Survivorman's feet vs. The Jungle

I think he made the choice to go with boots he'd already broken in, and he'd worn in swampy conditions back home. The later is an example why the "native survival expert" is often SOL once he leaves his local terrain. As far as going with the boots you already have, that's the choice I'd make to- plan B is always to walk out. I don't want to have to mess about with new boots while doing it, I want ones I've been wearing for a couple of months.

Gerberblades said:
I didn't know quite what to make out of the jaguar stuff, whether it was thrown in there to create some drama or what.
Click to expand...

Doubtful. Maybe you didn't hear it at the end, several people told me they couldn't, but there was a large animal that wasn't some clumsy herbivore that was growling and sniffing on the other side of that fence. Certain other people, I'd suspect it was rigged, but I can't see Stroud doing it. Remember, he one of the producers, he'd scratch any proposal to have a camera man play games. My money is that he had a playful, hungry kitty in the 250-300 pound range out there.
 
foot care in the jungle read jungle snafus and remedies, he talks about this very issue, seems that most folks that have some experience take off their boots at night use an alcohol based hand sanitizer like purell to dry your skin, put on your dry clothes and go to sleep, in the morning shake out your boots put on your wet clothes and move on. some folks use feminine hygiene antifungals like monostat on their feet to keep the fungus at bay.

alex
 
alco141 said:
foot care in the jungle read jungle snafus and remedies, he talks about this very issue, seems that most folks that have some experience take off their boots at night use an alcohol based hand sanitizer like purell to dry your skin, put on your dry clothes and go to sleep, in the morning shake out your boots put on your wet clothes and move on. some folks use feminine hygiene antifungals like monostat on their feet to keep the fungus at bay.

alex
Click to expand...

That's been my experience. I definately don't advocate going bare foot, especially if you haven't spent the last 10 years of your life bare foot. A pair of regular Jungle Boots (I prefer Wellco's). Break them in bare foot and after all the hot spots wear out/in, I would go with Jungle boots with no socks. Every time you stop or several times during the day and at night, dry your feet and let them air out. When around a camp, try and go with open toed sandles; I would not want to take a chance of get bit, stung, cut or bruised by running around bare foot. You lose the ability to walk or move around due to a severe cut or infection, you've just lost the majority of your ability to survive.

ROCK6
 
ironraven said:
I think he made the choice to go with boots he'd already broken in, and he'd worn in swampy conditions back home. The later is an example why the "native survival expert" is often SOL once he leaves his local terrain. ....
Click to expand...

And then there is the difference between "comfortable" and "surviving."

The techniques mentioned in other posts about cleaning, drying, putting on dry socks before sleeping make sense in a military or expedition scenario. As others said, it's more like a tourist getting lost, but I think they would probably have something like running shoes or sandals on. There are plenty of hiking shoes with multiple layers of mesh that would allow some air through but still keep out the bugs. Ultimately, walking in water, constant pouring rain and saturated humidity, nothing is going to be truely dry, just less wet.

And you're right about local terrian. My survival techniques are built around temperate North American forests-- I wouldn't last long in the desert!
 
Walking barefoot is really never a good idea unless you're at the beach or in a tree. There are parasites like some varieties of worms, especially in tropical areas, that can enter your body through the skin on the soles of your feet.
 
Bufford said:
Barefoot is the way to go through tropical jungles. Footware of anykind gets wet and stays wet, leading to open sores on feet. If shoes or boots are available, I would only use them briefly for walking on difficult ground- like heavy thorn bushes, and then remove them to prevent foot rot.

I wish I could remember the name of the scientist who traveled throughout Africa to study wildlife, and elephants in particular just a couple years ago. The only clothing he wore was his underware, and he travelled hundreds of miles in barefeet and just his briefs. He stated that was the only way to survive the hot moist jungle, because everything just wants to rot, and then the body rots along with the coverings.
Click to expand...
I don't know about barefoot...but, what about some type of rubber sandal?
The VC in 'Nam allegedly made them out of old tires, and those *&#$#'s (fellas) never left the jungle. ( A lot are still there.)
 
ROCK6 said:
That's been my experience. I definately don't advocate going bare foot, especially if you haven't spent the last 10 years of your life bare foot. A pair of regular Jungle Boots (I prefer Wellco's). Break them in bare foot and after all the hot spots wear out/in, I would go with Jungle boots with no socks. Every time you stop or several times during the day and at night, dry your feet and let them air out. When around a camp, try and go with open toed sandles; I would not want to take a chance of get bit, stung, cut or bruised by running around bare foot. You lose the ability to walk or move around due to a severe cut or infection, you've just lost the majority of your ability to survive.

ROCK6
Click to expand...

I've never tried the no socks strategy but it seems like it would still rub your feet raw (esp. the tops of your toes, heels and balls of feet) when they got soft and moist. Proper socks can wick away moisture and provide a better fit. Tinactin works pretty good on fungus and it will keep you out of the fem. hygiene isle at the store. If you get a bad case of fungus, be sure to rid your boots of it as well.

