FIXING YOUR FEET E-zine
Volume 7, Issue 12, December 2007
John Vonhof, Footwork Publications
Copyright, December 2007, All rights reserved
THIS ISSUE IN SUMMARY
This issue has an in-depth article, A Prime Example of Fit – Zamberlan
Footwear, about how a footwear company has made their fit the best possible. It
also has two foot care tips about Super Glue and toenail fungus, two
new feet related products, reader feedback, and an interesting foot
care photo.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
I wish all my readers a grand and happy New Year. May your feet take
you far and wide, and into new discoveries. May they be healthy,
resisting blisters, corns and calluses, ingrown toenails, and athlete’s
foot. May they be strong and resilient, and able to take all the abuse
you throw at them. And above all, may your feet be happy.
PURPOSE
The Fixing Your Feet E-zine is published monthly to inform and educate
athletes and non-athletes about proper foot care skills and techniques,
provide tips on foot care, review foot care products, and highlight
problems people have with their feet.
ARTICLE: A PRIME EXAMPLE OF FIT – ZAMBERLAN FOOTWEAR
by John Vonhof
Some months ago I received several pairs of boots from Zamberlan – to use and report on. I’d bet many of you are saying, who is Zamberlan? I had not heard of them before either. Now, after wearing their boots, I like them. What has this got to do with fit? Let me explain. First though, here’s a bit of history about the company.
Zamberlan footwear has been tested in the mountains near their factory at the foot of the Small Dolomites in Italy. After more than 70 years of boot manufacturing, Zamberlan is still a family run business, with the third generation actively taking part in all stages of design and production. Although the factory is equipped with modern facilities operated by their highly skilled workers, Zamberlan boots may still be considered “hand made” products. “Our people make the difference”: this quote explains the importance of their artisans and their dedication in a manufacturing process, which still involves a lot of handmade elements.
THE FIRST COMPONENT OF FIT – TECHNOLOGY
In the rest of this article we’ll talk about some of the components of fit. It’s what makes a shoe or boot fit better than another shoe or boot. Because footwear is built on the basics of shoe design, let’s start with technology. Companies use technology to make better footwear, and when done right, fit is improved. Here are some examples from Zamberlan.
Besides the importance placed on craftsmanship and on the expert skills of their workers, technology has always been an extremely important issue for Zamberlan. Exclusive and specific methods of construction are often developed such as the F.W.S. (Foot Wrapping System) their exclusive method of molding the tongue for a great fit, the R.R.S. (Rubber Reinforcement System) for the protection of the boot upper and structure, the Z.T.S. (Zamberlan Tacking System) for a strong construction of the boot, the Hydrobloc concept for the protection from the elements, the Z.A.T. (Zamberlan Anti Torsion) for the ideal torsional stability and natural flexion in the Move & Run range.
THE SECOND COMPONENT OF FIT – STYLES
Once shoes are designed, fit can be improved by offering styles for different activities. The better this is done, the greater the likelihood of a good fit. Zamberlan has their footwear categorized in eight styles: alpine, backpacking, dynamic, explore, synergy, ascent, adventure, and field. In each category are footwear designed for that activity. Having tried on their boots, I can see they have this nailed. Each category has multiple offerings.
THE THIRD COMPONENT OF FIT – USER DATA
Users, in this case, athletes such as hikers, backpackers, trekkers, and mountaineers, have their own set of requirements when it comes to how footwear fits. Rather then make a boot and force everyone to fit into it, Zamberlan takes into account a vast amount of user data – and experience.
This includes very valid lasts; roomy toe box; correct flex point; adequate arch, ankle and torsional support; around-the-ankle comfort zone; comfortable hold of the heel; positive height; smooth wrap of the foot and even contact; sculptured padding; fine details in the manufacturing process. All these are important issues taken into account to provide a good fit.
Their boots have different lasts, accordingly to different targets, such as the anatomy of the user and destination of the boot, as well as to the intended purpose of the boot. There are specific lasts for female users that take into account the anatomy differences between male and female feet. And different lasts for different markets as not all feet are the same. Plus the different intended purposes of the boot as they believe the necessities are not the same for an ice-climbing boot versus a lightweight boot for on-trail use.
The boots have a roomy toe box without being sloppy which allow the toes to wiggle and therefore to help keep you stable. A better, overall comfort is provided.
The midsoles and boots flex at the correct flex point, following the natural movement of the foot when walking, and the midsole in combination with the last and the upper ensure a correct and firm arch, ankle and torsional support, which are mostly appreciated when carrying loads or traversing.
