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Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on May 11, 2007 17:17:53 GMT -5
I'm just now remembering something my sister said.....is Second Skin stuff in a bottle that you paint over the trouble spot? I've used something called New Skin; it's very good for covering up a scrape to keep it from rubbing against everything and getting irritated. The bottle is a little expensive, but it lasts a long time.
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Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Jun 10, 2007 22:58:11 GMT -5
Just a short foot report for CIV........
Before I put my boots on, I used large bandaids on my heels and Moleskin Plus on some toes that have been rubbed the wrong way before. I am wearing knee highs and thick socks over those. On some boots, I try gel heel insoles.
Wed afternoon: Boots #1 - (medium brown, thick soles, low heel) I was just walking around the convention area. It was a mile or two of walking since I went from the convention center to the Bonaventure and stopped at a few other places, but my feet were getting sore. Not a good sign since CIV hadn't even started.
Thurs all day: Boots #2 - (low heels, heavy soles, straps, they look cool) I can walk around, but after awhile my feet are sore again. Is is the cement floors? I do have to do a bit of walking between hotel (.5 mile away) and convention center. But there is no rubbing or blisters.
Fri all day: Boots #1 again - Ugh. I had insoles in these boots. No wonder my feet felt cramped. I take them out and they feel better with more room, but I hang around the TJA table. My feet are happy when I sit down. There was also one spot that felt very pressed upon on the bone and I used some regular Moleskin (the thick stuff) and that cushioned that problem well.
Sat all day: Rebel Fleet Trooper Boots (they're short, black, sythetic and Insulated and lined on the inside) My feet feel fine, though with a little soreness from the walking and the day before.
Sun all day: Boots #3 - (low heels, not as heavy soles, most broken in boots I have) Still sore from walking in places.
Mon day: Boots #3 again. About the same as Sunday, but a little better.
Mon evening: Flat canvas shoes that have no metal in then at the airport, but TSA makes you take your shoes off anyway. My feet feel fine. No blisters, no soreness. They're good.
Conclusion Moleskin Plus (the thin Moleskin) works very well for preventing blisters and rubbing. The thick socks helped a bit, too. The gel heel inserts did cushion my feet a bit without cramping my feet in the boots. Large bandaids on the heels worked well for preventing blisters as well. And I think the bandaids would be better if you already have a blister since the Moleskin sticks to all parts of your skin like contact paper.
CIV was a qualified success since I prevented problems, but I did not get rid of my feet feeling sore from walking around in my Jedi boots all day. I'll try a few things at DragonCon and see what happens.
I did run into someone in costume at CIV who said that he had foot problems and HAD to spend the extra $$$ on custom made boots. In the end, I think that's always the best alternative (if you know a boot-maker you can trust), but it is a little pricey.
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Post by Nova Darklighter on Jun 11, 2007 15:38:09 GMT -5
I use some very sculpted insoles in the bottom of mine, and had the shoemaker stretch all the tight spots, broke them in and carry a liquid stuff that is a shoe stretch for spot jobs the first few times I wore them, and good sox are key.
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Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Jun 11, 2007 18:26:04 GMT -5
Sadly, there is no shoemaker around here that I can get to. But what is a "liquid stuff"?
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Post by acalsohei on Jun 26, 2007 13:10:24 GMT -5
I just got 2 pair of boots on ebay, where you can't "try before you buy". The fit is pretty good, except the toe box on one pair is a bit narrow, and in both there is a seam in the back of the heel that rubs. Has anyone had any experience with a shoemaker being able to alleviate these issues, or is the cost prohibitive? I got a good deal on both pairs, so I wouldn't mind spending a bit of $ so they fit perfectly. I did a parade last night, and rode our float, but the walking and standing before the parade created sore spots and one heel blister. I'd like to avoid that in the future...
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Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Jun 26, 2007 17:58:27 GMT -5
A bootmaker can stretch the boots out a bit to improve the fit. I'm not sure what can be done with the seam, but there is probably a way to smooth it out. At worst, you can protect your heel with moleskin or just a large band-aid. You would have to show them the boots to get an idea of price, though.
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Post by Jauhzmynn Enz on Jun 26, 2007 19:53:11 GMT -5
A showmaker can stretch the toe box.
