Moleskin vs. Bandaid Friction Block

[LovinPooh]

Ds used moleskin last year... seemed to help quite a bit.

 

[pinksand]

Just FYI, Mole skin is Never applied directly to the skin!

It is to be used when you feel a hot spot coming on and you apply it to the shoe/sandal.

Cut a piece just a bit bigger then the hot spot/or blister if you don't get it in time and apply directly accross on the shoe.

Hope this helps.

I did not know this!! Great info. I always carry it on my long trips.

OP, walking socks are GREAT! Used them at Disneyland, Comic-Con and I'm bringing them on our WDW trip in 2 days. Thorlos makes a good one. I introduced my DH to them and now he is a huge fan:
http://www.thorlo.com/walking-socks.php

 

[LSUfan4444]

Has anyone had great results with either preventing blisters on the bottoms of feet?

Every time we go to Disney, no matter which shoes I wear, I end up with blisters and calluses on the bottoms of my feet. To date, I have been treating them after they form with blister bandages and padded foam rings.

Heading back in a month and want to take a pro active approach this time. My plan is to wear Birkenstocks the whole time since this is my normal daily footwear. I hope to not be limping around Disney, which is usually the case by Day 2.

I would use both if I thought moleskin would stick properly after applying friction block. Has anyone ever tried this?

Do you normally wear cotton socks in disney? Do you get pedicures often and if you do are the calluses removed?

You want calluses and you don't want cotton socks if you don't want blisters.

 

[Lintasare]

I have used Body Glide, Moleskin and blister bandaids. I wear well fitted shoes and moisture wicking socks. No matter what I do I get blisters. I am a lost cause.

 

[FigNewton]

Just FYI, Mole skin is Never applied directly to the skin!

It is to be used when you feel a hot spot coming on and you apply it to the shoe/sandal.

Cut a piece just a bit bigger then the hot spot/or blister if you don't get it in time and apply directly accross on the shoe.

Hope this helps.

The illustrations/instructions on mole skin packages disagree with you. The intention is so that the hot spot isn't rubbing anything... it's rubbing the moleskin you place over it.

 

[Granny square]

My lifesaver is to slather liquid bandage over the danger zones. Mine is the front of my foot near my ties. Happy happy happy!

 

[Bubbles331]

I was talking to the salesman at the shoe store yesterday, and he said SOCKS make all the difference. He said even if you don't have the good expensive ones the next best thing is to just make sure you have an extra pair or two of socks and change them throughout the day. He also said he'll throw in a pair of flip flops in his bag when he needs to give his feet a break from his current shoes. I thought that was a good idea.

 

[DonnaMac35]

Has anyone had great results with either preventing blisters on the bottoms of feet?

Every time we go to Disney, no matter which shoes I wear, I end up with blisters and calluses on the bottoms of my feet. To date, I have been treating them after they form with blister bandages and padded foam rings.

Heading back in a month and want to take a pro active approach this time. My plan is to wear Birkenstocks the whole time since this is my normal daily footwear. I hope to not be limping around Disney, which is usually the case by Day 2.

I would use both if I thought moleskin would stick properly after applying friction block. Has anyone ever tried this?

We have major foot problems. I wear crocs or Tevas. The Tevas are sort of hard. I did not know not to stick mole skin directly to your skin so we have been doing that for years. We have been enough to know our trouble spots and address them before they give us a problem on day one. I live the thin moleskin but hubby likes thick. Also, crazy thing we did the last time. We always go back to the hotel for a nap around 1 so I took ice packs and wrapped our feet at nap time and an hour or so at the end of the night. Huge difference. I know it is crazy. You might go to an outdoor, hiking or running store they offer great advice. Good luck

 

[FortForever]

To be honest, I think the younger you are, the more you can get by with just about any shoes at Disney, hence all the ones I see in cheapie flip flops

I think this may be part of the problem. I am 49 and only started having this blister problem about a year ago. I'm confused about why my feet are all of a sudden having so many problems when they never have before. I have not gained weight, just the opposite, I have lost 140 lbs. I'm in better shape than I ever have been and now my feet start acting up!

FWIW no one is talking about using actual Band Aid bandages here. The product mentioned in the OP is a moisture barrier compound like body glide.

That said, there are some bandaid blister products that have adhered to my feet better than mole skin. Mole skin generally ends up a big wadded lump inside my sock after an hour or so. Clearly my experience isn't the same as others, but there it is.

I didn't even catch that! I thought the poster just meant a solid would last longer than a liquid.

Your moleskin experience is not very encouraging. This may sound crazy, but I hikers sometimes put duct tape on their feet. Has anyone tried that? Maybe would stick better? I'm desperate!

Do you normally wear cotton socks in disney? Do you get pedicures often and if you do are the calluses removed?

You want calluses and you don't want cotton socks if you don't want blisters.

I never get pedicures but I do wear cotton socks.

