chrisx

Stinky shoes can be a problem on tour. What do you do about it? At home I wash my shoes with soap and water. perhaps even put them in the machine for a spin. I do not want to wake up to wet shoes when on tour. I do want to bring my shoes into the tent to keep the spiders and things out. How do you make your shoes smell OK without washing them? By the by, I use flat pedals.

36Oly_Rider

I wear merino wool socks, and if I get wet feet, remove the soles and stuff them with newsprint and allow them to thoroughly dry. never had an issue with doing that, but when I decide not to wear socks, a rare thing with shoes but with sandals, they usually smell worse than my shoes.

stardognine

Wool socks and foot powder, but both have limited success, once your shoes are good & wet. Sometimes the only cure is a day off, to dry out well.

Brian25

Because of serious foot problems (nerve damage in my feet from a 12 foot ladder slide out accident) I have not been able to wear socks for the past ten years. I have had stinky feet, especially in the summer. I looked it up and it was suggested that I tried vinegar. It works really well. Previously, I was using rubbing alcohol which was really not working.

BigAura

I wear wool socks & sandals and that does it...no stink for me!

Timequake

Keep your feet clean and fungus free. Wear shoes with ventilation (running shoes that have the mesh top are ventilated and also dry quickly). Put baking soda in your shoes at night to kill germs and odor.

79pmooney

I find silk liner socks (REI) solve a lot of problems. They appear to be immune to smell, don't need washing very often and are great at preventing blisters (the reason I wear them). Make sweaty socks really easy to pull off. I simply wear them under whatever I would wear anyway. Wet or dry, they simply make my life better.

Ben

veganbikes

I would try tea tree oil and also allowing your shoes to dry at night. Take out the insoles and stuff the inside with newspaper. I have also used peppermint oil but it can make your feet quite cool which might be nice in the summer but brutal if it gets cool.

shipwreck

Finally a subject I know a lot about!

This probably depends a lot on if you tend to have foot odor of a regular nature or if it can get extreme. Not looking to lay out TMI, but my feet sweat a lot more than most peoples. Most of my friends who I backpack with have little problem and take no extra steps to control odor while I stop at least once during the day to change one pair of wool socks for a dry pair. They all appreciate it a lot, as they remember things before I discovered wool and stopped using traditional boots and went to light breathable shoes.

On a tour, I usually use wool socks with sandals, either Chacos on flats or cleated SPD sandals, even in winter. Lucky for me my feet don't get cold easily, so it works down to freezing temps with a high quality thick sock. Summer its either thinner socks or bare. I don't care if it looks dorky or not.

On the few trips that I have worn shoes, the insoles should be taken out, laces loosened and the tongue pulled up as much as possible. They stay in the vestibule or if in a hammock hung from the strap. More worried about a dog running off with them than having to shake out a spider in the morning. I punch a little hole in the toe of the insole and run a lace through them so they can air out without getting lost.

If its rained all day and is to humid to really dry them out overnight, then the newspaper trick is about as good as it can get. Shoe covers just make my shoes soak with sweat more, so I stopped trying to use them.

It also helps to really keep the feet maintained and clean. Not everyone needs a pumice stone, but if I keep my feet fairly callus free it helps a lot. I also have a foot maintainance cream that works really well, and a film canister(showing my age there!)filled with it lasts a long time. Way more than you wanted to know probably.

Dave Cutter

Socks never smell... no matter what material they are made of. It's the bacteria (Corynebacterium and some Staphylococcus species) that feed on the sweat that cause shoes, socks and other clothes to smell.

To resolve the smelly shoe problem begin with clean dry FEET. Apply a little anti-perspirant/deodorant.
Wear properly laundered clean socks and clean shoes. Old shoes may need replaced.
Spray shoes with disinfectant after use and air-dry.

Remember all you really need to do (the only thing that will work) is prevent the growth of sweat eating bacteria.

chrisx

At home, I wash my shoes in a machine or by hand. If by hand a brush helps. On tour I do not wash my shoes with water. Sorry; I did not explain well in the first post. I can go with the breathable shoes next month. What about next winter in baja_ I want ankel protection, while in the desert. Change my socks mid day, hmmm?

indyfabz

I wear socks and have never had an odor problem.

rumrunn6

touring must be difficult especially if you are camping w/o homelike sanitary facilities

personally, I wash my feet twice a day & change my socks at every opportunity 2-3 times a day. when washing my feet, I use a washcloth including between all toes. all nails are regularly clipped & under the nails are scraped appropriately, as needed (a cpl toes are done every day). weekdays, 2 showers a day once in the morning & once after lunchtime workout. each new set of socks has a dose of Odor-Eaters Foot Powder inside them. wash my socks after every use, usually daily, if not then, the next day. but I only wear socks once before washing them again. last few bike rides been using Keen fisherman style sandals, with REI Coolmax Midweight Hiking Quarter Socks

did A quick search for what army ppl do

Proper Foot Care Can Win or Lose Wars
Proper Foot Care Can Win or Lose Wars | US Patriot Tactical Blog
Many foot injuries and ailments can be avoided by ensuring one thing – that your feet stay dry. Depending on your mission and the weather, this may be next to impossible but it should not keep you from trying – dry most of the time is better than always wet. At the end of each day, you should follow these easy to do steps: wash and dry your feet, apply foot powder to prevent friction and replace socks with a clean dry pair. Letting your boots air out and dry is nice if possible, but is of course mission dependent. Taking care of your feet is more than simply a matter of comfort – it is mission critical.

