Couple pdf files on foot care and your load

[NMshooter]

For those unfamiliar with those topics this info will help you get started.

[NMshooter]

Bumping this to the top for anyone who missed it. :)

[vasilia zheitseva]

nm, thanks so much for the documents. one of my dad's biggest axioms was to take care of your feet. being a former marine whom was in korea (101st mortar), he had plenty of experience to share.

i got a big wake-up call when i tried to field test my 1st bug out bag. it was'nt even a backpack & weighed 42 lbs. i gave up after a 2 mile hike.

it now weighs 22 lbs. and is a nice pack with well padded shoulder straps. and has what i need, not what i thought i'd need in it, LOL....

vasilia

[NMshooter]

Your welcome. :)

It is the Field Manuals dealing with subjects like foot marches that are the most useful and the most ignored.

I cringe sometimes when folks talk about carrying a heavy barreled .308 semi-auto rifle and 400 rounds of ammo, a couple of 1911s with a dozen magazines, and a pack with everything including the kitchen sink in it. ;)

It is better to learn your limits beforehand, and be honest with yourself about capabilities and limitations than to find out the hard way that you can not do something.

[Sistema1927]

Where did they find those 1.6 lb. M16's? (read the load manual.)

[NMshooter]

That is probably supposed to be a "7", but optical character readers are less than perfect so...

YMMV :)

[YammyMonkey]

Some things to consider as well:

IF you lance your blisters you MUST keep them clean or they can become infected. Most medical professionals will tell you to leave it be, but in my experience draining and covering a blister helps alleviate the pain and keeps it from getting worse.

RE: Injecting a blister with Tincture of Benzoine...OUCH :what: :banghead: :fire: :cuss: Those will be a few of the expressions you use if you do that. The stuff works, but you'll pay for it. This stuff dries sticky and makes an outstanding protective layer for hands in abrasive conditions like rock climbing and also makes an outstanding skin treatment before applying medical tape to cover hot spots or other areas that may need to taped to be protected.

Duct tape on hot spots (NOT blisters) works great.

Test your foot powder before use. For instance, I develop nasty blisters in certain areas if I use Gold Bond powder on them. NOT cool, at all. :uhoh:

Stick with a brand/model of boot you know works for you. Just like the gun you trust when the chips are down, your footwear should be well tested and broken in, but not broken. Likewise, your feet need to also be broken into your boots.

The best socks I've seen for doing a lot of foot travel are the "dive socks" the Navy puts out. They're an off-white and I believe mostly wool sock that is very soft, foot friendly and comfortable. The downside is that they shrink an incredible amount if washed in anything other than cold water. I've also had very good experiences with Thor-Lo and have heard good things about Smartwool socks.

[cosine]

Thanks! I found this while searching the basement of THR. Interesting and helpful.

[Teufelhunden]

IF you lance your blisters you MUST keep them clean or they can become infected. Most medical professionals will tell you to leave it be, but in my experience draining and covering a blister helps alleviate the pain and keeps it from getting worse.

+1 on this. In my last month at Parris Island, my jungle boots got soaked on a night hump and I developed a bad blister (~ 1" diameter) on my right heel. Since there isn't an opportunity to stay off your feet in boot camp, the original blister tore open and new blisters started forming under the already raw skin. Every night when I got up to relieve myself, I took my sewing kit to the head with me, lanced the new blister under the old, drained it, packed it full of antibiotic ointment, and covered it up with bandaids and moleskin. This became a nightly routine for me for the last month of boot camp. Even with my foot in a black leather boot getting all sweaty and used, I never developed an infection.

I use this detailed and someone grotesque narrative to illustrate that it is both vitally important and possible to keep your feet in working order. Should the ninja mutant zombie bears wearing blue helmets show up some day, your only Cadillacs are going to be the ones on your feet.

-Teuf

[Lucky]

Thx, good footcare stuff.

When you 'tape' an area of a shoe that rubbs, what's involved?

[carebear]

You put the tape on your skin so it takes the wear.

Tape is slipperier than sticky wet skin so the boot/sock slides over the tape rather than abrading the skin.

I've always been able to just walk through blisters (wayyy back in boot and before). They break and toughen up. But my pop taught me about foot care back in my Cub Scout days. Big believer in extra socks was my old man. :D