Hi all
Looking for a bit of sage advice on how to deal with one of my boots that’s giving me a hotspot on the heal please.
Boots are Maestrale RS
I tape my heals with sport tape.
I’ve got no noticeable heal lift.
And yet after a couple of hours skinning, I’ve got a hotspot.
The other boot feels the like exactly the same fit but is no problem. Anyone got any ideas? More tape layers? Compeed with a bit of extra tape? Some sort of medical lint under the tape?
What’s worked for you?
Hi Dave.
Ive had a similar problem for years on an ankle which has been screwed and plated in the past. I use K tape or Leukotape over the operation scars and then, on that foot only, I wear a silk liner sock inside my ski sock.
It took a load of trial and error to get to this point, but it works for me and helps stop aany rubbing.
Best of luck, Iain
Decathlon do an anti friction stick / cream. Not greasy. I use it on heels / shins etc. seems to help and only a few pounds/ euros.
When I first started touring I sustained terrible blisters using hire equipment. On the recommendation of my guide I bought these in Yosemite in Zermatt which solved the problem - though I now have my own boots so a better fit alone probably stopped it?
I’ve never seen them in shops since and didn’t know what they were called but I’ve just seen these. Good luck.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/eZeefit-Ankle-Booties-Protection-Suitable/dp/B08V1MWXCB/ref=asc_df_B08V1MWXCB?mcid=fc010d8c0e6d3876ad329460cd1ca7c2&th=1&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=710759316430&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6991191297954451022&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045888&hvtargid=pla-1970748677988&gad_source=1&psc=1
Thanks all for the recommendations. Going to try them all one by one, starting tomorrow with the liner socks. Not silk but I have some coolmax ones with me.
https://amzn.eu/d/38wIUBi
Engo blister prevention patches. Stick to inside of boot and remove friction.
May need liner socks as well, but I would start with these.
Compeed do a anti friction stick that works well.
Have you had the boots fitted?
Good socks help a lot.
Yep boots fit great, no heal lift or movement at all. Things were a little better today when I used an extra layer of tape and a liner sock. Tomorrow I’m going for the silicone heal cup. I use Falke SK 4 socks
I seem to have narrow heels so get heel lift in most footwear. On my original-shape Maestrales (RS and standard) I always have to keep some tension in the heel strap when skinning - typically loosening off by only one or two notches. It’s trial and error to find a balance between hot spots/blisters and good fore/aft flexing for skinning. The standard (orange) boots are noticeably better for skinning.
Thanks for the tip. I tried to do the heel strap up a bit more on Saturday and didn’t tape my lower shin / ankle as I had been OK so far. Ended up rubbing a bit of skin off so lesson learned for next time. 
Does your Maestrale have an Intuition liner? While you don’t notice a heel lift, perhaps there’s a tiny one that’s causing the discomfort?
If you have Intuitions (or even if you dont) I would take them to a boot shop and have the fitter heat them up and make the ankle area tighter (add some patches on the outside of the liner to reduce the space below the ankle bone for a more snug fit).
Adding leukotape (yes I am a fan) or all this “stuff” for every day of every tour can get tiresome.
Hi Darren
Thanks for the thoughts. Yes it’s the normal intuition liner. Initial fitting at Lockwoods followed by 2 separate tweaks at Killy Sport in Val d’Isere. I might have the chance to get back to Lockwoods before my next trip and get them looked at. I’m just a bit cautions because my next trip is hut to hut for 6 days and I won’t get chance to try any modifications out before hand. I guess any patches that get added could be removed during the tour if they were problematic?
I had similar problems for years. A combination of Zipfit liners and 2 socks - one a silk sock from Montane which is very thin, this under a standard ski sock works perfectly for me.
Prior to that sport strapping and compeed was as good as it got.
I had a problem with boots rubbing on the insides of the heals for several years until I started lacing up the inners and tying a knot at the point where my ankle bends and that seemed to stop my foot rubbing, resulting in no more blisters when skinning.