Heel Blisters: Your Fave Prevention Methods

Dani-B

Dani-B

Member
New to AT this year. I picked up a lightly used pair of Salomon MTN Explore W's in my size. Despite my best efforts to prevent them, I get heel blisters on my inner heels within one day of skinning.

I've tried moleskin, hockey stick tape (applied before I start), and Icebreaker Merino wool socks, all to no avail. I've also had a bootfitter add an adhesive foam layer to the outside of the liners to reduce liner lift within the shell. I also make sure to do up the liners tightly (it's a lace system).

I might try duct tape next as hockey tape eventually gets peeled down. I've also been recommended to try a "sock liner", basically a super tight and thin inner sock that is worn underneath your ski sock.

What are you guys using that works?
 
Are you closing up the lower buckle(s) on your boot for touring? I got blisters on my heel until I started touring with the lower buckles closed snug with the upper ones open for ankle flexion, locks your foot/heel into place.

Could also try using higher volume liner that will hold your foot/ankle shape better. Since your boots are used it's possible the liner was a bit packed out already which could be contributing to movement.
 
14409614:vermontana said:
Are you closing up the lower buckle(s) on your boot for touring? I got blisters on my heel until I started touring with the lower buckles closed snug with the upper ones open for ankle flexion, locks your foot/heel into place.

Could also try using higher volume liner that will hold your foot/ankle shape better. Since your boots are used it's possible the liner was a bit packed out already which could be contributing to movement.
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I was closing the lower buckles halfway tight from my descending position. I will try keeping the bottoms done up snug all the time, thanks for the suggestion.

It's possible the liner is already packed out, that's true. I have Sidas footbeds in them so hard to feel.
 
14411210:jompcock said:
https://ctchealth.ca/product/band-aid-advanced-healing-blister/

These things are a godsend
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Good to know! Will pick some up and try them out as a protective layer.
 
I use 3M micropore tape before going our for the day, its breathable so seems to come off less than non breathable tape. But I don't have that sweaty of feet.

Also like someone already mentioned, make sure you're boot isn't too loose. If your heel is moving, you're probably going to get blisters. If your heel is still moving with the buckles fairly tight then the boot doesn't fit. Could be the boot, could be the liner

**This post was edited on Mar 16th 2022 at 6:32:43pm
 
14414020:Peaches_N._Cream said:
I use 3M micropore tape before going our for the day, its breathable so seems to come off less than non breathable tape. But I don't have that sweaty of feet.

Also like someone already mentioned, make sure you're boot isn't too loose. If your heel is moving, you're probably going to get blisters. If your heel is still moving with the buckles fairly tight then the boot doesn't fit. Could be the boot, could be the liner

**This post was edited on Mar 16th 2022 at 6:32:43pm
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I've always been a sweater; just yesterday I got chafing on my thighs when running from a particular short's stitching ?.

Breathable/skin-friendly tape is another option I haven't tried though, good point.

It could be the shell or liner fit but I hope not; still new to touring, so learning how to do up the boots properly on the up will be good to rule out first. I see others leaving their shin buckle(s) completely undone, but perhaps even those buckles should be done up somewhat? Or are the position of the uppers for ascents personal preference?

I am getting out again in early April and will report back what I try and if it worked!
 
14414839:cydwhit said:
I use this as a preventative measure. I paint it onto areas that typically get blisters and it reduces friction and protects the skin. Less bulky and more reliable than bandaids or tape. I usually do two or three coats, with time to dry between, in the morning before I put my boots on:

https://www.amazon.com/New-Skin-Liquid-Bandage-Ounce-Cover/dp/B0017JOF86

Your local pharmacy or grocery store should have some.
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Huh, I actually do have that stuff on hand already. Neat idea, never thought to use it that way.
 
Lil update for lurkers. Applied some New Skin/Liquid Band-Aid the night before. I also added the Hydro Seal blister bandages before I put my boots on. One foot made it the whole day, the other needed a re-application of a Hydro Seal that fell out of place. Seems the skin on the rear part of the heel is so smooth that the bandage has a hard time sticking if placed contacting that. Placement/bandage shape is key.

When I took my socks off at the end of the day, all the New Skin was gone and the hydro seals were still there, but they did get shifted downward. Two small but surprisingly unpainful blisters that I didn't feel during skinning. Probably not painful because of the calloused skin they formed on, lol.

Also took care to keep both the top and bottom boot buckles up tight, instead relying on loosening the power strap for relief on the up. I also have a habit of lifting my feet (and the ski) too high when skinning, vs. a glide. Working on that too.

It's definitely a fit problem, but I've made some progress with the suggestions here that allowed me to ski till my legs were done. The 3M tape is also on my list to try, as well as duct tape. And less bulky socks. I have thinner (and tighter) MTB socks that are worth a shot over bulky/loose Icebreakers.

**This post was edited on Apr 2nd 2022 at 9:12:39pm
 
14421915:Dani-B said:
bulky/loose Icebreakers.

