Alpaca Wool
From: £12.00
Preventing Foot Blisters
Pack Contains:
- Alpaca Wool 20g
Soft Natural Alpaca Wool
Use between toes to cushion and protect.
Alpaca wool is a specialty fibre that has been described as stronger than mohair, finer than cashmere and smoother than silk. It essentially combines the best of everything we have naturally available to us, in one helpful little package.
After researching the benefits of Alpaca wool, in the prevention of blisters the softest animal wool that could be found was from baby Alpacas. Although it is more expensive than older Alpaca shearing it is much softer and boasts less than a 20-micron count. Alpaca wool is less coarse than the other animal wools, with a reduced `prickle` factor which is related to its low micron count, making it more comfortable to wear in-between the toes, almost undetectable and soon forgotten about.
When we both trained as a Podiatrists, we used animal wool for the prevention of pressure points on the foot and we had great feedback from the patients. Unfortunately, like most things, animal wool went out of fashion!
Alpacas do come in many colours, but we have chosen the whiter wools for this blister prevention strategy.
Our Alpaca wool is washed, picked, and carded before it is ready for use and no Alpacas were harmed in the process!
Please read below for our frequently asked Q&A regarding Alpaca wool in the prevention of foot blisters
How does Alpaca wool work at preventing blisters on the foot?
By its very nature alpaca wool naturally wicks any moisture away from the skin which prevents blisters from forming. Friction is another contributor to the cause of blisters and is normally generated by the movement of the skin, footwear, and socks. The fibres of the wool absorb the friction amongst themselves and the skin is left blister-free. The wool is stain-resistant, water repellent, and odourless, which is great when used on the feet, especially in-between the toes.
What blister problems on the feet, would Alpaca wool work for?
For those people who suffer from blisters in between or on the top of the toes, it is best to weave the wool around the toes in a figure of eight fashion, from the larger toe to the smallest toe. If you have an existing blister, that already has a dressing on, you can still use the wool to prevent further friction, pressure, and blisters
Blisters on the back of the heel or the edges of the feet, try placing a small amount of the wool next to the skin, the sock will keep it in place.
Blisters on the top of the foot from the tongue of the shoe, where the laces have been a bit tight. Place a small amount of alpaca wool between the skin and the sock, preventing those painful blisters on the top of the foot.
Ballet dancers going “En Pointe” is a toe-blister nightmare but a little nest of Alpaca wool between toes and the block, will help protect those delicate areas that have a huge amount of pressure from the body when dancing. The wool will cushion and wick the moisture away from the skin making it the natural choice to help dancers to do their amazing job, blister free!
Ice skating and ski boots are very hard on the ankles and the front of the shin, alpaca wool placed between the skin and the sock on these high-pressure areas, will pay dividends in blister prevention.
We advise the wearers of Armaskin blister liner socks, to use the alpaca wool woven through the toes. Sometimes, the natural compression of the armaskin material can push the toes closer together, especially when competing in a long event, when the feet will fill with fluid. The wool then prevents that in-between toe blister problem. The military often uses this combination to help them get through their arduous courses.
How long will a 20gm bag of Alpaca last?
Alpaca wool is extremely lightweight and very compact, so you won’t notice any difference when putting it into your backpack. It comes in a small cotton drawstring bag that contains 20g. The wool will weave in and around all the toes on both feet generously, for at least 12 days and that is with replacing the wool daily.
Can Alpaca wool be reused?
No, to ensure the best results, we recommend that Alpaca wool is used as a single-use product. For example, if you’re on a hiking weekend in the peak district, you should use a new batch of wool at the start of each day. The wool fibres absorb the moisture and friction after use, it then felts as it has done its job. We advise for the wool be removed after an activity.
As it is bio-degradable it can be discarded in the hedgerows for the birds to make a nest from or placed in a compost bin, ensuring there is no waste with this product.
Are there allergic reactions to Alpaca Wool?
The wool is so soft, making it less itchy and irritating on the skin. It is free from dander and lanolin which are known to cause more commonly known allergic reactions. As a result of these properties, the wool stays cleaner for longer when compared to sheep or lamb’s wool.
What should Alpaca wool not be used on?
Please do not use it on any open skin or a blister that has popped or had its roof torn, the Alpaca wool is not sterile and can be a risk of an introduction infection into a wound.
Please do NOT wrap the wool around one toe during an activity. The wool naturally felts and shrinks and stay fibres could tighten around the toe, restricting the blood flow. We would like to reassure you; that this is a rare occurrence and will not happen if the instructions for using the wool are followed.
Remove the Alpaca wool when you have finished an activity and do not wear to bed.
| Activity | Climbing & Mountaineering, Football, Golf, Hiking, Hockey, Horse Riding, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Rugby, Running, Ski & Snowboard, Tennis, Walking |
|---|---|
| Blister Location | Ankle, Back of the heel, Between the toes, Edge of the big toe and little toe joints, Edge of the heel, Side of the foot, Tip of the toes, Top of the toes, Under the heel, Under the middle 3 toe joints |
| Size | 20gm, 60gm |
What is Alpaca Wool?
