Compeed Blister Patches (1)

New footy boots have a habit of rubbing a heel or a toe raw a couple of weeks into pre-season. A Compeed blister patch is a hydrocolloid patch you place over the blister or the spot that's rubbing, so there's a cushioned layer sitting between your skin and the boot. It's a small thing to keep in the kit bag when new boots are rubbing a player raw.

These are Compeed's cushioned hydrocolloid patches, the padded, translucent style of blister patch worn on feet. Compeed makes them in a few shapes so you can match the patch to where the problem is: a medium patch for a heel or the ball of the foot, an assorted pack that mixes sizes, and a toe-shaped patch for the toes. The edges are translucent, so the patch keeps a low profile under a sock or inside a shoe.

Through Straptor the patches sit in the same trainer's bag as the strapping tape, underwrap and first aid you already carry, so a club can stock the bench from one order. Straptor is Australian owned and run, with phone advice from people who actually work a sideline and a walk-in counter at East Bendigo.

Compeed patches are a foot-care product with directions on the pack. For how to apply one and how long to leave it on, follow the label. If a blister is deep, weeping or looks infected, see a pharmacist or a doctor rather than self-managing it.

Features

• Hydrocolloid patch worn over a blister or a rubbing hotspot on the foot
• Cushioned, padded construction that sits between the skin and the boot
• Translucent edges for a low profile under a sock or shoe
• Three pack options to match the patch to the spot: medium, assorted, and toe
• Slim enough to wear inside a boot or football boot
• Lives in the trainer's bag alongside tape, underwrap and first aid

Specifications

• Product: Compeed hydrocolloid blister patches
• Pack options: Medium (5 patches), Assorted (5 patches), Toe (8 patches)
• Material: hydrocolloid
• Finish: translucent edges
• Use: external foot care, applied to intact skin over a blister or hotspot

What's in the box

• Medium: 5 x medium Compeed blister patches
• Assorted: 5 x Compeed blister patches in a mix of sizes
• Toe: 8 x toe-shaped Compeed blister patches

Usage

Clean and dry the skin first. Peel the patch and place it over the blister or the spot that's rubbing, then press the edges down so it sits flat. For how long to leave a patch on and when to change it, follow the directions on the Compeed pack.

Care and storage

Store the pack somewhere cool and dry and keep it sealed until you need a patch. Check the use-by date on the pack.

Common questions

Which pack should I get? The medium pack suits a heel or the ball of the foot, the assorted pack mixes sizes for mixed spots, and the toe pack is shaped for the toes.

What is hydrocolloid? It's the gel-forming material this style of blister patch is made from. What it does and how to use it are set out on the Compeed pack.

Can I wear one inside a boot? Yes, the patches are slim and the edges are translucent, so they sit under a sock or inside a shoe. Follow the pack for wear time.

When should I not use one? If the blister is deep, weeping, or looks infected, or the skin is broken beyond a simple blister, see a pharmacist or doctor rather than covering it. Read the label before use.

The patches sit with the rest of the gear a trainer keeps in the bag, next to the tape and underwrap. For feet and legs after a long day in boots, the recovery and rehab range is worth a look.