AF:

I have "extensive experience in unconventional forces" as well, and I gave you my opinion.

My wife has used it on her hands to keep them soft and young looking, I want my feet to be hard.

If this is how you react to criticism, you might look for another site to ask questions, and really consider whether you are cut out for SF.

TR

During my selection, back in may last year, I saw the strangest thing... when a fellow candidate's feet started to swell after a march with yet another joyous activity ahead of us, he slathered his feet with vaseline... he said it eliminated his hotspots by preventing repetitive friction. I honestly think he was crazy, but If I remember correctly, he made it.
Throughout the Q I maintained that clean socks (Thorlos were my personal favorite), properly worn boots (Jungles I had been wearing daily, whether in uniform or civilian attire) and intermittent powdering kept me going no matter what the distance or condition.

I have a question that might be kind of silly but i'll go ahead and ask anyway. I found boots I really like and fit better than any sneaker i've ever had, when I bought my second pair of them the new pair didn't fit as well as the first pair so I recently bought inserts for them ( dr scholls memory fit ). I put the inserts in without taking the old ones out to see how the boots would fit and its a snug fit like the original pair. My question is, are there any efffects of having two pairs of inserts in the boot? I haven't done a march in them yet in fact i haven't really wore them out yet ( with the both inserts in ). Thanks for any comments

"I believe in the basics: attention to, and perfection of tiny details that might commonly be overlooked. They may seem trivial, perhaps even laughable to those who don't understand, but they aren't. they are fundamental to your success. They are the difference between champions and near champions.

"For example, at the start of each season, I personally demonstrated how I wanted players to put on their socks each and every time: carefully roll the socks down over the toes, ball of the foot, arch around the heel, then pull the sock up snug so there will be no wrinkles of any kind.

"I would have the players check with their fingers for any folds orr creases in th esock, starting at the toes and sliding th ehand along the side of and under the foot, smoothing th esock out as the fingers passed over it. I paid special attentin to the heel because that is where wrinkles are most likely.

"I would watch as the player smoothed the sock under and along the back of the heel. I wanted it done conscentiously, not quickly or casually. I wanted absolutely no folds, wrinkles or creses of any kind on the sock.

"Then we would proceed to the other foot and do the same. I would demonstrate for the players and have the players demonstrate for me.

"This may seem like a nuisance, trivial, but I had a very practical reason for being meticulous about this. Wrinkles, folds and creases can cause blisters. Blisters interfere with performance. Since there was a way to reduce blisters, something we could control, it was our responsibility to do it. Otherwise we would not be doing everything possible to prepare in the best way."

- John Wooden
10 Time NCAA Championship Coach

All the advice above and in Get Selected (Aarid XXX, isopropyl alcohol, etc...) seems to have worked well thus far (my feet seem like rocks) for me, but is it possible to have feet too tough and dry? Is there a fine line between tough and dry, cracked, and bleeding?

I know I don't want pretty salon pampered feet (who the hell does?), but is there some merit to crap like this?
http://www.rangerjoes.com/total-foot...am-p-1594.html Or is it better to be too dry than not dry enough?

Thank you for your time.

Maybe after selection you'll want soft, gentle feet.

Most guys have problems with feet being too soft resulting in huge blisters. Cracks are nothing compared to the blisters that can make the bottom of your feet feel on fire as they peel away layers of skin...

There are lots of things for sale on the internet...

... perhaps you can get some of this Magic Cure All :rolleyes:

It's recommended frequently by 9 out of 10 SF Medics.

___________________________________________
On a serious note, the only time I had a problem with cracking skin on my feet was the result of a bad case of athlete's foot. I'll take cracked feet over blisters any day. BTW, good hygiene and clean socks will prevent athlete's foot...and yes, you have to wash your feet with soap.

:D touché.

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate your time.

Interesting quote...

Here's a variation I'd like to share...

"An ounce of discipline is worth a pound of regret."

I did the death march hike between Sandakan and Ranau (criss crossing along an old POW route) over 10 days and covering 250 kilometers in North Borneo in 2005 and one of the big problems most of us had were blisters and lost toe nails.

Anyone have any comments on dealing with lost toe nails and/or preventative measures to avoid them?

The nice thing about toe nails is that they grow back. Some folks are prone to losing them (such as myself) and others never give it a second thought.

As I understand it medically, the pressure created during the movement (or motorcycle accident, ruck dropped on it, etc.) causes swelling/hematoma that separates the nail from the nail bed. As it loses its anchor, the nail falls away, the toe heals and the nail regrows. Takes a few months. During the last couple of years in the course, I've lost several. So it goes.

As for PM. . . remove the initial insult. Since you seem like the kind of fellow who enjoys 250 klick movements over a week and a half, never mind.

Basic foot care works. Trim your nails (correctly: straight across the toe, not curved), clean your feet, everything TR said. . .

One terrible secret though (and I know I'll get a ration of sh-t for this). . . I got this idea from the aforementioned Fixing Your Feet. About a week before I anticipate going into the field, I spend the fifteen bucks to have a nice Vietnamese lady give me a pedicure. They soak your dogs and buff out the rough edges; fewer rough edges, fewer opportunities for blisters. Kind of gay? Not so much, so long as you skip the toe nail polish.

Books

Oh, it wasnt what I expected. We had no shade in the entire "march" and we were pushing 6-8km/per hour over 25-35km per day just to beat the heat and it was brutal. We probably picked the worst week possible with zero cloud cover and no rain so it wont rank as one of my best experinces but it was an experince.

I lost both my big toe nails (one dropped out a few days after we finished) and my end toe nails and had them bandaged and cleaned daily but it was such a bitch to have to walk with shoes on; ended up doing the last two days in ACG sandals and then got my feet sunburnt so I was not only dumb but silly not to think of getting sunburnt as well...

But I think I was just to exhausted and was not thinking straight more than anything by the time we got past day five.

The blisters were just out of this world and the borneo heat and humidity doesnt help one bit.

Gentlemen,
I'm glad you brought this up, I was a bit curious. I'm serving with the 29th INF right now, a bunch of the older guys swear by a pedicure every now and again. I've gone and gotten a few myself, but with all the moisture they put into your feet, would it be working against the hardening process too much, or would it prevent the "too dry and cracked" scenario previously mentioned. Just curious, I appreciate your input.
SPC Fonz.

Save your money....
 

Walking in the field -vs- rucking in the Q-course are two totally different animals.

Stay safe.

Everything Guy wrote is pretty much right on the money (pardon the pun). Fellows have been going through the Q course for years now without fancy pedicures. They're just nice to have. They're even better when you're a little drunk (think massage for your feet). As far as moisture goes, as soon as you dump some Desenex or Gold bond powder, you're back to square one. The pedicure's real benefit is that it smooths out your foot so those thick ass callouses blend better with the rest of your foot. If you're a penny pinching Nasty Guard SPC like me (15 bucks is a box of ammo), you'll skip it, drive on and remember when you had disposable income for such things. If you have the cash and don't care what they call you in the barracks, have fun.

Books

Books:

I am in NO way saying; get a pedicure! I've walked "damn near" every course that required rucking in the US Army. The callouses that are developed from rucking serves a purpose plus; I can cut my own toenails...

"If you want pretty, soft, and smooth feet! Find another line of work!"

Stay safe.