Leukotape, What is it? How do you use it?

Leukotape is a type of medical tape that I was introduced to via a hiking page. Hikers often carry Leukotape instead of moleskin for blister prevention, to cover existing blisters and a variety of other uses including stabilizing joints. It’s become an item that I carry with me everywhere and use all the time.

Leukotape Is A Durable Product

One reason many hikers prefer Leukotape is that it is durable and can last for several days – a week. The tape can be applied and will stay on through showers, swimming, walking through water or sweaty feet. Rather than having to reapply every day, it can be applied as needed and will stay stuck down.

In addition to blister/rub prevention or coverage, Leukotape can also be used to stabilize joints for either an existing issue or an on the trail injury such as Plantar fasciitis, Achilles’ tendon injuries, sprains, strains, stress fractures, bunions and more.

Versitility

Leukotape isn’t just handy for hiking though! I carry it because I’m sprain prone, to cover Band-Aids on skinned knees, to treat new joint or muscle injuries on myself or someone else and essentially anything that requires tape. It can be used in place of duct tape to patch a tent or hang something up.

Rubs & Friction

Have you ever been out walking around and suddenly the sandals that you wear all the time seem to be rubbing a raw spot on your toes? You know if you keep going it’s going to end up with a blister and then eventually become raw and possibly bleeding. You might put a Band-Aids over it but there is a good chance that Band-Aids will come loose due to movement and sweat.

These injuries can be very painful and for those who have diabetes or other illnesses that cause delayed wound healing, can even become life threatening. It’s super simple to pull out your Leukotape, tear off a small piece and cover the spot that your shoe is rubbing.

If you’ve already got a blister or open wound, you want to cover it with a Band-Aids, gauze or even a piece of toilet paper to prevent the tape from sticking to the injury and pulling the skin off.

Sprains & Splints

If you’ve managed to twist an ankle or have fallen and hurt your wrist, the Leukotape can be applied similarly to how you’d wrap an ace bandage, and it will help stabilize the joint while you get somewhere to be checked out. It can also be used to secure a splint on a broken limb.

Leukotape can be used in the same way kinesiology tape is used, applied in a specific way to support a muscle or joint. If you have an existing knee injury, you can have a physical therapist show you how to tape it to provide support and reduce the risk of reinjury or you can often find a diagram online.

You do want to be aware that Leukotape does not stretch the way that some kinesiology tape does, so you will want to be sure that using Leukotape would be appropriate. For a new injury, however, you can still use the Leukotape to stabilize the joint or muscle long enough to hike out or get yourself to medical care.

You will want to be sure to not wrap the tape too tightly, and to stop frequently to check on an injury because swelling can cause the tape to become too tight. You may need to loosen the tape to maintain good circulation. If you feel any numbness, tingling or loss of sensation, remove the tape and reapply looser, if necessary.

A Sticky Situation

As I mentioned above, Leukotape is very sticky. If removing recently applied tape, you will want to go slowly so that you don’t cause an additional skin injury. There are other products, like Cover Roll, that you can apply underneath the Leukotape if using to support an existing injury or weakness, to keep the tape from sticking to the skin.

I keep rolls of Leukotape in my everyday carry bag, each of my first aid kits, all of our car/get home kits, hiking packs and bug out bags. If an emergency has occurred, maybe the S has really hit the fan, you may be walking home (or bugging out) in dress shoes, flip flops or even a sturdy pair of shoes that aren’t broken in enough.

You may have to walk so far that even a good pair of boots might cause blisters. You might be exhausted and slip or trip and twist an ankle, knee, wrist, etc. You might need to splint an injury.

You could use it to secure bundles of kindling, tape a garbage bag or rain cover over yourself or your pack or even to fix a broken pack strap, rip or tear or other damage, the uses are limitless!