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Excellent video! Here are a few more tips I’ve found help me with shoe selection (from good and bad experiences!) 1. Try on shoes later in the day, or go for a good walk or run beforehand, to swell your feet. This helps make sure the shoes will fit at the end of a hiking / packing day. Also wear the same socks you will wear hiking. 2. I recommend trying on shoes while wearing a pack loaded to your typical trail weight. The cushioning and stability of shoes feels different with that extra weight. Yeah, you might look like a dork, but better than looking at sore feet! 3. I wear minimalist shoes for walking around during the day and SHORT road runs, to strengthen my feet. But on trail I wear well-cushioned shoes to prevent my feet from aching at the end of a long day. 4. If you make any big changes in heel drop, toe box shape, cushion, etc, gradually increase your time in the new shoes by alternating between the new ones and ones your feet are used to. I have developed tendinitis from not doing this, and you can also get plantar fasciitis and even stress fractures from making drastic changes then putting in long miles right away. 5. Best tip! I buy my trail runner hiking shoes from a running store with a 30-day exchange policy. If you can find a store like this, buy your shoes there! You really can’t tell how well a pair of shoes will work for you until you go try them out on a long hike.

For me Injinji liners + Darn Tough Light Hikers = No blisters or hot spots. It’s also possible that the Superfeet insoles help.

Completely agree. Blisters and foot pain will kill a trip faster than weather, animals, or bad gear.

You are so right, footwear IS the most important product that defines your ability hike the miles you want in relative comfort. A learned tip from me but not related to footwear itself but to feet . If you've been on a long hike and your feet are tired and sweaty, paddle in a river barefoot. The stones will massage your soles and you end up with clean refreshed feet. If you don't have fresh socks to put on, turn the ones you have inside out and your feet will feel better than when you started!

Not that anybody cares and will see that comment but I will also add(apart from everything you said which I also do/have) that Im taking my ankles and knee supports on my very long hike here in Scotland, they help a bunch especially uphill and down + trekking poles and yes its worth extra weight if you have problems as im having with my legs... I also have a Tiger Balm to put on at camp or for during nights to kinda help or for recovery. ATB on trail guys!

Good info, thanks!

This was just brilliant, professional and enjoyable work my friend!

@BackcountryExposure

9 ай бұрын

Thank you very much!

I normally slip into a tight fitting pair of silk socks then pull on a comfortable pair of merino wool socks. I've never had a blister when wearing two pair of socks. I also pull on a pair of Dirty Girl Gaiters which prevents pebbles/stones/stuff from getting in between my shoe & sock. I've never had to stop hiking, pull off a boot/shoe & shake out a pebble put the shoe/boot back on B4 continuing to hike. P.S. eagerly anticipating your Hilleberg Enan review. And use those tips I told you when pitching. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada

I finally found a pair that I love! And my darn tuff socks complete it. Great video

Socks make a huge difference for me even sock characteristics such as thickness makes a difference. I currently use medium thickness of darn tough socks and have never received a blister using them even when the socks are soaking wet. However, i bought a “hiking” version from darn tough and got three blisters from them. I believe it was because the thickness was thicker (both socks made of the same material). Ive used leukotape to prevent blisters forming before and love it. Only advice is to be generous when applying the tape to cover a larger area than just that blister otherwise the blister may form on the border of the tape.

@bihlygoat

9 ай бұрын

Leukotape (the “P” type) is the best! It’s the only stuff that stays on my sweaty feet for more than a few miles. I also apply Skin-Prep before putting on Leukotape (some use tincture of benzoin but I prefer this brand that is PVM/MA). It helps the tape stick even better, and avoid irritation from the latex adhesive (unless of course you have an allergy to it😢).

Love your shout out for Better Help! In addition to support from the outdoors, sometimes we just need the extra support, listening ear, and encouragement in figuring life out 😊

@BackcountryExposure

10 ай бұрын

It really is true! Thanks!

Great video. The only thing I do these days is apply leukotape to common hotspots on my feet the night before the trip. I have some wrapped on my trekking pole for backup. I think for me, it's my walking gait that causes it. I'll get some of these hotspots when walking in barefoot style sandals.

@BackcountryExposure

10 ай бұрын

That feels smart if you know you’ve got the potential to have hot spots regardless. Stop it before it even starts. Smart!

@rodoutdoors

10 ай бұрын

@@BackcountryExposure Leukotape is really handy in general. It's like a second skin. I'll tear off a piece for insect bites. Or when fishing, put some on my finger to prevent cuts when casting.

