"Size matters...so get boots that fit!" --Tyler, the REI Footwear Guru
Visit any Camino website and there will be entire forums dedicated to nothing but how to treat the blisters that seem to be inevitable during the 500 mile trek. It's a weird feeling, knowing you are going to hurt, and still plan to go ahead anyway.
There are as many tips and treatments as there are pilgrims:
- Vaseline your feet every morning, before putting on socks
- Speaking of socks, wear only (fill-in-the-blank) brand
- Forget socks, just wear sandals
- Or, wear two pairs of socks
- Find Compeed ASAP (made by J&J, but only available in Europe...???) and slap it on
- Carry a threaded needle to pierce the blister, and leave the thread in, to drain the fluid
- Duct tape, baby! (As pictured above)
- Take boots off at every stop and air out your feet
- Buy a size bigger
- Quit the deliberation, already--just throw on a pair of Nikes
There are towns and villages along the entire route, where specialists wait for pilgrims with blisters and foot problems. Talk about a slam-dunk business opportunity: "If you build it, they will come..."
It had already occurred to me was that I should probably invest in some decent hiking boots. Not having oodles of experience in hiking--okay, except for huffing my way up Mt. Si in Washington and strolling the I & M Canal in Illinois--I have no hike-worthy experience. But I did know enough to make sure my boots were properly fitted by someone else. I would be distracted by the "look."
I did my research: Which brands did people love? Is waterproofing a good idea? Did the boots last through some level of training before hitting the Camino? And...what was the Blister Factor?
Feel confident in my decision, I marched into REI--you can't do anything outdoors without REI--and demanded a pair of Vascos. Tyler, the REI Footwear Specialist, smiled, sat me down, and looked me in the eye. "It doesn't work like that," he gently said. "It depends on what feels good." Not about to let my hours online go to waste, I asked about Merrells. Tyler was patient."Maybe. Let me bring out a few pairs and we'll see what feels good."
Off he went into the vast inventory that every REI store seems to have. (There will be an upcoming Blix about my love affair with REI.) He emerged with three brands, plus a wonderful "sample" sock. I felt like Goldilocks as I tried each on:
- The Vascos--classic hiking boots--were clunky on me. Heavy and unwielding. No way.
- The Merrells were better...I could probably make do. Tyler, again: "But you really don't want to 'make do' when you're walking 500 miles, now, do you?"
- Then came the Ahnus--heard of them? Me, either. They were Heaven. As soon as they were on, I knew. Lots of toe room, and lightweight. Ankle fit was perfect. Sturdy, but not stodgy.
At REI, they make you walk around...not a few steps, but a mini-hike. There is a little hill to go up and down (toes should not hit the top of the boot) and for the mile or so that you walk around the store, the ankle should not slide---that's definitely a blister waiting to happen.
"I love these!" I exclaimed. Tyler smiled once more. I wanted to take him home with me.
Instead, I brought home the Ahnu hiking boots, two pairs of SmartWool PhD socks, and a ton of knowledge, thanks to my new BFF, Tyler:
- The Vaseline is a great idea, although it adds weight to your backpack. Just buy small tubes or share a jar with other pilgrims.
- Those wonderful silk sockliners might be a good investment.
- Do NOT buy shoes a size bigger--that will make your ankle rub. Just get the shoes that feel good.
- Invest in good socks.
- Treat "hot spots" as soon as you feel them!
I wear my boots and socks every weekend, as I train. I have come to know the areas of my feet that tend to rub. I experiment with all the remedies, including duct tape. Will I get blisters? It seems so...but isn't that sort of a Badge of Honor when you walk the Camino?
Buen Camino!
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