Volume 5, Issue 12b, December 2005
John Vonhof, Footwork Publications
Copyright, December 2005, All rights reserved
THIS ISSUE IN SUMMARY
The feature article is about BlisterShield & SportShield. Then I
introduce you to two products and give one foot care tip for you to
check out. The Bad Feet Contest shows what can happen when one has
children and a roll of duct tape.
PURPOSE
The Fixing Your Feet E-zine is published twice a month 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.
THE HAPPY FEET BLOG
Check out my blog, "Happy Feet: Expert Foot Care Advice for People Who Love Their Feet." It’s different from this ezine. The Happy Feet blog will have a new short topic every other day. You can check it out by clicking on the title above.
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FEATURE ARTICLE: BlisterShield & SportShield: A Great Blister Prevention Product
by Dawn Matthews and Marilyn Parpan
The earliest record of anyone using shoes starts is in what is now Missouri. Native Americans appear to have used foot coverings 8,000 years ago. That is believed to be the first evidence of shoe use in the world. As soon as people started to cover their feet they began to develop friction from those coverings. Blisters soon followed.
Since earliest times humans have tried to limit the effects of friction on the foot. All sorts of applications have been tried. People tried powders which usually absorb moisture. When the powder became saturated the problems became worse. Some people tried petroleum-based greases and ointments. These products often caused excess slippage. Others tried coatings; these products could interfere with normal moisture transfer through the skin. People even tried underarm antiperspirants. Not much help there. Something different was needed.
Developing BlisterShield and SportsShield
It took tri-athlete Tom Lewis, an MIT trained Ph.D. surface chemist, to concoct BlisterShield and 
SportShield to bring high tech to the blister and chafing problems of athletes. The two products solved his blister problems. Tom realized that what needed was something stays in place without forming a sticky or greasy coating, something that doesn’t absorb moisture, allows breathing of the body or skin, and dramatically reduces friction. He developed a micronized wax and silicon powder formula that helps keep your feet dry, without the stickiness of petroleum jelly or other oily remedies. BlisterShield powder and SportShield Roll-on and towelettes do all that, which is how they prevent blisters and chafing. Tom formed 2Toms to manufacture the products.
BlisterShield powder is a specially formulated polymer containing PTFE and micronized wax, 
making a very slippery product. SportShield is the liquid roll-on and contains Dimethicone and Aloe Vera Extract. Other, so called "all natural," blister prevention products on the market are derived from plant and animal fats, and function similarly to greases and ointments like petroleum. Most inorganic powders absorb moisture and reduce friction: however, as they absorb moisture their effectiveness in reducing friction declines.
BlisterShield and SportsShield creates an almost frictionless surface when applied to the skin/sock or sock/sole interface. Low friction means little or no excess heat build-up, thus lowering the likelihood for blisters. Additionally, they do not absorb water, rather they repelling it, keeping the skin relatively dry. By analogy, clothing made of "high-tech" synthetic fibers like CoolMax wicks water away from the skin rather than collecting and holding it as is the case with cotton. Also, the powder and roll-on acts like Gore-Tex. The moisture due to sweat is a vapor form. The vapor easily passes through the powder and the roll-on that is next to the skin because a continuous film is not formed. However, once the sweat vapor passes into the sock and/or shoe, it condenses to liquid water. Liquid water cannot go back through the products because the PTFE/PE based powder is extremely hydrophobic. Water beads up upon contact and cannot penetrate, leaving the skin dry.
Which to Use
So which should you use—the lube or powder? The powder is designed primarily for the feet. Because of the "slippery-ness" of the powder it just won’t stay on other parts of the body. The roll-on, on the other hand, can be used anywhere on the body: inner thighs, nipples, under arms, and also the feet. It really becomes a very subjective issue. Some people will not use anything but the powder on the feet; others love the roll-on for the feet and use it elsewhere.
One application of BlisterShield lasts all day even under most extreme conditions. Both work equally well in wet conditions and will not wear off until removed with soap and water. The products are non-toxic, non-staining, odor-free and contain no animal products. Both are made in the U.S.
To use the powder just shake one teaspoon in each sock distributing it evenly without bunching all of it at your toes. Add some extra in the heel after you put your sock on. Rub the roll-on or towelettes on high friction spots like feet, underarms, legs, or other areas. 
Our new packaging of convenient foil paks of BlisterShield powder and SportShield towelettes are convenient to stuff in your pocket and go! The editors of Runners World and Running Times tested the powder and also reviewed SportShield giving both high marks. BlisterShield.com lists stores in your area.
BlisterShield Users
Many military users send us kudos. The most interesting is a US Army ten-man marathon march team who competed against several military teams from European armies. They were the only team not to lose one man and came through the grueling course with no blisters and dry feet. They sent photos of their feet before BlisterShield and after. The after photo has their medal hanging on blister-clear feet! 
2Toms has received kudos from golfers, gardeners, hikers, walkers, stewardesses who have used the powder and roll-on or towelettes. Plus, we heard equestrians use it to get boots on and off and to prevent sweaty, swollen feet.
If you have an opinion on this article, please email me.
