FAQs - ENGO Blister Patches

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

All of your blister prevention questions, answered. Everything you want to know about ENGO Blister Prevention Patches. Don’t see your question here? Contact us.

How do ENGO patches prevent blisters?
How is ENGO different than other blister products?
Who should use ENGO patches?
Are all online transactions secure?
How do I apply ENGO patches?
If I have trouble getting the patches to stick, what can I do?
Can ENGO help if I already have a blister?
Which ENGO patch is right for me?
Can ENGO help my calluses?
What are some useful applications for ENGO patches?
How long will each ENGO patch last?
Can I apply ENGO patches to my skin?
Can I apply ENGO patches to socks?
How do I remove my ENGO patch?
Does ENGO have an expiration date?
What size are ENGO patches? How thick they?
What happens to the performance of ENGO when my footwear gets wet?

How do ENGO patches prevent blisters?

Blisters are caused, in large part, by friction. Heat and the resulting perspiration increase friction and weaken the skin. Heat and moisture are inevitable when you exercise, but ENGO reduces friction to levels that prevent blisters—despite the presence of heat and moisture.

How is ENGO different than other blister products?

ENGO patches go permanently onto the shoe, for long term protection, rather than needing to pre-bandage, wrap, or whatever prevention techniques you use each time before lacing up your shoes.  ENGO patches are long-lasting (long lasting means weeks/months/ not hours/days as typical for bandages). Taping, bandaging, and applying gels are short-term solutions. ENGO patches provide immediate relief from existing blisters and multi-week protection from future occurrences. Lubricants, lotions, and gels may reduce friction initially, but overhydrate the skin and when absorbed into the skin, can leave a surface that is actually stickier than before (or not using at all). Because of this, they need to be reapplied every few hours, and blister bandages usually need to be reapplied daily (sometimes the friction that caused the blister will rub off the bandage!). ENGO users report that they’ve gotten 300+ miles of use out of their patches.

ENGO patches are comfortable. ENGO patches are ultrathin. You apply them to your footwear, not to your skin, so you avoid the skin irritation sometimes associated with adhesives.

ENGO patches address the root cause of blisters. ENGO works by reducing the friction that causes blisters and preventing blisters from forming.

Who should use ENGO patches?

ENGO Blister Prevention Patches are great for anyone having problems with blisters. People who love ENGO include:

  • Runners and walkers
  • Hikers
  • Hunters
  • Soccer, hockey, football, tennis, and lacrosse players
  • Figure skaters
  • Dancers
  • Women and men who wear dress shoes
  • People who wear work boots

Are all online transactions secure?

All transactions conducted online are completely secure. Our website uses SSL certification. We have strong security measures to protect your information.

How do I apply ENGO patches?

ENGO Blister Prevention Patches are a long-lasting alternative to traditional blister bandages. You apply ENGO directly to your shoes – not your skin – to prevent blister-causing friction and provide long-lasting blister prevention and relief. For step-by-step instructions and a how-to video, see How to Use ENGO Blister Prevention Patches. The shoe lining where the patch will go needs to be dry and clean.

If I have trouble getting the patches to stick, what can I do?

Often, using a hair dryer to soften the patches adhesive (after applying the patches to your footwear) will allow the adhesive to better bond to the lining of your footwear. However, if this does not work for you, consider the following option.

If your footwear lining has been treated with a waterproofing or conditioning process, it may be difficult for the patches adhesive to bond securely to your footwear. In this case, we recommend using ShoeGoo, a common shoe repair adhesive that bonds firmly to flexible materials.

You might also have trouble getting the patches to stick if your footwear is very dirty. If that’s the case, clean your shoes thoroughly and allow them to dry completely. Then apply the ENGO patch to the desired area. You can also use ShoeGoo or the hair dryer technique, as described above, to help ensure strong adhesion between the patch and footwear.

Before using ShoeGoo or a similar adhesive, be sure to identify the correct placement of your ENGO® Blister Prevention Patches, and follow the instructions on the adhesive’s package to ensure optimal results.

Can ENGO help if I already have a blister?

Yes! Apply ENGO to your footwear where friction is causing a blister. The friction is the ROOT CAUSE! ENGO virtually eliminates rubbing between your footwear and your sensitive, damaged skin. With ENGO, you’ll experience immediate relief.

NOTE: After applying ENGO to your shoe, we recommend treating covering your blister with a traditional bandage/dressing method to provide protection from infection until your blister is healed

Which ENGO patch is right for me?

