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How to Fix / Prevent Heel Slippage in Boots

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dealing with heel slippage in boots

New boots can be a blessing and a curse. All hikers are familiar with the process.

You get a new pair of hiking boots, they feel awful for a bit, maybe give you blisters, and before you know it, they’re your favorite pair of boots. The bad news is that discomfort and adjustment are part of the natural hiking boot cycle. The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to make the process of breaking in hiking boots easier.

Warm shoes and orthopedic insoles.

Insoles can help prevent the development of foot disorders such as plantar fasciitis.

Parts of a Boot 

Before we get started, however, it’s important to know some basic boot parts so you can orient yourself. Boots are not all that complicated, but you may not realize just how many of these pieces can contribute to heel slippage! Here are some of the boot parts we’ll be discussing:

  • Insoles: The insole is the soft, internal part of the shoe where your foot rests. Properly fitted and shaped insoles are essential to a good fit. Many hikers and runners use additional insertable insoles to boost arch support, add cushion, and more. 
  • Tongue: The flap on top of the shoe or boot that goes underneath the laces. A worn-out tongue is an often-overlooked cause of heel slippage. If your boots are old, you may need to reinforce the tongue. 
  • Instep: Technically, the instep is the part of your foot that goes in the shoe. This is what’s generally referred to as the “arch” of your foot, although there are three arches total. 
  • Outsole: The rough, outer sole that touches the ground. Outsoles don’t have much of an effect on heel slippage, but an outsole that’s too heavy can exacerbate the problem. 
  • Eyelets: These are the metal circles that cover and protect the holes for the laces.
  • Collar: The top edge of the back of the shoe. This is where you would attach a heel grip or insert a heel liner to alleviate heel slippage. 

What is Heel Slipping / Heel Slippage?

Heel slipping, or heel slippage is one of the main reasons that a good pair of boots is essential for any hiker or camper. Not only can heel slippage be an uncomfortable experience, but it can also contribute to medical issues such as plantar fasciitis.

So what exactly is a heel slippage? To put it simply, heel slipping is when your foot slips out the back of your shoe or boot while walking. Often, the culprit is the heel area of your boot not being tight, worn-in, or well-fitted enough.

Thankfully, this can be fairly easy to fix, either by wearing the boots in more or by using some common tips and tricks as outlined below. First, however, let’s look into what causes heel slippage and why it’s so common with newly-purchased shoes. 

What Causes Heel Slippage? 

Heel slippage is an annoying problem that you can run into with any pair of new shoes. It’s more common, however, with stiffer shoes such as work boots, high heels, and cowboy boots. It can be especially annoying when this happens with your hiking boots!

After all, you’re relying on your boots to keep your feet safe and healthy, and a heel slip on the trail can be dangerous. So why do some shoes cause heel slippage? Essentially, the problem is that there’s not enough traction or pressure from the shoe around your heel.

This can be because the shoe doesn’t fit right, isn’t laced tightly enough, is made of low-traction materials, or even just because the boots need to be broken in. 

11 Tips To Prevent and Fix Heel Slippage in Boots

Depending on the source of your heel slippage problem, the fix will be a little bit different. Thankfully, there are some easy tips and tricks to prevent your heel from slipping even while you wear a new pair of boots. You should rule out a few common shoe and boot problems first. To start with, check the sizing of your boots and consider adjusting your walking style. 

1. Make sure you have the right size

The first and foremost thing to check if you start to experience heel slippage is to make sure you have the right size boot. It’s essential when buying a new pair of boots to get an accurate and snug fit. Not only will this prevent your heel from slipping out, but it can also prevent foot and ankle issues like plantar fasciitis as well. 

It can be tricky to find the perfect fit! Different boots are shaped differently and your feet grow and change with different environmental conditions as well. One way to improve your chances, however, is to pay attention to both the length and width of your shoe size. If you need narrow soled shoes and end up with wide soles, you’re going to run into some heel slippage. 

