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Feet - You Can't Get Anywhere Without Them!
Feet and Boots
I am not a podiatrist, but based on my discussions with Docs and many years of experience in moving out, I will offer the following for you aspiring SF wannabes. Your feet serve to support you and your load, absorb shock, and to provide balance and forward motion. Your feet need to be tough, yet protected, and cared for. This is achieved by rucking in well broken in, but not broken down boots, by monitoring your feet's status, and knowing how to care for them when problems arise. Get at least two, if not three pairs of leather combat or jungle boots to train in. Break in techniques vary, but use plenty of softening agents like saddle soap and Neat's Foot oil. Rotate the different pairs of boots from day to day. Ensure that you do not injure your feet needlessly breaking in the new boots. Make sure that the boots are comfortable, getting the proper insoles or orthotics as required. Ideally, the boots you bring to SFAS should have between 50% and 75% of their service life remaining. People arrive every class with new boots, improperly fitted boots, and just plain worn out boots. These people are usually limping around the compound by the end of the first week, if they are still there at all. Sizing is also critical. Try on new boots with the socks you intend to wear. Get them slightly large, as most people's feet will swell a half size or so on extended walks. I know guys who wore their boots without socks in the field. They were a rarity, and I never saw any of them move out hard and fast. Socks are just as important. Bring new, clean, correctly sized socks, and as many pairs as are permitted. They will help absorb some of the punishment, and thin, ratty, old socks do little to assist in protecting your feet. HSLD, Gore-Tex, sock liners, or aftermarket socks are not permitted. As you break in your boots, you will notice painful contact points and "hot spots" forming. STOP and treat them as soon as the pain becomes noticeable. While rucking, you should plan on stopping for a break for five minutes per hour or so. Do not waste that time sitting on your rucks. Take the ruck off, take your boots off, and examine your feet. If they look good, let them air out for a minute or so, powder them, and consider changing socks. You will ruck longer, faster, and more often if you have a workout partner. Foot care is also improved by having your partner check your feet as well. NEVER ruck with wet or recently wet feet. As many members can attest, even well conditioned feet are vulnerable and soft after a good soaking (like swimming). Do not try to combine training activities, and carry a spare pair of boots and several pairs of socks to swap into should the ones you are wearing become soaked. Any hot spot areas starting to redden should be closely monitored, and moleskin applied as needed. See an infantryman or medic for advice. An experienced SF Medic is probably the best source for advice. Some people also use Vaseline or deodorant on their feet to protect them. Once you have started to blister, you will be losing training time waiting for them to heal so that you can resume training. Do not let them get that bad. You do not want to learn what a Doc can use Tincture of Benzoin and a syringe for. Start short, slow, and light, and work up to long, fast, and heavy. If you screw up, and are say, 10 miles into your 20 mile walk when you notice significant blistering, I hope you have a cell phone and a buddy with a car. You will screw up your feet for at least 2-3 weeks by walking back. Areas that get a lot of friction and contact will start to harden and calluses will form over time. This is good. The dead material of the callus will absorb the friction and impact that would hurt the skin on your feet. Most people find that issue boots will cause calluses to form on the balls of the feet, the heel, under the toes, and on the outside of the boot, depending on the contact points of the boots on your feet. As you walk, the boots and your feet will develop a symbiotic relationship. The boots will soften and begin to flex where required, and the contact points on your feet will toughen up. Eventually, your boots will be almost as comfortable as a pair of slippers, and your feet will be tough as nails. You will not need a pedicure, though you will need to keep your nails trimmed properly to prevent injury or damage. In summary, thoroughly break in several pair of properly fitted new boots, get some new socks and foot care products, and condition your feet well prior to coming to SFAS. The course is difficult enough without either being the one guy (minimum) every hut has sniveling about his feet, or the one gutting it out, but dragging ass at the back of the group. Good luck, and get moving. |
TR Sir,
Thank you for your invaluable insight. I have posted a link here to a book which expounds upon proper foot care. I was suprised not to have found this book posted elsewhere when searching by author or title. This came recommded to me by a recent SFAS selectee. Called "Fixing Your Feet," the book is written by an adventure racer and details recommendations for solutions to just about any foot related problem from ingrown toe nails and blisters to shin splints and knee pain. I believe this to be an excellent resource for any soldier especially those with SF aspirations. It is an outstanding read with thorough research and information. Perhaps better posted in book reviews, I thought this fitting for those headed to Ph 1. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...324380-8824856 |
Looks good Boat Guy. Thanks for the tip.
