Guys, please....do not duct tape your feet. Listen to Uncle Petey and Hitman2/3 on this one. Do these things and you will be golden:
1. Get a pair of thin, polypropylene socks to wear next to the skin. Under Armor makes quality socks, but there are many manufacturers out there. These thin socks wick moisture away from the skin.
2. Get a pair of smartwool trekking socks to wear over the poly socks. These are nice and thick and will glide over the poly socks, reducing heat and friction while protecting the skin. If they're too bulky for your liking, at least go with smartwool hiking, which are a little bit thinner.
3. Bring both pairs of these socks with you when you go to try on boots. That way you'll be able to get the proper size. Boots should be USMC issued style, fairly light weight but sturdy, fit good in the ankle/heel cup, be wide enough to accomodate your foot without allowing excess movement, have about 1/2" of room at the toe, and provide ample arch support for your foot type. I know that's a lot of parameters, but you'll thank yourself later for putting in the extra effort up front.
4. Break in your new boots and socks by performing small movements and working your way up. Don't do a 12 miler out of the gate. You'll probably just deadline your training program for the next two weeks while you recover from all the damage you did to your body.
Here's a true story about a guy who taped his feet at selection. This guy, who will remain nameless, literally walked the soles of his feet off. Countless hours of wet skin and countless more miles finally took their toll. When he got back to the hooch, we all watched in horror as the tape was peeled off, taking most of the skin with it. It smelled like death. You could hear him screaming from the heads when the soap and water from the showers got into the wounds. Now, he had no choice but to let his feet air out at night and then reapply more tape in the morning. At the end of each day, he'd peel off the tape and start the process over. Do you believe he made it to the end and was selected? To this day I've never met anyone as hard as this guy. 99.9% of Marines in his shoes would've quit, or been medically dropped. He kept it a secret from the medics for just that reason. I'm not advocating hiding injuries. I'm just telling you what happened. So,....don't tape your feet.
1. Get a pair of thin, polypropylene socks to wear next to the skin. Under Armor makes quality socks, but there are many manufacturers out there. These thin socks wick moisture away from the skin.
2. Get a pair of smartwool trekking socks to wear over the poly socks. These are nice and thick and will glide over the poly socks, reducing heat and friction while protecting the skin. If they're too bulky for your liking, at least go with smartwool hiking, which are a little bit thinner.
3. Bring both pairs of these socks with you when you go to try on boots. That way you'll be able to get the proper size. Boots should be USMC issued style, fairly light weight but sturdy, fit good in the ankle/heel cup, be wide enough to accomodate your foot without allowing excess movement, have about 1/2" of room at the toe, and provide ample arch support for your foot type. I know that's a lot of parameters, but you'll thank yourself later for putting in the extra effort up front.
4. Break in your new boots and socks by performing small movements and working your way up. Don't do a 12 miler out of the gate. You'll probably just deadline your training program for the next two weeks while you recover from all the damage you did to your body.
Here's a true story about a guy who taped his feet at selection. This guy, who will remain nameless, literally walked the soles of his feet off. Countless hours of wet skin and countless more miles finally took their toll. When he got back to the hooch, we all watched in horror as the tape was peeled off, taking most of the skin with it. It smelled like death. You could hear him screaming from the heads when the soap and water from the showers got into the wounds. Now, he had no choice but to let his feet air out at night and then reapply more tape in the morning. At the end of each day, he'd peel off the tape and start the process over. Do you believe he made it to the end and was selected? To this day I've never met anyone as hard as this guy. 99.9% of Marines in his shoes would've quit, or been medically dropped. He kept it a secret from the medics for just that reason. I'm not advocating hiding injuries. I'm just telling you what happened. So,....don't tape your feet.
