Ow!

Domingo, when I go rambling, nearly every weekend. I put a little Vaseline on my heels, this helps prevent blisters. Also, buy yourself a good pair of socks from an outdoor shop. The Vaseline works for me.

I have tried the compeed which I ususally have success with but not this time. I haven't tried taking them back because I think the fault lies with me - I tried them on before I bought them and presumably they aren't the same for other people or they wouldn't sell millions of them. I am off to search for animal wool

I have found that many makes don't do half sizes these days and I need wider shoes, but a 5 is definitely too small and a 6 sometimes needs heel grips.

5.5 in a wider width would be just right!

I have struggled for decades to find shoes that fit comfortably - I really do miss my Scholls! I was measured and told I needed a 5 1/2 but hardly any shoes are made in that size so I usually bought a 6 and suffered until they wore in. I was delighted to find that I am, in fact, a 5EEE and I have found several suppliers including Evans, now stock this size. I have bought several new pairs of shoes/trainers/boots and no sore toes or heels! Each pair fits perfectly. I don't think my feet have spread, rather that I have always had wide feet at the toes (my toes don't sit snugly together but spread like fingers do). Happy feet and happy me

I wear Sketchers Go Walk 3's, they have memory inner soles and I can walk around in them all day with or without socks in complete comfort. IMO there are no foolproof ways of stretching trainers but if you live near a shoe repairers they might be able to stretch them for you.

Have you considered returning them saying that they're uncomfortable and your feet are so blistered that they are unwearable.

Like another person, I had Plantar fasciitis very painful, for ages, I bought an expensive pair of Sketchers and would recommend them to everyone wih sore feet, they are worth every penny, or pounds.

Please please try Compeed blister plasters!!! Last weekend we went to a show in Birmingham at the Barclaycard Arena. A 15 minute walk in comfortable flat shoes, pinched a little bit at the heel but nothing to worry about- or so I thought! On the way back it was chucklng it down, no taxis to be had so we walked back. 15 minutes later my left heel was almost red raw and bleeding. I bought fabric plasters on Saturday morning for our trip to Stratford upon Avon, used almost a whole pack, had my super comfy shoes on all day, at 5 pm I was in agony. Pulled some skin off my heel removing the plasters. Got home on Sunday, flat backless slippers on all day. Went to work on Monday in socks and old faithful flat boots. A colleague gave me two Compeed plasters- Oh my word- blissful, heavenly bliss!!! Couldn't believe the difference. Not a wince or a twinge. Kept the same one on god 3 days, showered each day and it stayed on. It started peeling away yesterday so I put a new one on. You must try them again- please!!!

I stretched my daughters shoes - there are some good videos on Youtube which show you how. I think I used a hair dryer.

Steve yes I probably overpaid but still have 3/4 of it left thankfully I haven't had a verruca since. As you say, brilliant stuff!

During the summer I live in "Animal" flip flops. The bit that goes between the toes is made of a soft, padded material and the sole is of soft foam. I can walk miles in them without any discomfort. And they come in lovely bright colours. I can't recommend them enough!

I bought some bamboo socks for my husband recently. They were more expensive than the others, but he likes them, especially for warm weather when feet sweat more.

Yes Jaxie my feet are between 6 and 7 and I always buy men's black cotton socks, usually M&S, in the size range to 7 1/2. They usually have better quality elastic tops which are softer and looser than the women's socks but still grip well. They shrink just a little bit if they are tumble dried so fit perfectly. I have to buy my husband a size larger than I would expect for the same reason.
At one stage when my children were living at home I used to buy loads of the same size as they fitted five of us in the household! I'd love to know why they always end up different shades of black even though I use the same washing liquid and they are (presumably) all washed the same number of times....

I've used the (expensive) double socks that various people have recommended and found that they helped. The thick towelling ones with thicker heels are also good. But nothing will work if you've already got sore feet, you need to let them heal.

I've got two pairs of supposedly identical Ecco trainer/shoes which I love, but the second pair are definitely a different fit. What I've done is remove the (fairly thick and solid) insole and replace it with a thinner spongy one. When the shoes get softer and larger (which they will) I can start to use the original insoles again.

It is sandals which usually cause me the most problems, they always seem to rub and they make the underneath of my heels sort.

.. yes in answer to jaxie

yes yes yes and I want ankle socks- not the boy scout type knee length ones

I am a lover of Skechers too. Since having plantar fasciitis I wear no other brand of shoes, as the memory foam inners are so comfortable, and they have never rubbed at the heels. I have 6 pairs of slip-ons, one of trainers and 2 of boots. I wish most of them didn't have white soles, but they do machine wash. I find that Pringle invisible socks (on ebay) are the only ones that stay put.

I am a believer in Surgical Spirit..... Simply apply to your heels.
It toughens the skin.

Like Libra I find Skechers excellent. I have difficult feet, and having gone through all the pain etc that you've suffered,*Domingo*, with other shoes have never had any trouble with Skechers.
They last well, you can put go walk type in the washing machine. I have 4 pairs now.

The pain will always show on your face - it isn't worth it!

DH complained that his socks had shrunk and I think it was because I was tumble drying them in the winter. Now I give the socks a tug when they come out of the washing machine and hang them on a rack to dry.
I'm not sure what size women's socks go up to, I wear 6-8 but my feet are only a 6 anyway.

I find Sketchers to be the most comfortable shoes. Feel like you're walking on air!

Hope some of the remedies work.

My feet are wide size 7-8. I have to wear men's socks as the largest size women's socks shrink so badly in the wash. Do other Gransnetters have this problem?

Put them away until your feet are totally healed. Then put plasters where you got the blisters and wear them for a short time in the house until your feet get used to them. If that doesn't work, take them to a charity shop.

I always put cotton woolpads underneath my heel so that it is raised up higher than where the blister is. My MIL told me this trick and it always works.