My method was to wear my well fitted boots in the barracks, when they were nice and broken in (couple or 3 weeks) they were good to go for bush. Out bush it was new socks every day, with foot powder. Treat any blisters as they occur (nothing too exciting, betadine and tape), then as time went on ( not too long, 6 months or so) my feet were toughened and accustomed to pack marching and I rarely had trouble after that, regardless of the length of the march, the weight covered or the terrain covered.
Ive never had an issue with the soles of my feet, ive walked barefoot since I was a toddler. I have narrow heals which apparently is uncommon in the USA. I'm from NZ and never had a problem with fitting boots there. It's so bad here that I have turned down schools etc... because I know I'll be crippled in a day because of the issue/allowed boots. If I get blisters I thread them. Then I will tape my heel if I can do so with a method that will stay in place. If not I just leave it to the gods. Roger.
Threading, that sounds like running a needle and thread through a blister to drain it, leaving the skin as a protective cover. If that's the case, I've been doing it for years, even as a competitive rower which is blister city. Potassium permanganate is good to toughen feet as is methylated spirits whic hurts like fuck on raw blisters but does toughen the skin. Don't use too much permanganate or your toenails turn a wild shade of purple.
Except for the coldest months of the year, the bottoms of my feet look like somebody used them for toilet paper. I go as barefoot as possible whenever possible. I have been able to run on gravel since I was a kid. I don't suggest being a total douche like Cody Lundine (sp), but you should be in direct contact with the ground whenever possible. That contact will help you in other ways as well, especially at times when you need to get down in the nasty of things and others are hesitating a bit. Find a hot parking lot or any pavement and walk on it as long as you can possibly stand it. It will heat treat the feet and help you eliminate the majority of blistering.
All good advice. Besides the conditioning for your feet to make them tougher, being a little proactive can help too. Adjust your boots properly, if you need to skip a lace to release pressure on an area. For me it was sometimes the top of my feet that would rub. I'd skip a lace over the area and would have no problems. Or you could pre-tape a toe or toes to prevent them from rubbing together. I've done that before particularly long patrols. Everyone has different feet no doubt. I usually don't get blisters but it all depends on the terrain, heat, distance, and pace. I've never had a good experience with moleskin, but some love it.
I am to old to march but my wife goes barefoot everywhere and I have to use a hoof rasp to knock down her heels. she wears out the heels of shoes with those feet.
Soak a cotton wool pad in surgical spirits and then wipe it on your feet. Repeat once a night before going to bed for about a week or two, then the skin on the soles of your feet will harden. That is of course if you do not mind the smell of the spirits. You can use 'Benzoin' to harden the soles of your feet too. You can also rub alcohol on your soles twice a day before you set off on patrol, walking, running, jogging etc.. Obviously, the best thing to do is rub it on feet that have no blisters or cuts, otherwise you will feel the slight stinging pain! You could always walk up and down Croagh Patrick in your bare feet daily! That will toughen them up fairly quickly!
Does any body have any suggestions for toughing the bones in the balls/front of your feet? I have found over the past couple months that when going on medium-long humps(8+ miles) the bones in the balls of my feet start to ache around mile 8 or 9. It usually occurs after moving from either the forest floor to an assfault road or from a gravel road to an assfault road. I already spend the majority of every day in boots so that is pretty much out.
How do you know it's your bones? Bones are "toughened" by exercise/stress etc... i.e. When bones are subjected to strain they will lay down more bone to strengthen that area. So, the more you ruck the more your body will get used to it and the less it will hurt*. That said, if you are in pain, rest and let yourself recover before you do it again, don't cause a permanent problem out of a temporary problem. * hahaha
Assfault? Is that like hemorrhoids? Or do you mean asphalt? Short of getting fat injected into the soles of your feet, or getting some gel inserts, you're a bit screwed with trying to toughen bone.
The Dr Scholls Gel All Day Work Inserts are very good, and not too expensive... they even work in thin soled lightweight boots like Merrels.
For about 6 months prior to SFAS I soaked my feet in rubbing alcohol everyday, did not wear socks for at least 3 days a week, wore comfortable boots, and went on as many rucks as possible with heavy rucks. Cheap, easy way to toughen the feet. The blisters became hotspots, the hotspots became callouses. I did the SFAS longwalk and entire 21 days without one hotspot or blister. The sickcall hours my teammates did, I didn't have to do. I was in the bunk recuperating. The shinsplints sucked ass, tho.
Throughout all of this, keep your feet DRY. Foot powder helps but if you're not a fan just pack a washcloth or rag to dry your feet. Pack a change of socks and if you have to switch them mid-way or at a stopping point, do it. If you go through a swamp, creek, rainstorm, and your feet get wet, change your socks at the earliest opportunity, even if your boots are still wet. Clean, dry, socks make your feet feel like gold and helps them keep going, plus, it prevents blisters. Some days at SFAS I changed my socks three times a day. Well worth it. Zero blisters later, I was starting the trek with better feet than most.
This thread is done......either you take the advice of the many fuck you's and your DADT'S that have offered it, or you buy stock in Moleskin.com. Pain sucks, suck up the pain or quit, take your pick and live with your decision. not funny boon. fix that shit.