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This past summer when I went backpacking with my Boy Scout Troop I was instructed to remain standing if the "rest" was going to be a short rest. For us short rest where 5 minutes. I was insturucted to take my pack off and take my boots off when we took long rest. Long rest where 20 but no more than 30 minutes. It worked fairly good. Does anyone know of anything better or different?
Just the fact of knowing you where taking your pack and boots off, almost always made me feel like I had more energy. :D |
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Situation permitting, we always took a knee at any stop, and would take the ruck off if down for more than a minute or two. Rest breaks were 10 minutes or so, every hour. 20-30 minutes were not rest stops, they were for meals or to do something that took that long. If tactical, I never had both boots off at the same time unless I was swimming. Maybe in an admin situation for foot checks. TR |
Thats good medicine, the information will be a big help. Sunday im leaving on job to survey pipeline, we will be coving about 15-25 miles a day which should be good conditioning.
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One more Resource
FYI. Here's another resource on foot care...
"How do I take Care of My Feet?" is the title of Chapter 7 in GET SELECTED FOR SPECIAL FORCES, which covers: > Pre-Road March Foot Care Drill > During Movement Foot Care > After Movement Foot Care > Blister Prevention > The 2 causes of blisters and how to minimize or eliminate each > Blister Treatment > 3 methods of lacing your boots with pros and cons for each > Reducing the chances of Stress Fractures > Preventing Toe Nail loss. > Reducing Chances of twisted ankles Chapter 8 is the "Anatomy of a Boot", which covers: > Why it helps you to know the Anatomy of a boot > The basic construction of a Boot > 4 different types of soles and the pros and cons of each > Proper Boot Sizing > How to break in an new pair of boots > Boot inspections, care and field expedient repairs Additional details are available at www.warrior-mentor.com Cast or tab, JM |
Feet - You Can't Get Anywhere Without Them!
Damn my ole dogs must of been tough!! I' can't recall any problems with my feet or boots. My first issue boot were the boots with the buckles around the calf's,rough leather bottoms. The only problem with then were they were a BITCH to shine.
I always found boots laced tight,clean socks worked for me. BMT FOG |
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72W |
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BTW, the word you are looking for is were, not where. TR |
“Remain standing? Hard to do foot checks like that, isn't it? Unless I am very well broken in, I like to check feet every 60-90 minutes.”
No doubt it would have been hard to do foot checks while standing, on the trip we did not do foot checks. Everyone was instructed on what a hot spot was and how to deal with it. When some one had a foot problem or problem with their gear they would either call out to take a rest to fix the problem or they would wait until the next rest to fix the problem. And most of the crewmembers did the latter. I am not saying what we did was correct or proper but we made it to the end of the trail. After thinking about what our crew did and what you are suggesting it is obvious that your way makes the most sense for people that are in excellent physical shape and trained well. The Boy Scouts use the method I described to deal with the different levels of physical shape and training level of each person on a crew. Thank you for the advice that all of you have given. The Boy Scouts are good but is there really a question of whose advice I am going to follow. “BTW, the word you are looking for is were, not where.” Thank you for the correction. I have no excuse but I am trying to prevent the problem by writing replies in Microsoft Word and then copying them over. 72W |
Sure.
Why would Boy Scouts need to check their feet for blisters as often as SF soldiers? People who are less conditioned need more rest breaks and foot checks, not fewer. Waiting till the next scheduled rest break to check out a hot spot will frequently turn them into blisters. I believe I will quit wasting my time trying to help you and will let you use your vast Boy Scout experience to answer your own questions from now on. Drive on, kid. TR |
“Why would Boy Scouts need to check their feet for blisters as often as SF soldiers? People who are less conditioned need more rest breaks and foot checks, not fewer.”
