They worked OK on our last group walk on Hadrians Wall. Another walker developed a blister. The gel seems to spread out and provide a thicker pad after a while

And the times on the postings have gone to pot again

They are the same as the clear gel blister plasters, available in high street chemists. I've tried them and they do reduce friction and pain for some time, but eventually they do rub off, probably like all such products. The feeling is a bit like sticking a jellyfish on my foot and walking around with it in my sock (a childhood memory from Southend on Sea).

I've never tried them, but I would have thought you could shell you for some and try them out. Will the hardest thing be going in the shop and asking for party feet? (Would be for me - clearly not looking like a party-goer of any sort!)

I was watching my daughter go through the final stages of preparing for a night on the tiles yesterday evening and noticed that she was fitting a gel-device to the the inside of the modified bear-traps she calls shoes.

After she'd gone out (leaving me and the boss to look after our grandson) I retrieved the packaging for what were apparently called Party Feet, made by Scholls. These promise a night of unbridled gallivanting without burns to the ball of the foot.

Has anyone tried these things (either for the unbridled gallivanting or, more importantly, for walking long distances)? I suffer from heat build up in just that area, whether I'm wearing boots or trainers, irrespective of footbeds/insoles and with any sock combination.

Suffering also from the short arms/deep pockets complaint (which I've learned to live with) I'd be interested to hear of others' experiences before shelling out any bawbees.