Top 9 Ways to Protect Your Feet During Military Training
Top 9 Ways to Protect Your Feet During Military Training
- Keep your feet clean. Wash your feet daily with soap and water, and dry carefully between the toes to prevent athlete's foot — a fungus — from forming and spreading. Use an anti-fungal cream on the soles of your feet and on your toenails twice a week. Always wear shower shoes in the shower to prevent foot fungus.
- Keep your feet as dry as possible. Change your socks at least once a day, air-dry your feet during breaks and apply foot powder, cornstarch, or antiperspirant to your feet when you get the chance.
- Cut your toenails short and straight. This will help keep your feet clean and make your boots more comfortable.

The Military Frequent Flyer, The Top 15 Best Tips For Foot Care
Top 15 Best Tips for Foot Care - The Military Frequent Flyer - The Military Frequent Flyer
Clean beneath your nails thoroughly - The best way to keep the underside of your toenails clean is to cut them short so no dirt can hide underneath them. But if you must keep your nails long, make sure to regularly clean them by simply brushing the underside of the toes while you’re bathing. Having dirty toenails aren’t just unsightly – the bacteria in the dirt make your feet stink too.


Boot Camp & Military Fitness Institute, Foot Care: Overview
https://bootcampmilitaryfitnessinsti...care-overview/
- Washing - Feet must be washed at least once a day. If this is not done, then the dead cells (which the body constantly sheds) will build up and will become food for all the nasty bacteria. Smelly feet will then be the least of your worries and you will be fighting athlete’s foot as well as the enemy.
- Drying - After washing you must dry properly, particularly between your toes. This prevents the skin becoming soggy and allowing all those bacteria to penetrate your natural defences, and then inviting in some of their friends.

jefnvk

Wool socks worked for me. The difference when I made the switch was quite amazing. All my synthetic stuff gets pretty rancid in a hurry, but not the wool.

That said, I never had an issue with any shoes themselves getting bad, just the socks.

djb

hey Chris, why the "You're so vain" comment? Seems the fellow is just putting down what works for him and tips that may help others.

back to foot smell, I too have found wool socks to help, but more importantly for me, getting out of my bike shoes right away at the end of day, and even at points during the day to let things dry out, certainly helps with keeping any athletes toe situations at bay (which for me is an annoyingly easy thing to occur if I dont keep on top of things and always use clean socks)

Some shoes probably breathe better than others also, which makes sense as a factor simply from airing out and keeping moist feet less moist than other shoes.

phughes

I tried all the foot products, powder, etc., then I started applying regular antiperspirant/deodorant to my feet. No more odor. For me, I found Dove Powder scent works best, although I'll use others if I can't find it. Seriously, it works great. I have six and seven year old shoes that do not smell. I have a pair of SoftStar shoes, very minimalist shoes that are basically a leather upper with a thin Vibram sole, that I wear with no socks, I run in them. They never smell. Simple, easy, cheap solution.

indyfabz

Sometimes easier said than done while out touring, which is the preface to this thread. During my two-week trip last month I had several multi-day stretches without facilities to properly launder anything, unless you consider rinsing out clothes under a cold water tap or in a lake or creek proper laundering. And no way am I going to carry around a can of disinfectant to spray shoes with.

shipwreck

If your concerns are only about the normal maintenance needed by an average adult, then you should do what a normal adult does, which is to deal with an average situation without resorting to the group think an internet forum provides. In other words, just wash your shoes however and move on. If you truly want input on what is for you a normal and mundane subject then please, have your song back with my complements.

Mtroup

One more vote here for the Keen Newport H2s and a pair of wool socks. Cool, fast, drying, great for stream crossings, and even good in cooler temps with an extra pair of socks.

36Oly_Rider

Great! Now this post is like clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee...Or more like socks on my stank feet, socks on my stank feet...

I'd change my socks mid day if I started getting swamp foot. Don't really think it makes a person vain...Some really good solutions posted here.

J.Higgins 

Americans are way too concerned about smelling good. I'm an American with Irish parents, so I can completely say that people stink - no matter wot. Deal with it. You are touring ferchrissakes... use that to your advantage. Dr Bronner's eucalyptus will kill just about any stank on Earth.

As a side note, I had a Native American GI buddy, who's last name was Barefoot. We used to all him Stinkfoot or ToeJam. All in good fun.

BigAura

For you or him?

Dave Cutter

Sure.... but you aren't this threads OP.

The OP seems more concerned about ending the stink.... not justifying it. And IMHO... good hygiene can be closely related to good health. Even on self-supported tour... it just isn't that hard to practice good hygiene. But then again... I was in the Army and I know some people would rather buy new undergarments than wear dirty... and others have no problem re-using the same old clothing over and over.

If you smell like the homeless while touring... that's OK with me. Even the smelly homeless are as human as I'll ever be... and deserve the same respect I demand for myself. There is a lot worse than stink.

J.Higgins 

Considering that you could smell his feet with his boots on from a distance, I'd say for him.

chrisx

Not pointed at shipwreck. That song came on youtube, and seemed to fit in somehow. I quoted shipwreck because I liked his answer. Nothing else.

I like this song. not related to the foot story, just some music to listen too.