2. Adjust your walking style

This can be a good way to make wearing in a new pair of boots less of a pain. Simply try to walk heel-first rather than ball-first and this should alleviate some of the slipping. You should also pay attention to your walking style when buying new boots. Test them out by walking a bit to make sure they work well with your walking style. 

3. Use a boot dryer

Not only will keeping your boots nice and dry help to prevent wear, mold, and the breakdown of the interior of your boot, it can also help them fit better. Just like putting certain clothes through the dryer to shrink them, drying your boots will tighten them up a bit. 

It’s always better to use a purpose-built boot dryer to get the best results. You can, however, use a fan to dry out the inside of your boots if they get wet. Or, fill them with absorbent material such as balls of newspaper. Fully drying your boots will prevent the wear that can lead to heel slippage, so make sure it’s on your post-hike to-do list!

4. Use heel grips

If you’re sure you have the right size boot, and you’ve tried adjusting your gait and drying your boots, it’s time to get serious about tackling heel slippage. One easy-to-use option is a heel grip. This product, used in everything from work boots to high heels, attaches to the top of your shoe, providing a buffer between your heel and the back of the shoe.

Heel grips can also be used to correct for shoes that are too large for you if you’ve already made the purchase. This is similar to what a cobbler would call a “distance” but rather than being inserted into the shoe itself, the heel grip just attaches to the back.

Some people find them to be irritating and difficult to use, but a lot of people find them very comfortable. 

5. Get non-slip insoles

You can also use insertable insoles designed to prevent your foot from sliding around in the boot. In fact, insoles can be great for a lot of purposes including arch support, cushioning, and gait correction. Be careful to understand the limitations of consumer products.

Only a podiatrist can address medical problems with orthotics. But the insoles available over the counter are great for simple fixes. Heel slippage is a great example. Just search for non-slip insoles, and make sure to get the right size. 

6. Put in heel liners

You can also buy a similar product called a heel liner, which fits in the back of your shoe rather than at the bottom. Much like a heel grip, a heel liner creates a cushion between your heel and the back of the shoe.

This improves the traction and prevents slippage, and it also can help with blisters from too much foot movement inside the shoe. If you don’t want to buy heel liners or heel grips, you can use thick socks to a similar effect! More in socks in a moment. 

7. Use lace anchors or better boot lacing.

One surprising source of heel slippage is loose shoelaces. You may not even realize the laces are loose, but if your heel keeps slipping out the back, finding a way to lace your boots more tightly can help a lot. Or, you can buy lace anchors to keep your laces from loosening as you walk.

There are many different versions of lace anchors, but they all attach to your laces and keep them from slipping through the eyelets. There are many different methods for lacing boots. Some, like the rabbit hole method, are especially good for stopping slippage.

Everyone has their own preferences, so try out a few different lacing styles to see which is the most comfortable for you. The rabbit hole method is relatively simple, so it’s a good place to start if you’re trying to adjust your lacing. Here’s what to do:

  •  Lace up the boots as you normally would, stopping before the top / extra holes. 
  • Then, pull both lace ends through one top hole.
  • Take both laces and lace them through the other top hole.
  • Finally, tie a bow as you normally would. 

8. Get tongue pads

The tongue of your shoe or boot is one of the top spots for wear and tear. As the tongue gets loose and worn out, it won’t hold your foot quite as tightly to the bottom and back of the shoe. Tongue pads are a great solution to the problem.

You simply attach them to the bottom side of the tongue, and they push the heel backward and down. This can help prevent heel slippage by holding the wheel closer to the back of the shoe, but it’s also good for reinforcing a worn-out tongue generally.

You can buy tongue pads in a variety of styles and thicknesses depending on how much cushion you need. 

9. Switch to non-slip socks

Despite what you might be thinking, it’s not always necessary to mod out your boots to solve a problem with heel slippage. Sometimes, it can be as easy as switching out your socks. Thicker socks can help provide more traction (just like a heel liner, heel grip, or any of the other inserts above) as well as cushioning to take up some space in the shoe.

