are newer (probably 20 miles on them total) and yesterday they gave me a hell of a blister on one heel and a small blister on another just walking a few miles in them. I have a pair of Kenetreks that are pretty new and they want to blister my heel as well.
I have only had blister issues one time and it was because I didn't break my boots in and went about 5,000 vertical feet and 12 miles in a pair of boots out of the gate. That was a couple of years ago, now I am just wondering if there are any boots out there for my feet.
Suggestions? I know it is a bit late.
12
Posted on 9/30/24 at 5:57 pm to Mid Iowa Tiger
Did you gain or lose a lot of weight recently?
Posted on 9/30/24 at 6:02 pm to Mid Iowa Tiger
Darn tough socks and Moleskin is the only combo I’ve found that works…. I’m flat footed so I have real issues with finding the perfect boot. I gave up on that and went with this combo and haven’t looked back. Med tape works too but I hate taping my feet all the way around.
Posted on 9/30/24 at 7:12 pm to Mid Iowa Tiger
quote:
a pair of Irish Setters with over 150 miles on them in the mountains now giving me blisters. I have a pair of Rocky's that are newer (probably 20 miles on them total) and yesterday they gave me a hell of a blister on one heel and a small blister on another just walking a few miles in them. I have a pair of Kenetreks that are pretty new and they want to blister my heel as well.
Are you locking the laces? Most of your better boots will have a lace lock d-ring mid foot to hold the foot/heel tight in. What I do in conjunction with that is to double overhand lace after that heel lock then keep lacing your speed laces then tie the boot.
Keenetrek should have a good heel lock.
Posted on 9/30/24 at 7:18 pm to TexasHand
quote:
Moleskin
Add newskin as well. It says not to put on open wounds, but we used the crap out of it in sports for blisters. Burns like hell, but did the job.
Posted on 9/30/24 at 7:38 pm to Mid Iowa Tiger
How much weight will you have on your back for the elk hunt? Softer boots are much easier on the feet but harder on the ankles if you are side hilling or hauling weight in uneven terrain. I used some softer inov8 345s this year instead of my crispis because of that.
This post was edited on 9/30/24 at 7:40 pm
Posted on 9/30/24 at 8:21 pm to Ol boy
I have a pretty tight lace in the middle where the ankle holds.
To answer the other questions - no I haven't really changed my weight.
My pack will be around 25 pounds unless I shoot an elk, then I will have a quarter on it at a time.
Moleskin may have to be the answer as well. I just can't believe how "soft" my heels have gotten. The old post 'nam jump boots I wore in the service were the shittiest thing the government could throw at us and I didn't get blisters.
To answer the other questions - no I haven't really changed my weight.
My pack will be around 25 pounds unless I shoot an elk, then I will have a quarter on it at a time.
Moleskin may have to be the answer as well. I just can't believe how "soft" my heels have gotten. The old post 'nam jump boots I wore in the service were the shittiest thing the government could throw at us and I didn't get blisters.
Posted on 9/30/24 at 8:30 pm to Mid Iowa Tiger
You could try a few different kinds of socks and see if a certain cushion level fixes it, also maybe some different insoles, I have some older discontinued superfeet insoles and the hike cushions are pretty well reviewed. If I know I’m going to have a hot spot, I always put leukotape on before I start. Outside of that, I could only recommend to try different boots or lighter more breathable boots that’ll be more forgiving on fit than a real mountain boot.
Posted on 9/30/24 at 8:51 pm to Mid Iowa Tiger
Good wool socks helps. A thin dress sock under wool socks would likely fix it assuming you can fit all that in the boot. Callouses help the most.
This late in the game it's gonna be tough to do anything. I start putting tuff foot on my feet about 2 months before the elk hunt.
This late in the game it's gonna be tough to do anything. I start putting tuff foot on my feet about 2 months before the elk hunt.
Posted on 9/30/24 at 9:08 pm to Mid Iowa Tiger
Irish setters are heavy as hell.
Get some new boots that are much lighter.
Mole skin and some good wool socks should do the trick.
My buddy has had plenty of issues with heal blisters. He had Irish setters first then some other boot with wire laces that were terrible. Got some Salomon boots and moleskin and hasn’t had issues the last two years elk hunting in Colorado.