I wore a pair of Lowa Renegades on a day hike last year with Darn Tough socks and easily developed blisters on my foot. This year I switched to Altra Lone Peaks with Wright Socks and my feet are so much more comfortable. My feet don’t get tired and I do not develop blisters after 10+ mi of 2000+ ft of elevation gain whereas my stiffer, warmer shoe combo were really taxing on my body. Shoe and sock selection is super key to having a good time out on trail. I also find that going downhill is when I developed blisters and hot spots. I think tightening your shoe laces on the downhill is paramount when going on steep descents to prevent your foot from sliding around in the shoe and creating friction. My feet get hotter descending than ascending.

Look at Silverlight socks - I started wearing them nearly 4 years ago and haven’t had a blister since. They are so good, I wear them every day to work.

Thank you. A good review. I walk where the trails are wet most of the time. My toes require "monitoring" more than my heels.

Besides those things that you mentioned, i use anti-chafe creams on my feet (chamois buttr that comes in 0.3 0z packets or squirrels nut butter). Works like a charm for me

I’ve been blessed with good feet. Well 30 years of hard labor has made them like concrete. But I’m not sure how they will hold up on serious through hikes when / if I do them. I’ve never had a single blister on my feet. Never cold. Never hot. But I’m trying to plan for any issues that could arise. I think my legs will give out far before I find a way to blister my rock solid feet.

Now please have one on how to prevent tendinitis on top of feet that become stress fractures & on the heal since alive already ruptured one tendon about 15 yr ago. If I do the second on same foot looking at surgery. I do have really high arches so bout $40 or $50. Inserts.

@BackcountryExposure

7 ай бұрын

I’d suggest talking with a sports medicine specialist or doctor that works with feet.

Great tips, Devin, thanks! Also, fellow Utahan here-where did you film this?? It’s a stunning setting.

@BackcountryExposure

10 ай бұрын

Thank you! This was up in the Uintas!

@justindukwitz

10 ай бұрын

@@BackcountryExposure oh that makes sense! I was just there solo hiking the highline trail last month and it’s gorgeous (except for the burned area between dead horse pass and rocky sea, which I wish I would have gone around haha). That mountain range is spectacular. Excellent choice for filming!

Im glad I found out about darn tough socks because that is all I wear now every day. So worth the investment.

Double socks Liner and Outer Mid Day/lunch Boots and socks off and air and dry End of Day Rinse and massage feet of any sweat or old skin Dry with foot talc Wet socks Rotate liners Dry with talc

1. Five finger socks. 2. Two pairs do socks if needed. Liner and thicker sock. 3. Avoid boots whenever possible. They are terrible for knees because they restrict ankles range of motion.

Has anyone tried putting body glide on your feet before starting off on a hike? I’m curious if that would prevent friction.

@BackcountryExposure

10 ай бұрын

Never considered it. Don’t know it’ll work though…

@rodoutdoors

10 ай бұрын

I rub Body Glide between my toes before hikes sometimes.

@christinez1234

10 ай бұрын

In Europe the brand Compeed sells a stick for a Body Glide like pre-hike treatment. That said it doesn’t work for me. I continue to put k-tape on my feet before a strenuous alpine hike.

@hikingwheather

9 ай бұрын

Yes, I use Foot Glide in multi-day trips and I think it helps.

Nice tips. Off topic: Is that forest in the background all dead? Fire damage or bugs? God damn, that looks horrible.

@BackcountryExposure

9 ай бұрын

The west side of the Uinta mountains has suffered the past decade + from beetle kill. It’s really bad in some of the areas. It’s sad.

For all you dermatitis suffering hikers out there, this is what I have learnt over the years. Every other hiker has 2 pairs of socks, 1 hiking and 1 camp. We need 4 or 5. 1, hiking Marino, 2 hiking synthetic and 2 camp. The reason is we are so much more susceptible to temperature and damp. 1 Marino hiking is great, but as soon as that rain falls, your first thought should be change to synthetic socks. Marino holds too much moisture for our feet. And swap those 2 socks out regularly during the day. And the 2 camp socks, well a couple of degrees either way is enough to make out feet look like we have leprosy. Have light and heavy and have them ready to swap at any time during the night. And don't use any steroids for a day before hiking but have them handy for that itch if needed.

@needtokeepwalking

9 ай бұрын

Oh and boots are evil. Trail runners are life

I feel like I'm witnessing what happens to a lot of youtubers when they decide to go full time - the quality of the content doesn't keep up with the quantity... A 3 minute video stretched out to be 10.

@BackcountryExposure

10 ай бұрын

Thanks for the feedback, and thanks for watching.