sore feet and blisters

[helenm29]

I have really delicate feet...which is really strange since I'm on them for 8 hours a day! anyway, I was wondering if anyone had an alternative to Mole Skin? I'm allergic to the sticky stuff they put on it! also, the best shoes to wear? I like Sketchers but there may be something better. Thank you!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Try body glide. It works wonders for my spots that are blister prone

 

[kaetra]

Teva shoes and sandals, comfy open Croc sandals, Body Glide or Band Aid Friction Block stick reapplied many times a day, dry weave socks if wearing closed shoes.

Sit whenever you can, take off your shoes and air out your feet at the parks as often as possible. Rotate shoes often.

I got terrible, debilitating blisters the first two trips, bad enough to actually consider renting an ECV! After I got the Shoes, socks and friction block mentioned above I got only 1 or 2 small, bearable blisters on subsequent trips.

 

[cariann77]

I'm worried about this for our upcoming trip. Last time, I had really terrible blisters. I had Keen and Crocs sandals, bad idea. Not sure what I'll pick up for this trip. I'm especially worried about my kids. They were in a stroller last time. I've checked out Teva might get those for sandals along with some Sketchers tennies for the girls.

 

[MolonLabe]

You can get moleskin without adhesive. Amazon has it.

There are some good suggestions above if you are sandal / croc / slip flop person. My wife can wear them and do 100%. Put her in tennis shoes for half a day and her feet blister. My youngest isn't as bad but does great in them too.

Me on the other hand, my feet will be hating me if I wear sandals (even the best ones) for a full WDW day. My first born is the same way. We need good tennis shoes. Asics has some great shoes but their "Nimbus Gel's" are amazing. I love them.

Buy a model year older pair and you can get them for $89-$99 instead of $179+ for current year model.

 

[CounselorX]

The most important thing is to not wear new shoes to the parks unless you're absolutely sure that there will be no friction. Other than that, regular cloth bandaids work good if you're not allergic to them, and body glide works good too.

 

[kaetra]

Keens have never fit me right. I've had great luck with Crocs Patricia model with loads of friction stick applied often

 

[JennyMP03]

My feet give me a lot of trouble, as well. I received a lot of helpful suggestions in a thread I posted before my last trip. Here's the thread if you want to look through it.

The shoes that worked best for me were Teva Tirras. They were so comfortable that I almost never switched to my sneakers. I also soaked my feet for about ten minutes in cool water with epsom salt at the end of each day. My feet were relatively comfortable for the duration of my last trip.

I hope you find something that works for you, OP!

 

[kaetra]

The shoes that worked best for me were Teva Tirras. They were so comfortable that I almost never switched to my sneakers. I also soaked my feet for about ten minutes in cool water with epsom salt at the end of each day. My feet were relatively comfortable for the duration of my last trip.

I second the Teva Tirras and Epsom salt!

 

[SnoopMary]

Try sports akileine nok reinforcer (it's like body glide but better). If you still get blisters and chafing even with that, Adventure Medical Kits makes a BlisterMedic Kit that has alcohol wipes, antiseptic towelettes, glacier gel cushion bandages and moleskin bandaids.

I used that through a 4 week hike in Europe and it's the dream team.

And I would say for shoes: get a good pair of comfortable sneakers (I like converse, personally) you break in in advance and a pair of comfortable sandals that have a non-plastic, fuzzy-fabric insole. If you get blisters that easily, put the comfort first. Clarks has nice sandals that are dressy-casual and super-comfortable.

 

[Disnerdette]

I agree on the Body Glide suggestions - I'm a runner but I use it all the time elsewhere. (REALLY great for your legs on super hot days!) Roll it on between your toes and the outside edges of your feet and carry it with you. (And you don't have to buy the gender-ized version - its literally the same thing, just in a pink package so its more expensive.

I have a pair of Sperry's that I wear to the parks when I know I'm going to be on any rides that I may get wet, and I often pack a pair of sandals to throw into a locker and switch if need be. Tevas or Sanuks are great sandal options, but I would still glide at least the tops of my feet and my toes with any sort of sandal.

