Footwear

damon · Post by **damon** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 8:57 pm

I know this isn`t a new thing, but, after reading all info about it I`m still confused. Many people say boots are the best for heavy walking, others say "do not wear hiking shoes". Is there any well balanced brand/model (+ breathable socks) You could recommend?

Thank You :)

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 9:04 pm

imagine you are going hiking, with alot of it being on sand. Shoe-boots seem to be popular. The key is to have plenty of clean socks, change them often, and above all make sure your shoes/boots/whatever are properly broken in (if you haven't started now it may be too late).

I like a heavy military boot for the night, but I don't dance much. I think it is a bad idea to wear sandles as your footwear away from camp, but then again many people do it.

damon · Post by **damon** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 9:09 pm

I love dancing even couple hours ..so I`m worried about my feet. Regular socks are ok or should I get something special? And for siesta time @camp site, we`re gonna wear sandals :)

SilkenTofu · Post by **SilkenTofu** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:54 am

I have always had great luck with high top converse. You can throw them in the washing machine after the burn and it dosen't matter what color they are, they will be playa colored by the end of the first day - of course this will probably be the year I impail my foot on a sharp rebar stake.

I never bought a particular brand of socks, just ended up changing socks at least twice a day.

Tancorix · Post by **Tancorix** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 8:12 am

Another thing I've done is use Corel's heavy moisturizer on my feet, applied very generously and then slip my socks on over it so they have moisturizer against the skin for several hours. I change socks 2 times per day or more if I feel any hotspots developing. Also I've wore sandals out there, but I've also made the fashion faux pau of wearing socks with them. On the playa comfort is the key with feet, looks are second. Not very many people are going to look at your feet anyway, everyone's feet or shoes look the same out there thanks to the dust.

Also look up the advice on playa foot in the survival guide about using white vinegar or lemon juice to neutralize the alkali after you get back to camp from dancing. Your feet will love the attention. Playa foot is a bitch to deal with, you can do all of these things and still get it. Good luck.

dragonfly Jafe · Post by **dragonfly Jafe** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 9:06 am

The best advice I can give about your feet is have LOTS of socks and change them often (2x a day minimum). I buy the cheapo socks at the dollar store, 20 pairs is good for 1 week on the Playa. Clean your feet several times a day (basically every time you come back to camp to rest/eat) and finish with a lotion before you put your socks back on. I have handi-wipes w/ aloe and a wash cloth in case I need the vinegar treatment. If your feet are getting rough, start with the gobs-of-lotion-under socks before you go to bed treatment.

Your feet are probably the most important thing to have in good shape at BRC.

Burp! · Post by **Burp!** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 5:49 pm

Every year, except this year, I have gotten the dreaded playa foot. Last year about half way through the week I discovered a little home remedy to keeping your feet real happy.

Get some of that Dr. Brauners soap stuff. Makes your feet minty fresh and is also good reading.

Get a footbath of some sort. Aluminum Turkey bin works great.

Drain some cooler water into the bin (even if the water is dirty, think of the crud stuff as vitamins for your feet), mix the soap and soak.

Yes it will be Super Cold, but in a little while your feet will start singing. Really, have a tape recorder handy.

Put on a nice clean pair of socks and what ever shoes you like, cept flip flops and you are good to go.

You'll be the envy of your camp and soon everyone will be doing it.

Fat SAM · Post by **Fat SAM** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 6:44 pm

Playa foot - yes...the dreaded playa foot. Read about it, heard it mentioned...noone ever says what the symptoms are. Can anyone help me out?

I'm one of those freaks who say they have steel feet...I plan on doing the whole vinegar thing...and probably the Bronner's foot bath, which sounds absolutely lovely, but I think I'll probably end up wearing my sandals a great deal and taking more than one barefoot trip hither and thither...

Burp! · Post by **Burp!** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:07 pm

Playa foot is like real bad athelete's foot. Cracks in all the wrong places. The playa dries your foot out till they just crack to pieces and just blow away in the wind.

If you do the foot bath think daily, you'll probably be ok.

Stormy · Post by **Stormy** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:32 pm

OK, I'm going to commit Eplaya heresay, but here goes. I was out on the playa 12 days last year. I only had about 10 pairs of socks with me. I wore everything. Some days I wore tennis shoes, some days thin soled fashion boots and a couple different pairs of sandals. In some years past I got playa foot, some years not. But last year I didn't get any playa foot after all those days and some of them just in sandals. What I did do was put a vinegar rinse on my feet every day. I also worked 6 hour shifts on my feet during the day and worked 3 night shifts on my feet at a theme camp. I'm thinking the vinegar was the thing.

(BTW, socks with sandals is about the most comfortable thing you can wear out there. Your feet breath but you have some degree of protection for them. Don't suppose anyone has started a fashion show for sandal and sock combos? Hey if it's on a runway those fashion hoes might copy it.)

TheJudge · Post by **TheJudge** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 7:34 pm

I agree that clean socks are key to keeping happy tootsies, but I think changing socks twice a day is a bit much. If you are wearing comfortable shoes, it really shouldnt be that necessary to change them that often.

Get a pair of desert combat boots made by Altama. They are tan suede (which goes with everything) they dont have vent holes like the cheapo Vietnam jungle boots, they dont really look like military boots (especially when wearing jeans) and they are lightweight. If properly broken in, they are perfect for the playa. They also are designed so that you can wear them unlaced without tripping over the laces.

Also investing in a pair of Dr. Scholls inserts is like frosting on the cake. The gel inserts work well, but any good bouncy kind should do.

River sandals are great and super comfortable, but dont forget the feet when applying sunscreen. Burning the tops of your feet creates a world of suck.

