Okay so as you all may know, I have signed up for a 50 mile walk in the Pennines that needs to be completed in 24 hours. I must admit I have been a bit hit and miss with my training but recently have started taking it seriously. Kind of have to...the event is in 3 week..eek!
Anyway, training has been going well, I have noticed my physical strength has definitely increased...I will never like hills but the less said about that the better! After some initial struggles with hip flexor pain and muscle aches I have overcome all my early training woes. Except one...Blisters. Every walk the buggers get me. For example, a couple for weeks ago I did 5 walks across the week totalling in at 36 miles, I collected a blister for each walk that had became some super strength mutant blister by the end of the week.
I normally start feeling them around the 5 mile stage, and whilst I have learnt to walk through the dull ache the blister gives me, it is not optimal walking conditions, especially for 50 miles.
The most annoying thing is the blisters are always in the same place...my little toes. Basically, the fleshy part of my little toe ends up rubbing under the toe next to it the result being a blister. Now my shoes fit great, unfortunately, this is how my toes just seem to naturally go...I'm guessing years of wearing stupidly high heels haven't helped (FYI, little toes ask the bunions, they will fill you all in about that!). I have searched high and low for a solution on walking forums (yes I've become one of those people) for solutions. One suggestion was a product called moleskin which acts as an extra layer of padding to reduce friction. The didn't work that great as it slid off as soon as my foot got sweaty. So my next trial was the purpose of this review: Injinji toe socks.
Basically, these socks have a five toe sleeve construction to separate out your toes properly. They also are mostly made of Coolmax® material so they wick away sweat from your feet. In theory they prevent the two things which have caused blisters for me: friction and moisture.
First of all I have to give credit to Base Layer, the company I ordered these from for their insanely quick delivery time. I ordered them late evening on a Bank Holiday Monday and had them Wednesday morning.
So now to the review. The first time I wore these they felt surprisingly normal. I tried them out on a 6 mile walk and success, no blisters, for the first time in my training. Unfortunately, this didn't last, I then did an 11 mile walk and the damned blisters returned. However, I should add they were a lot smaller and less intense then I have previously experienced. Perhaps if you don't have as problematic toes as I do to begin with they are more effective. These aren't cheap though at £10.50 a pair but I have been impressed just by the reduction in my blister size.
My next plan is to try combining the toe socks with other methods. Gonna try using talcum powder on my feet before putting socks on to absorb moisture. Also gonna try a moleskin/toe sock combo and see if that works. My search for a blister cure, alas continues....
