Feet are looked after before they start hurting
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Your feet carry the whole exercise. Look after them in time and blisters and chafing usually stay away, and movement stays sure. It is worth starting the maintenance before the feet feel sore.
Dryness matters most
Moisture softens the skin and makes it prone to chafing. Change socks for dry ones the moment they get wet from sweat or water. Dry your feet carefully, including between the toes. Carry spare socks in their own waterproof bag and they stay dry in any weather.
Socks and boots have to match
Choose socks that neither compress nor go slack. A sock left in a wrinkle rubs one spot raw. The boot should fit so the heel stays in place and the toes have room to move. Break boots in before a long march, so the foot and the boot have time to get used to each other.
Get ahead of the chafing
Check your feet whenever you stop for any length of time. A reddened patch is the sign of chafing starting. Protect it in time with a plaster or tape, before a blister has a chance to form. A short break with the boots off gives the skin time to dry and recover.
The evening routine
Wash and dry your feet at the end of the day. Check the nails and keep them short and straight, so they do not press inside the boot. Let the boots dry overnight and put on dry socks in the morning. Repeat the same maintenance every day and the feet last the whole exercise.
The information here has been gathered and summarised in our own words from the public guide Selviytymisen käsikirja (Survival Handbook, 2024), pp. 38, 39 and 40.
Sources and editorial independence
This text is based on publicly available Finnish Defence Forces guides. Potero Standard is not a partner of the Finnish Defence Forces. The Finnish Defence Forces have not produced, reviewed or approved this article.
