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I returned from an elk hunt Saturday, after nine days in the mountains my feet were pretty beat up, not so much the bottoms (thanks to leukotape) but the tops. From my ankle to toes they are kind of bruised and they are numb on top! Anyone ever experience this?
Does this 3 layer deep blister count?
Wear your boots 3-4 days a week for the 6-8 weeks leading up to your hunt and that will not happen.
Idy X 100. and make sure a fair amount of your hikes involve sidehilling...the real bugger for me!
I learned this the hard way.
Mark
If anyone can show me a hill within 100 miles of here I'll hike on it for preparation
Did you wear sock liners or blister tape? those things help alot.
Huntcell 's Link
Heres a link to article on one way tough up those feet.
She hunts spring thru fall barefoot!!! Even did a elk hunt in colorado
Do a search on here from turkeybowmaster on how he sanded his feet to toughen them up. I am not sayin do it just to check it out it's hilarious.
I wear boots all summer and the numbness is just an issue I've gotten used too. Tight boots (ski touring boots, ski race boots, hunting boots) that fit properly on steep country will leave you with some numb spots -- but hopefully no blisters.
Just my two cents though.
I had some hot spots on day 2 so taped them with leukotape .
The bottoms were not an issue, it was the tops, the numbness is weird and it is still numb 4 days later. Never had that before.
You don't have to hike in your boots, although that's better. Just wear them to work and around town and your feet will get used to them.
I would guess the Boot volume is too low. When you tighten the lower laces the boot can sinch down across the forefoot area. My Hanwags are like this. I snug the lower laces, just short of feeling high pressure on top of the foot then knot the laces at this point. Then tighten the corner laces and knot again, then finish the upper laces. The numbness comes from pinching the nerve that runs across the top of the forfoot. Been there with vasque breeze. Took 3 months for the feeling to come back in my big toe.0
Thanks bob, I believe your right, are you a doctor or did you stay at a holiday inn express last night??
I am definitely in the market for a new pair of boots!! One other problem I had was that in the rough country I was in I was constantly getting scraped and poked in the side of the foot by rocks. I have a lot of bruises on the side of my feet from that. A stiffer side would have helped!! My local sporting goods store sells kennetreck so that will be my first stop. Hopefully we can get something that fits properly.
I have always been an advocate of 8 in high boots with good support and plenty of toe room. As above , a good liner sock helps and no cotton socks. And a boot that does not lace all the way down to the toes. I agree with WapitiBob concerning his boot and how he laces them.
I will be hunting for the next 10 days solo but in spike camp I always exchange my hunting boots with a camp slipper, wash my feet and let my boots dry out as well as my feet. A fresh pair of clean socks every other day. (I wash them out and sun dry).
And yea, the leukotape surely can help.
Hope the feet heal.............Paul
Man I'll tell you this, I bought a few pairs of the First Lite socks this year and they work. I used to wear Smartwools with my Kenetreks and I would get hotspots and full blown blisters just like you. I bought 2 pairs to try out and opening w/e I gave them a whirl. 32 miles and not a single hotspot. I wore each pair for two days and by the end of the 2nd day it was time for a good washing but they still were comfortable. I highly recommend them!
My right big toe is still numb on the top from poor boot fit last year. I'm afraid it is permanent nerve damage ?? This year I alternated between my boots and tennis shoes and did better
I hiked a lot of miles in my Asolos the last two weeks with First Lite merino socks... my feet were happy happy happy!
I have been wearing darn tuff socks, they fit well!!!
Paul....are you saying to avoid lace to toe boots???
As others have said, boot fit is probably the problem. But it may be exacerbated by too sedentary a life outside of hunting season. If you lived in your boots all year long in rough country, you would have realized the problem long before your hunt, while breaking the boots in and toughening up your feet. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to do that. But really using your boots, as much as possible ahead of time, can avoid a lot of those issues.
"I'm afraid it is permanent nerve damage ??" Probably not, unless you continue to injure the area. Nerve damage takes a long time to heal. If you habitually have that type of problem, it's not normal. Get boots that fit, or consult with a doc. You may need orthotics.
One foot is feeling pretty good, the other still numb.
Also fell and landed on my tail bone.....that one is going to take a while!!