I agree with you, we should have checked each other’s feet during rest. There isn’t anything that I can do now to change the past all I can do is remember all this good information that you and others have provide and follow it in the future. “Waiting till the next scheduled rest break to check out a hot spot will frequently turn them into blisters.” I only did that once. Took care of the small blister when we rested. The next day when I felt a hot spot I did not hesitate to call for a break to take care of the problem. “I believe I will quit wasting my time trying to help you and will let you use your vast Boy Scout experience to answer your own questions from now on.” I believe the comment I made, “The Boy Scouts are good but is there really a question of whose advice I am going to follow.” may have been misunderstood. When it comes between who has the best advice, I am going to agree with QP’s before I agree with the Boy Scouts. I was just offering the information of my backpack trip to give others some ideas, obviously what we did was not the best way to do things. I believe it was a mistake to compare what the Boy Scouts do and what QP’s do. My apologies for the confusion and misunderstanding that I created. 72W |
Regarding socks in general, when in the service i bought some good Thorlos socks, particularly for a 25 mile movement to be made in the course we were in.
Well, they were of great use sitting at home and not on the base, the date for the march was earlier than expected and all i had were some normal thickness socks, borrowed a pair of thicker socks from a platoon mate who was not coming with us due to a fractured leg. Oh, and the boots were Nokia rubber boots. Did develope hot spots during the march, taped them with the items i had with me and they did not bother significantly, only at the last 4 miles which we speed marched/ran, i started to notice them more. |
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^^^I'd just like to say that The Reaper's advice is about the best anybody could recieve, anywhere, period. Read, and re-read his post about 1,000 times. Then read it some more. I always had tough feet and never went on sick call for blisters, ever. Too many guys are lazy and expect some aftermarket socks or "high speed" whatever to take the place of walking in boots with a heavy ALICE pack on. It won't. My secret??? LOTS of miles rucking up and down hills with a 80-100lb ruck and wearing well-broken in jungle boots with clean, serviceable, issue socks. I've seen guys with feet that looked like hamburger meat, because they were lazy and didn't think it would get that bad. As The Reaper says, you will be lucky if you last a week with weak, blistered feet. Hope you like intense pain too, cause you'll get a boatload!!! Rucking with blisters is bad enough, but when the medic has to scrub the wound to prevent infection??? Priceless!!!! Don't learn the "hard way." Prepare!!! Broken-in boots, new, issue socks, and hard work is the only way to get tough feet. There is never a substitute for hard work and thick callouses. :lifter |
Duct Tape
Prior to the "Get Selected" book coming out (Outstanding job sir and MSG), I did my own research on blisters for about 2 and a half weeks. One source talked about the only solution he found for blisters was to put duct tape on his feet where a hot spot would build up. I questioned some medical personel about this and they said it was not advisable as the feet didn't breathe. I figured they never humped a ruck except in Basic, so I would take it with a grain of salt.
Prior to my ankle injury, I was rucking 2-3 times a week with minimum distances of 5 miles and go out to 14+. :lifter My feet eventually toughened (now softened up like daisies), :boohoo but I tried the duct tape method when I hit hot spots and blisters. Duct tape worked like a charm and allowed me to move out like a herd of buffalo for miles and miles. I noticed in "Get Selected" duct tape was not even mentioned. Any advice and insight is always appreciated. SS |
I would avoid 100mph/duct tape.
Search this site for details, but suffice it to say, it offers no padding, contains adhesive compounds not certified for human medical use, and will be a mother to get off without ripping the blister apart. The only good application I have seen for it on boots is to emergency repair a set that have disintegrated during a movement. Use it at your own risk, there is plenty of moleskin available. TR |
I posted a question regarding Duct tape/100mph tape in this thread a few days ago.