So, if your boot or shoe is a little too big and you’re sliding around in there, get some thicker pairs of socks and see if they solve the problem before you try anything more involved. 

10. Use double-sided tape

Here’s where the list gets a little weirder. For hikers and campers especially, you’re not always in a place where buying a heel liner would be easy. So these last couple of tips are for DIY solutions when you can’t get to the real thing. Still, it can be surprising how well some of these hacks work!

Double-sided tape is the first to try. If you have double-sided tape (especially the thicker kind for posters), just put a strip or two along the back wall of your shoe or boot. It will add some traction and cushioning to separate your heel from the back of the shoe. You can also buy purpose-made blister tape to add cushioning or prevent rubbing in your boots. 

Hand using a hairspray bottle

11.Use a little hairspray!

Finally, you can also use hair spray to increase the amount of traction between your foot and the shoe. Just spray a little on your foot or on the inside of the back of the shoe and you’re good to go! It may feel a little weird at first, but this really does work.

It was developed first by people who wear high heels, but it works just as well for hiking boots, work boots, and just about any shoe with a heel slipping problem. 

How to Fix Heel Slip in Boots 

With a little luck, the tips above will solve your heel slippage problem. If you need more than a quick fix, however, there are some ways to adjust boots or shoes to fit you better. Of course, it’s better to make sure you’re sizing boots accurately in the first place, but if you do end up with a pair that you’d rather adjust, you can have a cobbler install “distances” in the shoe.

You can sometimes get this type of repair performed at a shoe store, but not all of them have repair services available, so you may need to find a cobbler. In this case, the cobbler will install leather spacers in the back of the boot or shoe in order to push your foot forward. If you have very well-made boots and want to preserve the quality, working with a cobbler may be a good idea. 

Final Verdict

The most effective way to prevent heel slippage is to make sure your hiking boots fit right in the first place. It can be tempting to buy a pair of boots before you do all your homework, but make sure to have your foot measured, test the boots, and consider getting custom inserts to fit the boot to your foot.

All of this can help prevent heel slippage, but sometimes it’s just a necessary part of the boot break-in process. If you find yourself in the position, just try the tips above, and your boots will be secure in no time. 

 

Bonus tip: Here are a few different ways to lace your boots for a snug and secure fit!

 

 

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Living Life on the Edge: Embracing Adrenaline-Fueled Moments

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Life is an adventure, a journey filled with countless opportunities for thrill and excitement. For some, the idea of living life on the edge, embracing adrenaline-fueled moments, is an exhilarating concept that fuels their passion for adventure. This article delves into the world of adrenaline-chasing, highlighting the benefits and experiences of such a lifestyle.

Kitesurfing: Riding the waves of excitement

The first step to living on the edge is stepping out of your comfort zone and trying something new. Kitesurfing, a water sport combining wakeboarding, windsurfing, and paragliding elements, is an excellent example of an adrenaline-fueled activity. The activity entails utilizing a sizable maneuverable kite to capture the force of the wind, enabling the rider to traverse the water on a board specifically designed for kiteboarding. There is nothing quite like the exhilaration of soaring through the air, feeling the breeze caress your cheeks, and mastering the art of maneuvering a kite. Kitesurfing is a remarkable adventure that captures the spirit of embracing excitement and pushing boundaries.

The psychological thrill

In addition to the excitement of the tangible experience, embracing a daring lifestyle offers a mental rush that is just as stimulating. Engaging in these activities provides an exhilarating experience that stimulates the production of endorphins, the body’s innate pain relievers. This results in a profound sense of joy and an overwhelming feeling of invulnerability. The thrill of this frenzy can become habit-forming, compelling thrill-seekers to pursue fresh and increasingly demanding adventures consistently. 

