Boots and Socks

menu_book picture_as_pdf book Terry Cornall Bushcraft Gear Australia

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Examples of wider and narrower toe-boxes. The bottom-most shoe is the Salomon Supercross that I mention as being rather narrow.

Boots and Socks

Text and photosTerry Cornall

This is a part 2 of the series. As in part 1, I give lots of links to gear in this article. All of it is unsponsored and all of it is stuff I've either purchased or considered purchasing. You should be able to tell from context. Any recommendations (or damnations) I make should be considered in the lights of your own needs and not taken as gospel.

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Me poor toesies

Boots. Sigh, I always have this dilemma. Take an old pair (Merrel Moab Ventilators) that are well worn-in but maybe not as good as they might be, or go find a new pair that might be better/roomier/softer/more supportive (or which might turn out to be a nightmare)? I pondered on this until it was too late, and I ran out of time to break a new pair in, so that made my decision for me. I did hedge my bets by including a pair of good, grippy running shoes in the drop barrels in case the boots I started with proved inadequate. The Moabs are a low-cut hiking shoe, fairly light, don't even pretend to be waterproof (hence the Ventilator name, though don't be fooled, I've found boots called 'breeze' and 'vents' that still have those damned Goretex bags inside them) and fit me about as well as any boot I've bought. Not perfectly because I have wide feet, but not bad, I thought. The drawback is that maybe they could have been a bit more cushioned or supportive, and maybe I could have laced them up so they didn't slide around so much. (But then they would have put more side pressure on the little toes). In the end, my feet got pretty badly blistered, with pressure blisters under the ball of my foot, and rubbing

blisters on little toes and heels, and 'toe-jamming' blisters on the ends of all my toes. I even got blisters between my big and second toes where the ball blisters expanded. By midway I was in absolute agony with the first steps I took after resting for a while. The only fortunate thing was that after about a hundred meters or so of walking, the pain from the pressures in the ball blisters settled down, and I could walk without hobbling. I had to watch out about stepping on pointy rocks, though. That really hurt. Blister-draining where I could and applying tape and Compeed hydrogel bandages helped, though the Compeed didn't take well to getting wet and decided to stick to my socks. As I was wearing Injinji toe socks, that meant that every toe was stuck inside its respective little pocket. And getting each bandaged toe back into its pocket when putting the socks on was entertaining, too. Maybe the toesocks were a bad idea... Anyway, by the end of the trip, my feet had hardened up, and I was ready to go... Ooops, too late. Maybe next time I'll hit myself on the feet with a cricket bat a few thousand times to get them ready BEFORE the hike. Apparently running 30 km a week on offroad trails isn't enough preparation for hiking. Who knew? (I should have, this wasn't my first rodeo.).

Deciding which shoes to keep at half-way point

Should I have laboriously changed between boots and gaiters to sandals at every one of the hundreds of river crossings...

Manufacturers are slowly beginning to take notice of the fact that not everyone has a narrow foot that comes to a point above the second toe.

How much of this pain was due to me being a tenderfoot? How much due to the boots? How much was due to spending hours with soggy feet and boots, caused by river crossings and being forced to wade up the Moroka River because the paths on the banks were choked with blackberries or just non-existent? Should I have laboriously changed between boots and gaiters to sandals at every one of the hundreds of river crossings and then back again when I went into the snake-laden bush? We saw three red-bellied blacks, but who knows how many we didn't see. Dunno. I do know that Gordon had fewer feet issues (but he is a tough old bird), and he did wear sandals a lot of the time.

I changed out of the Moabs into the runners at midway, which might have helped. Things got better, but was that the shoes improving or just my feet toughening up? I did get new toe-jamming blisters from that point on, and maybe the runners could be blamed for that... I did manage to stop the heel blisters developing further by trimming the insoles at the back and possibly reduced the pressure on the little toes by cutting slits into the shoes' uppers to get a few more millimeters of width. (Fortunately, the mesh continued under the uppers, so it kept out rubbish). In conclusion, the only message I can give here about boots is the obvious one. Make sure they will work for you before you go. Don't rely on short trips with no pack to test them, either. Just because they are good for a day hike doesn't mean much in this context.