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Post by Nova Darklighter on Jun 27, 2007 21:38:52 GMT -5
The liquid stuff I use to spot stretch is called shoe stretch and comes in a liquid or a spray can, not to pricey either way, but smellier in the aeresol can. I had my shoe repair guy add a leather piece inside the heel cup because of a similar seam in a pair of my boots, you can buy something similar in the Dr. Scholl's section, but is better to have the shoemaker do it, the Dr. S kind don't always stick well and then the problem is worse. Went to a little con this weekend, gave the boots a workout, so comfy, I wore them at work that night too. Toe box the shoerepair can stretch, neither streching or adding the heel liner was expensive, well worth the $$$
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Post by acalsohei on Jun 28, 2007 23:42:56 GMT -5
I took one pair in to the shoemaker, and the stretching solved the toe box problem. There is a piece added between the liner and the leather at the heel that is pushing out the seam, and in his opinion, it would be next to impossible to remove it without making it even more lumpy than it already is. I'm going to try a makeshift heel contraption to see if adding something temporary, like moleskin, on either side of the seam would help (probably like what you had done, Nova). Total cost so far is under $10, and almost $6 of that was a shoehorn. Worth every penny.
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Post by acalsohei on Jul 3, 2007 23:19:34 GMT -5
An update after 9 hours today in my new boots. I've been wearing my boots a bit around home, and they've stretched til they are almost comfortable. I put moleskin on my heel, and wrapped two problem toes, and I have to say my feet are very happy. I'm not so happy that the parade was cancelled for a tornado while we were in the line up, but that's beside the point...
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Post by Charybdis on Jul 9, 2007 11:20:06 GMT -5
I just did a parade where we walked around 2 miles or so. I was in my black Han Solo boots and to prepare for it, I put on the Mole skin on my heels and on the inside and outside of my foot where the bones hit the sides of the shoe. Wore two pairs of socks, one light pair on the inside and the thick pair on the outside. Worked great!!! I was relieved...
thanks for the hints everyone. That Moleskin did the trick and I stronly suggest using it if you know you will be on your feet for a long time...
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Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Jul 9, 2007 19:24:59 GMT -5
Glad to hear that the foot hints worked! Alas, they can't do anything about tornado alerts -- I just hope you didn't get one!
The best solution is, of course, to do what they do in the movies.....have custom made boots for the lead actors. But that's generally a bit past most people's price range for costume boots.
But that does make me wonder.....who makes and fits those boots? I really don't think they can afford blisters on the feet of a major actor, so they have to get someone who's good at it. I assume that all the extras just have to go with what boots fit from the costume dept. That's us......we're all Jedi extras.
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Post by Ani-Chay Pinn on Aug 16, 2007 20:23:07 GMT -5
This is an interesting hint that I got from a costumer's mailing list I'm on. I have NOT tried it, but it's interesting.....
Feet sweat. When sweat gets trapped in the skin due to pinches and rubs in the skin, skin blisters. Stop the sweat and you stop the blisters. Roll on or aerosol antiperspirant on your feet will prevent blistering and make nice-smelling feet, although nothing can prevent foot fatigue and soreness from new shoes pinching.
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Post by acalsohei on Aug 17, 2007 0:08:44 GMT -5
Hadn't thought about antiperspirant, Ani! We didn't get hit with a tornado, but did have some impressive hail and rain. Luckily, we were back in the car by then.
I remember reading that in ANH, Peter Cushing's boots didn't fit, so in shots that only showed his upper body, he didn't wear them. Carrie made a comment that the effect of the scary Imperial uniform was somewhat diminished by the bedroom slippers Peter wore during those shots!
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Solinbeb Newau
Message Board Member
There are many ways to learn the ways of the Force, but only those who have joined it may know best.
Posts: 1,181
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Post by Solinbeb Newau on Aug 20, 2007 10:06:57 GMT -5
Hadn't thought about antiperspirant, Ani! We didn't get hit with a tornado, but did have some impressive hail and rain. Luckily, we were back in the car by then. I remember reading that in ANH, Peter Cushing's boots didn't fit, so in shots that only showed his upper body, he didn't wear them. Carrie made a comment that the effect of the scary Imperial uniform was somewhat diminished by the bedroom slippers Peter wore during those shots! Bunny slippers would be funny...if anyone does a parody of the scene.
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