View Full Version : Do your feet ever stop hurting?
For those that can't get out and do a lot of practice hiking, obviously your feet will hurt for a while when you start a long-distance hike. Is there any point when they too "break in" or do they always hurt?
I don't mean so much from lack of proper shoe/boot fit, but more due to the action of pounding on the ground for 10 hours w/35 lbs on your back, when they aren't used to it.
The Weasel
12-08-2006, 17:08
Your feet should be in shape, fully, for the walking aspect, within a week. Make sure you have proper boots, with a supportive sole, and good socks. Daily foot care helps, as well, such as powdering, drying socks, and treating hotspots and blisters. Ankles may take up to 2 weeks. Just listen to your body: Soak when you can, or don't push harder than your body is willing to. Fewer miles, carefully done, at the beginning will let you do far more, far sooner, than "pushing it."
The Weasel
SalParadise
12-08-2006, 17:22
a week? then you're a lucky guy. I think it's different for everybody. I've met a lot of hikers who were indeed fine after a week, but many who weren't, including myself. I had proper-fitting shoes, but encountered my biggest foot problems in Virginia.
It's obvious, but after hiking with a heavy pack, my feet were twice as comfortable with lighter weight and also more comfortable in shoes over boots.
I hiked with a very small bottle of iodine and I found that using it to treat blisters healed them up about a day faster than otherwise. I'm sure Neosporin and the like would be equivalent.
fiddlehead
12-08-2006, 19:19
My feet hurt on my first thru until Shenendoah NP.
After the first one, it only took a week or two to be free from pain in all aspects.
You gotta pay to play!
Sleepy the Arab
12-08-2006, 19:50
Your feet will stop hurting about 2 to 3 weeks after you summit Katahdin. :D
my feet were okay through most of my hike.
about two weeks after i summited katahdin, i had sharp pains running through the bottom of my feet for days...:confused:
terrapin_too
12-08-2006, 20:25
This is strange. I've never thought about my feet hurting, except in a few very rare cases. Some times there's a general soreness or aching in my legs and thighs, but no, my feet almost never "hurt."
The exceptions are the occasional sprain from mis-stepping, or blisters from walking in certain boots after they soak through. I've had few unpleasant experiences due to boots/shoes that weren't up to the job, but fortunately this has almost always been on short hikes or sections.
Spirit Walker
12-08-2006, 20:54
One of the things that happens with many hikers is that as your body gets into shape, you do bigger miles, so the body hurts again. The pain you feel in Virginia is not the same as what you felt in Georgia - but it still hurts. Individuals vary. If I do more than 20 miles, especially on rocky trail, my feet hurt a lot. More than 25 and they are in agony. But I know a lot of hikers who can routinely do 25-35 miles a day. I can't. On the AT I averaged 20 mpd from mid-Virginia to New York - but I was in pain every day. On the PCT the trail was not rocky, and the grade was gentle so I did bigger miles, 20-25, but more than that and I hurt.
warraghiyagey
12-09-2006, 04:17
It was interesting that I noticed very few hikers stretch before they left camp in the morning or when they arrived.
There are stretches for every muscle in the foot (as well as the rest of the body) and if you take the time your feet will feel much better. Sitting around the camp at night or even before sleeping is a great time to stretch these muscles and wiggle your toes/ankles. Or when you wake up and it never hurts to ditch the boots during lunch and let them loosen up.
Works like a charm.
Peace :)
To toughen up your feet before you hike. Go without shoes, the weeks before you leave, as much as posiable. Without shoes you will strenthen the muscles in your feet and toughen up your soles. This will result in less soreness and fewer blisters.:sun
It was interesting that I noticed very few hikers stretch before they left camp in the morning or when they arrived.
There are stretches for every muscle in the foot (as well as the rest of the body) and if you take the time your feet will feel much better. Sitting around the camp at night or even before sleeping is a great time to stretch these muscles and wiggle your toes/ankles. Or when you wake up and it never hurts to ditch the boots during lunch and let them loosen up.
Works like a charm.
Peace :)
Stretch first?
Many are hobbling and limping and shuffling to slowly in the mornings to bother much with any stretching. But after a while of that and those aching bones and muscles begin to limber up some, the speed picks up, the pain is dimenished (pushed into the background) and the miles are trodden underfoot. I was amazed how far I could go almost painlessly after a month. It sure wasnt like that at the beginning, though, and never went away completely.
My feet didnt hurt that much while walking.....it was when i stopped that the pain would set in......and like Sleepy said......it never went away until a month after Mt. K
In Georgia I asked Mala, "How long before my feet stop hurting?" "As long as it takes you to get to Maine"
I've found Spenco insoles help alot. YMMV
Blue Jay
12-09-2006, 11:52
Yes, your feet can stop hurting, but don't worry, you can make them start hurting again at any time. Just go too fast or too long again each day or carry too much weight. Everyone has a choice.
Blue Jay
12-09-2006, 11:54
To toughen up your feet before you hike. Go without shoes, the weeks before you leave, as much as posiable. Without shoes you will strenthen the muscles in your feet and toughen up your soles. This will result in less soreness and fewer blisters.:sun
This is a very good suggestion.
Spirit Walker
12-09-2006, 12:40
My problem isn't the muscles - it's the bone, the fact that I have no padding on the bottom of my feet means that the ball of my foot has no cushion. At night, after a big day, my feet throb. Padded inserts help for a while, sometimes, but big miles still get me. I was told by a podiatrist several years ago that I am in the beginning stages of arthritis, which doesn't help.