Care for Your Feet

I’m writing this as I sit near a wallow in hopes of seeing a deer or maybe seeing more elk AGAIN today… a week before opener. I’ll admit I haven’t worn my boots enough this season, and I’ve been very careful with my feet. Here’s what I’m doing to protect them, and why.

Before I leave the truck

Before I even unpacked my bow this morning, I gave my feet the full attention that they needed. I applied a sprinkle of Gold Bond Foot Powder, “Triple Action Relief,” on both the top and bottom of my foot, especially on the toes. I also gave a quick squirt of powder into each boot before putting my foot inside. This helps to keep my feet from becoming sweaty, which can lead to hot spots and the dreaded BLISTER. It doesn’t hurt that it helps with the smell a bit too and keeps me from growing all sorts of bacteria and fungi on my foot that I don’t want either.

On the mountain

Once I’m on the mountain and hiking around, I need to be aware of how my foot shifts and rubs in my boot. It is inevitable for the laces to begin to come loose, which in turn gives your feet a little too much wiggle-room. I stop every hour or so and untie, unlace, fix my socks, relace and retie my boots. This helps to make sure my boots are fitting like they should all day. If the shoe becomes loose and your foot moves around, you may be opening yourself up to the possibility of blisters and even a sprain or other injury due to a lack of support. Not to mention it will just be uncomfortable and will affect how you hunt, hike, or fish the rest of the day.

Going down the mountain

Before starting my descent (or multiple descents, depending on the terrain), I will untie everything again and make sure to focus on tightening the laces around the toe box of the boot. If the shoes aren’t tight, especially in the front, your toes will just dig into the toe of your boot. That could also lead to blisters, damaged toenails, and unnecessary pain.

At home

Once I’ve returned to my truck and driven home, I will make sure to pull the insoles out of my boot to dry. I will also sprinkle more Gold Bond foot powder in them to help absorb moisture and keep my shoes smelling clean for the next trip.

So that’s it. Just make sure to take a few minutes during your outing to take care of your feet. Whether you’re hunting, hiking, backpacking, or fishing, the health of your feet can make or break your experience.