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FEATURED FOOT CARE PRODUCTS
Headgear. I know some of you are thinking how headgear is connected to foot care products, but I have an answer. Keeping your head warm helps warm your whole body—feet included. So if your toes 
are cold, put on a hat, knit cap, or a Buff. For those of you unfamiliar with Buffs, there are great. Very light and compact, it’s a tube which pulls on over the head and can be worn in many ways. On the head alone, over the ears, down around the neck and then up over your mouth and nose. Check out Buffs and watch the video on the Web site which shows the myriad of ways they can be worn. Keep your head warm and you’ll keep your toes warm. Buffs are made of a microfiber fabric and are moisture wicking. A new reflective Buffs offer two reflective strips to warn motorists you’re on the road. A fleece version is available for those in really cold areas.
SkinMD Natural – This product is perfect for these cold and drying winter conditions. SkinMD is a 
“shielding lotion” which enhances the skin’s own natural protective factor many times over byhydrating the skin—perfect for athletes out in cold air. It also forms an invisible, protective barrier that helps prevent blistering and irritation, while keeping natural moisture in. In short, it bonds with your skin. Use it on your feet to keep natural moisture in, on your hands, face, elbows, anywhere your skin is dry, chapped, irritated, or blistered. SkinMD is fragrance-free and contains mostly natural and organic ingredients.
NEW HAPPY FEET BOOKLET
After a long wait, my new booklet, Happy Feet! Foot care Advice for Walkers and Travelers is in stock and ready for the walkers in your life. This booklet is 3.75 x 8.5 and 36 pages in length. In an easy read format, it gives advice on biomechanics and gait, buying footwear, fit, lacing, insole and toenail tips, skin care, powders and lubricants, blister care, sprains, foot care kits, and more. It’s a bargain at $5.00. Click here to read more.
FOOT CARE TIP
Kevin shared this tip: “I wear New Balance 833s. They wear out fast, before the uppers are even dirty. I couldn’t take the idea of tossing them out and ended up with nearly a dozen used pairs. When 
my knees start to ache it tells me the shoes are going. I tried this company, Resole America, and have been satisfied with the result. The resoled shoes don’t last as long as the originals but for me it’s better than tossing them out. Plus since I’ve got 5 pairs now I can rotate to make them last longer. When these wear out I’ll send more in to be resoled. The company sends prepaid mailers for the old shoes. Prices are fair and they do all types of shoes, from street shoes, running shoes, hiking boots, work boots, and more. Check out Resole America.
FIXING YOUR FEET – The Book
“IMHO, John Vonhof is a god. I own his 2nd edition, and just ordered the 3rd. I thought that I knew everything about my feet too – but I think that his book is better than anything else out there for new & tested ideas.” – Christine "Ceanothus" Kudija – PCT Hiker
“I have your latest copy of Fixing Your Feet. You should see it now, full of turned corners and yellow highlighter.” – Jürgen Ankenbrand, the Ultra Kraut
The 3rd edition of Fixing Your Feet: Prevention and Treatments for Athletes is the book of choice for athletes. It can be ordered through your bookstore, sports store, or visit my website for autographed and personalized copies at my Web site. I offer the book at 20% off, autograph it, and mail it either by Priority Mail or Media Mail (to save a few dollars). It can also be purchased from Amazon.
BAD FEET CONTEST!
Sarah Brown shares her photos this month. She wrote, “I thought you might like a couple of pictures of my and my friends’ children’s feet. They all ran the Fort Worth Marine Corps Mud Run. We realized they didn’t have any dry shoes to wear afterwards. So in true form, since we are adventure racing and ultra running families, we were very happy to fashion duct tape shoes. The kids were excited after having seen there parents taping their own feet in many stages of disrepair.” 
This just goes to show you what we can fashion out of the amazing duct tape.
See past photos here. 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 or by snail mail to Footwork Publications, 352 Fragrance Court, Manteca, CA 95337.
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
This issue’s quote is a good example of how sport brings out true camaraderie between athletes.
“Two friends and I had all good intentions of running together. But for some reason, we got separated early in the race. At about mile 13, however, I began to run with two other entrants, Jeff and Joel. We talked and encouraged either, exchanged running backgrounds and talked about family and training and enjoyed each others’ company on a perfectly cool, blue-sky morning. We were complete strangers, yet in the moment of the day we ran stride for stride for nearly the rest of the race.” – James Raia on running the Cal International Marathon on December 4th.
James, a veteran long-distance runner and endurance sports enthusiast, offers two great free newsletters, Endurance Sports News and Tour de France Times. You can subscribe at his Web site. While you’re there, check out his other publications.
READER FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS
"Thanks for your great book and newsletter!" – Ollie
"Great issue again. I have a question for the expert…. I have a fungal infection on both little toes…." – Pat
"I’m an avid hiker, regular subscriber to your e-newsletter & have also bought your book. Since then, I’ve pretty well managed to solve all my little hiking & training foot problems." – Randy
Reader feedback to this ezine and its articles is welcome and encouraged. Please email me with any foot care ideas or tips that you have tried and would like to share with others, or ideas for an article for the e-zine.
GOT A STORY TO SHARE?
I am always on the look out for stories about adventures with some type of connection to feet. If you have something to share, please send me an email.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
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