Taking care of your feet...

[Belmont31R]

Im hoping to hear some tried and true responses to this. I get shit from my wife about how many pair of boots I have but they all serve a purpose, and they are not all created equally.



My suggestions:



1. Make sure they fit which means no excess movement between heel and boot or toes and boot. Friction causes blisters and blisters will put you on your ass.

2. Socks- SmartWool or better. Don't let socks get soaked with sweat. Change them out 1-3 times a day or as needed.

3. Buy boots to fit your natural sweatiness. I have run into issues with using "too much" boot, my feet sweat, and then freeze. If your feet run hot like mine do sometimes a thinner boot will actually keep your feet warmer than something that causes you to sweat them out.

4. Movement is key. If you are going to be sitting for long periods of time don't sit there with cinched down laces. Let the blood flow and circulate.

5. Have two pair of boots that will serve the same function, and let one pair air out while you wear the other. When its cold out that moisture trapped in your boots from the day before will cool off, and make those piggies cold. In fact let one pair rest a day by pulling the insole out and letting it air dry.



Add your own...

[Thomas M-4]

Good quality & good fitted boots.
Don't think I can add any thing to your list.
Having just started a new job last month I had to buy new working boots after tearing up my feet with with a cheap par of shoes.
The wife went bat shit crazy after I spent $260 for a pair of redwing's which I told her was less than what I spent on the last pair in 96' which I remember then was about $300.

[sjc3081]

http://www.peetshoedryer.com/products.html
I have used for years every nite boots go on drier in the morning inside of boots perfectly dry. I cant recommend them enough.

[Heavy Metal]

Foot powder is your friend. Will absorb sweat and help keep your feet dryer longer.

[SeriousStudent]

I would also add liner socks to the list. A good set of thin polypropylene socks helps eliminate the friction blisters that Belmont mentioned. REI makes some nice ones for a very good price.

And check your feet often, even while on the move. When I was a squad leader, it was something my company enforced, and I could not agree more. The chance to fix problems before they became disabling was very important.

Also, keep your toenails trimmed properly. It's amazing how many people hack them up too short, so that ingrown toenails occur. Trim them straight across.

Those Peet shoe dryers work great - I have one and it's excellent.

And once you find a good pair of boots, keep them and have them resoled. An advantage of the Danners and others, is that they can be resoled. many cheaper brands cannot. That can greatly extend the life of a boot, and reduce the effective cost.

Can your wife/spouse/girlfriend/ball and chain resole her fancy high heels? I bet not. But be careful using that arguement. Logic and footwear rarely coexist.

[Smash]

Don't be afraid to spend money on socks. People will try to skimp on what they pay for socks but 12-15 dollars for a pair isn't too expensive for what they provide in saving you feet. The injinji toe socks inside of a good boot sock add some friction protection as well. May not be everyone's cup of tea but works for me.

[warpigM-4]

very good Points Belmont .
I had to explain to my wife of why I have so many pairs of boots and rotate them .you have to take care of your feet!!!
I have seen many guys get to the point of not being able to walk because of blisters .
and I also have to agree 100% buy some good socks .get socks designed for the task at hand sometimes the wally world deals are not going to cut it for serious on your feet type guys

[d90king]

Good points Brother! The best thing since sliced bread that I have found as far as foot gear goes are the Salomon XA 3D Ultra GTX's. I had several SME's recommend them and once I was able to try them on I was sold. Vast improvement over my North Face and Merrils which i thought were good, but ended up pailing in comparison to the Salomons.

I bought both the mids and low cuts and they are miracle workers especially with my bad back.

Breathable socks are also vital.

[BCmJUnKie]

Carry a roll of athletic tape.

I cant even count how many times this has saved my ass.

You get it at wallgreens for about 3 bucks.

If you feel anything starting, rip a short piece to cover the sore spot, then a longer piece to go over the original piece.

I have used this while roofing...in Fla...in august.

Its water proof and it doesnt come off.

[Irish]

Can your wife/spouse/girlfriend/ball and chain resole her fancy high heels? I bet not. But be careful using that arguement. Logic and footwear rarely coexist.

I agree with everything you said with the exception of this... Having a wife who wears fancy footwear I can tell you that they absolutely can have them resoled and I'm happy to pay for it rather than buying her a new pair. Whether they have a good cobbler in their city who can do the job properly is another thing but they can always mail them off as well.

EDIT: I've had great success with Smartwool socks and would definitely recommend them. REI frequently has sales on them and several other popular brands.