The benefits of embracing the edge

Embracing a daring lifestyle goes beyond pursuing excitement; it presents many advantages. Participating in thrilling adventures can enhance physical well-being, as numerous pursuits demand robustness, stamina, and skill. Furthermore, they have the potential to enhance one’s emotional well-being by offering a means to alleviate tension and unease. Engaging in these activities demands concentration, which can effectively alleviate mental clutter, resulting in a serene state once the surge of excitement diminishes.

The balance of risk and reward

While living life on the edge can be exhilarating, it’s important to remember the balance of risk and reward. Adrenaline-fueled activities often involve a certain level of risk, and it’s essential to approach them with a healthy respect for safety. Proper training, equipment, and precautions can help mitigate these risks, allowing you to enjoy the thrill without unnecessary danger. 

Always research your activities and location. This understanding can help you decide if the risk is acceptable and if you have the skills and equipment. Check and maintain your gear, and never sacrifice safety. Finally, embracing adventure with a responsible and safety-conscious mentality lets you enjoy high-risk activities without risking injury.

Living life on the edge embracing adrenaline-fueled moments, is a lifestyle choice that offers a unique blend of thrill, excitement, and personal growth. Whether kitesurfing across the waves, scaling a mountain, or skydiving from a plane, these activities provide an escape from the mundane, a chance to challenge oneself, and an opportunity to experience life at its most vibrant. So, step out of your comfort zone, embrace the adrenaline, and start living on the edge. After all, life is not meant to be lived in the slow lane; rather, it’s about experiencing every thrilling moment it offers.

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Renewable Energy Farms That Make Beautiful Hiking Trails

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Wind farms and solar panels are not just alternative means to get our natural resources. They have now combined with another industry and are making some unexpected news. 

The tourism industry has marked renewable energy farms as hiking trails, and hikers are here for it. You can read more about renewable energy sites. Although you might not think of hiking on a wind farm as beautiful as hiking along a famous mountain trail, you might just be in for a surprise. 

Let’s discuss the benefits that renewable energy farms have as hiking trails. 

Why are Renewable Energy Farms Important? 

Renewable energy farms are important for the future of civilization. These farms provide an alternative to our natural resources, such as wind and energy. 

The most important benefit of renewable energy is that it doesn’t produce any greenhouse emissions and reduces the air pollution other traditional processes create when providing natural resources. 

These farms also allow for the creation of the country’s own resources without having to import natural resources from another country and save their limited natural resources. 

Here are some of the reasons why energy farms are important: 

  • Allows for sustainable rural development 

This will allow landowners to make an extra income by generating energy. 

  • Test new technologies 

Providing the opportunity to test technologies to find new ways to create renewable energy. 

  • Improving the effect of climate change 

Climate change has left the environment filled with toxic pollutants, which has led people to become sick and breathe in harmful air. 

Renewable energy can change this by lessening the number of pollutants that are released into the atmosphere and providing much safer, cleaner, breathable air. 

  • This leads to job creation 

Job creation within the renewable energy farms industry is plentiful as there is a need for skilled workers such as construction, maintenance and manufacturing to build the necessary infrastructure that is needed to generate these wind and solar farms. 

The Benefits of Renewable Energy Farms As Hiking Trails 

Renewable energy farms have many benefits for both the environment and people who love spending their time outdoors. 

Embracing the Use of Green Technology 

Since wind farms and solar plants are located in areas that are unpopulated, they make for great hiking trails. 

By visiting these sites, people get to experience green technology, and by integrating them into recreational spaces, people can visit these sites and embrace green technology by seeing how they work and the positive effects that it has on the environment. 

The more people embrace the shift to green technology, the easier it will be to use it. 

Energy Farms Offer A Unique Experience For Visitors 

Visiting energy farms means you will have a unique experience while there. You will get to see how these large devices work and how they replace the basic resources needed to survive. 

Tours can give visitors more information on the background of the construction of devices, their environmental impact and why it is important for us to switch to sustainable energy resources. 

Visitors Get to Enjoy Natural Beauty 

The sites for these renewable energy farms are often located in areas that are surrounded by natural beauty, such as large landscapes. 