Bigfoot

I complain about the shape of boots a lot, because I have a foot shape that is apparently uncommon. My big three toes are more or less the same length. This is called a 'Roman' shaped foot. I've learned that from the internet and it seems it is less common

(only about 10% of the population) than the Egyptian (longer big toe) and the Grecian (second toes longest). I also suffer from a form of metatarsalgia (Morton’s Neuroma or similar) that was probably caused by wearing too narrow boots in the past and getting my metatarsals squished together. So these days I look for a boot or shoe with a wide toe box. You know, a boot that is shaped like a foot instead of some manufacturers' or designers' ideal of a foot.

Manufacturers are slowly beginning to take notice of the fact that not everyone has a narrow foot that comes to a point above the second toe. Some even make it a point of distinction that their boots/shoes are foot-shaped. Altra springs to mind, for example. Hoka also. Even Salomon makes some concessions here in some of their models and when I think of Salomon I think of long thin running shoes. (I've got a pair of their Supercross trail-runners and they are lovely and grippy, but wearing them for more than a few hours hurts). Look for reviews of the model and brand you are considering. Many reviewers will complain about or praise the toe box in question (sometimes in contradiction of each other, which doesn't help). And naturally, try them on in a shop if you can. Stand on the ball of your foot and let your toes spread out. Take out the insole, put it on the ground and stand on it. Let your toes spread out and see if they overlap the insole at the sides. Check for anypressure on any toes and reject them if such is found. Even if they feel just a little snug. Make sure there is enough room at the front to avoid toes-jamming on the downhills. Make sure the lacing system holds your heels down and stops your foot from sliding forward without having to be d e up too tightly. NEVER believe the salesperson when they say 'Oh, the shoe will adapt to your foot as you wear them in'. This just doesn't happen. Of

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course if you are one of the lucky ones that actually has a narrow pointy foot that fits the 'standard' model, well, bully for you!

However, don't go overboard on roominess. If you get a shoe that is too big, your foot will slide around in it. This isn't a problem when walking on level ground, but when you hit the hilly or rocky bits it will cause you issues. Loss of stability for one, and more pressure on the side of the big toe, I've found. Too much toe-room at the front will cause loss of grip at the toe when trying to rock-climb.

Waterproof boots or not?

Forget about supposedly 'breathable waterproof' shoes/boots, especially in summer. (Winter is a different equation). Even if they stop the water getting in from the sides (and 5 out of 5 pairs of Gore-Tex or similar boots I've bought in my naïve past failed to do so), they won't be able to keep your feet dry in real rain - because water gets in through the idiot holes (you know, where the idiot inserts his feet). Even with gaiters and waterproof pants, which you'd think would prevent that, it's hard to keep the rain or the water from the bushes out. These 'waterproof' boots might

work for shallow puddles or mud, but they will make your feet sweatier than a pair designed to be properly ventilated for hot, humid Australian conditions, which dry out faster, too. All of this results in the skin on your feet staying nice and soft with moisture. It might be great for preventing cracked heels, but I don't think it's great for preventing blisters.

Finding a non-waterproof pair will be difficult however. Most Australian shops appear at first glance to only carry the Gore-tex or NGX or other 'waterproof membrane' versions. However, I know that many big-name manufacturers do make 'ventilated' non-waterproof versions for hot conditions. Merrel Moab Ventilators, Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid Aero, Keen Targhee Vent, Oboz Sawtooth II are some of the possibilities. In the end, after the hike, I got some Salamon X ULTRA 4 MID GTXs, though I had to settle for the Gore-Tex version, as the shop didn't carry the Aero that I wanted. Even though badged with a 'wide-fit' label, I had to go to size US 11.5 to get the width I needed, way above what the Brannock Device would have recommended. Bonus is that these boots are really light! Downside is that, yes, my feet get a bit sweaty.

