[philmont] blisters

Of course boots should be well broken in. Keep in mind, however, that different types of boots have vastly different break-in requirements. This factor may have contributed to my blister of last week.

While acting as a shakedown advisor and getting a crew ready for the Ranch on a Memorial Day backpack on the AT, I noticed that a gash had opened up on the side of the toe box on one of my well broken in, fairly lightweight boots. The boot was no longer waterproof as a result. Since I had purchased them from L.L. Bean, that company took them back, no questions asked, even though I had used them for over a year.

Since I wear a 12D, however, Bean had no replacement boots in stock. I elected to upgrade for a payment of an additional $25. Therein, as the Bard said, lies the rub.

Despite wearing the new boots every day, at home and at work (even with my suit in court appearances--when it was inclement outside), the new boots never achieved that measure of 'Broken in" as had the lightweight boots they replaced.

The moral of the story is, if your well broken in boots fail you shortly before you are slated to leave for the ranch, buy the lightest, most easily broken in boot you can find, regardless of your personal preference as to support, weight, tread, etc. As long as it's waterproof, go for it. Holding out for the boot that will carry you through the next decade of hiking, when you don't have the time (through no fault of your own) to break them in, is folly.

If your break-in time is truncated, go light, young man, go light.

YIS,
Bill Sheehan, ASM
Troop 55, Pitman, NJ
Philmont '70,'72, Autumn Adventure '01,'03,'05

-------------------------------------------------------
Scouting E-mail Discussion Lists @ usscouts.org
Listserv Commands at http://usscouts.org/lists/lc.asp
-------------------------------------------------------
Send listserv commands to: listserv@troop47.com
Send postings to: philmont@troop47.com
List FAQ found at: http://usscouts.org/lists/faq.asp
List Administrator: philmont_owner@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------
To Unsubscribe send text email to:

     To: listserv@troop47.com
     Subject: unsubscribe
     Body: unsubscribe philmont@troop47.com
-------------------------------------------------------

As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
-------------------------------------------------------

 
Received on Thu Jul 20 17:37:29 2006