Not so happy feet?
Having foot issues? As many hikers set out on their thru-hiking season I keep hearing about tragic foot pain. In an effort to reduce some of the tears, I wanted to share a few things that have worked well for my persnickety feet.
Rinse The Grit Away
Try carrying two pairs of socks. Switch them mid-day, and rinse the morning pair out. If you have extra water, give your feet a mid-day wash too. During the dry desert sections just whack the heck out of your socks to get the dust out instead of washing them with your precious water. I still switch them anyway, and wash them near the next water source- remember- don’t wash them directly in the water sources!!! Yuck- toe funk in your water-Eeeeew!
I find that washing my socks regularly helps them last miles and miles longer (like 150-300miles longer!), and keeps my feet happier.
Take Your Shoes Off!
One of my other foot care secrets is to have at least two breaks a day when my shoes come off, my insoles are pulled out & shaken off, and my feet & shoes can have some time apart. I usually give myself a foot massage & elevate them on my pack. Chilling in that lounging reclining position for a bit seems to really help my body get a better rest & lets my feet deflate a bit.
Keep ’em clean with Dirty Girls
Using lightweight gaiters (like Dirty Girl Gaiters) can help keep grit & seeds out of your socks & shoes. Blisters can be caused by dirt creating friction between your skin and the shoe wall, sometimes called the “pearl of pain”. Gaiters can help keep those friction causing agents at bay, but thick gaiters can […]
Backpack Gear Tour
Come check out my backpack tour. This video is about 20 minutes long, and I go into detail about why I brought what I brought on the Bigfoot Trail. I explain things like my layering system, water treatment, shelter and sleep systems, and everything else that makes up my gear for a 400 mile summer walk.
Choose Gear Wisely
Nothing weighs nothing, but some things are essential to bring with you on a journey. Even if you aren’t shooting for an ultralight backpack, there are always a few items you can change or ditch. My hope with this movie is to share my packing process and shed some light on what I bring and what can be done without.
If you want more help whittling down your gear, please contact me at info@sageclegg.com
Blisters 101
Blisters 101: Learn 3 tips to tape blisters & hot spots
This is a short lesson on foot care and blister taping. Recently on a ski trip in the cascades I develpoed a hot spot in the side of my foot. There are 3 tips I wanted to share that work well for my feet, and hopefully help you next time you start feeling the beginnings of a blister. I explain more in the video, but here’s a summary:
1) Put something soft over the blister or hotspot (like the fuzzy side of the mole skin, a bit of the non-sticky side of medical tape, gauze, or a bandaid
2) Lay the tape as flat & smooth as possible
3) Round edges in high friction zones & smash tape to skin
Youtube Adventure School in 2015
One of my New Years resolutions is to start sharing more tips & tricks about adventuring. I worked as a backpacking instructor for many years & miss teaching dearly. I’m hoping that I will learn to teach to a camera at least half as well as I used teach people in person. My goal is to share some of the knowledge I have gleaned over my past few years of walking. Blisters 101 is my first YouTube lesson of 2015, enjoy!
If you have questions or comments email me, comment on my YouTube channel, or contact Sage Clegg Adventures on Facebook.