Post-park, epsom salt baths OR an ice bath for your feet will work wonders. If you up to it, you can also put your feel up the wall above your headboard and lay backwards on the bed - this is a typical marathon trick to get the swelling down and the blood flowing elsewhere. I also pack a tennis ball or freeze a bottle of water and roll my toes, arches and heels out with it the next morning before putting on another pair of shoes. Its painful at the time but it works out all the lactic acid build up in your feet!

 

[bumbershoot]

Everyone's feet are different. We all have to find our own perfect formula.

For me, crocs flip flops with bodyglide all over my feet works wonderfully. Another day I'll wear my minimal vibram-sole (not five fingers) running shoes and that's fabulous. Either one of those choices might destroy someone else's feet. Gotta find your own magic formula.

But if you are wearing socks, make them NON-cotton, moisture-wicking, socks.

 

[JaimeA]

I learned not to get a pedicure before a trip! My feet were so soft they killed me!

 

[JaimeA]

Oh and peppermint lotion rubbed on my feet at night before bed.

 

[helenm29]

Thank you all so much for your comments and ideas! the last time I was at Disneyland I got HORRIBLE blisters and used Mole Skin on them which made things worse when I broke out in a sore red rash...finding out the hard way I'm allergic to the adhesive. I actually have scars on my feet from the adhesive! I bought a pair of Sketchers with gel cushion in soles and I have never been so comfortable! they are also made out of a Jersey material so they breathe and dry quickly so I'll be getting another pair or two for the trip. Again, thank you all!

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

I agree that everyone is different so what works for one person won't necessarily work for another. For instance, I usually wear Havaianas flip flops and am comfortable even after 9+ straight commando park days. No pain, no blisters. And no dealing with soaked socks if it rains. (Flip flops are also the only flat shoes I've ever found that don't hurt my shins - otherwise, I'm much more comfortable at least 2"+ heels.) If my mom did that, her feet would be a mess after the first couple hours of the trip. I can't wear any type of tennis shoes, bc the heels rub my Achilles and cause bloody, open sores within minutes. (I have trouble with any shoe with a solid back that comes up over my Achilles (slingbacks are generally fine.)

I'm also sensitive to some types of adhesive. I've gotten to know what works through trial and error; for whatever reason, fabric BandAid brand bandaids don't irritate my skin, but the plastic BandAid brand make my skin break down (open sores). I wouldn't think they same company would use different adhesive, but I can't explain it otherwise.

 

[dachsie]

I go to a marathon runners shoe store and get properly fitted for shoes and use the moisture wicking socks you can buy there. And I dont get pedicures before I go either. Have not gotten blisters yet. It also helped when i rented a condo with a jacuzzi bathtub and used the jets every nite to work on my feet

 

[disneybliss2]

The Band Aid Friction Block Stick, Body Glide, or a similar product by Dr. Scholl's works like a charm. Just before our last trip I started walking more to get ready for walking at Disney, and I had trouble with blisters starting to form on my feet. I was even wearing shoes I had broken in and worn without any trouble on a previous trip. I worried it might happen on our trip too, so I invested in a couple of the blister blocks (the Band Aid Friction Block & Dr. Scholl's is what I used most). They helped immensely!

 

[tinkerbella16]

I found even when wearing a good broken in pair of sneakers, my feet would hurt and I'd get a blister or two. I don't know how people wear flats to the parks all day! I have not had any problems with my feet the past 2 trips since finding great socks at Target! I forget the actual name but they say duo-dry on each pair. They stay dry all day walking. I never realized certain socks would make a difference until I found these and they are all I wear to WDW now. I also wear Toms and use the friction block stick. I won't wear them all day just in case but I found they are comfy. I can't even wear flip flops to the parks... But I wear Sanuk yoga mat flip flops and bring them with me and I have not worn any other flip flops since! I will wear them around the resort or on a night when we just do a dinner and not a park after.

 

[dreamregent]

I used to have this problem as well. Over several years, I wasted all kinds of money on shoes, bandages, lubricants, etc. It took a long time to find something to nip this in the bud but I finally did. My solution was kinesiology tape. It has adhesive on it so you may want to test it first. However, it does not move against my skin & it completely eliminates all friction and blisters.