We self-reliant types spend our days working on our weapons, food, bug-out bags, and my personal favorite, medical supplies.  Granted, these are very important, but having all of these in place will do little good if you ignore two things:  Your feet.

Foot health is not just for the local bunion chiseler; it’s a priority for a shot at survival for the long term.  The military has known this for a long time, and they take foot care seriously.  Think about it this way:  You may be required to do some major running at very short notice in a survival situation.  Do you really want to do that running with those hiking boots you’ve never broken in?

If you don’t take of your feet, your feet won’t take care of you.  Unless you are Cody Lundin or Fred Flintstone, some major thought should be given to how to keep your dogs from howling in times of trouble. Therefore, it pays to take a class called Foot Care 101.  If you pay attention, it’s an easy A.

Your first lesson is taken from the book “Common Sense for Dummies”:  Make sure your boots fit well. Many foot problems originate in poorly-fitting shoes. There are lots of different brands of boots out there, and there is no time limit at the store for trying them on. This is probably the most important article of clothing that you’ll own in a collapse situation, so spend the time to get the best fit.............................

Heavier boots, like steel-toed, are great if you’re chopping wood (you get to keep all ten of your toes) but are heavy. Remember that an extra pound of weight in your boot is like 5 extra pounds of weight on your back.  Getting soft, flexible uppers will help. In wet climates, waterproof materials like Gore-Tex are your friends.......................................

Continue: http://www.doomandbloom.net/2012/08/put-your-best-foot-forward.html...

[There are several reasons to avoid steel-toed boots and shoes but you don't have to sacrifice toe safety - buy composite-toed footwear. Nathan]