My boots have given me a blister due to my stupidity of wearing cotton socks during a long exercise hike. It is nearly healed, but I am thinking of going with a more foot friendly boot for backpack hunting. Problem is, my trip is in 10 days. Need opinions fast, and am going to a local backpacking shop to see what they say too. Thanks in advance. SW
Emergency Boot Option Needed!
- Thread starter smartweed
- Start date
Head in the Clouds
Member
It sounds like you're blaming the boots for your poor choice in socks. Why don't you keep the boots, let the blister heal, then where the right socks and go hunting?
But to answer your question, I burned out a pair of danner high grounds in less than a year but they felt better than any of my shoes. I suppose I got my $150 out of them... I wear an ankle height lightweight liner sock with a medium weight wool blend over that whenever I'm hiking.
Good luck with the search, I have a hell of a time finding well fitting boots for my hobbit feet.
But to answer your question, I burned out a pair of danner high grounds in less than a year but they felt better than any of my shoes. I suppose I got my $150 out of them... I wear an ankle height lightweight liner sock with a medium weight wool blend over that whenever I'm hiking.
Good luck with the search, I have a hell of a time finding well fitting boots for my hobbit feet.
sneakypete
Veteran member
luckynv
Active Member
for now some of the moleskin/molefoam type products to protect the sore tender area/ last year I developed some blisters on the side of my heel and these products saved my hunt. The moleskin is thinner and you need to decide which will work better for you. I have always carried them and went through a lot of it. I cut out an area about 1/6 of the sheet and covered over my healing blister. Try to take it off at night to allow for drying. The liners as stated above should help. I also had a heel cup installed in my left boot of my Kennetrek's. Made all the difference. Good luck and God bless
I agree here. It does seem that you have boots that work, you just made bad move on a training hike. Tape over the blister and head out.
Wyoming Hart
Very Active Member
wolftalonID
Very Active Member
Well today I went to get some Danner Pronghorn boots. Worn them for several years now. The new model they came out with is pure garbage. Hot spots galore in minutes, due to over thick materials on the tongue. Also a VERY generous toe box area made them rather sloppy on the slope test in the store.
They just are not the same boot.
They just are not the same boot.
Agree with the comments on the blisters...socks, not the boots. I'm relatively new to the merino wool, so I can't speak to them, but I can say with 12 years of experience to go on that with Thorlos, I have not had any problems with blisters.
I would say that a similar type of sock should give you the same type of protection, but I don't personally know.
I would say that a similar type of sock should give you the same type of protection, but I don't personally know.
Matthoek21
Veteran member
Definitely go with good merino wool socks. I like smartwool. Also I play prevent defense on the high prone blister areas by taping up with Leukotape. Best stuff out there. Duct tape works to, but Leukotape is awesome.
WapitiBob
Veteran member
I wore cotton socks in boots on my hunts for a cpl decades. It's not the socks fault. If your foot moves in the boot you'll have hot spots and then blisters. Get a boot that fits, insoles that aren't too slick, and tighten the boot so nothing moves but the toes.
sodaksooner
Member
- Jul 7, 2014
- 88
- 0
This^^^^ I don't even wear a liner. Never had a blister, or wear issues with my current boots. Pricey but worth it.
I have a pair of danner pronghorns however that if I have to go to as a backup, I know where I will blister and I pretape with just plain athletic tape. Makes a huge difference.
As said by the other posters wool socks are the only way to go. I wear the same wool socks whether I am bowhunting in the heat of August or elk hunting in December and have never gotten a blister. If you have a boot that fits properly your foot does not move around inside creating that hotspot for blister to form.
I also find that if I stop and air out my feet and change my socks about half way through my hike my feet feel like brand new. An extra pair of socks take up very little space and weigh next to nothing.
I also find that if I stop and air out my feet and change my socks about half way through my hike my feet feel like brand new. An extra pair of socks take up very little space and weigh next to nothing.
joemf1985
New Member
I have been wearing Kennetrek boots for 2 years and at first was a bit wary of the price but I can say for sure you get what you pay for in boots just like optics. I would not go back to the boots I was wearing before. I put in 5 days last week between 8200 and 9500 feet with the average days hiking being 11 miles and very up and down and didn't have any issues. I wear these boots on the flat lands as well and have no regrets.