Finest Climbing Foot Care Merchandise

Leukotape is a sticky blister prevention tape that includes a robust zinc oxide adhesive that gained’t come off, even in essentially the most excessive moist situations. It’s additionally breathable, so runners and backpackers can safely put on it for a number of days at a time. It’s greatest used as a preventative barrier over potential sizzling spots. Leukotape shouldn’t be supposed to be used on pre-existing blisters, nonetheless, as a result of the adhesive can pull off free and damaged pores and skin. Whereas it comes on a roll, one of the best ways to hold Leukotape in your first help package is to pre-cut it into strips and fasten it to the shiny paper (referred to as launch paper) that adhesive labels are connected to. Go into any UPS or FedEx workplace they usually’ll provide you with tons of the stuff without spending a dime. I’ve been utilizing Leukotape for years and nonetheless tape my heels earlier than day hikes and backpacking journeys.

Darn Powerful’s Merino Wool Climbing Socks are the preferred socks utilized by hikers to stop blisters, wick moisture, and hold your toes cool and comfy on the path. They’re additionally powerful sufficient to face as much as the abrasive sand and grit that will get into path runners and climbing footwear, which rapidly eats via different producers’ socks. They’re obtainable in a variety of colours, lengths, weights, and sizes, with and with out additional cushioning. When backpacking, it’s important to maintain a dry pair of socks in reserve to sleep in, which helps your toes get well after an extended day of climbing. My favorites are the Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks.

Soiled Woman Gaiters are low gaiters designed to maintain sticks, pebbles, sand, and different floor litter that you just kick up when climbing from moving into your path footwear or boots, the place they’ll irritate your toes. They’re primarily used with path trainers and low to mid-ankle climbing footwear. They’re ultralight, weighing lower than 2 ounces per pair, and are well-liked with hikers as a result of they’re cheap and are available a variety of untamed colours and printed patterns that mean you can specific your self on the path. They don’t have a strap that runs underneath your climbing footwear however connect to your laces with a hook and a velcro patch that you just follow the heel of your footwear. They’re not supposed for winter use and dry rapidly once they get moist.

Insoles have two massive advantages: they assist assist your arch which is essential when carrying a loaded backpack and lock your heels in place to stop extreme pronation or supination that may result in plantar fasciitis, a painful irritation of the heel that may put you on the sideline for weeks at a time. Superfeet makes one million totally different insoles, however the two hottest ones for hikers are Superfeet Run Assist Low Arch Insoles (previously referred to as Superfeet Carbon), that are skinny sufficient to suit into low-volume path runners and climbing footwear, and Superfeet All Function Assist Excessive Arch Insoles (previously referred to as Superfeet Inexperienced), that’s greatest worn in climbing boots.

Low-cost and plentiful, Vaseline ointment is nice for decreasing the friction between your toes or between your footwear and toes, which might result in blisters. It’s additionally helpful for treating dry and cracked pores and skin, which is the precursor to a callous, by locking within the pores and skin’s pure moisture and serving to it to heal from inside. Vaseline is obtainable in a 1.7 oz journey dimension, which is sufficiently small to hold, or you’ll be able to repackage it in a small tub to hold with you. Vaseline additionally makes a superb firestarter when smeared on a cotton ball, one thing that different anti-friction powders and lotions can’t declare.

Athlete’s Foot is a extremely contagious fungal an infection that impacts the pores and skin on the toes and leads to a scaly rash that itches like hell and may be very disagreeable. It’s straightforward to choose up if you happen to go to public locations barefoot together with bathe stalls, locker rooms, or swimming swimming pools, and thrives in sizzling and sweaty closed footwear. Athletes’ foot is well handled with a prescription power topical cream, like Lotrimin Extremely, however it’s important to be vigilant and constant whenever you use it to get rid of the an infection or it is going to persist. Therapy often takes a couple of week, though you might wish to proceed longer to make sure the fungus is absolutely eradicated. Lotrimin Extremely may also be used to deal with jock itch, one other frequent and unsightly pores and skin irritation skilled by hikers and backpackers.

The Victorinox Nail Clipper folds flat to maintain your toenails trimmed quick, stopping them from banging in opposition to the entrance of your footwear, turning black, and falling off, which generally is a painful course of. In addition they embrace a rough folding file that can be utilized to file down thickened or flaking toenails which have grown away from the nailbed because of repeated nail trauma. That is fairly frequent amongst critical hikers, however the coarse file makes it straightforward to maintain them quick and flush with the highest of your toes, thereby avoiding irritation additional.

In contrast to conventional blister bandages, ENGO Blister Prevention Patches are adhesive patches which might be utilized on to your shoe, to not your pores and skin. They’re ultra-thin, 0.015 inches thick, so your shoe match is unchanged. Meaning they last more (as much as 300 miles) they usually gained’t irritate your pores and skin. They’re additionally waterproof and keep connected even when they get moist. They work in all forms of footwear from climbing boots to path runners, costume footwear, and ski boots.  You’ll be able to trim them as wanted to stop blisters in your heels, toes, the ball of your foot, the facet of your foot, the arch, and many others. I found these about 10 years in the past and nonetheless use them right now.

Band-Help Hydroseal Blister Cushion Bandages are hydrocolloid gel bandages which might be state-of-the-art for contemporary wound care. You need to use them on popped or unpopped blisters. They supply a moist therapeutic setting by using the physique’s personal moisture and enzymes to maintain the wound hydrated, selling correct wound therapeutic. They’re designed for use by themselves, with out the necessity for additional antibiotic ointment, and you may hold them on constantly for days at a time whereas your blister heals. You’ll be able to inform that the method has begun after 24 hours, when the bandage plumps up a bit after absorbing your physique’s moisture.  They’re the perfect remedy for blisters I’ve ever discovered, which lets you proceed climbing whereas letting a blister heal. They’re equal to Compeed bandages, well-liked within the UK, however cheaper.

The Professional-Tec Athletics PF Sleeve is a compression sleeve designed for plantar fasciitis that may considerably scale back your heel ache and hold you on the path. Overuse accidents resembling plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis may end up in important swelling within the foot, ankle, or decrease calf. Compression of those areas prevents fluid from accumulating in them and relieves the ache related to swelling. Compression additionally helps blood stream from the extremities again to the center via the venous system, growing the stream of contemporary oxygenated blood via damage websites, significantly the place blood stream is often poor just like the Achilles tendon and foot fascia. I’ve used this PF sleeve myself. It slides over your foot and offers added assist for the arch of your foot. You’ll be able to put on a climbing sock over or underneath it and nonetheless put on your favourite footwear whereas it’s at work.