Natural pathways can be used as hiking trails without the need for carving out new roads and damaging the ecosystem. 

Visitors can even discover native plant life and explore the natural wonders that are located at these energy farms, as they are often placed where no infrastructure has been built on the property before. 

Providing Health and Wellness Benefits 

Hiking has many health benefits, such as reducing stress, improving fitness, and helping aid mental well-being. 

Energy Farms have Community Benefits and Increase the Economy 

These hiking trails can help boost economic sales, bringing tourists to the community. This will give the local people the opportunity to expand their businesses. 

This can also help increase employment within the community as these sites will be visited frequently and lead to new business openings to cater to tourists. 

Conclusion

Renewable energy farms greatly benefit both the economy and the people who want to spend their time on them. These farms are especially important for transitioning from natural resources to newer energy resource power plants. 

From learning how to embrace green technology to getting health and wellness benefits to enjoying nature’s natural beauty and finding job opportunities within the market. 

Spending time on these renewable energy farms can be educational and recreational for anyone who visits them. To find more renewable energy farm hiking trails, you can visit https://outsidebozeman.com

 

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Top Recommendations for RV Window Maintenance

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Much like other sections of your RV, the windows sometimes need a bit of maintenance. It is essential to clean off dirt and insect smudges and also make sure they are adequately sealed to avoid leaks and water harm.

If you have a broken RV window, then you may want to consult Van Isle Glass. However, if you wish to know more about simple measures to ensure your RV windows stay spotless and secure, you are in the right spot! Continue reading below.

Polish Your Windshield Using Ultra-Fine #0000 Steel Wool

Numerous RV enthusiasts have praised the use of the finest grade of steel wool #0000 for removing stubborn bugs and water marks from their windshields. Before proceeding, first test the #0000 steel wool on a small portion of your windshield. Apply it with light, circular motions. Sweep away any remaining steel wool bits with a microfiber towel. Next, spritz the surface with a residue-free glass cleaner and wipe it down with a separate cloth.

Steel wool is also great when used with a spray lubricant for cleaning tires, maintaining grills, starting campfires, and repelling mice. A gentler alternative is cleansing dish pads. These pads are versatile, suitable for cleaning various materials such as wood, porcelain, stainless steel, chrome, painted areas, and glass.

Apply a Sealant to Avoid Leaks

Silicone sealant is effective in stopping leaks in areas like your windshield, RV windows, sunroof, and vents. It penetrates tiny gaps, creating a robust waterproof barrier. Ensure the surfaces are clean before application and do not have old caulk, dirt, oil, and other residues.

Furthermore, clear away any standing water on windows to prevent hard water stains. Make sure the inside of your windows stay dry to avoid condensation and mold build-up. If there is significant condensation on your windows, consider getting a small dehumidifier.

Use Tools to Access Difficult Regions

Using cleaners with long handles can prevent you from straining to clean those distant parts of your windshield. Windshield cleaning tools often feature a lengthy, swiveling triangular head that is ideal for getting into corners and spots difficult to access manually.

Opt for a Residue-Free Glass Cleaner

A high-quality glass cleaner will maintain the clarity of your windows and windshield. A great glass cleaner performs well on both standard and tinted windows, making sure to remove streaks or leftover residue. Another option is a natural concoction of half vinegar and half water, with a touch of lemon essential oil.

Steer Clear of Cleaning RV Windows in Bright Sunlight

A sunny afternoon may feel perfect for washing your RV windows, but the warmth can speed up the drying of the cleaner, resulting in streaks or spots. It is advisable to tackle your RV window cleaning during early morning, late evening, or when stationed in a shaded area for the best outcome.

Endnote

Keeping your RV windows clean and clear is not only about aesthetics, but is also vital for safety. The subtleties in cleaning, like steering clear of the sun and using the appropriate products, play a key role. Adhering to these guidelines will help you maintain a pristine view during your various journeys.

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