I have the Salomon ones as well and they are 100 times better than the Irish setters, which I had my first few years elk hunting.
Socks can make a big difference. I took out my boots to do some hikes about 3 weeks before I went on my trip this year in early September. Wore regular socks and got blisters after walking 3 miles with my pack the first time. Let the blisters heal and went again a week later with my first lite mid weight socks and no blisters.
Get some new boots that are much lighter.
Mole skin and some good wool socks should do the trick.
My buddy has had plenty of issues with heal blisters. He had Irish setters first then some other boot with wire laces that were terrible. Got some Salomon boots and moleskin and hasn’t had issues the last two years elk hunting in Colorado.
I have the Salomon ones as well and they are 100 times better than the Irish setters, which I had my first few years elk hunting.
Socks can make a big difference. I took out my boots to do some hikes about 3 weeks before I went on my trip this year in early September. Wore regular socks and got blisters after walking 3 miles with my pack the first time. Let the blisters heal and went again a week later with my first lite mid weight socks and no blisters.
This post was edited on 9/30/24 at 9:11 pm
Posted on 9/30/24 at 9:15 pm to Mid Iowa Tiger
Had the same issues with my snake boots. I would put a big bandaid over my heels every morning until they were broken in. Get a name brand bandaid, waterproof type seem to stay on better. Roll your socks over them, don’t try and pull them over.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 6:26 am to Mid Iowa Tiger
You need a pair of Crispis. No break in required.
Duck tape on heel, as needed.
Burn Irish setters.
Duck tape on heel, as needed.
Burn Irish setters.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 7:01 am to Mid Iowa Tiger
Russell moccasin. You're welcome
Posted on 10/1/24 at 7:27 am to Mid Iowa Tiger
Have you tried sock liners? You don't have to do the old but off pair of panty hose anymore, they have some nice polypropylene liners (even ones that fit individual toes if your hotspots are on the toes.
They seem to work well enough for a lot of folks. Use some gold bond powder or spray, put on the sock liner and ensure it's not loose or bunching and put a good wool sock over it. Helps wick moisture and reduce friction
They seem to work well enough for a lot of folks. Use some gold bond powder or spray, put on the sock liner and ensure it's not loose or bunching and put a good wool sock over it. Helps wick moisture and reduce friction
Posted on 10/1/24 at 1:43 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
Good wool socks helps. A thin dress sock under wool socks would likely fix it assuming you can fit all that in the boot.
^^This
I've backpacked thousands of miles. I can attest to wool socks with a thin dress sock liner.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 1:47 pm to Mid Iowa Tiger
My kid got some socks with rubber grip on the bottom to help with cleats that were giving blisters. Appear to work well.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 5:17 pm to eatpie
quote:
I can attest to wool socks with a thin dress sock liner.
I can too but if you can’t lock your foot into the boot without wiggle then it won’t matter. Which I also know about.
OP sounds like his feet have changed so much it may not matter.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 5:19 pm to 257WBY
quote:
Duck tape on heel, as needed.
I start every major hike with duct tape around my heels. I hardly get blisters but I don’t want to worry about it and I try to mitigate it from jump.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 9:13 pm to Mid Iowa Tiger
Wool socks that fit, especially when using a liner sock.
I went to a lighter boot and rub the anti friction stick all over my feet, if I do start to get blisters, I use that cushioned foam tape you can buy right next to the moleskin.
I went to a lighter boot and rub the anti friction stick all over my feet, if I do start to get blisters, I use that cushioned foam tape you can buy right next to the moleskin.
Posted on 10/1/24 at 9:18 pm to Che Boludo
I was going to say first I hate you, always wanted to go elk hunting.
But turkey hunting I often walk 10 miles or so depending and it’s often 40 something in am and 80-90 in afternoon so I had same type issues. I started wearing those copperfit compression socks and even if I step off into a creek and or tall grass is wet etc, and I get soaked or just sweat and I am soaked, I never get those blisters anyone.
But turkey hunting I often walk 10 miles or so depending and it’s often 40 something in am and 80-90 in afternoon so I had same type issues. I started wearing those copperfit compression socks and even if I step off into a creek and or tall grass is wet etc, and I get soaked or just sweat and I am soaked, I never get those blisters anyone.
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