A good rule of thumb is to select a patch that is slightly larger than troubled area or blister. Select the patch that is right for you, based on the area where you have a blister: ENGO selection.

Remember, all patches may be trimmed to meet your location and contour needs.

Can ENGO help my calluses?

Yes! Calluses are caused by the friction that causes blisters. The difference is that calluses develop over time at less intense levels of friction and take longer to form. When you use ENGO, you reduce friction and, as a result over time, callus thickness. Callus reduction may take 1-3 months due to the delay in your skin’s responsiveness.

What are some useful applications for ENGO patches?

Place ENGO patches wherever you experience blisters and soreness caused by the friction forces of repetitive rubbing, including:

  • Running, basketball & tennis shoes
  • Soccer, football & baseball cleats
  • High heels and dress shoes
  • Hiking and ski boots
  • Hockey and figure skates
  • Football, hockey & lacrosse helmets
  • Dance shoes
  • Braces and pads
  • Oars, paddles, rake & shovel handles
  • Bike handles and seats

You can use ENGO for:

  • Heel blisters
  • Breaking in new footwear, including high heels and dress shoes
  • Hot spots / reddened areas of the feet
  • Metatarsal head (forefoot) blisters
  • Hallux (toe) blisters
  • Calluses, hammer toe & claw toe
  • Diabetic foot ulcers
  • Navicular irritation
  • Protecting shoe & insole liners from premature wear
  • Forehead abrasion due to football, hockey, and lacrosse helmets
  • Heel spurs & bunions

How long will each ENGO patch last?

It depends on your activity level, specific application, and terrain. Many ENGO users have gone 300+ miles on one patch, the recommended interval for replacing athletic shoes. Replace patches when the top layer wears through (the backing will show ‘white’) or when your patch peels away from the footwear material.

When installing ENGO Patches in the back of your shoes, use caution when slipping your foot into your shoes each day to avoid accidentally peeling the leading edge of the patch with your sock. Wrap a bit over the edge of the shoe to help it stay on or use a shoehorn if needed. This will help maximize the lifespan of the patches, keeping you in blister-free comfort for a longer period of time.

Can I apply ENGO patches to my skin?

We do not recommend applying ENGO patches directly to skin. ENGO was designed for equipment, socks, insoles and footwear, so we guarantee its effectiveness for those applications. ENGO patches have not been tested on skin, so we cannot guarantee how long it will adhere to skin. Adhesive may cause skin injury (it may not stick, or it may stick so well that it might tear the skin, or it may be irritating to the skin).

Can I apply ENGO patches to socks?

The toe area of some footwear is so small that you may not be able to easily apply ENGO patches in this location. In that case, go ahead and put it on your socks. But note that while ENGO stands up to sweat, we can’t guarantee it will stand up to the 45 gallons of warm, soapy water used in the wash cycle.

How do I remove my ENGO patch?

For easier removal, heat ENGO patch slightly with hair dryer or heat gun before peeling patch from footwear. Pull ENGO patch from the edge and peel it off. Use old patch to ‘blot’ any remaining adhesive before installing a new patch. Replace with a new ENGO patch.

Does ENGO have an expiration date?

As long as you store your patches in the re-closable bag provided, ENGO will last several years. When patches are not protected, the adhesive shelf life may be limited to 24 months.

What size are ENGO patches? How thick they?

ENGO patches come in the following sizes:

Small oval:  2 × 1½”      (3.8 x 5.1cm)
Large oval:  2¾ × 1¾”   (4.4 x 7cm)
Rectangle:   3¾ × 2¾”   (7 x 9.5cm)
Heel patch:  3¾ × 1¾”   (3.8 x 9.1cm)

All ENGO patches are 0.015 inch thick. Most credit cards are 0.032 inch thick. Thus, ENGO is about ½ as thick as your credit card. When ENGO is applied to footwear, volume is virtually unaltered

What happens to the performance of ENGO when my footwear gets wet?

ENGO Patches retain their low-friction property when they get wet. ENGO Blister Prevention Patches have been reformulated to hold up better against sweat and moisture within your footwear than ever before. Whether you’re caught in the rain during a run or you simply sweat (a little or A LOT), our redesigned ENGO Patches have been tested to withstand water submersion (installed on standard insole materials) for 10 minutes with only a 25% average reduction in peel strength (resistance to peel from the material onto which it is installed). Our new ENGO Patches are better than ever to live up to the rigorous demands of our customers!

Have a question about ENGO Blister Prevention Patches? Let us know.