Alpaca wool is a specialty fibre that is stronger than mohair, finer than cashmere and smoother than silk. Our alpaca wool comes from baby alpacas, with less than a 20‑micron count, making it incredibly soft with a reduced “prickle” factor. This makes it comfortable to wear between the toes – almost undetectable and soon forgotten about.
The wool is washed, picked and carded before it is ready for use, and no alpacas were harmed in the process. We have chosen whiter wool for blister prevention.
How Does Alpaca Wool Prevent Blisters?
Alpaca wool naturally wicks moisture away from the skin, which prevents blisters from forming. Friction is another major contributor to blisters and is normally generated by the movement of the skin, footwear and socks. The fibres of the wool absorb the friction amongst themselves, leaving the skin blister‑free.
The wool is stain‑resistant, water repellent and odourless—great properties when used on the feet, especially between the toes. The fibres reduce shear forces and friction, making alpaca wool very useful in ice skates, ski boots and other rigid footwear where the boot material is hard and often unforgiving.
What Blister Problems Can Alpaca Wool Help With?
- Between, on top, or in-between the toes: Weave the wool around the toes in a figure‑of‑eight fashion, from the larger toe to the smallest toe. If you have an existing blister that already has a dressing on, you can still use the wool to prevent further friction, pressure and blisters.
- Back of the heel or edges of the feet: Place a small amount of the wool next to the skin; the sock will keep it in place.
- Top of the foot from the tongue of the shoe: Place a small amount of alpaca wool between the skin and the sock to prevent painful blisters from tight laces.
- Ballet dancers going en pointe: Create a little nest of alpaca wool between the toes and the block. This will cushion and wick moisture away from the skin, protecting delicate areas under huge pressure from the body when dancing.
- Ice skating and ski boots: Place alpaca wool between the skin and the sock on high‑pressure areas such as the ankles and front of the shin for blister prevention.
- Armaskin blister liner socks: Use the alpaca wool woven through the toes. The natural compression of Armaskin material can push the toes closer together, especially during long events when the feet fill with fluid. The wool prevents that in‑between‑toe blister problem. The military often uses this combination to help them get through arduous courses.
How to Use Alpaca Wool
- Cut or tear a piece of wool that is the right length for either weaving between all of the toes or for placing around a single toe only. The wool is supplied in a long length that can be split into smaller pieces suitable for the area that needs protection.
- For interdigital (between‑toe) blisters: Weave the wool in a figure‑of‑eight pattern between the toes, starting from the big toe and working toward the smallest toe. This distributes the wool evenly and prevents it from bunching.
- For heel blisters: Place a small amount of wool at the back of the heel between the skin and sock to reduce high‑pressure contact from the back of the shoe.
- For top‑of‑foot blisters: Place a small amount between the skin and the sock where the tongue of the shoe creates pressure.
- For ballet dancers: Create a small nest of wool for the toes inside ballet shoes when going en pointe. It cushions the toes and wicks moisture away.
How Long Will a Bag of Alpaca Last?
Alpaca wool is extremely lightweight and very compact, so you will not notice any difference when putting it into your backpack.
- A 20g bag will weave in and around all the toes on both feet generously for at least 12 days, with daily replacement of the wool.
- A 60g bag provides approximately 36 days of use with daily replacement.
Can Alpaca Wool Be Reused?
No. To ensure the best results, we recommend that alpaca wool is used as a single‑use product. For example, if you are on a hiking weekend in the Peak District, you should use a new batch of wool at the start of each day.
The wool fibres absorb moisture and friction after use, and the wool will felt as it has done its job. We advise that the wool be removed after an activity.
As it is biodegradable, it can be discarded in the hedgerows for the birds to make a nest from or placed in a compost bin, ensuring there is no waste with this product.
Are There Allergic Reactions to Alpaca Wool?
The wool is so soft, making it less itchy and irritating on the skin. It is free from dander and lanolin, which are known to cause more commonly known allergic reactions. As a result of these properties, the wool stays cleaner for longer when compared to sheep or lamb’s wool.
Important Warnings
- Do NOT use on open or broken skin. Alpaca wool is not sterile and can introduce infection into a wound. However, the wool can be used over the top of a dressing once applied.
- Do NOT wrap the wool tightly around one toe during an activity. The wool naturally felts and shrinks, and stray fibres could tighten around the toe, restricting blood flow. We would like to reassure you that this is a rare occurrence and will not happen if the instructions for using the wool are followed.
- Remove the alpaca wool when you have finished an activity and do not wear it to bed.
Medical Disclaimer
This product is not intended to replace medical advice. If you think your blister is infected, contact a medical practitioner or medical service immediately.
Contact and Further Information
For questions or support, please contact: support@blisterhelp.co.uk for view our blog post on Alpaca Wool:
