Different socks undergoing testing to find an Australian-made super sock to keep our soldier’s feet blister free and fresh.Photo provided by Mark Barclay, ARTC

Science of super sock






By Cpl Cameron Jamieson

THE war against blisters continues with undiminished determination thanks to the dedicated efforts of ADF civilian physiotherapists.

About 600 recruits at ARTC Kapooka will take part in clinical trials to begin in June with the aim of finding a boot-lacing technique and sock combination to minimise both the occurrence and severity of blisters.

The trials, which should have begun in February, had been delayed to find the best Australian-made socks. The first soldiers to wear the socks will be two platoons at Kapooka.

The results should be known after four months of testing.

The performance of the latest combat boot version will also be tested during the trials at ARTC.

Kapooka-based principal researcher and physiotherapist Mark Barclay said the range of Australian-made trial socks were made of special materials designed to absorb moisture away from the skin and reduce friction between the heel, sock and boot.

“The trial socks consist of a polyester inner-sock and a polypropylene outer-sock,” he said.

“This two-sock idea is based on a similar study with US military trainees, which reduced blisters by between 40 and 50 per cent.”

The Australian researchers will trial a number of different socks and combinations to find the best solution to blisters.
A new boot-lacing technique will also be trialled.

The technique involves tying the boots off at ankle height, like joggers, before lacing further up the boot.

This allows the heel to be held firmer in the boot, limiting slippage and friction across the heel area.

This technique had not been formally tested but had been proposed by some US researches as a means of reducing blister rates.

The performance of the new Terra combat boot will also be a key element in the study.

DMO has been working closely with the researchers and will release the latest model of the Version 3 boot to coincide with the study.

The new boot was developed in response to the RODUM process, which has resulted in a number of enhancements, including improvements to the tread and heel.

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