I started a new job last week (postie).  I'm well used to walking for miles without any problems, but walking carrying 16kg at a time is causing my feet havoc and I have a few blisters between my toes.  Does anyone have any tips on protecting toes and also hardening feet up?  Any help would be much appreciated!

Many thanks in advance,
Sarah.

I have heard that rubbing surgical spirit on helps to toughen up skin , but i've never tried it .  But , don't put it on the sore areas !
I believe that there are some special plasters that you can buy , maybe a trip to a chemist is needed .
Also ,some socks dsigned for running are made in 2 layers so that any friction occurs between the two layers of sock , and not on your feet - it might be worth a try !

The socks sound like a v. good idea and might try the plasters in the short term.  Can't use surgical spirit just now, that would have me hitting the ceiling!!

Cheers,
Sarah.

Good luck in your new job.
Lot's of people work 'on their feet' but not so many carrying great weights, albeit diminishing.
I have always been on my feet so now well used to it, but it is hard work and good supportive footwear is essential,  your feet will just toughen up naturally.
In the meantime compeed blister plasters are fantastic!

Karen ;)

Baby oil and Vasaline is a runners friend :D :D :D
Your feet will get used to the friction, but also the 1000 miles socks are great for long distances (found in most walking shops!!!)
I dont know about blisters as I tend not to run for a few days, but if you lather your feet in baby oil or vasaline (vasaline is more slimey) then that stops the friction.
And you can get 1000 mile socks that alot of walkers I know and runners swear by :)
Good luck wth being a postie :)
How are you finding it, as I hve heard tt is hard when you go out on your own and have to sort it yourself :)
Lea :)

according to my friends formerly of the officers training corps you need compede to treat blisters and if you strap up with zinc oxcide tape you should prevent them. good luck in the new job!

My dad is a postie and I remember he had a similar problem when he first started (30 odd years ago now!!).  He just swears by a very good pair of shoes and 2 pairs of socks!  He also finds that as soon as he gets home he takes off his socks and shoes and tends to go round the house in bare feet to get the air to them and he has never had a problem since!

Congratulations on the new job and hope it goes ok
xx

Surgical spirit will definatley toughen up the skin. In the meantime special socks definatly and vaseline.
Doesn help that the bags you carry are the worst for fair weight distribution and comfort

Many thanks all!  I'm walking about in bare feet just now (added a couple more blisters today! ouch).  Got a day off tomorrow so will go to chemist for more plasters and cream for feet.  I've been dog walking for the past 9 years, this is a lot more difficult!  But I love it anyway!

I was told to use which hazel cant remember if it worked. Best of luck...

When I used to hike at lot, I used to use Dr Scholl's Moleskin, you can use it on any vulnerable part of the foot.  When your blisters have healed you could stick patches of it wherever you think you might have friction and it will stop the blisters forming.  Iodine will help heal your blisters quickly but by God it really really stings! 

also agree with compeed blister plasters! they are great!

glad your enjoying your new job :-)

Many thanks all for the kind words and great help.  I've been to the chemist today and now have plenty of compeed plasters, zinc tape and vaseline, have also ordered anti blister socks from ebay!  Should be sorted!  Oh the joys of new work boots!!

While you're recovering can I just say that a blistered foot's best friend is a pair of Crocs. Since they're designed to not touch your feet they are fantastic when you have a blister. (just finished pealing the dead skin off a blistered toe this week)

The best socks I have ever had for walking in are called Smart Socks and are made by Dupont. They are made from merino wool and keep your feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter. I was persuaded to buy some, having had very serious doubts, to wear in the Sahara Desert where I did a charity trek. I honestly thought the salesman was just trying to sell me expensive socks as I couldn't see how wool and the temperatures in the Sahara could possibly be compatible but he was right :) Only two of us didn't suffer from blisters - out of 24 trekkers- and we both had the same make of socks.

Wearing two pairs of socks can work if you get the right sort but,more often than not, it can cause blisters because the socks move independently of each other and cause friction which causes blisters.

The Compede blister plasters worked really well for those who suffered from blisters on our trek.

I would never have thought that wool socks would keep your feet cool!  If they work in the Sahara, they must be good!!  I normally wear pure cotton socks (nothing with man made fibres), but I'm going to give these anti blister socks a go when they arrive.

OUCH!!! i know exactly how you feel, ive just come back from abroad, wearing new shoes on the journey out for 16 hrs i ended up with blisters between my big toes, so i bought another pair of shoes as i couldn't get my flip flops on then, and they rubbed my heel on the hard part!!causing a great big blister there too!! and by the end of the week my feet and ankles had swollen so much with the heat i felt in a right pickle!! thank fully i took my boots gorgeous feet cream with me and it did help, but also scholl do a spray which crackles on your feet and it makes them feel heavenly and cool.you can also buy cushion gel pads to put inside your shoes which kinda cushion your feet on concrete floors, i found these helped me when i used to work standing all day and running about on the concrete floors at work and because of my weight i was putting alot of pressure on my feet.

Oooh, nothing worse!  I ended up having to burst all my blisters as they were just getting bigger!  Have them all padded and strapped up with blister plasters and zinc tape and my anti blister socks arrived today.  They are wonderfully soft inside and have 2 layers.  Hope they do the job!  Love the sound of the scholl spray!

I picked up some memory foam insoles this week but haven't used them yet.  They might help you - £2 from TJ Hughes - this girl loves a bargain!