Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Dealing with Blisters when Traveling

Blisters can ruin a hiking trip. That’s what almost happened to a friend of mine who tackled a 10+-day hike in northern Spain. He developed a very large blister on the sole of his foot. I ended up giving him blister tips via WhatsApp that allowed him to complete his trip with minimal discomfort.

Basically, once a blister forms and becomes quite large, it needs to be pierced, so that the fluid can drain. However, he was doing this with a sterilized needle, but it wasn’t working. I determined that the reason was that the gauge of the needle was too small to allow adequate drainage. And also that a callus formed over the blister as he repeatedly hiked on it day after day. (It was the body’s way of protecting the skin.) I suggested he find a pharmacy that sells manicure supplies, including a small cuticle clipper. Then, after adequately cleaning the skin with soap and water and also cleaning the clipper with alcohol, he could ever so gently make a nick in the side of the blister, which would allow the fluid to drain. He did this and it provided some relief but there was still pain -- from the overlying callus tissue. So I suggested that, again, after carefully cleaning the skin and the clipper, he gently attempt to debride the callus to reduce its thickness and size. After that, he would need to protect the area, either with a little foam donut or with a gel pad, such as Compeed, or with a dab of Aquafor. And this all worked!

My advice for blisters is to prevent them from getting getting so large. When I find a hot spot on my foot, I immediately apply Aquafor to reduce friction. And to prevent blisters in the first place, I wear Merino wool socks that wick away sweat and that have no seams nor do they bunch up. Two companies that I love are Smart Wool and Feetures.


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Sunday, July 21, 2019

Gear Review: Wool Underwear for Hot Summer Temperatures

With temperatures soaring above 90 F in large swaths of the U.S. this summer, many people may be surprised to learn that I’m perfectly comfortable wearing Merino wool underwear. Yes, you read that correctly: wool underwear. This natural fiber easily wicks away sweat, keeping you perfectly cool, dry, and comfortable, whether you’re running for a bus or hiking a strenuous trail. I prefer SmartWool undergarments because they are a Colorado-based company with the garments made in America. They manufacture a select variety of underwear styles for men and women: bikinis, bras and boxer shorts. These undergarments don’t retain odor and they dry rapidly when washed. The fibers also stand the test of time. (I have two pairs of underwear that I bought more than five years ago, and they still wear well despite being repeatedly washed.)





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Sunday, July 7, 2019

Gear Review: Multi-Functional Tool

I believe in always being prepared. So, it's no wonder that I'm always on the lookout for multi-functional tools that are small, lightweight and are allowed in my carry-on. I recently visited an outdoor gear trade show and found the Mullet, a Gerber product that fits on a key ring and provides more than half a dozen tools that I might need whether I'm on a bike trip, hiking, staying at a hostel, driving, going on a photo shoot, or preparing a picnic in the forest. It's only three-inches long and weighs a little over half an ounce. There's nothing pointy so it won't be confiscated by airport security when I put my carry-on through the scanner. Among the tools it includes is a bottle opener, hex wrench, a couple of screwdrivers, and a wire stripper. Of course, don't expect this to be something for every task that should come up. There's no nail file, or ail clipper,  and, of course, no knife. But it's inexpensive, light and small. And Gerber is a company that has a history of high quality tools.



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