Boot Care and Blisters Another Boot Topic

[abmacus]

So my blisters on my heels have healed after completing the Overland in Dec and Ive finally motivated myself to put my pack away and pull my boots out of the back of the cupboard where I threw them when I got home.
Ive got a pair of Zamberlan VioxGT, cost me a fortune.
I spent near on 5 months walking in them breaking them in. Several walks in the bush a couple with heavy pack. Unfortunately day 2 on the OT I developed blisters on both heels and as time wore on, even more blisters on my blisters. Despite fixamol, strapping tape Leucoplast and electrical tape, Other than that they were very comfortable, no sore toes, tired feet etc.
I wore 2 pair of socks throughout the walk.

So the questions are:
Should I give my boots a good wash after the walk?
Being only 6 months old should I get some Sno Seal or other boot treatment into them? (My feet didnt get wet at all during the walk) Ive been to the Zamberlan website and their isnt any info there.
What can I do to avoid getting blisters on my heels again ?
How do I get the heels moulded to suit my heels? Would soaking them in water and wearing them until dry help to mould the heels correctly to my foot

I look forward to any advice?

[rogo]

Should I give my boots a good wash after the walk?

What can I do to avoid getting blisters on my heels again ?
How do I get the heels moulded to suit my heels? Would soaking them in water and wearing them until dry help to mould the heels correctly to my foot

I look forward to any advice?

I have odd shaped feet and nothing prevents me from getting blisters, I found the best shoe for me in every way but blisters. Such is life.

So now I pre tape my feet where I know I will blister. I use strapping tape which stays on like glue and so far this is the only solution for me. Can't comment on wetting the boot but crossing rivers and walking in water until my boots were soaked has never helped mould to my feet.

[Azza]

In my opinion its just the nature of the overland..
The track is very hardened underfoot, I don't usually get blisters - only when I walk the overland track.

To avoid heel blisters I get strapping tape and cover my heel and any other likely spots before starting the walk.
I use the really sticky stuff that doesn't come off easy, probably not good for the skin but does the job.

[ollster]

To avoid heel blisters I get strapping tape and cover my heel and any other likely spots before starting the walk.
I use the really sticky stuff that doesn't come off easy, probably not good for the skin but does the job.

Handy hint - remember to shave your foot and ankle before going!

[ULWalkingPhil]

I own two pairs of Zamberlands and suffer from the same problems, blisters on my heels. Particularly in warmer climates. I'm contemplating on just going back to sand shoes

[Penguin]

The worst boots are the ones that give me blisters on the heel and the best boots are the ones that don't. Often these are the same, it just take three to six months of track work to wear them in. With Scarpas I have used a hairdryer from the inside on the hard bit on the heel just before I go for a walk and this seems to help in the reshaping of the boot to my heel. I do not know if the Zimbies are built the same.

Because I get rubbing on the heel the tape often rubs loose and then sticks to the sock. Or sticks to that piece of skin so the whole lot comes off when you remove the tape.

abmacus - I fear your only solution is to keep trying. Get the boot fully wet - wet newspaper for a day with make the leather wet through. Or you could try the hair dryer.

P

[Strider]

Being only 6 months old should I get some Sno Seal or other boot treatment into them?

Yes!

IMO this should have been done before you even started wearing them as it would help soften the leather to assist the break-in process.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Being only 6 months old should I get some Sno Seal or other boot treatment into them?

Yes!

IMO this should have been done before you even started wearing them as it would help soften the leather to assist the break-in process.

agreed. and then done after every single walk once they have dried out enough. it stops the leather cracking

[Penguin]

Being only 6 months old should I get some Sno Seal or other boot treatment into them?

Yes!

IMO this should have been done before you even started wearing them as it would help soften the leather to assist the break-in process.

I have found that the leather treatment is good to help break in the front of the boot and to preserve the leather, but has not been as useful on the hardened cup around the heel.

[abmacus]

So is the sno Seal the go?
I hadnt put anything on them as I was told by the MT Designs guy that it wasnt needed as it would effect the usefulness of the Gortex.
Ive seen how amazing the Sno Seal is, we slopped it onto my sons 2 year old HI Techs which have been hammered in bush solidly during that time. Not a spot of moisture (aside from some sweat) in his boots and he stepped into every puddle and mud hole on the track. We even squeezed it into some spots where the sole was separating from his upper.
I did read somewhere about using HYDROBLOC PROOFING CREAM. There isnt any of this around Bunbury where I live so would sno seal be a suitable treatment?

Cheers

[wayno]

every pair of gore tex boots i've had have eventually leaked, one pair came apart and i could see the gore tex had torn all over the place and was full of gaping holes, it had tricot on each size but it wasnt enough to stop the damage

[Strider]

So is the sno Seal the go?
I hadnt put anything on them as I was told by the MT Designs guy that it wasnt needed as it would effect the usefulness of the Gortex.
Ive seen how amazing the Sno Seal is, we slopped it onto my sons 2 year old HI Techs which have been hammered in bush solidly during that time. Not a spot of moisture (aside from some sweat) in his boots and he stepped into every puddle and mud hole on the track. We even squeezed it into some spots where the sole was separating from his upper.
I did read somewhere about using HYDROBLOC PROOFING CREAM. There isnt any of this around Bunbury where I live so would sno seal be a suitable treatment?

Cheers

While that's probably true about the effectiveness of the GTX, after a while the GTX performance will die rapidly anyway so you might as well have well cared for and properly performing leather!

Hydrobloc proofing cream is what Zamberlan recommend but I use Sno Seal on my Zamberlans

[Wetsox]

I have had my share of heel blisters. These things have worked over the years:
1. Try removing or replacing the boot inner sole. It may be positioning your heel at just the wrong elevation to create friction. My daughter found that removing the inner solved her problem and it has worked for me also, but then I use orthotics.
2. Put heel tape on as soon as you start to feel a sensitive spot or hot spot on your heel. Don't wait until the next camp site or lunch spot, do it now. Tell you buddies to walk on and you will catch them up. Take as long as you need and get it right.
3. When applying tape, place one strip horizontally around the heel and another slightly longer strip vertically over the top. The second strip protects the edge of the first layer to prevent it rolling up with the up/down movement of the foot. You may have to replace the vertical element after each day, but leave the horizontal in place if it remains stuck.
4. If you know in advance that blisters are going to be a problem, apply the tape at home the night before you leave after you have had a shower to remove body oils etc from your skin. I used to do that with XC ski boots. The tape seems to stay stuck for longer when applied to clean skin.

[waggy]

Hey there, have you tried the boots in just one pair of socks. Its funny as i did the OT with a mate who's boots were killing him. He had two pairs of socks on, then on the last friggen day, after complaining the whole way, he took a pair off and was all good.
Dont promise results, but give her a go.

[Strider]

Also, what kind of socks are you wearing?

[quicky]

...trail runners.

[Scottyk]

Start off a walk with the boots as tight as you can get them, I mean until it nearly hurts. The after 1/2 and hour stop and tighten them again.
Heal blisters are generally the boot moving on the skin area of your heal up and down so the tighter the better as it stops this movement.
And strap before you leave the car. If you feel any hot spots, stop and strap again.
thats about the only tips I have
Scotty

[Picaro]

Some time ago I had a doc with different lacing methods to help with various issues, but I cant find it now.
Try googling "lacing to prevent heel slippage" or such.