I have a cousin who was a White House staffer on 911 and one was one of many who evacuated the White House and had to walk four miles to safety. What he considered to be comfortable shoes gave him blisters within four miles and he almost didn't complete the walk. ( I will admit he is not " Captain America” when it comes to fitness, however, in my mind and practice, four miles in not a long way to walk. )

So perhaps the rule of thumb or toe could be to have " moleskin " or simular foot product in ones EDC or Bug Out Bag ???

Any thoughts from the group on this ??

If someone hasn't walked more than a half mile in the past couple years, then comfortable shoes don't really play into it. Four miles will put them down for the count, particularly if the are wearing "comfortable" dress shoes. As near as I can tell, dress shoes are the result of a colaboration between the footware industry and the various transit and transportation industries. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

As for moleskin, if it's your thing, carry it. Me, I like to catch hotspots before they turn into blisters. When I need to wear dressy shoes, I put a layer of duct tape on my skin along the edge of the shoes so that there is something slipperier than my skin in the way. But any job that I can't wear real, working shoes to would have to be paying an awful lot to get me interested.

Carry moleskin ( or tape or a band-aid) but, even more important is to have spare shoes & socks at work.

TRO

" someday, even you will have to walk home."

"As for moleskin, if it's your thing, carry it. Me, I like to catch hotspots before they turn into blisters"

I was always taught that Moleskin IS for Hotspots.

MoleFoam is for Blisters.

I carry Both everyday in a very small FAK for EDC in NYC.

I've carried moleskin (and molefoam) while backpacking, but I haven't found it that useful. I only really get blisters between toes, and usually only in one spot. If I have to walk a long distance, especially on a paved surface, I try to put some sort of lubricant between my toes that blister. A shot of lotion usually does it, but in a pinch I've used sunscreen or even a piece of chapstick. Or if I'm really desperate, I'll stuff some toilet paper or a fold of my sock between those two toes.

If I had a hotspot from a shoe rubbing against my foot, I'd cover it with a square of slick plastic from a ziploc or trash bag. It'll eliminate friction better than anything else I carry. In a pinch, I'd just wear a shopping bag between my foot and sock. I've done that when my boots have been soaked.

Anyone walking in an environment where they'd get blisters really needs to stop early and check for hotspots and treat them before they become blisters.

I rarely wear dress shoes anymore but when I did, I always had a good pair of cross trainers in the car. I changed out of the dress shoes as soon as I got back to the car, for comfort reasons. I didn't have to deal with multi story car garages etc. So for people in the city maybe leave their dress/work shoes at work and change when they get into the office.

Given his position, bespoke shoes would be the way to go.

In my EDC tin (LOST - need to buy a new tin, and make up a new kit - AARRRGH - Hope whoever found it appreciates the ARC AAA and the $20 in there) - in my desk, in my edc pack, in both cars...

And to respond to another person here - yep, a pair of wool socks, a change of skivies - and I wear patrol shoes. And I work in a Manhattan office. I also have a tendency to kick the shoes off at the office so they dry out during the day - they are laced loose enough that I can slip them on and off on most days

Take care of your feet, so they can take care of you