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...7747#post87747 In the book Fixing your Feet, they discuss using duct tape as a preventative medicine. Personally, I've had great success with it. Sometimes, in the dead of the night, I wonder if the folks at selection don't want you to use duct tape because it works too well. . . nah, that couldn't be it. :D That said, TR's comment is well founded. After having worked in ship yards, trust me when I say chemicals can be scary and transdermal absorbtion is a real thing. My skin doesn't react to the adhesives in duct tape (so far as I can tell. . . perhaps future children will grow a third arm?), but then again, I've never used bonafide 100 mph tape, which I understand has some form of epoxy-type adhesive. Books |
I don't recommend 100 mph tape for blisters.
It's good stuff if you're in a bind for wrapping an ankle after a twist...especially if you need a field expedient method and don't have regular supplies to tape it, etc. Wrap the 100mph tape over the boot...not the foot or ankle itself. It's a good idea to learn HOW TO wrap an ankle. Watch someone whose trained how to do it correctly. Doing it wrong can also cause problems...especially if you cut off the blood flow. In addition to the adhesive, the other problem with it is that it doesn't have any give. This prevents your foot from expanding & contracting as it normally does while walking...which can create bigger problems. My $.02. |
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Stop dispensing advice unless you check with an Admin here first, or successfully complete the SFQC and some team deployments while doing the crazy things you are suggesting, without ill-effect to yourself or others, whichever comes first. Your advice is going to get someone hurt and I don't want them to have gotten it here, or to have to carry their asses back to the dispensary when I find them looking like a road kill along the trail. Anyone else with any wazoo suggestions who isn't a QP needs to take note and ask an Admin first. TR |
Question for one of the docs. (if this is better off in the med thread please move)
When in SFAS-prep mode, I used to, in addition to a progressive program of boot break in and rucking , paint tincture of benzoin on the bottoms and rub points of my feet (toes, heels etc.) at a miinimum every morning. Every evening after my after-work ruck I used to soak my feet in warm water and epsom salts. My feet did get pretty damn caloused (sp?) and in addition, turned a very nice shade of orange I never knew why i was soaking my feet in epsom salts.... I think I heard that somewhere and figured what the hell. To be sure, I followed a progressive regimine of walking and was very careful of not turning my feet to hamburger. I let my feet get hot spots, took care of them and then kept on walking as per all the good advice in this thread. Oh, and I did carry and rub a lucky rabbit's foot. Not sure if that has any medical significance, but I thought I mention it just in case. Was I doing any good / harm with the tincture and epsom salts stuff that I was doing ? How about that rabbit's foot? Reading this thread has got me curious. thanks |
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Bag Balm
I searched the forums for this and couldn't find anything on it. I was recently recommended a product called BAG BALM to condition and care for feet. Have any of you had any experience using this product?
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Edited to add - Now I'm annoyed. A two second Google on your part would have saved me five minutes of hunting and pecking on this keyboard. I need to take attitude lessons from some of the Admins. |
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TR |
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Kids today are lazy. Imagine having to go to the library every time you wanted an answer to a question. Instead of googling or searching it, they just ask here. Hey, what time is it? I don't want to have to turn my wrist to look at my watch. TR |
WHINE WHINE WHINE
Bottom line is get off the a**, put on your boots, pick up your ruck, not the one with the pillows in it, and hit the trails.
put your feet through diiferent terrain: -hills -SAND (hint, hint) -gravel etc. It's no good just to walk on flat surfaces. Cause when you go down to SFAS, #1 rule NO ROADS. If your feet are just used to flat roads, and then you start trecking through the woods. You'll get hot spots and blisters in new spots you could have prevented. Not an expert but it makes sense!! He who gives up, must live with that the rest of his life!! |
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My question was if any of YOU had any experience using it. Sorry to get everyone all riled up. I know what it is because I did search online for it and visited the website but I wanted to see if any of the members here have actually used it and what they thought of it. The person that recommended it to me has extensive experience in the unconventional forces and was I wanting to know your opinions because I always look for more than one source when recommended something.
Once again sorry for starting a slew of flames thrown my way but I thought it was an honest question. |
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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
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"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. |
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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 |
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