Accidentally stumbled upon a new boot hack and wanted to share here.
Since the advent of zipper boots, I’ve dealt with rubs on the back of my achilles tendon from where the zipper dents in when I’m standing (or doing anything other than putting my heels down in the saddle). For years I’ve made duct tape patches (enough layers to make a rigid ‘shell’) that I reuse for months at a time. But I’m in the process of breaking in yet another pair of new boots, and was digging around for one of my old patches and stumbled across an old boot insole. Cut the insole in half (minus a little more from both), stuck it inside of my sock, and voila! no heel rubs AND an insert that is comfy enough to not bother me when I’m walking around.
I know the gel bands work well (ish), but they’re enough of a pain to put on and take off and keep with the boots, that I find that I’m constantly misplacing them. I also don’t like the bulk of the whole ankle being wrapped. I’m thrilled to finally have something that’s easy to keep with the boot, thick enough to prevent rubbing, but also squishy enough to be comfortable!