The upper designs and padded collars ensure a good comfort zone around the ankle and the contact between the boot’s upper and the foot is even.
The heel and the toe cup together with the sculptured padding will help hold the foot in place and protect it from stones and pointed rocks.
The removable easy-to-wash footbeds are anatomically designed to grant a comfortable home for your feet. They take into account features like shock absorption, moisture and foot perspiration wicking, internal stability, helping to ensure a comfortable “inside the boot” environment.
THE LAST COMPONENT OF FIT – KNOWING WHO THEY ARE
Over the past few years, I have seen many shoe companies try to transform their image. Running shoe companies make hiking boots, Hiking boot companies try and make running shoes. Clothing companies try to make footwear. A few of these are very successful. They know their roots and do not deviate from them. Zamberlan makes boots and boot style shoes for hiking – not running shoes or anything else. Another example is Inov-8 who makes running shoes for trails. These companies will excel at their products. They will get better and better. They don’t dilute their product line.
MY EXPEREINCE WITH THEIR FIT
The proof is in the pudding is an old adage. With boots, I think back to my first pair of hiking boots in the late 60’s – high tops and very stiff. Then I wore boots in various jobs and they were usually a one-boot-fits-all design. The boots from Zamberlan were much different. Here are the boots I wore.
The 144 Crest XCR (in the Ascent line) is a sturdy and stylish rugged multi-outdoor sport activity shoe. Its key features include: Soft and lightweight Hydrobloc split leather and Cordura nylon uppers provide lasting support, flexibility and comfort – Great, technical fit, provided by up-to-toe lacing concept – GORE-TEX XCR lining for water protection, exceptional breathability and moisture management – Rubber toe protection – Removable Zamberlan 3-Action footbeds feature shock-absorbing heels, cushioned forefoot and moisture-wicking topsheets for extra comfort and performance – Microtex wicking nylon collar lining help control excess moisture – Zamberlan A.M.S. high-grip rubber outsoles with aggressive, bi-density multi-directional lugs deliver reliable traction on both wet and dry surfaces. 500 grams.
These boots are low height in design. They felt heavier than many trail boots, but the extra weight brings stability – and after days of wearing them, I found the comfort so good I never thought about weight. I have a fairly wide foot and found the width fine. I wore these boots in northern BC Canada and on the Queen Charlotte Islands while helping at the Raid the North Adventure Race. Lots of rain, dirt and mud. I never had a problem with and debris in the shoe, and my feet stayed dry and warm. Even indoors, where it was warmer, my feet stayed comfortable.
The 151 Java XCR (also in the Ascent line) is strong and supportive for a number of outdoor activities, travel and everyday use. Its key features include: Hydrobloc nabuk and split leather upper – GORE-TEX XCR lining for water protection, exceptional breathability and moisture management – Rubber toe protection – Removable Zamberlan 3-Action footbeds feature shock-absorbing heels, cushioned forefoot and moisture-wicking topsheets for extra comfort and performance – Microtex wicking nylon collar lining help control excess moisture – Zamberlan A.M.S. high-grip rubber outsoles with aggressive, bi-density multi-directional lugs deliver reliable traction on both wet and dry surfaces. 470 grams.
These boots are mid-height in design, providing great ankle support, yet are lightweight. They are very stable with a aggressive outersole. I found them comfortable for general wear, but would reserve them for trail and off-trail use. I also wore them in northern BC Canada in rain and muddy conditions with zero problems.
The Quazar GT (in the Dynamic line) is a lightweight and versatile boot for outdoor sport activities. Its key features include: Hydrobloc split leather around lower foot, toe and quarters for stability – Fabric panels to reduce overall weight and provide better breathability & flexibility – Double hook to ensure maximum hold of the foot – Zamberlan exclusive Vibram 3D sole for great grip, exceptional cushioning, wear resistance and traction – GORE-TEX lining for utmost protection and breathability – Microtex wicking nylon collar lining help control excess moisture. 610 grams.
These boots are higher in design, made for more serious hiking and trekking. In all fairness, I must say I looked at these and thought they were to narrow, but they fit me perfectly. Coming up above the ankle, they gave fantastic ankle support.
OVERALL FIT AND IMPRESSION
Most importantly, these boots were comfortable – all day and all night. I had several days in Canada where we were up and about with just short breaks to lie on a cot – with your boots on – for 24 hours straight, and into the next day.
I did take good socks along and even with fairly cushioned ones; my feet were never hot or too tight in the boots – even with the GORE-TEX lining. The inside of the boots is the best of any boots I have seen. Every seam is smooth, and the boots are lined so where the insoles meet the uppers, a common problem area for blister formation, there is not an edge.