**This post was edited on Apr 2nd 2022 at 9:12:39pm
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There's a good chance this is your issue right here. Loose or bulky socks will give almost all people blisters

**This post was edited on Apr 7th 2022 at 6:57:13pm
 
14424001:Peaches_N._Cream said:
There's a good chance this is your issue right here. Loose or bulky socks will give almost all people blisters

**This post was edited on Apr 7th 2022 at 6:57:13pm
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I definitely overlooked sock type with the crossover from resort boots to touring. Wool is scratchy!
 
K, i got it. OP, you need real touring boots. Since I picked up some Scarpa Mastraels, no more blisters. The price range is is steep, but its made for 80% touring 20% downhill. They have built in vents to reduce both moisture and foot move.

Next, real ski socks. Blisters are from moisture and friction. Ski socks reduce moisture.
 
14438926:freestyler540 said:
K, i got it. OP, you need real touring boots. Since I picked up some Scarpa Mastraels, no more blisters. The price range is is steep, but its made for 80% touring 20% downhill. They have built in vents to reduce both moisture and foot move.

Next, real ski socks. Blisters are from moisture and friction. Ski socks reduce moisture.
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I'm gonna start with changing socks before I think about upgrading price points on boots!

Got any examples of 'real ski socks' for touring?
 
14472193:Dani-B said:
I'm gonna start with changing socks before I think about upgrading price points on boots!

Got any examples of 'real ski socks' for touring?
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smartwool and icebreaker are both good, also buy three pair and youre good for a season
 
I started wearing Ted hose under my ski socks when I tour and have had no blisters since. You can get em pretty cheap at Walgreens and I think they work like a charm
 
I spoke with caroline cote at the POW season opener. She did a two month tour through svalbard and is now planning the antarctic.

she says she cuts up a yoga mat, and then tapes it onto her heels using a liberal amount of KT. doesnt remove it for the two months.

its excessive imo and you wouldn't need to do that for a day trip.
 
Ok boys I found a solution that works (so far). A strip of duct tape on each heel, plus these WrightSocks. These thin socks are double-layered and supposedly transferring friction between the two sock layers rather than your skin. This combo worked for a -30C day, so the next test will be warmer conditions with presumably sweatier feet.

In general when talking about socks, I think it's important to be specific within brands. Just saying "Icebreaker" and "Smartwool" doesn't convey what material or blend is involved, and some are worse for friction than others.
 
14507864:Dani-B said:
Ok boys I found a solution that works (so far). A strip of duct tape on each heel, plus these WrightSocks. These thin socks are double-layered and supposedly transferring friction between the two sock layers rather than your skin. This combo worked for a -30C day, so the next test will be warmer conditions with presumably sweatier feet.

In general when talking about socks, I think it's important to be specific within brands. Just saying "Icebreaker" and "Smartwool" doesn't convey what material or blend is involved, and some are worse for friction than others.
Click to expand...

I use bandage tape adhesive, cut two strips and cover my heel in a cross (one vertical one horizontal), then put my sock over top of that tape, I use a thin bridgdale sock. I also use this method (with thin merino wool carhartt socks) for my steel toe work boots when they were falling apart. At the time I was spending 8 hours in the woods cutting trees, the tape held perfectly.

I am curious though, how tight are your boots, like if you did a shell check how much room behind your heel do you have? Reason I ask is because I have some pretty deformed heels, and the boots I have been touring on are too loose, but I never got blisters. Now I have very tight fitting boots and am scared of blisters.
 
Its not only socks and staying dry, its also preventing movement overall by having a consistently snug fit in the heel pocket.

In all of my boots, my heels do not move. At all, really. So the ability for rubbing just doesn't exist.

The last 2 years, the tour-wraps in my cochise's were on their last legs... hundreds of days of skiing but due to covid, I wasn't able to get in a new set of liners until this season. If I left them as is, I'd be moving around in my boots like mad... but I tightened those suckers up well.

First I used a set of these

1064764.jpeg

These are EVA foam pads with sticky on one side... so you can just stick them to the back of your liner and tighten it up around your heel to prevent movement. Slap these on the back of your liners so the 'C' sections sit around your ankle bones, allowing the upside down U shape to sit above your heels and prevent upward movement.

But that wasn't enough, I needed these fuckers to be tight as a nun's cunt. I needed MOAR... so I added a set of these.

1064765.jpeg

These might not look like much, but they are roughly 3 or 4 mm thick, and are made of a carboard/paper-like substance made out of either recycled paper (texon) or plastic bottles (bontex). Its dense, its light, and it's flexible. Perfect for flicking underneath your liner and reducing the overall volume of the boot. It's literally the same material that you'll likely find in your dress shoes if you take the footbed out.

After this, my boots were plenty tight, and had absolutely no movement in them. Got me through the last 2 seasons before covid stopped and I was able to secure some new tour wraps for my boots.

Here's some links for halp. Note, I am not sponsored by this company, I just know they carry this shit.

https://www.tognar.com/boot-fitting-foam-ankle-wrap-pads-1-8-pr/

https://www.tognar.com/ski-boot-insole-shims-pr/
 
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