First aid for feet. Note the snake-bite bandage is also good for twisted ankles and the alcohol wipes and safety-pin good for draining blisters. Those little pink cylinder things to the bottom left of the Elastoplast box are silicone toes separators that came in handy too. Missing are Compeed.

Tussocky grass, or fields that are pock-marked from having cattle on them are the worst for rolled ankles, right after downhill terrain with golf balls on it.

Ankle support

Another of the things manufacturers or vendors or other proponents might waffle on about when trying to get you to buy their boots is 'ankle support'. Though I see it less and less in the manufacturers' blurbs. Perhaps they are paying attention, or somebody sued somebody. This can be as big a furphy as 'waterproof but breathable'. In my experience, mid or even high-top boots do protect you somewhat from grit and gravel and sharp sticks and rocks, but rarely give you any more protection against turned/rolled ankles than low-cut shoes. In fact, sometimes they make it worse, because they often have thicker outsoles and when you do turn your ankle, it can turn through a higher angle as a result. If you doubt me, try this experiment when trying on boots. Put on the boot in question, lace them up comfortably and tight enough, as you would when hiking, and deliberately turn your ankle out in an attempt to 'roll' it. Do be careful, don't overdo it. Do you feel much resistance to the roll? Can you easily push it almost to the point of no return where you can tell it is going to go over and do you some harm? Every boot I've tested does this. None of them prevented it, though some were better than others. I think that they never will, unless they have some deliberately stiff element in the side of the boot to prevent rolling, maybe like a smoke-jumper’s parachuting boot. Wouldn't wanna hike much in them, though.

I bought a pair of OBOZ Men’s Bridger 10 inch B-DRY Insulated Boots once (actually three times, but that's a different story about claims of waterproofness that all turned out to be false and resulted in warranty returns) on the premise of ankle support. They were good boots. Light, comfortable, somewhat water resistant (and we were in wet, boggy conditions for the best part of a morning on that hike), and not too sweaty. I still rolled my ankle a couple of times, though not badly.

Look for boots with a good deep heel cup and a lacing system that holds your heel down (this is also good for blister prevention), and offers good stability of the heel to reduce the chance of starting a roll in the first place. Overly wide outsoles at the heel or forefoot may or may not help. On flat ground they offer stability, but that extra sticky-outy bit might

actually catch on rocks on real terrain and make things worse. A wide toe-box will help, I think (and be good for bigfoots like me), because I believe it enhances stability at the front of the foot, which is where a roll is often initiated from, rather than the heel, especially when running.

The best way to avoid a rolled ankle, in my opinion, is to be careful about where and how you place your feet and to carry not too heavy a pack so that you can recover when you do roll them without going over too far. I have developed a somewhat duck-walk style of foot placement, with the feet splayed outward slightly, especially when going downhill on rocky ground. But it doesn't come naturally and I have to consciously remind myself to do it.

Tussocky grass, or fields that are pock-marked from having cattle on them are the worst for rolled ankles, right after downhill terrain with golf balls on it. Mind you, asphalt with potholes in the dark isn't great either, or just plain not looking where you are going. The worst damage I ever caused myself in this regard was when wearing stiff mountaineering boots, carrying no pack, walking on a paved road but stepped into a pothole whilst daydreaming about something and not paying attention. It hurt like hell and took weeks to recover from.

A strapping young lad

I have had success using sports tape to strap my ankles, especially when trail running. If done carefully it can provide a measure of protection against rolls. If done badly, it can lead to blisters on your legs where bits of tape don't overlap and cause shear stress on the skin! However, once it gets wet, the tape loosens and becomes useless as it relies on

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... I am coming to the conclusion that too tight socks might also aggravate forefoot squeezing and/or end-of-toe issues.

the tape sticking vertically to the skin on the outside of the ankle and lower leg to provide tension for support, so on this trip, it wouldn't have lasted more than a day. It could be done, you just need to carry lots of tape.