The boots were size 11 and they fit me perfectly. My feet slid in and the lacing was just right. They fit correctly without lacing, an important part of the overall fit.
I have looked at a lot of boots and shoes. I’ve pulled the insoles out and bent them to see inside and inspect the seams, welds, fabrics, the last, and all the neat things inside footwear. I’ve tried a lot on of them my feet. I can honestly say these boot are the best fitting of any I have played with.
Zamberlan has a “tag line” on their website that says, Discover the Difference. It rings true. This review shows how a company can make the best product possible when they focus on fit. If boots are on your shopping list, I encourage you to give Zamberlan a try. If your athletic endeavors are on the sedate side, try a pair of their lightweight, multipurpose Adventure shoes. Trust me, Zamberlan footwear is of the highest quality.
Many footwear companies make good shoes and boots. This article tries to point out that high quality footwear comes from companies that are tuned in to technology, have a wide product offering, listen to user data and expereince, and focus on making footwear.
Disclaimer: This article is about my expereinces with Zamberlan boots. Your feet may be markedly different from mine. Bunions, wider than usual feet, and other foot issues may affect your fit with any footwear.
Care to comment on this article? Send me an email.
FOOTCARE TIPS
SUPERGLUE
I love paging through magazines looking for material that can be used in foot care – in some sort of way. The January issue of Outside magazine had a tip that is worth repeating. If you have ever used Super Glue (or Krazy-Glue) on a blister, read on.
Place a pinch of baking soda on a piece of cardboard (or another hard surface). Then add an equal-sized blob of Super Glue. Mix these two ingredients very quickly and apply to the surface you want to bond. An alternative is to apply Super Glue to the surface and then lightly sprinkle Super Glue over the top. This process helps the glue set faster.
The Super Glue website gives tips on removing it from skin: Immerse bonded areas in warm, soapy water. Peel or roll skin apart; a spatula or teaspoon handle or even a pencil will help. Remove cured adhesive with warm, soapy water (may take several applications). Fingernail polish remover with an acetone base has also been successful for removal of cured adhesive from skin.
While I am sure the editors of Outside meant this for shoe repair and other materials, those of us who have been around foot care for any length of time know that it is also used on skin. Using Super Glue or Krazy Glue to bond a blister roof to its base has been done for years. If you use this blister repair treatment, be sure to understand the potential for infection or a skin reaction to the glue.
TOENAIL FUNGUS
If you struggle with toenail fungus, and have tried everything you can think of, here is a resource especially for you. Dwight Thomas wrote a book on this subject, aptly called, The War Against Toenail 
Fungus. This is Thomas’ story of his fight against this common affliction.
"Leukemia had a best seller," said Thomas. In breathable sneakers, he stood one day at the writing table in a front room of his townhouse here. "Toenail fungus is ignored," he said. "It’s extremely widespread. Nobody knows much about it, and you can’t get rid of it. I leaped into the breach. This is a toenail-fungus patient memoir." Here is part of a review from www.hyperhydrosis.us:
The book evaluates the newest FDA-approved pharmaceuticals for fungal nail infections, including Lamisil Tablets and Penlac Nail Lacquer. While emphasizing the importance of these drugs, he explains why treatment failure is so frequent with the standard regimens, and he suggests ways in which these products might be used more effectively.
If you are a toenail fungus sufferer, you owe it to yourself to read this book. His rather brilliant strategy is something that no podiatrist knows about. Most likely, if you are reading this review you have experienced this incredibly stubborn ailment (toenail fungus), which affects millions of aging baby boomers. You don’t need to lacquer your toes twice a day.
The author explains in detail what this ailment is; and how Penlac (topical) and Lamisil (oral) prescriptions work. He noticed based on his firsthand experience that Penlac works very well on the tip of the toenail, but not the bed and matrix of the toe. And, most importantly he describes a unique strategy on how to better utilize these weapons against toenail fungus. His strategy will give you a new cure that has a much higher percentage success than using Lamisil alone.
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FOOTCARE PRODUCT
DUCT TAPE
Many of us are users of duct tape. From taping shoes to taping feet, we love the stuff. Most popular is the silver roll. In recent years, duct tape has been offered in colors, and even transparent. Leave it to L.L. Bean to go one step further. Before the holidays, they offered the ever-popular duct tape in “Maine Guide” plaids (red with black and green with black), and two prints – camouflage and wildlife. Each roll is 30 yards in length and two inches in width, and sells for $9.50 for two rolls. If you want to liven up your shoes, or feet, go to L.L. Bean and search on “duct tape” to find the available designs.
