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Reviews > Personal Hygiene > Toiletries > Badger Balm Foot Balm > Test Report by Andrew HenrichsBadger Foot Balm Test Series by Andy Henrichs November 24, 2007
Initial Report - August 5, 2007
Long Term Report - November 24, 2007
Product Description The Badger Foot Balm is an oil-based peppermint-scented balm used to soothe tired feet. According to the label on the tin, the ingredients are Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Castor Oil, Jojoba Oil, Beeswax, and Essential Oils of Rosemary, Peppermint, Balsam Fir, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, and Cardamom. I can definitely smell the peppermint oil, but my nose can't differentiate the rest of the oils. The WS Badger website contains information regarding several of the oils found in their products.
Field Information My testing will take place on the Western Slope of Colorado as well as southeastern Utah. Most of my travels will be at elevations ranging from 4500 ft (1400 m) to over 14000 ft (4300 m). My travels will take me from rivers to desert canyons to aspen and pine forests to alpine tundra. Most of my hikes will range from 8 to 15 miles (13 to 24 km). Temperatures on these trips will likely range from lows of 20° F (-7° C) to highs of 90° F (32° C). I expect to encounter a wide variety of weather, including sun, clouds, rain, strong winds, and possibly snow on some later trips.
Initial Impressions This peppermint-smelling balm is fairly oily. Given the ingredients, this is to be expected. Given the oil content of this product, it came as no surprise that it moisturizes dry skin extremely well. Not much product is required during application, as it spreads out on my skin quite well. After application, my skin looks shiny and feels a little oily for a few minutes before the balm is absorbed. I've found that I will typically wipe my hands on a towel or cloth after application to prevent my hands from getting too oily. After I've applied the balm, the scent is pleasant and not overwhelming. I've used the Badger Foot Balm almost every night since it arrived. I spent six days rafting the Middle Fork of the Salmon River two weeks ago, and my heels were fairly dry and cracked from living in sandals for a week. So far, I've been impressed with how well the Foot Balm works. I apply it before bed and wake up with soft, uncracked heels. I've found that applying it in the morning and evening seems to keep my feet in good shape.
This concludes my Initial Report. The Long Term Report will be amended to this report in approximately two months from the date of this report. Please check back then for further information.
Long-Term Report
Field ConditionsMy testing took place on the Western Slope of Colorado as well as in southeastern Utah. Elevations ranged from 4500 ft (1400 m) to 12000 ft (3700 m). My trip locales ranged from pine and aspen forests to the banks of desert rivers to dry desert canyons. My hikes and backpacking trips ranged from 5 to 30 miles (8 to 48 km). Temperatures on these trips ranged from lows of 25° F (-4° C) to highs of 80° F (27° C). On my travels, I encountered a variety of weather, including sun, clouds, rain, light snow, and strong winds.
Final ThoughtsDuring the test period, I used the Badger Foot Balm on several day hikes, two three-day backpacking trips, and a two-day rafting trip. I also used it countless times at home. It seemed to be especially beneficial while spending time around the water. My feet get dried out and can get cracked after a day or two of rafting, so I made sure to apply the balm every night after a day on the river. It appeared to work, as I never had any problems with the skin on my feet after applying it. I've tried to stick to the schedule of applying the balm before I go to bed. I'll apply it, then don some socks before crawling into bed. The balm provides a pleasant, relaxing scent that is perfect for bedtime. And quite frankly, who doesn't like a foot massage, even a self administered one?
Overall, I feel that the Badger Foot Balm did a good job of keeping my feet happy and refreshed after a long day of hiking or rafting. I could live without it, but again, it sure feels good to end the day with a foot rub and wake up with soft, supple feet. In the future, I plan on keeping some around to use after spending time on the river or after long hikes, just to keep my feet happy.
Thank you to WS Badger and BackpackGearTest.org for giving me the opportunity to test this balm.
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