Backpacking Light Long Distance Hiker's Foot Care Kit

Catalog No. BPL60108

Overview

Ryan Jordan (Backpacking Light's Publisher & Co-Founder) developed this kit over the course of several years of experimentation and research into the prevention and treatment of blisters, cracking, and maceration during the course of his longer (> 300 mile) treks taken without resupply:

"The particular conditions I faced during these treks dramatically increased the incidence of foot problems relative to my shorter treks and thru-hikes, or to treks where I was mostly on trails. These conditions included:

1. Carrying a heavy pack (up to 60 pounds, of which all but about 10 pounds was food, usually)
2. Wearing lightweight footwear (trail running shoes)
3. Hiking long hours each day (where I didn't have much time for foot care)
4. Hiking long mileage days (up to 30 or more, increasing the repetitive stresses placed on my foot skin)
5. Trekking in remote environs (where bailout to a trailhead in the case of feet problems wasn't an option)
6. Trekking during the shoulder seasons (where conditions were mostly wet, cold, or both)
7. Hiking in steep, off-trail terrain (causing unusually high shear forces while wearing lightweight footwear).

The “long distance” aspect of this kit implies that it contains a minimum number of absolutely reliable components (see "Specifications Section" below), and that treatment of blisters with the supplies in this kit results in dressings that are effective enough to promote rapid healing and durable enough to remain on the foot with a minimum amount of further attention on the part of the hiker, so that healing can continue to completion.

In addition, I recommend that you purchase and/or otherwise include the following components for your field kit: Dr. Bronner's Castile soap, a small tube of “super-glue” type adhesive, and a small pair of scissors. - RJ"