I don't get calluses except at Disney. I get blisters UNDER calluses. Sorry if this is TMI .... I stick in a needle and drain the blister, but the callus will remain and be very painful until I get home and cut it off. It will feel like I am walking on a golf ball with a soreness under it.

I get them between the two "pads" that are closest to my toes and along the outside edge across from the arch (still on the bottom.)

I have used Body Glide, Moleskin and blister bandaids. I wear well fitted shoes and moisture wicking socks. No matter what I do I get blisters. I am a lost cause.

Oh my, I am so worried this is going to be me. If all else fails, I am going to have to rent a scooter in the future. I am just at such a loss. It will be embarrassing riding around on a scooter when my physical condition allows be to walk, I just don't want to spend all my Disney time in pain.

As if the blister problem isn't enough, the trip a couple of weeks ago left me with "runner's toe" on both my feet. Both of my big toenails are completely black at this point and I'm sure will eventually fall off. It was VERY painful the first week, but just looks bad now.

I thought this condition may be because I never wear closed toe shoes. However, after researching it, I found that it happens to many runners even when they are used to running shoes. I don't run, but I do sometimes walk faster than what is comfortable to keep up with DH's pace.

 

[nkereina]

I started my trip in Croc flip flops last year and could feel a blister forming on my foot by my toe within a few hours. I had been fine at home but the added humidity kept my foot moist and with it rubbing on the flip flop, it was a bad combination. I didn't want it to get any worse so I had brought moleskin and cut out a square and I did apply it directly to the skin. Had I applied it to my sock or shoe, it would not have stayed. So, I put it on my skin, put my sock over it, and wore sneakers the rest of the week and I was fine. The blister didn't form any further and I didn't have any other issues.

I can see why they say not to apply mole skin to the skin - very very sticky, hard to peel off, and if you were to put it on over a wound - OUCH. But if you want to use it as a preventative measure, I would just put it on the skin so it doesn't get lost in your sock.

 

[FortForever]

We have major foot problems. I wear crocs or Tevas. The Tevas are sort of hard. I did not know not to stick mole skin directly to your skin so we have been doing that for years. We have been enough to know our trouble spots and address them before they give us a problem on day one. I live the thin moleskin but hubby likes thick. Also, crazy thing we did the last time. We always go back to the hotel for a nap around 1 so I took ice packs and wrapped our feet at nap time and an hour or so at the end of the night. Huge difference. I know it is crazy. You might go to an outdoor, hiking or running store they offer great advice. Good luck

I do have Crocs and love them. Unfortunately, they gave me blisters last summer at Disney so they got removed from the line-up.

I think you do apply moleskin directly to your foot. I have done a ton of research and reading up on blisters and applying it to the shoe would not make sense. Since the friction causes the blister, moleskin on the shoe wouldn't stop that.

Thank you for the ice wrap tip. I have some cold packs from the Dollar Tree for my grandkids that wrap around their leg and secure with velcro. They would be the right size for my feet. I think I will buy a few more and try this. The hard part will be talking myself into a midday break! I am like a kid in a candy store in the parks and hate to leave.

Also, I have already been looking at Teva's. I haven't tried any on yet, but they would solve my problem of wanting an open toe. I have also been looking at Birkenstocks that restrict foot movement more than the ones I usually wear.

Ugh, getting old stinks!!

 

[Granny square]

Several years ago I had to rent an ecv after I ripped the whole layer off of my feet. That was what led me to find a way to deal. There was a spray blister prevention that I bought at the Walgreens down there that I loved but this year they didn't have it. So I had to improvise. That was what led me to the liquid bandage. I just reapplied after my shower. It couldn't slip or wad like moleskin.

 

[Coyotesweat]

I use ASICS women's running socks. Ordered a bunch from amazon. Never wear regular socks now! No blisters!

 

[Coyotesweat]

I use ASICS women's running socks. Ordered a bunch from amazon. Never wear regular socks now! No blisters!

I have Teva sandals too
Not the flip flops, the kind with the cloth straps and Velcro. Find them very comfy.

 

[Kristine316]

Everyone is different and you can get 10 different answers on what works from 10 different people.

Our first Disney trip I didn't really have feet issues. It was January and it was colder so I wore tennis shoes and socks the entire time. Non-cotton socks and New Balance shoes. Ditto for our February trip although I did get a small blister that trip on one of my small toes but, it was nothing a small blister pad didn't fix.

Now.. our trip this past fall was a nightmare for my feet!! I bet I had 5 blisters by the time we left Disney and by the time we left Universal at the end of our trip I was having trouble even walking and getting out of bed in the morning. I was miserable!! That trip it was extremely hot and humid and I was wearing a pair of Clarks sandals, and two different pairs of tennis shoes, with non-cotton socks. I also had mole skin that trip and I found that it would slide off after a short time... ditto with band aids.. although blister pads seemed to stick and help a little.

