Boomer, having completed five Nijmegen Marches, and a bunch of other endurance type events, with the issue combat boots, I feel your pain. Couldn't resist the pun. Blisters have a great way of hobbling even the otherwise most fit individuals. I had to learn the hard way how to pick and prep my boots - and in the worse cases how to tape feet. I got it to the point where I could do a 4X40km with no blisters and a smile on my face the whole way - but only after years of trial and error (and bloody socks) and learning that I should have just stuck with the basics. First thing to learn is that there is no magic boot/sock/insole, there is no voodoo trickery involved. Don't think that the guy who never gets a blister has any special trick; or how he does his system is going to work for you. Some people just have good feet, and picking the same boots/socks as them will not necessarily do yourself any favours. I knew a certain Halifax Lineman who got in from a wild night in Nijmegen just moments before the morning march off, and he was in such a hurry/hungover, that he didn't put any socks on. He then did a 40-km march with no socks - and only complained of a hot spot at the end of the day - mind you I think he sleepwalked through the first 20-km. Advice you've had here is good. 1. Get a good fitting boot (be a pain in the *** if you need to), the issue boot will work if you train enough in it, and do the other steps, 2. Get a very good insole, 3. Get a GOOD sock system - the military one works (thin undersock and heavier outer sock) 4. Practice,practice,practice, if you make a change give it time, don't expect to see results right away. 5. If all else fails and you continue to get blisters on a particular part of your foot learn how to tape your foot in that area. 5-10 minutes to tape part of your foot should save you on the blisters (if done right) - but don't get too used to it, you still need to get your feet worn in. Remember there is no magic boot, a number of the light patrol/assault boots you see on the market aren't great for bracing your ankles when you're carrying weight. Remember there is no substitute for your feet in the boots and rubber on the road - practice - and there is some truth that your foot has to learn to fit the boot as much as the boot fits your foot. Final advice, toughening your feet is good, but be careful not to get thick calluses. File them down if you need to, nothing hurts like a deep blister under a thick callus.
