Excellent article on ruck training
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corsair4360
Well-Known Member
Thanks for posting that, timely for me, hunting in the High Unita's for elk each year gets more challenging as I age... now 70.
You're welcome!
When we ran students thru the special forces training, we used to emphasize conditioning of feet . We used to use tincture benzoin and foot powder to toughen the foot soles. The article is correct core and upper body strength strength is key. Our standards were 12 minute miles for 8 miles and 15 minute miles over that with 45 lbs. That was on sandy trails. There is a different stride people need to learn and focus on stride length when rucking. Your feet will kill you quicker than being out of shape. If you want to last long term, toughen the soles of the feet up. That foot powder and tincture of benzoin will make them like leather. Use the tincture first and then add the powder and let dry. Will not look pretty with sandals, but then who cares.
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I concur with you, BountyHunter, on the feet issue as far as rucking goes. We just had a 12 miler on loose gravel and we have lots of skin missing from the heels and balls of the guys’ feet. Don’t care how good shape you’re in, if your feet aren’t conditioned for it then life sucks for a long time both during and after.
I usually have feet that look like thick leather but loose anything other than flat-tight (hard packed) terrain can get ya. You need good boots (that fit) and socks as well. The first time I ever had blisters was day 1 of military mountaineering school about 10 years ago. I had a pair of newer lightweight tennis-shoe type of boots and rucking (hard and fast) uphill all morning and then down that evening tore off a half dollar size piece of skin on my heels and I had blisters on all my toes (and grew an extra pinky on each foot somehow). They were trashed quickly and haven’t had a pair since.
I usually have feet that look like thick leather but loose anything other than flat-tight (hard packed) terrain can get ya. You need good boots (that fit) and socks as well. The first time I ever had blisters was day 1 of military mountaineering school about 10 years ago. I had a pair of newer lightweight tennis-shoe type of boots and rucking (hard and fast) uphill all morning and then down that evening tore off a half dollar size piece of skin on my heels and I had blisters on all my toes (and grew an extra pinky on each foot somehow). They were trashed quickly and haven’t had a pair since.
Steel Rain
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This is good data! I am going to do this. My feet get boogered up pretty good since I quit wearing a green suit. Thanks for sharing.
Litehiker
Well-Known Member
A bit of "sole" advice.
I've found that using heat mouldable SOLE brand insoles (3 thicknesses) has kept me from EVER having blisters on the soles or bottoms of toes. Some blisters on the sides of my toes but none on the bottoms.
These insoles are available at REI.
Eric B.
I've found that using heat mouldable SOLE brand insoles (3 thicknesses) has kept me from EVER having blisters on the soles or bottoms of toes. Some blisters on the sides of my toes but none on the bottoms.
These insoles are available at REI.
Eric B.
Clowncar
New Member
Whenever you haven't the time or ability to get your feet or boots in shape try Vaseline to bare feet, one pair of cotton socks, lathered in more Vaseline and a 1nd layer of wool boot socks with Corn starch in place of Talcum powder. It's a mess but cuts the friction and prevents those slabs of skin from peeling off and blisters from forming.
fta0303
Well-Known Member
Very interesting articles. I backpacked for many years through forest and alpine country, much bushwhacking. The weight carreid by soldiers is twice what I allowed myself, even though I was a strong individual (5'10", 175 lbs, medium frame,muscular, heavy bones). OF course I was doing it for fun. I was always armed with a revolver and an extra cylinder of ammo, other than that carried sleeping bag, sleeping pad, cookset & Optimus 8R, light tent or surplus USMC poncho, extra socks, additional layers, and food plus a small pouch of emergency survival gear. I focused on light weight, except that my clothing gradually evolved into being all wool except for rain shell. I found high quality well broken boots with Vibram sole, good arch flex to work well with a minimum of blisters, blisters increased with steepness of terrain. Later, I wore Raichle Montagnas - they were very good boots, but stiff in the arch, gave blisters on back of heel.
I wore light silk inner socks, heavy wool hiking socks, and combatted blisters at the back of the heel by applying a large Bandaid taped securely using low-friction plastic tape. That kept blisters from forming by reducing friction. I used moleskin to cover already blistered areas with moderate success. Moleskin alone on the heel wouldn't last 2 mi of uphill. I like the idea of toughening with benzoin, but never thought of it.
Boot fit is everything. Good fit will prevent blisters and properly matching boot to terrain (the steeper the climb the stiffer the sole) will make for more secure movement. I could never fully condition my feet against blisters because I could never manage more than 2 or 3 day hikes, due to work pressure (desk job).
For many years I ran 3-5 mi a day 4 days a week, doing 150 pushups in 3 sets and 300 situps in one set every running day. That regime did not properly condition for backpacking, it just kept me from dying on the trail.
Unfortunately, one (only?) reliable way to train for long distance rucking is doing lots of long distance rucking. I do not miss the Light Infantry life (just my fellow Light Fighters).
8x68s
Well-Known Member
I learned to use high quality duct tape as a remedy for blisters, etc. until I used it as a precautionary preventative. A heel wrap across the instep and a tie down under the arch and across the instep wrap protects against heel abrasion creating a smooth surface for any existing boot slippage. Similar to wearing a nylon liner sock (idea from the old days) but liners always chewed my feet worse than the main socks. An extra advantage from duct tape, and I'm not sure why it happens but, when I did get blisters and added tape for relief, the blisters healed over the next couple days (week long trip)?? Chemicals in the tape? YMMV...
HRM Johnny
Well-Known Member
Thank you for posting this. Good read.
HRM Johnny
Well-Known Member
Thank you very much for this information.