This year I'm bringing several pairs of shoes: knee high boots that look cool with a kilt, the tan military boots, the sandals and a pair of beat up Merrells for slip-on do anything wear.

Before going to bed, I make a routine out of washing my feet, slathering on some Lubriderm and putting on clean socks. The only thing I've noticed is that after returning home I stop using the lubriderm and THAT is when the feet start cracking.

Fat SAM · Post by **Fat SAM** » Tue Aug 10, 2004 8:25 pm

You know, the whole socks with sandals thing is not a faux pas here in Reno, at all. It's quite common and, in fact, encouraged among the more forward thinking of us. Many days afer working at Mt. Rose I would take off my snowboard boots, don my sandals with woolies, and boogie on down to the loodge bar for a shifter.

waltsnipe · Post by **waltsnipe** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 8:50 am

The only time I got playa foot (and it was BAD) was in '99, from only wearing hiking boots the whole week (and they were broken in, too). I've switched to Converse tennis shoes since then, and change my socks when I change clothes for night on the playa, and its been fine since then. With the playa surface so flat and free of rocks, I just don't see any need for boots. You end up spending a lot more time on your feet during a week on the playa than usual.......

waltsnipe

MissNev · Post by **MissNev** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 10:44 am

I usually wear my Birkenstocks out there...without socks during the day, with socks at night. I also have some lightweight hiking/tennis shoe things that work well when I'm trekking acrosst he Playa. I agree with washing your feet (I love Dr. Bronners) and plenty of lotion. I treat myself to a cushy pedicure when I get home.

MissNev · Post by **MissNev** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:02 am

I usually wear my Birkenstocks out there...without socks during the day, with socks at night. I also have some lightweight hiking/tennis shoe things that work well when I'm trekking acrosst he Playa. I agree with washing your feet (I love Dr. Bronners) and plenty of lotion. I treat myself to a cushy pedicure when I get home.

Rian Jackson · Post by **Rian Jackson** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:19 am

Last year i pretty much lived in a pair of fake leather sandals. They worked great but got trashed. I think the only other thing i ever wore was the tall black boots for nights out on the playa. and went barefoot a bunch.

I probably threw lotion on pretty frequently, but never did a specialised footwash.

I started to get really dried out in general as we drove away from BRC, but never had any major playafoot.

this year i'm taking my holeysoles, shoes of perfection, goodness, and love. they come in crazy colours, are lightweight, breatheable. they're inexpensive. They have little foot massagers on the soles. They can be covered with handmade bootcovers to match anything, so you get that 'i'm so cool in shnazzy boots' look without trashing your boots (they will get trashed) The playa dust should scrub off of them, unlike most other shoes. this also means i should be able to clean them daily, to avoid playa caking in them and exacerbating playafoot. And they fuckin float. Not that there's so much water in that desert...

join the cult. get holeysoles. i'll let you know in a month how they did on playa.

www.holeysoles.com, i think.

Rian Jackson · Post by **Rian Jackson** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:33 am

Last year i pretty much lived in a pair of fake leather sandals. They worked great but got trashed. I think the only other thing i ever wore was the tall black boots for nights out on the playa. and went barefoot a bunch.

I probably threw lotion on pretty frequently, but never did a specialised footwash.

I started to get really dried out in general as we drove away from BRC, but never had any major playafoot.

this year i'm taking my holeysoles, shoes of perfection, goodness, and love. they come in crazy colours, are lightweight, breatheable. they're inexpensive. They have little foot massagers on the soles. They can be covered with handmade bootcovers to match anything, so you get that 'i'm so cool in shnazzy boots' look without trashing your boots (they will get trashed) The playa dust should scrub off of them, unlike most other shoes. this also means i should be able to clean them daily, to avoid playa caking in them and exacerbating playafoot. And they fuckin float. Not that there's so much water in that desert...

join the cult. get holeysoles. i'll let you know in a month how they did on playa.

www.holeysoles.com, i think.

happematt · Post by **happematt** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:35 am

OMG, this is starting to freak me out. I am a first timer and now I am wondering if I sit down on the playa, will i get an ass crack? :shock:

happematt · Post by **happematt** » Fri Aug 13, 2004 11:38 am

OMG, this is starting to freak me out. I am a first timer and now I am wondering if I sit down on the playa, will i get an ass crack? :shock:

Piper · Post by **Piper** » Sat Aug 14, 2004 11:33 am

Last year I took just one pair of shoes, my Timberlands, but other than well broken in comfy shoes, FOOT CARE is the best way to keep your feet happy. I did the vinegar wash, with a mist bottle to make it easier, and then I rubbed my feet with bag balm every morning, Dreamcatchers camp last year was a great place to do this. Then repeat at bedtime, if you can. This year I will take the advice of the sock changers, too many people to be wrong have said this is the greatest thing, just makes your tootsies feel wonderful.

Hey maybe even offer to wash and anoint your campmates feet, or better yet the people camped next to you

robbidobbs · Post by **robbidobbs** » Sat Aug 14, 2004 12:22 pm

Yeah Dreamcatchers Camp! They rock!

Last year I brought 5 pair of shoes: 3 "real" shoes, and 2 sandals. Quickly, the "real" shoes failed me with blisters, so had to resort to the sandals. Fuck. I ended up with playa foot, and it took months of baby-ing to heal. I'm not going to THIS movie this year.

Lessons learned:
1) Wear clean socks on clean feet, no matter how lazy you feel.
2) spray down with vinegar, then lotion before retiring.
3) keep your shoes on, no matter how sweaty they get.

Believe me, playa-foot sucks. Happy feet are much more fun to play on.

RobbiDobbs clear

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Footwear

Footwear

canvas???...why not!!!

hiking boots=walking like Fred Sanford