Choose your shoes and socks carefully
The first step when preparing your feet for a hike is to make sure you have the right kit. As you’ll be putting a lot of strain on your feet for several hours, make sure you choose your walking shoes carefully.
For this, choose shoes that fit properly, provide sufficient support for your feet and allow air to circulate.(1) Shoes that are too tight tend to put pressure on the skin, which can cause it to dry out and become fragile. Rubbing can also cause blisters to form on the heel or toes. Good ventilation will help to remove moisture and limit maceration, which can lead to foot fungus.
When it comes to socks, opt for natural fibres such as wool or cotton, which will help prevent excessive sweating (1). But that’s not all: now that you’ve got your shoes on, it’s time to pamper your feet.
Get your feet ready for a hike by keeping them moisturised
To keep your feet in good shape, give them the care they deserve. First and foremost, make sure your feet are properly moisturised, as hiking with dry feet can lead to calluses (a thickening of the skin), which can be quite uncomfortable.
To intensely moisturise your feet, choose URGO Filmomousse Intense Moisturiser for very dry to cracked feet (ages 5 and over), which is suitable for diabetic feet. Its foaming formula moisturises, reduces cracks and soothes itching caused by dryness, whilst improving the skin’s barrier function on the skin of very dry to cracked feet.
If the calluses are already established, we advise you to apply URGO Anti-callus Cream. This is an intensive 14-day topical treatment containing urea (18%), glycerine and allantoin, which will help prepare your feet for hiking by targeting calluses with the cream’s precision applicator to reduce them and make them softer. If you regularly suffer from dry feet, we recommend that you start your skincare routine a few days, or even a few weeks, before setting off on your walk.
The URGO product you need: URGO Filmomousse® Intense hydration
Be prepared to deal with any eventuality
When out walking, a number of things can happen, starting with your feet getting sweaty as a result of the physical exertion. To regulate the moisture levels in your feet, use URGO Filmomousse Rebalancing for sweaty and smelly feet every day; it is suitable for plantar hyperhidrosis. Its formula is designed to reduce perspiration and moisturise the skin without drying it out.
Blisters are common during a hike, especially if you’re wearing new shoes. To treat them, there is the URGO Blister Treatment – Assortment. These hydrocolloid dressings protect the blister with a thickened central pad and promote healing.
Finally, to ensure your feet are properly prepared before your hike, be sure to choose dressings that can withstand physical activity, such as URGO Extrême dressings and strips: with micro-ventilation, tear-resistant fabric and rock-solid adhesion to treat all superficial wounds. And finally, as our insect friends are often around, make sure to take URGO Filmogel® Insect Bites and Stings (ages 1 year and over) with you. Its protective and soothing film-forming properties will relieve your itching
