eNZees Blog

Testing eNZees Foot Soother on Te Araroa

by Margaret Hedderman | October 16, 2015 | 0 Comments

Hiking is never easy on your feet. Hiking 1,800-miles across New Zealand is down right brutal, which is why my Dad and I carried eNZees Foot Soother throughout our entire 5-month Te Araroa thru-hike last year. 

Te Araroa crosses every type of terrain imaginable – dense rainforests, steep and rugged mountains, and dangerous braided rivers. Though this trail passes through one of the most beautiful places on earth, it was one of the most challenging “hikes” I’ve ever attempted. I couldn't afford to have foot issues! 

Anytime we felt a hot-spot coming on, Dad and I would stop and either wrap eNZees around our toes or apply to our heels. In such rough and uncompromising terrain, we miraculously had very few blisters. Well, not miraculously. We were using eNZees after all!

Tagged: blister prevention, eNZees, enzees foot soother, hiking, hiking wool, new zealand, New Zealand hiking, Te Araroa, te araroa thru-hike, thru-hike new zealand

Q&A with Jill, Founder of eNZees Foot Soother

by Margaret Hedderman | September 04, 2015 | 0 Comments

 

Routeburn track into the valleys. Photo taken by Megan Simpson. 

 

eNZees Foot Soother® is a passion project. When Jill discovered this simple, everyday method of foot care, she knew she had found her calling. Jill is building her own business from the ground up. Read about her inspiring journey in the one-on-one interview below. 

Margaret: Who would have thought you can use wool to prevent hot spots and blisters! How did you discover this unusual product?

Jill: My husband and I are avid hikers back home in Durango, Colorado, however, we discovered using wool to prevent hot spots and blisters halfway across the globe while trekking in a beautiful part of southern New Zealand's Southern Alps on a trail called the Routeburn Track. 

During the pre-hike orientation meeting prior to our 27-mile trek, our hiking leader recommended that we bring some of the local wool fleece with us, in case we encountered foot problems along the way. Sure enough the next day early on the trail, I began to notice hot spots building under my toes. As our trek leader had suggested, I took a moment to apply the wool fleece around and under the problem area.

I was amazed that within no more than 30 minutes the hot spot disappeared. That evening when I removed my boot and sock, the blister that I expected 
was gone and my toe was soft and totally pain-free.

Wrap eNZees Foot Soother® around your toes or to any spots where you experience uncomfortable rubbing.

 

Margaret: What made you decide to start eNZees Foot Soother®

JillI have hiked throughout the US and abroad for decades and have never seen wool used for this purpose before. I wondered how a solution as miraculous as this all-natural fleece was nowhere to be found in North America. I knew at that moment I could help anyone who has experienced blisters and other foot problems by bringing this simple product to the United States. 

That evening at dinner on the Routeburn Track, we shared our foot and wool experience with a couple of friendly fellow hikers. As fate would have it, we learned that this couple were 5th-generation New Zealand sheep ranchers who were aware of the benefits of the fleece and its curative lanolin. 

From that chance meeting high in the mountains of New Zealand, the vision of eNZees Foot Soother® was born. After many months of research and testing of numerous types of wool from many different ranches, I was lucky enough to connect with a sheep breeder on the South Island of New Zealand. This relationship has resulted in a consistent source of high-quality soft wool from pure-bred organic sheep that forms the basis of eNZees Foot Soother®.

Margaret: What's next for eNZees Foot Soother®?

Jill: eNZees Foot Soother® has been tested and proven by a wide variety of hikers, athletes of all types, walkers of all ages, and active professionals. Our distribution is rapidly growing and you may soon find eNZees in an outdoor gear store or running shop near you! We have also recently introduced eNZees Minis, pre-packaged "servings" of wool for easy use. They're now available in a 5-pack. You can also buy eNZees online

Jill's energy and passion for eNZees Foot Soother® is captivating and inspiring. It's hard not to get excited about this unique and unusual method of preventing hot spots and blisters. Try it out on your next walk, run, our hiking adventure! 


 

Tagged: blister prevention, durango colorado, hiking, hiking wool, jill schuman, new zealand, routeburn track

Discover Urban Hikes

by Lauren Gross | August 11, 2014 | 0 Comments

Ever consider an urban hike? For some people, like myself, accessibility to trails is challenging.

I have recently begun living in Tel Aviv, Israel. And while I feel I have exposed myself to many areas of the city, I still have so much more to explore — that’s why an urban hike is perfect. Many urbanites get their fitness done in gyms or running outside, but an urban hike allows you to discover new cafes, stores, and parks within your own city, or one you might be visiting for business or pleasure.


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Tagged: Exploration, Hiking, Recommendation

Always be ready for an impromptu adventure: Table Mountain, Cape Town

by Lauren Gross | August 04, 2014 | 0 Comments


In college, I studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa. After a lengthy 16-hour flight, we were greeted by our Resident Assistants (RAs) who invites us to join them for a hike up Table Mountain, a prominent landmark of the Cape Town skyline. Our new RAs eagerly endorsed the hike as a short and easy hour-long walk with a great view of the city. So, as a bunch of “over-eager study-abroad students”, we all readily accepted this first challenge. Little did we know, we were about to learn about “African Time”…X


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Tagged: eNZees, Hiking, Recommendation

Recommended Hike: Ice Lake, Silverton, Colorado

by The Hiker | August 01, 2014 | 0 Comments

Yesterday I had an amazing experience hiking in the mountains of Silverton, CO.

It was early morning, and the trail was still damp from the night before. The temperature was hovering around 50 degrees when we set off at 8:00 am. The quiet that I experienced was miraculous – no sound other than birds feeding, trees moving, and the squish of your hiking boot on the earth!  Truly heaven to me.


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Tagged: eNZees, Hiking, Recommendation