I wonder if the fact it was so humid was a big reason I was having trouble with my feet.. maybe all the sweating and the rain?? We also stayed an extra three days that trip heading off to Universal after Disney when we normally would head home. I don't know... I tried everything I thought would help and nothing really did.

It was a bummer. I remember standing at Universal for the Shrek 3D show and I honestly couldn't even think my feet hurt so badly!

 

[FortForever]

Several years ago I had to rent an ecv after I ripped the whole layer off of my feet. That was what led me to find a way to deal. There was a spray blister prevention that I bought at the Walgreens down there that I loved but this year they didn't have it. So I had to improvise. That was what led me to the liquid bandage. I just reapplied after my shower. It couldn't slip or wad like moleskin.

I'm surprised Walgreen's didn't have it. I noticed they have an entire aisle of foot care supplies and the largest selection of gel insoles I've ever seen in my life. It was obvious they cater to Disney guests.

I lost a large amount of tissue of the bottom of one of my feet last summer. Thankfully, it was the day we were going home anyway.

Earlier this month, I spent the entire week popping Oxycontin. I always have it as I need two knee replacements although I never have to actually take it. I usually just get it refilled once it expires. It's crazy that I have to take it for blisters and not my knees! Blisters just sound so benign, but it's the only way I've gotten through.

 

[pigletto]

I bought a drug store brand waxy stick that looks a little like a small clear deoderant. We put it on our feet and it does the trick wonderfully!
The only real foot problems I ever had at Disney were from brand new Sanuk Yoga Mat flip flops. They were very comfortable but offered no support. I spent the entire day walking in Epcot one trip and the next day was in agony with shin splints.

 

[FortForever]

Everyone is different and you can get 10 different answers on what works from 10 different people.

Our first Disney trip I didn't really have feet issues. It was January and it was colder so I wore tennis shoes and socks the entire time. Non-cotton socks and New Balance shoes. Ditto for our February trip although I did get a small blister that trip on one of my small toes but, it was nothing a small blister pad didn't fix.

Now.. our trip this past fall was a nightmare for my feet!! I bet I had 5 blisters by the time we left Disney and by the time we left Universal at the end of our trip I was having trouble even walking and getting out of bed in the morning. I was miserable!! That trip it was extremely hot and humid and I was wearing a pair of Clarks sandals, and two different pairs of tennis shoes, with non-cotton socks. I also had mole skin that trip and I found that it would slide off after a short time... ditto with band aids.. although blister pads seemed to stick and help a little.

I wonder if the fact it was so humid was a big reason I was having trouble with my feet.. maybe all the sweating and the rain?? We also stayed an extra three days that trip heading off to Universal after Disney when we normally would head home. I don't know... I tried everything I thought would help and nothing really did.

It was a bummer. I remember standing at Universal for the Shrek 3D show and I honestly couldn't even think my feet hurt so badly!

I feel your pain!! I can't imagine how I would get through it without rx painkillers. If you were just toughing it out, you are stronger than me! I know for sure that without medication, I would have stayed in bed all day. I completely understand the statement that you couldn't think because your feet hurt so bad. Walking many miles on blisters is 100 times worse than walking on my bad knees!

I was wearing little donut shaped pieces of foam with blister bandages over them to hold them in place.

Big question for you -- Did you wear your New Balance at all during the "blister trip?" I have read great things about that brand during my research on this subject.

 

[Kristine316]

I feel your pain!! I can't imagine how I would get through it without rx painkillers. If you were just toughing it out, you are stronger than me! I know for sure that without medication, I would have stayed in bed all day. I completely understand the statement that you couldn't think because your feet hurt so bad. Walking many miles on blisters is 100 times worse than walking on my bad knees!

I was wearing little donut shaped pieces of foam with blister bandages over them to hold them in place.

Big question for you -- Did you wear your New Balance at all during the "blister trip?" I have read great things about that brand during my research on this subject.

No... I don't think I did... I had to think about it a little... I had my Clarks sandals, a pair of Sketchers, and a cheap pair of no name Tennis shoes that I brought because they were really broke in and I thought comfortable... little did I know... lol

The New Balances were not with me... I guess that was a big mistake looking back now. And I wore the sandals on my first day and it poured rain and they got soaked along with my feet... which I think was the big reason I got the blisters to begin with.

I would say looking back on our trips that my New Balance's served me well at Disney... the next trip I will make sure I have them.

 

[Sammie]

I've never worn Birkenstocks (or any sandal) at Disney before. I always know to expect tons of walking so wear tennis shoes. I thought I would change things up this time hoping for a more positive result.

I honestly never thought about the socks. I wear cheap Walmart socks. I guess that would be a mistake. Where would you buy good socks and do you have any brand recommendations?

Good fitting socks are must, and get good ones for running. Also if the weather is warm at all, change them at least once during the day, sweat makes blisters. Also when you get in from the parks, immediately get out of your shoes and wash your feet in cool water. Also make sure your shoes dry out. I never wear the same shoes two days in the a row.

With the measures listed, we have gone over 30 times and never get blisters.