[pct-l] SOCKS

[Tortoise]

My longest day on the PCT was about 14 miles. I haven't had a blister in 
years. I wear Smartwool medium weight hiking socks. They adhere well enough 
to my feet that the sheer of my foot moving around in my shoe occurs within 
the sock rather than in my skin, or maybe between the sock and the shoe. 
Whatever is the reason this works for me. I've also switched to using loose 
fitting shoes and took in o beds out of my shoes. (thanks listers) My feet 
feel better as well as I have slightly better balance since there is less 
give in the shoe to complicate my balance. YMWV.

Tortoise

Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable
President John F Kennedy,  1962

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On 2012.02.15 18:15, Yoshihiro Murakami wrote:
> Dear Diana
>
> I had thought the cause of blister is heat which was generated from
> friction. This idea was also described by Collin Fletcher. But, I have
> noticed this idea was wrong.
>
> I read several papers concerning blister to write chapter 2 ( footwear
> and related device ) in my hiking handbook. Now, I understand the
> mechanical procedure.
>
> The cause of blister is the shear force at the subcutaneous tissue in
> our skin. When the strong force was repeatedly given to this place,
> our skin breaks and separated in two parts. Then the blister emerge.
>
> To prevent blister.
>
> Keep moisture level low. Thus, the coefficient of friction becomes
> smaller,  then the shear force becomes smaller.
>
> To keep moisture level low,
>     Change socks regularly ( I wear GoreTex boots, one pair of socks
> for 3 hours,      then change another pair  )
>     Keep narrow space between socks and footwear. Then the moisture
> goes out automatically.
>
>
>
> 2012/2/16 Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes<diane at santabarbarahikes.com>:
>> The dust you get through your shoes is too fine to cause any
>> problems. Seriously, it's like talcum powder.
>>
>> I really think the blisters on the PCT is a combo of the heat of the
>> trail, the uniform nature of the hiking surface (any "flaws" in the
>> trail tend to go on for 10 miles at a time) and the newness of doing
>> that many miles day after day.
>>
>> I have only gotten blisters on the So Cal section of the PCT and only
>> the first time I hiked it as a long distance hiker. Never again on
>> any section hike, including sections in So Cal. Never again on my
>> second long distance hike. Even though my feet continue to get just
>> as dirty.
>>
>> I believe the main mistake I made as a new hiker was goretex and not
>> wearing loose/big enough shoes. Probably was a mistake that my first
>> pair of shoes were all leather without mesh. Fixing my shoe problems
>> didn't help immediately. I didn't see a resolution of my blisters
>> until after Kennedy Meadows.
>>
>>> I think dust in the socks also adds to many folk's blistering
>>> problems. Of all the people I hike with, the only significant
>>> issues with blisters come from PCT hikers. Especially in the
>>> southern sections. Boots do keep your feet cleaner. Dirty Girl's
>>> seem to help a lot with lower cut shoes.
>>>
>>> The only blistering issue I ever had was while wearing low cut
>>> shoes. Once in section A, and again while wearing low cut shoes
>>> into Bearpaw Meadow, a very dusty trail. Dirty Girls seem to help.
>>>
>>> But I could be wrong.
>>>
>>> Gary
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