I hike with a guy who likes to wear sandals and I cringe every time he stops to pull a cholla thorn out of his toes. Wearing them after a long day is a good idea, though.

GB
 
It really doesn't matter what you wear. The jungle will eat you after a time. You have to keep clean and maintain yourself or the jungle wins.

I went "commando" in panama for a few weeks in 91'. Not by choice, it was decreed, since any dark places became an instant breeding ground for bacteria and fungus.

After we were chased by a Fer de Lance, I'd be happy if I never went back.
 
Gerberblades said:
I've never tried the no socks strategy but it seems like it would still rub your feet raw (esp. the tops of your toes, heels and balls of feet) when they got soft and moist. Proper socks can wick away moisture and provide a better fit. Tinactin works pretty good on fungus and it will keep you out of the fem. hygiene isle at the store. If you get a bad case of fungus, be sure to rid your boots of it as well.

I hike with a guy who likes to wear sandals and I cringe every time he stops to pull a cholla thorn out of his toes. Wearing them after a long day is a good idea, though.

GB
Click to expand...
Yeah....I like keeping the 'ol tootsies covered. :D
 
Robert H said:
It really doesn't matter what you wear. The jungle will eat you after a time. You have to keep clean and maintain yourself or the jungle wins.

I went "commando" in panama for a few weeks in 91'. Not by choice, it was decreed, since any dark places became an instant breeding ground for bacteria and fungus.

After we were chased by a Fer de Lance, I'd be happy if I never went back.
Click to expand...
Yeah...you are dead on about going "Commando"...I picked up a good case of "it" at Benning, and still, to this day, I still go commando. If I don't, it has a tendency to come back pretty quick.
Was that snake actually chasing you guys around the jungle? Not to make too light of it, as it probably scared the crap out of you, BUT.....I would love to see a video clip of it! It would probably look hysterical, seeing a bunch of guys tripping all over all kinds of shit trying to get away from that thing. :D
( I apologize in advance for the "insensitivity", but I guess I have kind of a warped sense of humor.)_
 
One important distinction is that Les bought the fungus with him into the jungle; he didn't get it there. You can also see he's got nail fungus, which takes a long time to fully manifest. I think Stroud often makes bad decisions.
 
wn2142 said:
One important distinction is that Les bought the fungus with him into the jungle; he didn't get it there. You can also see he's got nail fungus, which takes a long time to fully manifest.
Click to expand...
I could be wrong but my recollection is Les saying "I've developed foot fungus". Even if he did say that, he could have just been trying to avoid a complicated explanation.

So you seem to be saying that because nail fungus "takes a long time to fully manifest" he could not have developed it recently. Do I understand your reasoning correctly? Or do you know this by some other route?

[/QUOTE]I think Stroud often makes bad decisions.[/QUOTE]

It seems to me, when you put yourself in harm's way as often as Stroud does, the chances of making some bad decisions rise astronomically. He intentionally creates circumstances for himself in which control of his situation is uncertain. It's one of the reasons the guy is unusual. He lets you see his vulnerability in trying circumstances.
 
I grew up hearing "no hoof, no horse". I guess the same goes for people. I like the idea of jungle boots with no socks and hope my feet will be tough enough one day to wear my boots like this day after day. Right now my skin is too soft to do that even though it is comfortable for a few hours. I have a pair of Vasque water shoes that also work well.
I just returned from an 11 day backpacking trip where foot care became a problem. It rained every day and several streams had to be crossed. After a week or so we had no dry socks and we were required to leave foot powder in camp do to the fact it attracts bears indirectly and people tend to use foot powder to replace total foot hygene. Everyone's feet started to soften and boots and socks were beginning to stink. At a remote supply camp I found some Dr Scholl's foot powder and used that at night on my feet and in my boots (and my groin). I was wearing Belleville hot desert boots with no insulation or Goretex and my feet were in the best shape due to the fact my boots dried quickly. Almost everyone used my foot powder at some time. In the end several people had blisters and I used up almost all my moleskin/second skin/padding.
My foot doctor recommends B+Drier antiperspirant (for use on my feet) for backpacking trips. I like soaking my feet in rubbing alcohol for 20 minutes twice a day for 2 weeks before a trip. My skin feels tougher to me but I may just be wanting to feel that way.
 
I never saw the show - but when I spoke with Les after the filming the Jaguar was definately real. As far as I remember it prowled the whole night and followed him pretty well all the way out of the jungle.
 
Barefoot....NEVER!

Sandals....yep, that's the way to go when things are constantly wet.

They protect the soles of your feet from being impaled upon thorns, rocks, and critters.
But they dry in minutes.

Reef walkers are good too.

Leather boots are probably the worse things possible to wear.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top