GPS SHOES
The use of GPS has been proven. Now the technology has found its way into shoes. In addition to parents, family members with elderly relatives and the military, I can see a use for this in extreme sports. Here’s the story.
A shoe that has the potential to save lives through its patented Quantum Satellite Technology with GPS tracking abilities, Isaac Daniel‘s Compass Global 1000 pushes the limits of how technology can function in footwear. Its people-finding capabilities, in the Compass Global 1000 will make its debut in the U.S. in early 2007.
The GPS technology, embedded into seven different men’s and women’s sneaker models with 19 color combinations, are outfitted with a microcomputer with satellite tracking communication that, in the event of a perceived crisis by the wearer, can activate a Covert Alarm Locator. The alarm generates an emergency signal to the company’s ID Conex monitoring station, pinpointing the shoes’ location anywhere on the earth’s surface. The whereabouts of the wearer are then communicated to law enforcement authorities.
The need for Daniel’s line of Quantum Satellite Technology across a broad range of demographic groups has been proven. The company is currently in negotiations to market the Compass Global sneaker — and in the future, boots and shoes — to various military outfits, caretakers of those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, and parents who want the ability to keep track of their young children. Created by inventor and designer, Isaac Daniel, the Compass Global 1000 is, says Daniel, "a ground-breaking product that is set to change people’s minds about how sneakers can be worn and their purpose in our lives. The Compass Global 1000 is a sneaker for new realities in the new millennium."
More information can be found at http://www.felefootwear.com and http://www.isaacdaniel.com.
READER FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS
Jenny wrote: “This has all been a great learning experience. Again, I appreciate all of the help you so generously gave. I got your book last night and I am having trouble putting it down. I am so thirsty for knowledge. It’s a terrific read and I’m determined to learn everything I can about these weight bearing things we call feet. I can’t remember being so fully absorbed in any book. I got the results of the MRI. Nothing seems terribly wrong (knock wood) but there are a few problems. I’m still searching around for a podiatrist / orthopedist I feel I can trust. It’s a challenge trying to find someone with just the right credentials but I feel the time I’m putting into this is the best investment I’ll ever make. I feel a bit like a racecar driver who never bothered to find out what an engine is. Time to do some homework! And I’d like to thank you again for all your help and encouragement. You gave me a helping hand and it made a big difference in my outlook. I hope all is well with you and your family! P.S. Dr. Langer’s book (Great Feet for Life) is on order. Cannot wait to read it too!”
Reader feedback to this E-zine and its articles is welcome and encouraged. Please email any foot care ideas or tips that you have tried and would like to share with others, or ideas for an article for the ezine.
BAD FEET PHOTOS
Over the years, I have given you some pretty gnarly photos of bad feet. Toes, heels, ball of the foot – all 
over the foot. Blisters were the most common photos but I think bad toenails were a close second.
What I have not shared is the after effects of patching feet. So, this month’s photo is from this past summer’s Badwater Ultramarathon. Stationed in the medical room at Stovepipe Wells, I worked on quite a few feet. The photo is after one patch job. Then I clean up and get ready for the next athlete. The yellow box is my foot care kit. I have used this for years and it has been to several foreign countries. You can see powder, 2×2 gauze, alcohol wipes, Two Tom’s Sports Shield, Spenco 2nd Skin, alcohol bottle for the scalpel, scissors, packets of Engo patches, zinc oxide, shoe horn, lots of tapes, and hand sanitizer.
Just think; your feet could be featured in this e-zine for everyone to see! Submit your photo or short story by email or snail mail. Stories should be no longer than 250 words. Send them to me by email.
A FACT WORTH KNOWING
We all know that exercise is good for us. From a study published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, from Australia, comes an interesting fact. As we age, the frontal cortex, the part of the brain that censors thoughts – begins to shrink. William von Hippel, PhD, the author of the study, found that the decline is not inevitable. Aerobic exercise enhances functioning among older adults. So, encourage your elders to include some form of aerobic exercise in their daily routine.
MY HAPPY FEET BLOG
If you like to stay informed about foot care issues and information – on a more regular basis than this monthly newsletter, check out my blog, Happy Feet: Expert Foot Care Advice for People Who Love Their Feet. This is different from this ezine. The Happy Feet blog will have a new short topic every week.
GOT A STORY TO SHARE?
I am always on the look out for stories to share about their adventures with some type of connection to feet. If you have something to share, please send me an email.
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