Alternative footwear choices

Maybe I should have worn thongs (flipflops, not the other sort) or sandals all the way. Don't laugh - if it weren't for the snakes, I'm sure Gordon would have. But I hate it when little rocks get under my feet or sand gets under the straps. Besides, they slip around too much for me when wet, and as for rock-climbing, forget it!

I did briefly consider Vibram Fivefingers (you know the ones with individual toe pockets), but in the end I chickened out. Not enough between me and the hard, sharp rocks and pointy snake fangs. I once spoke to a guy who was wearing them whilst backpacking in Larapinta (rocky desert country in Central Australia), and he said "It only took a week to get used to the pain". Maybe that's why I chickened out. In retrospect, it still took me a week to get used to the pain in the conventional boots I wore on that hike. They went into the bin the minute it was over. Hmm. Still, snakes.

Socks

Another miscalculation on my part led me to take Injinji toe-socks as my main socks. I like them as they help prevent blisters caused by toes rubbing together. What I didn't take into account is how hard they'd be to put on if toes had to be bandaged, especially when the bandages would rather stick to the socks than to my toes. In hindsight I'd mix it up a bit more, with some more conventional socks and fewer toe socks. Do take spare socks though, and maybe a pair just to sleep in. Wash and dry them when possible on the hike.

By the way, I am coming to the conclusion that too tight socks might also aggravate forefoot squeezing and/or end-of-toe issues. It does seem odd that such a little pressure might cause concerns. But I find that when my

Gordon wearing thongs at the end of McMIllans Track

feet are hurting, taking off tight socks gives immediate relief, so there must be something to it. Just yesterday I went for a run and found my right middle toe was having pains. I was wearing normal running socks over very light inner socks, almost stockings. I took off the outer sock and immediately the issue went away. So just the thickness of a running sock was causing a problem. Admittedly, this was only a few days after the McMillans hike, so my feet are pretty sensitive right now, but even so. So do take the usual advice about wearing your hike socks when you go to try on hike boots seriously, and do try to do that at the end of the day when supposedly, your feet are most swollen. Maybe do it immediately after a 220 km hike, when my feet at least, are really swollen!

Gaiters

Apart from wanting to keep the snakes at bay, blackberries and random sharp sticks posed a threat to my legs so I took a pair of bush gaiters. Once upon a time they were 'waterproof' snow gaiters, but the semi-permeable membrane is now extremely permeable, and that's fine. I didn't want waterproof anyway, they just get even more sweaty. Gordon had customised canvas 'snake gaiters' he'd modified (he modifies everything, the clever fellow!) to make them even longer and more breathable. Both types went up to just below the knees, fastened with Velcro and press studs, had an elasticated tightening cord and worked fine, though mine were a bit sweaty and we didn't get to test them on snakes. Pity that.

Do tuck that elastic cord in, though. Once I forgot and left it loose, and it got caught in a bush until it let go with a twang and came back and hit me painfully in the back of the knee. I thought I'd been snake-bitten there for a second!

Another thing I must warn you against, though I'm sure you don't need it. Don't wear your gaiters when fording a raging current. The water catches them, opens the Velcro and turns them into instant sea anchors, and your feet will wanna go downstream.

Gi'e it some stick mon!

Walking poles. Necessary? No, except for holding up the tent and possibly a stick would have done, though I wouldn't have liked to risk holing the tent on any jagged edges on the thing. On the other hand, I doubt I'd have made it without my Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z Trekking Poles, especially going up those interminable gung-ho tracks and fording those creeks full of slippery algae-covered rocks.And really especially when my poor feet had been worn down to blistered nubbins, so I recommend them. These are really light and strong, but you have to buy them in your size as they are not adjustable. I love my stix. (Hmm, there's a pun in there about crossing rivers and Styx, isn't there?)

Do be careful about jamming them between rocks though. Being carbon-fibre, they are really good in compression, but have too much bending moment, and they will give way with a sad and expensive little 'crackle'...

This article will continue in the next edition. It was originally a part of a larger article that you can find on Terry’s blog Outdoors OZ.

What does Google advise about wearing gaiters when crossing raging streams?

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