Roadtest 1: Scholl Shock Absorbing Insoles.
When I first wore my Hi-Tec V-Lite Altitude Pro walking boots over a year ago, they fitted my feet like a glove. Straight out of the box.
However, now that I have clocked up one or two miles while wearing them, they are starting to feel a bit “roomy” (even with my extra-thick kilt socks).
And, having looked at the sole-wear prior to my recent walk around Arran, I wasn’t even sure that they would make it this far. But I reckon they now might just make it to the end of my upcoming walk along the Canal du Midi in France.
200 miles!
But “roomy” walking shoes means that your feet can move around while you are walking. Which means friction. Which ends up with the walker’s nightmare:
Blisters!
So, before I set off for France, I have been looking for some kind of additional insole. An insole which will make my walking boots feel snug again.
And as the market now has gel-cushioned insoles, my first thought was “not only can I buy an additional insole to tighten my walking boots again, but I can also buy a cushioned insole which should make my feet feel even more comfortable”.
My first choice of insole, which my local supermarket doesn’t stock, was the Scholl GelActiv Insole. But they did stock Scholl’s “Shock Absorbing Insoles” – which the packet says are made with “highly durable gel”. So they look promising enough.
The next 200 miles will tell!
So the insoles:
First, the cost. At just £6 for the pair, they were a lot cheaper than the GelActiv alternatives that I was aiming to buy.
And the size. It’s a case of “one-size fits all” I’m afraid. Well, assuming that your shoes are size 12 or less. Size 12 is the maximum size that these insoles cater for. You simply trim the insole to the size required – using the very simple, and easy to follow, trimming guides.
And as my boots are size 10, I got out my scissors.
Now trimmed to my size, the next 200 miles will tell me just how well-spent my £6 was.
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Roadtest 2: Mary Jean Highland Midge Lotion.
Well, if it’s good enough for the ravenous wee Scottish buggers, then it should be more than a match for anything that I encounter in rural France!
And as Mary Jean products are “natural”, I will be even happier (I just hope that there is no sunscreen property included – as my milky-white legs could do with a good tan!).
This should be a good test of the product. After a long winter, the French biting insects will be extra-hungry. And as the Canal du Midi passes through some extremely rural regions (part of the attraction), and as the water in the canal will be a magnet for every insect in southwest France, I shouldn’t have to wait long for my first encounter.
So Mary Jane “Highland Midge Lotion” – do your best!
